Is Audible Worth It In 2023

Article By: Joshua Zanon

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Introduction
  
• Why I Subscribe to Audible
• How Does Audible Work
• Refunds & Exchanges
• Additional Information
• Conclusion

Introduction

On May 10, 1933 University students in Berlin, Germany, took part in burning upwards of 25,000 “un-German” books in the Berlin Opera Square. Books have been around since ancient times, though different materials, the premise has always remained the same; to tell stories, to educate and to entertain. Whether written by hand, printed or digitized, books have shaped our world and have passed the test of time.

Why I Subscribe to Audible

As a father, husband and supervisor, working for a large construction company it can be difficult to find the time to read. I find myself starting a great book, reading as much as I can as fast as I can, only to find myself not finishing them. Honestly, it sucks. Losing motivation is not my intention, but when it comes to the nitty gritty, reading is not easy to make a priority with all that is going on in life. I made the decision to subscribe to Audible and it's a decision I do not regret. 

Over the past 3 months I have listened to 10 different books and accumulated over 44 hours of listening time, where previously I struggled to read 1 book throughout an entire year. Because of Audible I now have access to the education, stories and the inspiration I have been wanting.

How Does Audible Work

The way Audible works is simple. First you must choose your plan, there are 4 to choose from.

Plan 1: 1 Book Monthly Membership

With the 1 Book Monthly Membership, every month you will receive 1 credit which can be used towards any book regardless of price. Credits carry over month to month for up to 12 months if not used; essentially all credits are valid for up to 1 year. The great thing about Audible is that you will receive 30% off list price for any additional audio book you wish to purchase beyond the use of your monthly credit. Audio books are also significantly cheaper than paperback, and with your monthly membership you will get daily deals, unlimited access to Audible original podcasts and the editor’s extras.

Plan 1 Price: CAD $14.95/month

Plan 2: 2 Book Monthly Membership 

Similar to plan 1 there are only a couple changes: price and credits per month. With plan 2 you will receive all the same features as plan 1, but you will also receive 2 credits per month.

Plan 2 Price: CAD $25.95/month

Plan 3 & 4: Yearly Subscriptions

These plans are the exact same as plan 1 & 2 but rather than paying monthly, you pay a lump sum yearly. If you purchase plan 3 you will receive all the same benefits as plan 1 with the added advantage of saving CAD $16.45 a year. On the other hand, if you purchase plan 4 you will receive all the same benefits as plan 2, but you will be saving CAD $23.45/year.

Plan 3 Price: CAD $162.95

Plan 4 Price: CAD $287.95

Your choice of plan 1, 2, 3 or 4 will be determined by how much you are willing to spend or can afford. By paying yearly you save a little bit of money in the long term, but paying monthly will cost you less in the short term.

Refunds & Exchanges

Audible has an easy return program so you can purchase your book with comfort knowing that you can return or exchange it if it is not right for you. I previously purchased a book that was written in Spanish and translated to English with a Siri style sounding voice. Needless to say nothing made sense whatsoever. I listened to 30 seconds of the book and instantly started looking into how I could return it. Oddly enough, my book didn't have a return option. I called their customer service number, waited on hold for all of 5 minutes, and explained to the representative that the book I was listening to was terribly translated and I could not understand a word that was being read. The representative apologised, asked no questions and refunded me the money that I had spent on that book. In my opinion, Audible's return program is a 5 star service. Most times with other services, you have to wait on hold for over an hour before even talking to an actual person.

Additional Information

Consider buying 3 extra credits when asked

• If you run out of credits, Audible will ask you if you would like to purchase an additional 3 credits for CAD $39.95. If you are buying books that are over $20 it makes sense to purchase more credits rather than paying $20+ a book.

Use credits for expensive books

• This one goes without saying: why use a credit for a book that is under $20, there are books that cost under $5. Utilize those credits for the big buys. Remember you pay $14.95 a month for your credit if you buy a book with your credit for less than that you are doing yourself a disservice.

Cancelling your membership

• The nice thing about Audible is if you decide it's time to cancel your membership, you get to keep all the book previously purchased; even if you bought them with a credit.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This Blog contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission on purchases at no extra cost to you, if you buy something through those links.

Conclusion

It is no wonder why Audible is leading the industry in audiobooks. Their giant selection of popular books, top notch customer service, easy returns and exchanges makes them #1. I don't see them losing this placement any time soon.

If you would like to try Audible yourself, feel free to use the link below and sign up for your 30 day free trial. Even if you cancel the service after signing up, at least you get to receive a free book. 

The link in this blog is an affiliate link, by signing up with the link below I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

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Audible Membership - 30 Day Free Trial

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