Audible or Kindle Unlimited: Which Is Worth Your Money?

Part 1. What Are Audible & Kindle Unlimited?

After understanding what Audible and Kindle Unlimited each offer, it's helpful to clear up some common questions about how these two services work together.

Part 2. Audible vs Kindle Unlimited

Now, let's take a look at this table for an at-a-glance comparison of Audible and Kindle Unlimited. After that, we'll dive deeper into the differences between the two services.

2.1 Price and Subscription Model

Audible offers two subscription plans. The first is the Plus membership, which costs $7.95 per month and gives you access to the Plus Catalog—but it doesn't include any credits. The second is Premium Plus, priced at $14.95 per month. With this plan, you get one credit every month, which you can use to purchase any audiobook you want, regardless of its original price. Once you buy it, the audiobook is yours to keep forever. Just keep in mind that your credits need to be used before your subscription renews, unless they expire.

Kindle Unlimited is priced at $11.99 per month. With this subscription, you can access a wide range of eBooks and around 6000 audiobooks. However, you don't own the books; you borrow them as long as you're subscribed. Once you cancel your subscription, you lose access to these books. This can be a drawback if you want to keep your books permanently. To get your money's worth, you would need to read or listen to several books each month.

2.2 Content Type and Library Size

Audible has a huge library with over a million audiobooks. You can find bestsellers, celebrity memoirs, and full-cast audiobooks like the Harry Potter series. If you're looking for professionally narrated audiobooks, Audible is definitely the place to go.

Kindle Unlimited is one of the best ebook subscriptions out there, but it doesn't always include the most popular books or new releases. While it claims to have over 5 million digital titles, that number covers ebooks, audiobooks, comics, and magazines combined. When it comes to ebooks alone, the selection is closer to around 78,000 titles. It's particularly great for niche independent works, romance, or self-help books, making it a solid choice if you're into those genres.

2.3 Number of Books Per Month

On Audible, how many books you can get depends on your plan. The standard plan gives 1 credit per month, which you can use for any audiobook. If you want more, there's a 2-credit plan for $22.95 per month. For heavy listeners, Audible also offers annual subscriptions with 12 or 24 credits upfront, which costs $149.50 and $229.50 per year, respectively. Getting all your credits at once gives you flexibility, you can choose how and when to use them.

With Kindle Unlimited, you can borrow up to 20 books at a time, read them at your own pace, return them, and grab 20 more. There's no monthly limit on how many books you can read. It is a better choice for fast reader or users who likes switching between titles often.

2.4 Geographical Availability

Audible has a slightly wider global reach, with separate stores for the US, UK, Asia, and the Pacific region. The titles available can vary depending on the country store, but any audiobooks you've already purchased and downloaded stay in your library. If you want a title that isn't available in your country, you can switch your account's country settings while keeping your subscription active.

Kindle Unlimited is also offered in many countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, India, Japan, Brazil, and Mexico. In the US, you have access to a broad range of titles, but in countries like the UK, Germany, or Australia, the available selection may be more limited. So, if you're outside the US, the number of books you can borrow might be reduced.

Like Audible, you can keep your Kindle content if you move to a new country. The difference is that your subscription itself won't carry over—since it's tied to a specific country store, you'll need to re-subscribe in the new region to continue using Kindle Unlimited.

2.5 User Experience

Both services are designed for life on the go, but they shine in different ways. Audible works on more devices, including Alexa, Apple Watch, and Fire TV. Kindle Unlimited stands out for its reading features and makes it easy to sync your progress across devices.

Part 3. Is Audible or Kindle Unlimited Better?

Which is better, Audible or Kindle Unlimited? It really depends on how you like to enjoy books. Here's a quick guide to help you decide:

Choose Audible if:

• You prefer listening to books rather than reading
• You want to own the books you buy, even if you cancel your subscription
• You want access to the latest bestsellers
• You enjoy high-quality, professional narration
• You usually read 1–2 books per month
• You take advantage of member discounts and deals for extra audiobooks
• You want to listen on an Apple Watch or via Alexa without needing your phone

Choose Kindle Unlimited if:

• You read a lot of ebooks and like exploring different genres without buying each book
• You prefer reading on a screen but enjoy audio as a bonus
• You like switching between reading and listening when some books include Audible narration
• You like borrowing multiple titles at once and don't mind returning them when finished
• You want a lower monthly cost compared to Audible
• You're interested in indie authors or niche topics that might not be in Audible's bestseller-heavy catalog

Part 4. How to Get More Value from Audible and Kindle Unlimited

Still not sure which one to choose or thinking about using both Audible and Kindle Unlimited? Here's how to get the most value from them and save money along the way.

1. Use Whispersync for Voice discounts

If a Kindle Unlimited ebook has companion narration, you can often add the Audible version at a big discount, sometimes as low as $0.99–$7.49. That's usually cheaper than spending a monthly credit.

2. Borrow KU books with free narration

Some Kindle Unlimited titles include free Audible narration. Just borrow the ebook, and the audio will show up in your Audible app automatically. You can switch between reading and listening anytime.

Read More :  How to Listen to Kindle Books with/without Audible

3. Take advantage of deals and free catalogs

Audible regularly runs sales like 2-for-1 sales, and the Plus Catalog lets you listen without using credits. With Kindle Unlimited, use the 20-book borrowing limit to explore new authors and genres without extra cost.

4. Download Plus Catalog titles before your subscription ends

Audible Plus lets you listen to and download as many titles as you want, but only while your subscription is active. Once it ends, those titles disappear from your library. That's why it makes sense to save what you like before your plan runs out.

Keep in mind that downloads inside the Audible app aren't permanent, since Audible can still remove access. To truly keep a backup, you'll need a tool like ViWizard Audible Audiobook Converter, which saves Plus Catalog titles in DRM-free formats like MP3 or M4B. That way, you can store them on your device and listen anytime, even after your subscription ends.

Key Features of ViWizard Audible Audiobook Converter

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• Convert Audible audiobook to unprotected audio formats like MP3
• Split Audible book into several smaller segments by chapter or by time
• Support playing Audible audiobooks on any device or media player
• Handle the conversion of Audible audiobooks up to 100× faster speed

Step 1Open ViWizard and Sign in to Audible

First, download and install ViWizard Audible Converter on your Windows or Mac computer. Launch the program, and you'll see a built-in Audible player. Log in with your Audible account, and ViWizard will automatically load your Audible Plus titles and any audiobooks you've purchased.

Step 2Choose Your Output Format and Settings

Click Menu > Preferences > Conversion to set how your audiobooks will be saved. You can choose formats like MP3, M4A, M4B, FLAC, WAV, or AIFF. If you want to keep chapters intact, M4B is a good option. You can also adjust the audio quality and select a destination folder for your files.

Step 3Select Audible Plus Titles to Convert

Once your library appears, click the "+" button in the bottom-right corner. Browse your Audible Plus catalog and choose the audiobooks you want to save, then add them to the conversion list.

Step 4Convert and Save Your Audiobooks

Hit the Convert button to start the process. ViWizard will download and convert your audiobooks at high speed while keeping chapters and metadata. When it's done, the files are stored on your computer with no expiration, so you can listen anytime, even after your Audible subscription ends.

Summary:

Ultimately, the choice comes down to your reading and listening habits. Whether you want to keep your books forever with Audible or explore a vast selection with Kindle Unlimited, there's an option that's right for you. And don't forget that using ViWizard Audible Converter is a great way to help you take advantage of your subscriptions by keeping audiobooks offline forever!