If you're a Premium user in the U.S., you might've noticed something new popping up in your app: audiobooks. In case you're unfamiliar with this change, Spotify added audiobooks in the U.S. only, making them part of the content that Premium users can access for free. Soon after, it introduced a new plan called "Audiobooks Access" for users who only want audiobooks—without the extra Premium features—at a more budget-friendly price.
Pretty exciting, right? For many users, audiobooks felt like a long-awaited upgrade—finally, everything from music to podcasts to audiobooks, all in one app. And at first, it really does feel like a great all-in-one setup. No need to download another app or pay for a second service. Just pick a book and start listening.
But there's a limit. A pretty big one, actually. While it may sound great in theory, the limits make it less flexible than people might expect. It's still a nice feature—but it's not quite the full audiobook experience just yet. In this post, we'll walk you through what the audiobook limits are, how you can work around them, and even offer an alternative way to listen to unlimited audiobooks.
Curious about How to Listen to Audiobooks on Spotify Check out our comprehensive guide to learn how to access and enjoy audiobooks on Spotify.
Part 1. Do Spotify Audiobooks Have Limits?
What are Spotify audiobook limits?
Users with Premium or Audiobook Access plans in the U.S. only get 15 hours of audiobook listening each month. That's it. It can be a surprise if you're used to unlimited music or podcasts and think audiobooks would work the same way—but they don't.
So, how does it work?
Once you sign up for either the full Premium plan ($11.99/month) or the Audiobooks Access plan ($9.99/month, which keeps your music and podcasts on the free tier), you get access to the audiobook catalog with no extra fees. But you're still capped at 15 hours of listening per month.
If you listen to audiobooks for a couple of hours each night, you might use up your time in less than a week. Or if you binge over the weekend, you could hit the limit before finishing a single book. So it helps to check how long your book is and keep an eye on your remaining hours.
Is it worth it?
That depends on how much you listen. If you're only looking to catch a few chapters now and then, 15 hours might be plenty—and the Audiobooks Access plan could be a good deal. But if you listen to audiobooks regularly, the time limit might start to feel restrictive. And still, any unused audiobook listening time doesn't add up to your account—they do expire on a monthly basis. And there's no refund. In that case, services like Audible might offer more value. Some users still prefer buying individual books through the Web Player or app instead of subscribing to the audiobook plan.
Are there any drawbacks?
Yes, and it's worth knowing this audiobook setup isn't as smooth as Audible or Apple Books. One example: your listening spot doesn't sync between devices. So if you switch from your phone to your laptop, you'll need to manually find where you left off. That can get frustrating when you're trying to make the most of your 15 hours.
So, is it the full audiobook experience?
Not quite. But if you're just looking to dip into a book now and then, it's a decent place to start. Just know the limits going in.
Part 2. Why Does Spotify Limit Audiobook Access?
The service has over 250,000 titles, including standout picks like James: A Novel and Sociopath, along with our top picks like I'm Glad My Mom Died. But even with such a large catalog, 15 hours is still 15 hours. That's all you get each month, starting at $9.99. And sometimes, you might find yourself thinking about buying the full book.
There is another option — Spotify now lets you buy extra hours as a one-time top-up (not a subscription). You can add 10 more hours for around $12.99. Unlike the 15 monthly hours that reset each month, these top-up hours last for 12 months. It's a helpful fix for users who hit the monthly limit and don't want to stop listening mid-story.
So, why the time limit in the first place? It mostly comes down to licensing rules. Audiobooks aren't handled like music or podcasts. Spotify has to make special deals with publishers, and those deals don't allow for unlimited listening. The 15-hour cap helps Spotify offer audiobooks without raising prices too much.
Part 3. How to Get Around Spotify's Audiobook Limits
Enough about the limits on Spotify audiobooks and why they exist—let's talk about how you can work around them or even eliminate them altogether. While you can access free titles within the subscription catalog, your listening experience can go a lot further with a few simple tips.
Tip 1: Buy More Listening Hours
If you often hit that 15-hour cap, why not consider buying some extra time? You can grab an additional 10 hours for $12.99. Sure, it might feel a bit pricey, but if you're in the middle of a great story and don't want to wait for your hours to reset next month, it's a solid option that won't expire for a year.
- Go to your account page on Spotify and log in.
- Under the Subscription section, find Audiobook listening time.
- Click Top up and select how many hours you want to buy (10 hours for $12.99).
- Complete the purchase using your preferred payment method, such as credit/debit card, PayPal, or Google Play billing.
Tip 2: Vote for Removing the Audiobook Limit
Did you know Spotify really does pay attention to user feedback? If enough people request unlimited audiobook access, it could influence future changes. So go ahead—join the conversation and make your voice heard.
Tip 3: Try the Audiobook Access Plan
On a Duo or Family plan? You might be eligible for Spotify's Audiobook Access plan, which offers audiobook hours at a lower price. Just note—you'll likely need to cancel your current Premium subscription and switch to the free tier to activate it.
- Visit Spotify.com and log into your account.
- If you're on a Premium plan, cancel it first and wait for it to end.
- Navigate to the audiobooks page and scroll down to the Audiobook Access section.
- Click Get Started to begin the switch.
- You might even see a free trial offer for the first month—keep an eye out.
- Choose your payment method and finish setting it up.
Tip 4: Manage Your Listening Hours
A little planning goes a long way. Being mindful of how you use your 15 hours can make a big difference. Keep an eye on how many hours you have left—shown on each audiobook's detail page—and plan your sessions accordingly.
- Check your remaining hours by looking at the audiobook details in the app.
- Plan out what you want to listen to and when.
- Try setting dedicated audiobook times during your week to stay on track.
Tip 5: Purchase Audiobooks
If you want to listen without worrying about any time limits, buying audiobooks outright is a great choice. Once you've purchased a book, just download it to your device and listen at your own pace—no pressure, no limits.
You can now buy audiobooks directly via the Web Player or iOS app. Before purchasing, also check out other popular stores like Audible, Libby, or Hoopla for a wider selection. Keep in mind that prices usually start around $10 to $15 per book, but sales and discounts pop up from time to time.
- Visit open.spotify.com and log into your account.
- Use the search bar to find the audiobook you want to buy.
- Click on the audiobook to see its details and price.
- If there's a price (no "Included in Premium" tag), click the Buy button.
- Confirm you're logged into the right account.
- Enter your payment details and complete the purchase.
Tip 6: Record Audiobooks
Here's a clever workaround—record your audiobooks while you listen. That way, you can revisit your favorite chapters without using more listening time. It's perfect for replays or catching anything you missed.
For recording, tools like Audacity offer a free and easy solution, including a Timer Record feature to schedule recordings. Or try ViWizard Audio Capture, which can automatically record anything playing on your computer—including audiobooks—without complicated settings. Just hit play and let it handle the rest.
A multifunctional audio recording tool that captures any sound playing on your computer, including streaming music, live radio, game sounds, background music, and online meetings, with built-in auto-splitting and advanced editing features to save recordings in MP3, WAV, and other formats while maintaining the highest quality and embedding track details.
Bonus: Best Ways to Listen to Unlimited Audiobooks on (and off) Spotify
If you want to keep your favorite books forever, there's a simple fix: convert your audiobooks to MP3 files. This way, you can listen anytime you want—no limits, no waiting.
One great tool for this is ViWizard Spotify Music Converter. It works with audiobooks, music, and podcasts—while audiobooks still require an eligible subscription to access, other content can be converted regardless of your account type, even with a free account. It helps you save audio as MP3 files right on your PC or Mac, ready to transfer to other devices like MP3 players.
This means you can build your own audiobook library with no time limits. You can save and organize your favorite books just like normal audio files. It's perfect if you want to listen to your stories anytime, even offline.
Keep in mind, you'll need to spend a little time setting it up and learning how it works. But once you do, you'll have full control over your audiobooks—no more usual limits.
A brilliant Spotify music downloader designed to download and convert Spotify songs, playlists, albums, artists, podcasts, and audiobooks to MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, and M4B losslessly. The sound stays as clear as the original, and all track details are preserved, offering a seamless experience to enjoy your Spotify music offline on any player or device.
Step 1Download and Install ViWizard
First, download ViWizard Spotify Music Converter and install it on your computer. Once installed, open the program and log in to your Spotify account. Both free and Premium accounts work fine. The app includes the Spotify Web Player, so you can browse your audiobooks right inside ViWizard.
Step 2Select Audiobooks for Conversion
Find the audiobooks you want to keep forever. You can drag and drop them from the built-in Spotify player into ViWizard's window. Or, copy the audiobook's Spotify link and paste it into ViWizard's search bar. The audiobooks you pick will automatically be added to the conversion list.
Step 3Set Output Format and Quality
Before converting, choose how you want to save your audiobooks. Go to the menu (☰), then Preferences > Convert. MP3 format is a great choice because it works on most devices. You can also adjust the audio quality if you want. Organizing files by author or title is possible too, making your library easier to manage.
Step 4Start Conversion and Save Your Files
Hit the Convert button to begin. ViWizard will download and convert your audiobooks into MP3 files stored on your computer. When the process finishes, click the folder icon to find your files. Now you can listen anytime, without any time limits or subscription restrictions.
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Adam Gorden, the digital media specialist at ViWizard, is dedicated to providing the best solutions for digital media management, including audio and video conversion, file optimization, and media workflow enhancements.
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