An Audible membership will give you access to over 425,000 audiobooks. While some people prefer reading a physical book, I am the type of person who doesn’t have the attention span for that. I much rather listen to an audiobook in the car or on a run. It also seems like I comprehend better when I listen to a book as opposed to reading a book.
Whether you have the same preference for consuming audio as me, or would just like to experiment with audiobooks in general, I recommend signing up for an Audible membership to get access to the best collection of audiobooks around. Get 2 free audiobooks
Audible Membership Benefits
Audible members receive monthly or annual Audible credits, depending on the type of membership plan they are signed up for. One credit is good for one audiobook. In addition to these credits, Audible membership benefits include the ability to rollover credits, a 30% member discount on any audiobook purchase, and the option to exchange audiobooks.
- Rollover Audible Credits: A limited number of unused credits can be rolled over into the next month or year, depending on which membership plan you have. This is especially relevant when you aren’t able to use up all your credits before getting more.
- 30% Member Discount: All Audible members can purchase any Audible audiobook at a 30% discount. I use this all the time to buy audiobooks that are priced less than the value of a credit.
- No Hassle Audiobook Exchanges: Audible members can return titles they are unsatisfied with for up to 1 year after the original purchase date. This Audible benefit is fantastic. I probably return 20% of my purchases because some books just aren’t for me.
Cheapest Audible Membership Plan
The price of Audible membership plans are detailed below. Audible advertises
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Yearly Cost | Credits per Year | Cost per Cerdit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Monthly | $14.95 | $179.40 | 12 | $14.95 |
| Silver Bimonthly | $7.00 | $84.00 | 6 | $14.00 |
| Gold Annual | $12.46 | $149.50 | 12 | $12.46 |
| Platinum Monthly | $22.95 | $275.40 | 24 | $11.48 |
| Platinum Annual | $19.13 | $229.50 | 24 | $9.56 |
1. Audible Gold Monthly Membership
The Audible Gold Monthly membership costs $14.95 per month for 1 credit. Members receive 1 credit every month. You essentially pay $14.95 for each credit with the Audible Gold Monthly membership plan. The yearly price of the Gold Monthly plan is $179.40 which is $29.90 more than you would pay with the Gold Annual plan.
2. Audible Gold Annual Membership
The Audible Gold Annual membership costs $149.50 per year for 12 credits. Members receive 12 credits every year. You essentially pay $12.46 for each credit with the Audible Gold Annual membership plan. You save $2.49 per credit with the Gold Annual plan compared to the Gold Monthly plan.
3. Audible Platinum Monthly Membership
The Audible Platinum Monthly membership costs $22.95 per month for 2 credits. Members receive 2 credits every month. You essentially pay $11.84 for each credit with the Audible Platinum Monthly membership plan. The yearly price of the Platinum Monthly plan is $275.40 which is $45.90 more than you would pay with the Platinum Annual plan.
4. Audible Platinum Annual Membership
The Audible Platinum Annual membership costs $229.50 per year for 24 credits. Members receive 24 credits every year. You essentially pay $9.56 for each credit with the Audible Platinum Annual membership. You save $2.90 per credit with the Platinum Annual plan compared to the Platinum Monthly plan. The Platinum Annual plan is the Audible plan with the cheapest price per credit.
5. Audible Silver Bimonthly Membership
The Audible Silver Bimonthly membership costs $14.00 every other month for 1 credit. Members receive 1 credit every other month. You essentially pay $14.00 for each credit with the Audible Silver membership plan. The yearly price of the Silver plan is $84.00 which makes it the cheapest Audible plan available.
Audible 3 Extra Credits
Audible will occasionally offer members who ran out of credits the option to buy an additional 3 extra credits at a discounted rate. The promotion is usually $35.88 for 3 extra credits plus tax. This is just $11.96 per credit, making it one of the cheapest options to buy credits outside of the Platinum plans.
If you are not signed up for the Platinum Annual or Platinum Monthly plan, I highly recommend taking advantage of this Audible promotion if available.
What is the Cheapest Audible Plan?
This question has two answers. The Audible Platinum Annual membership plan has the cheapest price per credit whereas the Audible Silver membership plan has the cheapest overall yearly cost.
Therefore if you are an avid reader and will listen to 24 or more books per year, go with the Platinum Annual plan. Audiobook credits with Platinum Annual plan are the cheapest possible price offered by Audible.
On the other hand, if you want to have an Audible membership without a huge financial commitment, the Silver plan is for you. At just $84 for a year, you can enjoy 6 audiobooks per year. You have the option to supplement your plan with the 3 extra credits promotion when needed. I am currently an Audible Silver plan member.
Is Audible Part of Amazon Prime?
Did you know that Audible is owned by Amazon? My hope, and I’m sure the hope of many others, is that one day Audible becomes part of Amazon Prime.
Unfortunately for now, Audible is not part of Amazon Prime. Further, there is no Audible discount with Prime. As far as I know, there is no Audible discount for students either.
Is Audible Worth It?
If you’re like me and prefer to read by listening to audiobooks, then Audible it totally worth it. A lot of people who start out listening to podcasts will eventually discover the audiobook world. That’s exactly what happened to me. I was sick of listening to the radio on my commute to work, so I started listening to podcasts, and soon-after discovered Audible audiobooks.
Audible is the leader in the audiobook industry. There are Audible membership plans for every budget. With benefits such as audiobook exchange, credit rollover, and a 30% member discount, Audible is unmatched in its ability to provide a massive audiobook inventory at a reasonable price.
If you don’t already have an Audible membership, get two free audiobooks