An Amazon service, Audible is one of the largest audiobook websites and is home to an ever-increasing library of content. The audiobooks on there can be used on a range of different electronic devices, including smart speakers like Alexa, tablets and mobile phones.
Due to the increasing popularity of Amazon and its peripheral services, it is no surprise then that this has become one of the most visited platforms for the purpose of purchasing audiobooks. The Audible app is easy to use and makes listening to a wide range of content a straightforward task.
How it works
First you need to sign up to the service. In order to be able to do this you must have an Amazon account. If you do not already have one then do not worry, as this process is pretty straightforward and is free to do.
While most people choose to sign up to the basic package, there is the option to sign up to a slightly more expensive Premium Plus package. This provides you with access to any premium title each and every month, as well as discounts for purchasing any of the other premium titles that are on Audible.
However, there is the option of a 30-day free trial so that you can try the audiobook service out and decide if it is something that you want to commit to. If having tried this trial, you decide that you would like to use the service and are further or higher education, then you can get an Audible student discount here.
The good bits
Some of the best aspects of the Audible service are listed below and go to show just why it has become so popular with so many people.
- Has lots of different titles – more than 180,000
- It is great for avid readers
- The return policy is easy to use – audiobooks can be exchanged as a long as 1 year after purchase
- The audio is very good quality – some books are even narrated by celebrities, such as Mel Robbins, Stephen Fry, and Michelle Obama
- It works on different electronic devices – Amazon Kindle, Amazon Alexa, Android and iOS tablets and smartphones
- Has a Whisper Sync feature – syncs audio listening to an e reading device
- Contains summarized versions of audiobooks
- There is the option to free membership
The bad bits
Some of the not so good bits about using Audible and listening to audiobooks via the service are listed below.
- It is expensive
- The credits expire when the subscription service is cancelled
- There is no free account option
Is it worth it?
While the service provided by Audible is excellent, it is of course not for everyone. This is especially true for those people that are on a tight budget. Where it is good, is the amount of content that it provides you with to enjoy. So for anyone that enjoys reading or listening to audiobooks and is not bound by a strict budget, Audible is definitely worth it.
Ellen Diamond did her degree in psychology at the University of Edinburgh. She has a particular interest in mental health and well-being.
