Audible Launches New Unlimited Subscription Tier Audible Plus

Audible has announced a new service that will provide unlimited listening to a curated library of audio entertainment. Audible Plus will provide subscribers access to 68,000 hours of content from more than 11,000 original productions, audiobooks, and podcasts. From a report: The new offering will be available for $7.95 per month. Audible will continue to offer its credit-based premium service for $14.95 per month. "Audible has always kind of been on the crux of innovation in this space," Rachel Ghiazza, exec VP and head of U.S. content for Audible, told Variety. "For us this is an opportunity to highlight really well-crafted storytelling." Existing Audible members will be able to access the new Plus library today. New users will be able to subscribe to the Audible Plus service beginning Aug. 27.

So, what's the difference in the two unlimited?

[cayenne8]

so....what do you get on the $14.95/mo that you don't get on the $7.95/mo program?

Re:So, what's the difference in the two unlimited?

[Jhon]

"so....what do you get on the $14.95/mo that you don't get on the $7.95/mo program?"

You own the audiobooks. In other words, if you end your subscription you still have access to your books. And you can buy books at the rate of 1 credit per month... or 2 credits per month for about $20/mo.

Plus they have "sales" where you can buy a bundle of 3 credits for various prices (all better than just waiting a few months to get the credits).

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[nospam007]

"And you can buy books at the rate of 1 credit per month... or 2 credits per month for about $20/mo."

I usually just download one for free with my Kindle Unlimited, to listen to while doing chores around the house.
For 20 bucks I'd hire somebody to do it and read the fucking book.

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[Xenx]

Good luck hiring someone at $1-2/hr, based on average book length, to do your chores then.

Re:So, what's the difference in the two unlimited?

[chrylis]

Based on "68,000 hours", virtually no actual books are included. It's like advertising "Amazon Books Unlimited" where only Kindle Unlimited books are available.

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[GrahamJ]

Ya, not to mention they include podcasts in that figure.

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[lessSockMorePuppet]

I buy a book, get a PDF of it, and have @Voice Aloud Reader read it to me.

It's a one-person labor of love, and it's completely worth the premium license to support.

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[TechHSV]

They mention "Audible produced", so I believe the unlimited listening, will be limited to specific titles. Similar to the Kindle Unlimited service.

I'll probably switch for a bit, because I love the idea of being able to listen to a book for a bit, then decide if I want to continue or not. Often times I'm an hour in and the book just doesn't resonate.

The problem is that now Amazon curates what I can listen to much more specifically. I dislike giving them more power, but in reality if I'm paying $8 a

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[kqs]

Looks like few audio books are in the 7.95/mo "plus" list.

The "plus" list seems to have older books, all from some years ago, plus some recent stuff that audible owns. You can listen to is as long as you have a subscription, but when you end the subscription you lose access.

The 14.95/mo or more (there are different plans) gets you X books per year (from their entire catalog) which you own and can listen to even when you stop paying, modulo the usual "as long as audible stays in business" shenanigans which

Like Netflix Streaming

[rdobbs]

Similar to video streaming services, none of the content you want will be available.

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[NFN_NLN]

> Similar to video streaming services, none of the content you want will be available.

Jesus, what kind of stuff are you into then? - Youporn Admin

Kinda Sortof

[aviators99]

"Audible has always kind of been on the crux of innovation in this space," Rachel Ghiazza, exec VP and head of U.S. content for Audible, told Variety.

I wonder if "kind of" was a choreographed to sound folksy, or if she might catch some flack for using it. I don't understand the nuances of PR.

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[GrahamJ]

Ya or maybe internally she’s been fighting for the painfully obvious idea that all of Audible should be an all-you-can-eat service. The credit thing sucks.

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[Angry Coward]

It works out rather well value wise if you don't' want a ton of new stuff constantly. I keep subscribing for a month or two, "buying" the handful of titles I really want, then canceling. Usually get a promotional rate because they want to lure me back for some reason? I feel like you don't need big data at this point to know that I'm not going to just keep the subscription running. Having access to all the dreck I can make time for for a flat monthly fee is a much less appealing offer than listening to

Too many options

[stikves]

I am a current subscriber, and the number of options is getting a bit too large.

First, there is the monthly/annual subscription that existed even before Amazon acquisition.
Then, there is a "Kindle Unlimited" subscription on Amazon webpage that gives some catalog titles for free on Audible .... But this is not mentioned on Audible landing page, so you need to check two different sites
Then, there are Kindle upgrades

Add in occasional promotions, always ongoing promotions, monthly free content (which is usually lackluster), separate "Romance" subscriptions.
And now this...

It looks like the folks in charge finance are just trying to make it very difficult on purpose. They should simplify, probably merging Audible and Kindle and offer one subscription + one purchase option. The current state is a mess.

Scribd

[TomClancy_Jack]

I'll be curious to see what the difference in libraries is with this and Scribd is. Scribd has a very similar price point and unlimited plan (and not unlimited library). A few great top-tier books and a few that I was glad I tried that I hadn't heard of sooner. I now 'read' about 30 books a year since I went to audiobooks a couple years ago.

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[nagora]

I'll be curious to see what the difference in libraries is with this and Scribd is.

Mainly that Scribd's content is all stolen.

Often cheaper to buy kindle book and add audio

[caseih]

$15 a month under the normal plan "buys" just one book each month. I find it's often cheaper for me to not have an audible subscription at all, but to to buy the kindle books I'm interested in, and add the audible to it for a reduced cost. Often it comes out to less than $15. Occasionally there's a book that's either way expensive, or not on Kindle, so your mileage will vary.

If you've got unused Audible credits you don't want to lose, you can switch your account to a $5/year sort of maintenance subscriptio

Reading?

[AndyKron]

I enjoy reading and it's free now that I know how