As an avid reader and book lover, I’ve tried out many different reading subscriptions over the years. After trying out all the reading subscriptions available on Amazon, it’s clear that there’s one option that stands out from the rest. Whether you’re an ebook or audiobook fan, there’s a subscription that will best suit your needs. Check out these great Goodreads alternatives for bookworms and book lovers.
Kindle Unlimited
Kindle Unlimited is a subscription to ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines offered by Amazon. You can read ebooks on the Kindle app or a Kindle device, such as the Kindle Paperwhite. A Kindle Unlimited subscription gives you instant access to four million ebooks. You can have 20 Kindle Unlimited titles in your library at any given time, and the subscription costs $11.99 per month.
I tried Kindle Unlimited for a discounted three-month subscription, but ultimately didn’t renew my membership. While Kindle Unlimited boasts an extensive catalog, I couldn’t find some of the books that were on my reading list. Instead, I found a lot of books by smaller authors or self-published authors that weren’t in my favorite genres. There are plenty of cozy romance and mystery books on the platform, but those aren’t the kinds of books I typically read.
Additionally, the popular titles on Kindle Unlimited don’t align with my reading interests either. While the subscription gives access to some big titles like Rebecca Yaros’ Fourth Wing and Rachel Gillig’s One Dark Window, these books were never on my radar.
Kindle Unlimited seems like a great option at first, but there are more reasons why a Kindle Unlimited subscription isn't worth it.
Audible
Audiobook subscription gives Audible Amazon gives users one audiobook credit each month, plus additional discounts on audiobooks. A one-month subscription costs $14.95. You also get access to exclusive podcasts with the subscription, including original podcasts by Elizabeth Bank. Audible offers a range of classic literature narrated by celebrities, like Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol narrated by Hugh Grant. Finally, Audible offers exclusive books. If you’re a fan of The Martian by Andy Weir, Audible has an exclusive to Project Hail Mary, another book by Andy Weir.
I signed up for a free trial of Audible a few months ago, where I got two free audiobook credits that I kept even after the free trial ended. I love listening to audiobooks while doing chores, walking, or doing hobbies. Audiobooks tend to be expensive too, so it was a great alternative to buying them or waiting in a long queue at the library. In the end, I didn’t renew because I found it too expensive. I’d rather wait a few months to listen to a book for free than pay $15 a month for an additional audiobook. Check out our Audible vs. Scribd comparison: Which audiobook subscription service is better?
Prime Reading
Prime Reading Included with Amazon Prime. This provides free access to e-books, comics, audiobooks, and magazines. It offers a wide range of classic literature, romance, and mystery genres, all available for download on the Kindle app or Kindle devices. Featured titles include the first book in the Harry Potter series.
This subscription also includes: Amazon First Readsallowing readers to choose one new title from our editors' picks for free via e-book form each month. This month's titles include popular authors such as Jane Green.
I recently checked out Prime Reading to read Guierllmo Del Toro’s new horror miniseries The Boy in the Box. While this is a great perk to have with Prime, I don’t find myself using it very often, and I don’t see myself keeping a Prime membership just for the reading benefits. Amazon First Reads is a great option if you want to read new releases as soon as they come out, but my list of must-read books is already so long that I can’t justify downloading any of these titles.
There are a bunch of other Amazon Prime benefits that you may have overlooked as well.
Which subscription offers the best value?
In general, the starting point is Prime Reading because it’s a free subscription if you already have Prime. At this point, I wouldn’t renew my Kindle Unlimited or Audible subscriptions for a few reasons. I don’t think the Kindle Unlimited catalog is worth the price given my reading interests, Audible is a bit pricey for a single audiobook, and I much prefer reading a physical book. So, I prefer to use my local library and supplement that with Prime Reading when I can.
Amazon offers a variety of reading subscriptions to suit your reading style. If you want to read more, check out Audible , Kindle Unlimited , and Prime Reading . While I’m not an active subscriber to all of the options right now, I’m sure I’ll be back in the future to beat the long queues at my local library by getting access to some audiobooks and ebooks. Check out the best ebook subscription services right now , compared.
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