Is Audible Free? How the 30 Day Trial and Membership Work

So the real questions are what you get during those 30 days, and what you're left with if you leave. The answer depends on which membership you try, because Audible's two monthly plans work differently once you cancel. Here's how the trial works, the difference between the plans, and what stays in your library.

How Audible's free trial works

• 30 days free for new customers, on the plan you choose.
• It continues automatically if you do nothing at the end.
• A reminder email: Audible says it emails you before the trial ends.
• No commitments: Audible says there are no commitments, and if you cancel before the trial ends, nothing is taken from your card.

You can listen on the Audible app for iOS and Android, on Alexa devices, compatible Fire tablets, Kindles and Sonos speakers.

Standard vs Premium at a glance

What you get	Standard	Premium
Monthly title	1 audiobook a month to listen to while you're a member	1 credit a month for any title, yours to keep
Included catalogue	No	Yes, the Plus Catalog with thousands of included titles
Unused monthly picks	Don't roll over	Credits roll over until they expire or you cancel
After you cancel	Selected titles go with the membership	Titles bought with credits stay yours
Free trial	30 days	30 days

This is the detail most people miss. On Standard, Audible says you can listen to the audiobooks you select for as long as you're a member. On Premium, a title you choose with a credit is yours to keep, even if you cancel.

The catch: the Plus Catalog is borrowed, not owned

The included Plus Catalog feels like free listening, but Audible says you keep those titles only as long as your membership is active and the title stays in the catalogue. Titles can leave it, and they disappear from your library when you cancel.

So if there's a book you want to keep, use your monthly credit on it rather than relying on the Plus Catalog. That's the most useful thing to do during a free trial.

How to get the most from the free trial

1. Choose the Premium trial if you want a title to keep after cancelling.
2. Use your credit early on the audiobook you want most.
3. Listen to Plus Catalog titles alongside it, knowing they're on loan.
4. Put a reminder in your calendar a few days before day 30.
5. Cancel before the trial ends if you don't want to carry on, and keep the title you chose with your credit.

Can you get Audible free a second time?

The trial is described as being for new customers only, so it isn't something you can repeat whenever you like. If you're not a new customer, don't expect the free offer to appear on your account.

Free ways to listen if Audible isn't for you

If what you want is free listening, the other route is your public library. Apps like Libby let you borrow audiobooks with a library card. My guide to the best audiobook apps compares the options, and my roundup of Audible alternatives covers services that work differently.

Changing plans after the trial

Audible says that if you joined on its website, you can contact customer care to switch memberships. If you joined in the app, you'll need your app account settings to see which plans you can move to. Check this before your trial ends so you're on the plan you want.

How Audible credits work

If you take the Premium trial, credits are the part to understand. Audible says every audiobook is worth one credit, however long it runs, and that includes bestsellers. You get one credit a month, and Audible says credits roll over from month to month until they expire or you cancel. Its FAQ also notes that some credits do expire, so check the expiry in your account rather than saving them up for too long.

Audible also offers annual Premium options with 12 or 24 audiobooks a year. Audible's plans page shows the 30 day trial on the monthly plans, so start there if you only want to test it.

Where you can listen

Audible's FAQ lists the Audible app on iOS and Android, Alexa devices, compatible Fire tablets, Kindles and Sonos speakers. Download titles to your phone before a journey so you're not relying on mobile data.

A simple rule for the trial

Choose your credit title on day one and download it. Then treat the Plus Catalog as a bonus. If you get to day 28 and haven't listened much, cancel, and you'll still keep the title you picked with your credit on Premium.

And if you'd rather not keep track of dates, look for Audible's reminder email near the end of the trial, which it says it sends before the trial ends.

My verdict: Audible isn't free, but the 30 day trial is worth taking if you're a new customer. Pick Premium so your credit gets you a title to keep, use it straight away, and set a reminder before day 30.

Frequently asked questions

Is Audible free?

Not long term. New customers get a 30 day free trial, and Audible says it continues as a membership unless you cancel before it ends. The Audible app is a free download.

Do I keep my Audible books if I cancel?

On Premium, titles you choose with a credit are yours to keep. Plus Catalog titles stay only while you're a member, and Standard titles go with the membership.

Do I lose anything if I cancel the Audible trial in time?

Audible says you can cancel anytime before the trial ends, and nothing is taken from your card if you do. It also emails you a reminder before the trial ends.

What is the Audible Plus Catalog?

It's a collection of thousands of included Audible Originals, audiobooks and podcasts that Premium members can stream or download while their membership is active.

How many credits do you get with Audible?

Audible's Premium membership gives you one credit a month, and every audiobook is worth one credit whatever its length. Credits roll over until they expire or you cancel.