As of October 2026, Audible costs $8.99 a month for Standard and $14.95 a month for Premium in the US, both after a 30 day free trial. Premium is also sold annually at $149.50 a year for 12 audiobooks or $229.50 a year for 24.
Audible's two monthly plans sound similar, but they work in completely different ways. One lets you borrow, the other lets you keep. Get that wrong and you can cancel and lose access to books you thought were yours. Here's how each plan works, from Audible's own membership page.
Audible plans and prices
| Plan | Price | What you get | Do you keep the books? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $8.99 a month | 1 audiobook selection a month | Only while you're a member |
| Premium | $14.95 a month | 1 credit a month plus the Plus Catalog | Yes, credit titles are yours |
| Premium Annual (12 audiobooks) | $149.50 a year | 12 credits for the year | Yes |
| Premium Annual (24 audiobooks) | $229.50 a year | 24 credits for the year | Yes |
Audible's page also showed a limited time offer of $99 for a year of Premium in October 2026, which it describes as like $8.25 a month, with terms. Offers like that come and go, so check the page on the day you sign up.
Standard: listen while subscribed
On Standard, Audible says you can select 1 audiobook a month from its entire collection and listen to it for as long as you're a member. You can buy more audiobooks at full price. Two rules matter, and both catch people out after they've been members for a while:
- Unused monthly selections don't roll over. If you forget to pick a book one month, that month's selection is gone.
- If you cancel, you lose access to the audiobooks you selected as a Standard member. They show a lock icon in your library and come back if you rejoin.
Premium: keep your audiobooks
Premium works on credits. Audible says you get 1 credit a month to buy any title from its entire collection, and every audiobook costs 1 credit, whatever its length or original price. Anything you buy with a credit is yours to keep, even if you cancel.
Premium also includes the Plus Catalog, which Audible describes as thousands of select Audible Originals, audiobooks and podcasts. You can keep Plus Catalog titles in your library while your membership is active and the title stays in the catalogue. Premium members also get member only sales and discounts on extra purchases, and can buy extra credits at a discount.
Credits expire: the rule to remember
Premium credits roll over month to month, but not forever. Audible says credits expire 12 months after they're issued, or when your membership is cancelled. So if you're stockpiling credits, spend them before you cancel, or you'll lose them. It's worth checking your credit balance every few months.
How the Audible free trial works
Audible says membership is free for 30 days. If you do nothing, it continues automatically, and Audible says it'll send you an email reminder before the trial ends. You can cancel at any time before the trial ends without being charged, and Audible says there are no commitments and no cancellation fees.
Where you can listen
Audible's page says you can listen in the free Audible app on iOS or Android, and on any Alexa enabled device, compatible Fire tablets, Kindles, Sonos devices and more. Audible describes its membership as giving you the world's largest selection of audiobooks, as well as podcasts and exclusive originals. Whichever plan you choose, the listening experience is the same: the difference is only whether you keep the books.
Can you switch plans later?
Yes, but how depends on where you signed up. Audible says that if you subscribed on its website, you contact customer care to switch memberships. If you subscribed in the Audible app, you check your app account's subscription settings to see which plans are available.
Which Audible plan is right for you?
- If you listen to one book a month and don't care about keeping it, Standard at $8.99 is the cheaper way in.
- If you want to build a library you keep, choose Premium at $14.95.
- If you listen to a book a month all year, compare Premium Annual against 12 monthly payments.
- If you get through two books a month, look at the 24 audiobook annual plan.
- Before cancelling Premium, spend any remaining credits.
If you'd rather not pay at all, my list of places to get free audiobooks is a good start, and these Audible alternatives cover other subscriptions worth comparing.
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My verdict
For most listeners, Premium at $14.95 a month is the better Audible plan, because the books are yours to keep and credits roll over for a year. Standard at $8.99 only suits people who listen to one book a month and are happy to lose access if they ever cancel. If you're a steady listener all year, look at the annual plans, and grab a limited time Premium offer if one's running.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Audible a month?
As of October 2026, Audible Standard is $8.99 a month and Premium is $14.95 a month in the US, after a 30 day free trial.
How much is Audible for a year?
Audible lists Premium Annual at $149.50 a year for 12 audiobooks or $229.50 a year for 24 audiobooks.
Do I keep my Audible books if I cancel?
Books bought with cash or credits are yours to keep. You lose access to Plus Catalog titles and to any selections made as a Standard member.
Do Audible credits expire?
Yes. Audible says credits expire 12 months after they're issued or when your membership is cancelled.
Does the Standard monthly selection roll over?
No. Audible says the monthly selection on Standard doesn't roll over to the next month.
What is the Audible Plus Catalog?
It's a collection of thousands of select Audible Originals, audiobooks and podcasts included with Premium, which you can keep in your library while your membership is active.
Can I buy extra Audible credits?
Audible says Premium members can buy extra credits at a discount for as long as they're members.
How long is the Audible free trial?
Audible membership is free for 30 days, and Audible says it sends a reminder email before the trial ends.
