Quick Links
Key Takeaways
- Kindle Unlimited offers four million books for $11.99/month, but might lack popular or preferred titles.
- Audible provides one audiobook credit/month for $14.95, but may be too expensive for regular use.
- Prime Reading, which is included with Amazon Prime, offers free ebooks, comics, and magazines.
As an avid reader, I’ve tried out many different reading subscriptions over the years. Amazon offers three reading subscriptions, and I’ve figured out which ones are worth it.
Kindle Unlimited
Kindle Unlimited is an ebook, audiobook, and magazine subscription offered by Amazon. You can read the ebooks on the Kindle app or a Kindle device, like a Kindle Paperwhite. A Kindle Unlimited subscription grants you access to four million ebooks instantly. You can have 20 Kindle Unlimited titles in your library at a given time, and a subscription costs $11.99 per month.
I tried out Kindle Unlimited with a three-month discounted subscription, but I ultimately didn’t end up renewing my membership. While Kindle Unlimited boasts an extensive catalog, I couldn’t find books on my read list. Rather, I found lots of books by smaller or self-published authors that weren’t in my preferred genres. There are tons of romance and cozy mystery books on the platform, but these aren’t the types of books I typically read.
Additionally, the popular titles on Kindle Unlimited don’t match my reading interests, either. While a subscription grants access to some big titles like Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros and One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig, these books have never been on my radar.
Kindle Unlimited seems like a great option initially, but there are even more reasons why a Kindle Unlimited subscription might not be worth it.
Audible
Amazon’s Audible audiobook subscription grants users one audiobook credit each month, along with additional discounts on audiobooks. A one-month subscription is $14.95. You can access exclusive podcasts with a subscription, too, including Elizabeth Bank’s Audible Original podcast. Audible offers a host of classic literature narrated by celebrities, like A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens narrated by Hugh Grant. Finally, Audible has exclusive books. If you’re a fan of The Martian by Andy Weir, Audible exclusively has Project Hail Mary, which is another book by Andy Weir.
I signed up for a free trial of Audible a few months ago, where I got two free credits for audiobooks that I got to keep even after the free trial ended. I love listening to audiobooks when doing chores, going on walks, or working on hobbies. Audiobooks tend to be expensive, as well, so it was a great alternative to buying them or waiting on a long hold list from the library. Ultimately, though, I didn’t renew the subscription because I found it too expensive. I’d rather wait a few months to listen to a book for free than pay $15 per month for one audiobook.
Prime Reading
Prime Reading is included with an Amazon Prime subscription. This offers free access to ebooks, comic books, audiobooks, and magazines. They offer a wide selection of classic literature, romance, and mystery genres all available for download on the Kindle app or Kindle devices. Notable titles include the first Harry Potter book.
This subscription also features Amazon First Reads, allowing readers to pick one new title from the editors’ picks for free via ebook form each month. This month’s titles include popular authors like Jane Green.
I recently checked out Prime Reading to read Guierllmo Del Toro’s new short horror series The Boy in the Box. While this is a nice perk to get with Prime, I don’t find myself using it often, nor do I see myself solely keeping a Prime membership to reap the reading benefits. Amazon First Reads is a cool choice if you like to read new releases as they debut, but my list of books to read is so long already that I can’t justify downloading any of these titles.
There are a bunch of other Amazon Prime benefits you’ve probably overlooked, too.
Which Subscription Offers the Best Value?
Overall, the place to start is with Prime Reading because it’s free if you have a Prime subscription. At this point, I will not be renewing a Kindle Unlimited or Audible subscription for a few reasons. I don’t think Kindle Unlimited’s catalog is worth it based on my reading interests, Audible is a bit pricey for a single audiobook, and I vastly prefer reading a physical book. Therefore, I’d rather use my local library and supplement with Prime Reading when I can.
Amazon offers different reading subscriptions to match 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 now, I’m sure in the future, I’ll return to combat the long wait lists at my local library for certain audiobooks and ebooks.
