Audible’s new $9 plan is the one I’ve wanted for years

Source: Android Authority

TL;DR

• Audible has launched a new $8.99‑per‑month Standard plan in the US and several other regions.
• The plan includes one audiobook per month and unlimited listening from a curated library, but you lose access to your audiobooks if you cancel.
• Audible says early testing drove strong sign‑ups, positioning the cheaper tier as an option for more casual listeners.

My Experience with Audible

I subscribed to Audible’s Premium plan for a while. It gave me one audiobook credit each month, and the titles I chose were mine to keep even after canceling—a nice touch. However, I didn’t listen to enough audiobooks to justify the price. Podcasts take up most of my audio time, and I rarely revisit books I bought years ago, so I eventually canceled.

The New Standard Plan

Audible has introduced a Standard plan priced at $8.99 per month in the US, with rollouts in the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, and France. The plan offers:

• One audiobook credit per month from Audible’s full catalog.
• Unlimited listening from a curated library that includes Audible Originals and nearly 200 titles previously available on Wondery Plus.

Ownership Trade‑off

With the Standard plan, you retain access to the selected audiobook only while your membership is active. If you cancel, you lose the title. This contrasts with the Premium Plus plan, where you can keep books permanently. For me, saving $6 per month outweighs the loss of permanent ownership for books I’ve likely already finished.

Market Context

Audible reports that early testing of the Standard plan in the UK and Australia produced a double‑digit percentage increase in new member sign‑ups compared with previous offerings. The move appears to be a response to growing competition from services like Spotify, which have been gaining audiobook market share.

I’ve been leaning on the audiobooks bundled with my Spotify subscription. While Spotify’s catalog isn’t as extensive as Audible’s, it’s sufficient for a casual listener and fits within an existing subscription.

Free Trial

Like the Premium Plus plan, the Standard plan offers a 30‑day free trial. You can learn more and sign up via Audible’s announcement page: Audible expands subscription offerings with new Standard membership plan.