QUESTION

What is the cheapest way to listen to audiobooks?

0
0 upvotes0 downvotes
Asked May 24, 2026Last updated May 26, 2026Answers can change over time.
Ask another question
Answer99% confidence

The absolute cheapest way to listen to audiobooks is for free ($0) using your local library card, followed by public domain apps ($0), daily deal sites ($1–$5 per book), and budget subscriptions ($8–$12/month).

Here is how to get audiobooks for free or extremely cheap:

1. Free Library Apps (Libby and Hoopla)
If you have a local library card, you can download apps like Libby (by OverDrive) or Hoopla. You simply link your library card to borrow audiobooks completely free of charge. Libby operates like a traditional library where you might have to join a waitlist for popular titles, while Hoopla offers instant access but usually caps your borrows at a certain number per month.

2. Free Public Domain Books (LibriVox)
If you enjoy classic literature (books published before 1929, like Pride and Prejudice or Dracula), LibriVox offers completely free audiobooks. These are read by volunteers, so the narration quality can vary, but it is 100% free with no library card required.

3. Daily Deal Sites ($1–$5 per book)
If you want to own your audiobooks without a monthly subscription, Chirp Books is the best option. They offer limited-time daily deals on popular audiobooks, typically ranging from $0.99 to $4.99. You purchase them directly and keep them forever. BookBub also offers a similar daily newsletter for audiobook deals across platforms like Apple Books and Google Play.

4. Budget Subscriptions ($8–$12/month)
If you listen to multiple books a month and want a massive modern library, skip the $15/month premium plans (like Audible Premium Plus) and look at budget tiers:

  • Everand (formerly Scribd): For about $11.99/month, you get an "unlimited" subscription to audiobooks and ebooks. (Note: they do temporarily throttle your access to highly popular titles if you listen to too many in one month).
  • Audible Plus: For about $7.95/month, you get unlimited access to a rotating catalog of Audible Originals and older titles. It does not include credits for the newest blockbusters, but it is half the price of their main plan.
  • Spotify Premium: If you already pay ~$10.99/month for Spotify Premium, you get 15 hours of audiobook listening included per month from their massive catalog. For many, this makes their audiobook habit effectively "free."