Audible Plans & Prices Explained
Audible now has a cheaper Standard plan alongside Premium (formerly Premium Plus). Here is what every plan costs in price tiers, what you get for it, and how to pay less per book, per Audible's plans page in November 2026.
Audible’s prices got more complicated in 2026. A new Standard plan arrived in March, Premium Plus is being renamed Premium, and the old Plus plan closed to new members.
This page lays out every plan’s price tier and what you get for it, so you can work out your real cost per book. It’s part of our guide to how Audible works. All prices are Audible’s US list prices, checked on its plans and help pages in November 2026, shown as tiers because they change and Audible runs frequent promotions.
What is the Audible price?
Audible costs from under $10 a month for the Standard plan to the $20 to $25 a month range for Premium with 2 credits, as of November 2026. Annual Premium plans are billed once a year, in the $100 to $150 range for 12 credits and the $200 to $250 range for 24 credits.
Every Audible plan and price tier
| Plan (US) | Price tier, Nov 2026 | Billed | Books a month | Keep books? | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Under $10 | Monthly | 1 pick | No | 30 days |
| Premium, 1 credit | $10 to $20 | Monthly | 1 credit | Yes | 30 days |
| Premium, 2 credits | $20 to $25 | Monthly | 2 credits | Yes | Not listed |
| Premium Annual, 12 credits | $100 to $150 | Yearly | 12 credits up front | Yes | No |
| Premium Annual, 24 credits | $200 to $250 | Yearly | 24 credits up front | Yes | No |
| Audible Plus (existing members only) | Under $10 | Monthly | Plus Catalog only | No | Closed |
Sources: Audible’s plans page and its Premium, Standard and Plus help pages, checked November 2026. The 2-credit plan appears on Audible’s help pages but not on the main plans page. Prices may differ when you’re billed through the App Store or Google Play.
What each plan gives you for the money
Standard gives you one audiobook a month from the full collection, plus unlimited podcasts. It has no credits, picks don’t roll over, and your picks lock if you cancel. Some member-only sales are reserved for Premium.
Premium gives you credits to buy audiobooks you keep, unlimited listening to the Plus Catalog (Audible says more than 150,000 included titles), member-only sales and a member discount on every cash purchase. Unused credits roll over and expire 12 months after they’re issued.
Annual Premium gives you the same benefits with all the year’s credits up front. You can’t pause an annual plan, and there’s no free trial.
Cost per audiobook
The number that matters is what each book costs you. Here’s a rough guide based on the November 2026 list prices, if you use every credit or pick:
| Plan | Rough cost per audiobook |
|---|---|
| Standard | Under $10, but it’s a rental |
| Premium, 1 credit | $10 to $15 to keep |
| Premium, 2 credits | About $10 to $12 to keep |
| Premium Annual, 12 credits | About $12 to $13 to keep |
| Premium Annual, 24 credits | Under $10 to keep |
These are our own calculations from Audible’s list prices, rounded. Many popular audiobooks cost far more in cash than a credit does, which is why heavy listeners favor Premium. Your real cost goes up if credits expire unused.
How to choose the right plan
- Count your books. Look back at the last few months. One book a month points to Premium with 1 credit; two or more points to 2 credits or the 24-credit annual plan.
- Decide if you re-listen. If you like to replay favorites or build a library, you need Premium. If you listen once and move on, Standard is cheaper.
- Start monthly. Try the free trial and a month or two on a monthly plan before committing to a year.
- Switch when it makes sense. You can change plans, and switching from Premium to Standard keeps your existing credits with their original expiry dates, per Audible’s credits page.
If you mostly read rather than listen, Amazon’s ebook subscription might suit you better. See Audible vs Kindle Unlimited.
How to pay less for Audible
Watch for promotions. Audible runs limited-time offers, such as discounted first months on Standard or a reduced price for a year of Premium. They come with end dates and terms, so read them before you join.
Spend credits on long books. A credit buys any 1 credit title, whatever its length. Save credits for long, expensive audiobooks such as the epics in our best fantasy audiobooks list, and buy short books in sales.
Use the member discount. Premium members always pay less than the non-member price when buying with cash, per Audible’s help pages.
Pause instead of canceling. Monthly members can pause for 30, 60 or 90 days, up to 90 days in any 12 months, and keep their credits. See how to cancel Audible for pause steps.
Use the Plus Catalog. Premium includes thousands of titles at no extra cost. Check it before you spend a credit.
Try your library. Free library apps such as Libby lend audiobooks too, often with a wait. Our comparison of Audible vs Libby is coming soon.
Common mistakes
Paying for credits you don’t use. If credits are piling up, drop to a cheaper plan or pause.
Joining through the app store. Prices may differ when you’re billed through Apple or Google, and Android app sign-ups skip the free trial.
Buying a year before you know your habits. Annual plans can’t be paused and have no trial.
Expecting Prime to cover Audible. It doesn’t; they’re separate memberships.
Related guides
- How does Audible work?: plans, credits and what you keep
- Audible free trial: try before you pay
- The best audiobooks of 2026: where to spend your credits
Frequently asked questions
How much is Audible a month?
As of November 2026, Audible Standard is under $10 a month and Audible Premium with 1 credit is in the $10 to $20 a month range, per Audible's plans page. Premium with 2 credits is in the $20 to $25 range.
What is the cheapest Audible plan?
Audible Standard, launched in March 2026. It gives you one audiobook pick a month, but your picks lock if you cancel. Premium costs more but lets you keep what you buy with credits.
Is the Audible annual plan cheaper?
Per credit, yes. As of November 2026 the 12-credit annual plan works out a little cheaper per credit than paying monthly, and the 24-credit plan is cheaper still. Annual plans have no free trial and can't be paused.
Is Audible cheaper through Amazon Prime?
Prime doesn't include Audible or lower its price. Prime members new to Audible do get 2 titles with the Premium free trial instead of 1.
Does Audible cost more in the iPhone app?
It can. Audible's help pages say prices may differ if you're billed through the App Store or Google Play. Joining on the Audible website shows the standard prices.
What happened to Audible Plus?
Since March 3, 2026, new members can't sign up for Audible Plus, the catalog-only plan. Existing Plus members can keep it, per Audible's help pages.