Audible’s new $9 plan is the one I’ve wanted for years
Summary
Audible has unveiled a new $8.99-per-month Standard plan, offering one audiobook monthly and unlimited access to a curated library. This affordable option aims to attract casual listeners, though audiobooks are not retained after cancellation.
Key Insights
What's the key difference between Audible's Standard plan and Premium Plus plan?
The main difference is ownership of audiobooks. With the Standard plan ($8.99/month), you can select one audiobook per month to listen to as long as you maintain your membership, but you lose access to those audiobooks if you cancel. The Premium Plus plan ($14.95/month) gives you one credit per month to purchase any audiobook outright, meaning you keep those titles forever even after cancellation. Both plans include unlimited listening to a curated library of included titles.
Why would someone choose the cheaper Standard plan over Premium Plus if they lose access to audiobooks after canceling?
The Standard plan is designed for casual or lighter listeners who want affordable access to audiobooks without committing to ownership. At $8.99/month, it costs $6 less than Premium Plus and still provides one audiobook selection monthly plus unlimited listening to thousands of included titles in Audible's curated library. This makes it ideal for people who listen occasionally or want to sample different titles without the higher cost of permanent ownership. Audible's testing showed the plan drove double-digit increases in new member sign-ups, indicating strong appeal to price-conscious consumers.