Is Audible Free or Included with Prime? The Complete Guide

How Amazon Prime and Audible Work Together

I would separate Amazon Prime from Audible first. They both sit inside the Amazon ecosystem, but they are built for different purposes: Prime is a broad membership for shopping, entertainment, and reading perks, while Audible is a dedicated service for audiobooks and spoken-word audio.

What is Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime is Amazon's all-in-one membership program. It combines shopping convenience, streaming entertainment, and reading benefits under one subscription. Common Prime benefits include:

• Fast delivery: Eligible items may qualify for free Same-Day, One-Day, or Two-Day delivery.
• Prime Video: Members can stream movies, series, Amazon Originals, and selected sports content.
• Prime Reading: Members can access a rotating selection of ebooks, magazines, comics, and some titles with audio-friendly reading experiences.
• Member-only deals: Prime also includes exclusive discounts, Prime Day deals, and savings across parts of the Amazon ecosystem. 

The important detail is that Prime Reading is not the same as Audible. Prime can give you some reading and entertainment benefits, but it does not automatically unlock a full Audible membership.

What is Audible

Audible is Amazon's audio entertainment service for audiobooks, podcasts, Audible Originals, and other spoken-word content. I would treat it as a separate audiobook platform, not as a default feature inside Prime.

Here is the easiest way to understand Audible's main listening options:

Is Audible Free with Prime Membership?

No. Audible is not included with Amazon Prime, so being a Prime member does not automatically give you a full Audible membership. It is easy to mix them up because you can use the same Amazon account to sign in, but Prime and Audible are separate services when it comes to benefits and billing.

Hidden Audible Perks for Prime Members

Although Audible is not included with Prime, eligible new Audible customers with Prime can usually get a better trial offer: 30 days of Audible Premium Plus for free, plus 2 audiobook credits. Each credit can be used for one eligible audiobook, and titles redeemed with credits generally stay in your Audible library. 

The important thing to remember is that this is a one-time trial perk, not a monthly Prime benefit or a permanently free Audible membership. After the trial ends, Audible renews as a separate subscription, with Premium Plus commonly priced at $14.95/month. So if you only want to try Audible for free, it is worth checking your renewal date before the trial ends. 

Note: In addition to Prime, Amazon also offers Kindle-exclusive subscription plans such as Kindle Unlimited, and both include partial audiobook programs. If you want to know the differences between the two in terms of audiobook benefits, you can refer to the offcial comparison between Prime Reading vs Kindle Unlimited services.

Does Audible Offer a Free Trial?

Yes, Audible offers a free trial for new customers. In most cases, new users can try Audible for 30 days. If you are an eligible Amazon Prime member and a new Audible customer, you can usually start an Audible Premium Plus trial with 2 audiobook credits. A standard trial for non-Prime new users usually includes 1 credit. Each credit can be used to redeem one eligible premium audiobook, and the trial also gives you access to included titles in the Plus Catalog.

To use the Audible free trial, sign in with your Amazon account, go to the Audible trial page, choose the free trial offer, and confirm your payment method. The payment method is used for renewal after the trial, not as an upfront membership charge during the free trial. Once the trial starts, you can use your credit to redeem an audiobook and browse included titles in the Plus Catalog. 

The main thing to remember is that Audible's free trial is not permanently free. If you do not want to keep paying after 30 days, cancel before the trial ends from your Audible Account Details page. Audiobooks redeemed with credits generally stay in your library after cancellation, but Plus Catalog titles are available only while your membership is active.

Tips: You can use BookFab Audible Converter to download your purchased audiobooks as MP3/M4A for personal backup. 

Audible Membership Options and Pricing

The table below summarizes the most popular Audible plans, their prices, and what each plan includes. Audible also offers annual membership options, and you can check the official Audible help page for the full list of current plans and benefits.

There are no exclusive discounts on Audible memberships for Prime members, but promotions like extended free trials often coincide with major sales events, such as Prime Day or Black Friday. Additionally, Audible occasionally offers seasonal deals that can further reduce the cost for new and returning users alike.

Best Audiobook Alternative for Prime Members

If you do not want to keep a separate Audible membership after the free trial, Prime still gives you a few practical ways to enjoy books and audio content. 

Prime Reading

Prime Reading gives members unlimited access to a rotating catalog of over 3,000 ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and comics. Prime members also enjoy early access to a free, newly released title each month through Amazon First Reads, allowing them to discover new books before general release.

Prime Reading is a fantastic way to enjoy a mix of written and audio content without extra fees. The selection updates regularly, keeping the content fresh and appealing for readers with diverse tastes.

Amazon Music Unlimited

Amazon Music Unlimited now includes one Audible audiobook per month for subscribers in the U.S., UK, and Canada. This integration creates a seamless experience for both music and audiobook lovers, providing:

• Access to over 100 million songs.
• Top podcasts ad-free.
• A vast library of audiobooks, including enduring classics and contemporary hits.

Subscribers can listen to their selected audiobook throughout the billing cycle and continue enjoying it afterward or choose a new title the following month. This option adds value to Prime members who subscribe to Amazon Music Unlimited.

For frequent listeners, combining Amazon Music Unlimited with an Audible membership provides a comprehensive audio entertainment package, offering endless music, audiobooks, and podcast choices all in one place.

Additional Tips for Maximizing Audible Benefits

1. Use Credits Wisely: Premium Plus members receive credits each month. Save them for more expensive audiobooks to maximize value.
2. Explore Daily Deals: Audible offers discounted titles every day. Checking these deals can help you expand your library affordably.
3. Return or Exchange Titles: Audible allows members to exchange or return audiobooks if they’re unsatisfied with their selections.

Listen to Audible Audiobooks on Any Device with BookFab

During your Audible free trial, you may find that some of your favorite titles can only be played in the Audible app, making it difficult to move them to an MP3 player or create a personal backup. 

BookFab offers a way around this restriction. BookFab Audible Converter is a desktop tool that saves your audiobooks in widely supported formats such as MP3 and M4A. This way, you can back up your own Audible audiobooks for permitted personal use, or convert them into more common formats for offline listening on other devices.

Step 1: Install BookFab and Sign In to Your Account

Download BookFab Audible Converter on your computer. When you launch the program for the first time, open the built-in browser and sign in to your Audible account. You will see your Audible library appear inside the interface.

Step 2: Open the Audiobooks You Want to Convert

Scroll through your Audible library in BookFab and click on a book you want to convert. A Confirm Download window will appear. In this window, choose the output format you prefer and set the audio quality by selecting the desired bitrate.

Once you are satisfied with the settings, click Download Now.

Step 3: Check Your Downloads

Open the Download Manager to view the books that are currently being processed and to access the files when they are ready. If you want to manage Audible titles, switch to the Library section.

FAQ

Conclusion

So, is Audible free with Prime? No. For Prime members, the best choice depends on how often you listen. Prime Reading is enough for casual readers who only want occasional included books, while Audible Premium Plus makes more sense if you want monthly credits and audiobooks you can keep. And if you want to back up your own Audible books or listen on devices outside the Audible app, BookFab Audible Converter can help you save your audiobooks in more flexible formats for permitted personal use.