Audible has introduced a new “Standard” subscription plan priced at $8.99 per month, as announced by the Amazon-owned company on Tuesday. This plan is $6 less than the current “Premium” plan, which is $14.95 monthly.
The Standard plan offers one audiobook per month from Audible’s catalog and unlimited listening from a curated library, including a selection of Audible Originals.
Subscribers on the Standard plan will lose access to audiobooks they have listened to if they cancel their subscription. In contrast, the Premium plan allows users to retain audiobooks even if they unsubscribe.
Additionally, the Standard plan provides access to nearly 200 popular titles on the Wondery+ app, which will be closing in the coming months.
The Standard plan is available in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, Germany, and France. Audible is also testing the plan in other markets.
The new plan’s introduction comes amid growing competition from Spotify, which began offering audiobooks in 2022, integrating them with music and podcasts in its Premium subscription.
Spotify reported a 36% increase in audiobook users over the past year and a 37% increase in listening hours. More than half of its 281 million premium subscribers have engaged with an audiobook.
Spotify recently raised its monthly subscription cost again, which might benefit competitors like Audible.
Cynthia Chu, Chief Financial & Growth Officer at Audible, stated in a press release, “By expanding our membership options, we’re maximizing access for lighter listeners while enabling publishers and creators to reach new audiences—a win-win that grows the entire audiobook category.”
Audible notes that early testing of the Standard plan resulted in strong member acquisition and retention, with testing in the U.K. and Australia showing a double-digit increase in new member sign-ups compared to previous offerings. The expansion is expected to attract millions of new customers.