To say that Amazon has transformed the way we shop would be an understatement. And while the company has diversified from its initial offering of books, reading material is still an important part of its operations. Beyond reading physical copies, you can also listen to audiobooks on Audible.
Audible is available for iPhone users, and you can listen to hundreds of thousands of books. This article will look closer at Audible for iOS, before discussing whether it’s worth using.
Audible’s pricing varies depending on where you live. At the time of writing in January 2023, subscription prices start at $7.95 per month if you’re based in the US. For this pricing level, you’ll receive access to one credit each month – which you can use to listen to various books.
One thing worth noting is that while you get one new monthly credit, you don’t need to spend it. You’re allowed to keep each of them for as long as a year, meaning that you can get an audiobook later if you can’t find anything you like right now.
You also don’t need to worry about listening to books you purchase within one month; you can access these by going to your library.
Audible also has a higher subscription tier known as Audible Premium Plus. This costs $14.95/mo and gives you an additional book each month.
Now that you know a little more about pricing, let’s look at what you can find on the Audible app for iOS. To make things easier for you, we’ve broken down the most important things to consider into different subsections.
Book Recommendations
As you listen to more books on Audible and add titles to your wish list, you’ll give Amazon a better idea of what you like. And while you can find plenty of books you already knew existed, it’s nice to be surprised once in a while with a hidden gem.
If you scroll down on the Home tab, you’ll see a section titled Recommended for you. Here, you can sift through several titles that you might find interesting. If you find something interesting, you can choose whether you want to add it to your library or wish list. Moreover, you can start playing it.
Genre Breakdowns
While you likely have one niche or genre that intrigues you more than others, you might – like many people – have many interests. Although you’ll sometimes know the titles you want to read, this isn’t always the case. In some instances, it’s nice to scroll through different genres and see what takes your fancy.
You can easily browse multiple categories within the Audible iOS app. Examples of genres you can sift through include travel, sports, and comedy. To access these, go to the Home tab and click on the arrow next to Find your favorite genre.
Popular Podcasts
While Audible is best known for its audiobooks, those aren’t the only things you can listen to on the iOS app. You will also find numerous podcasts that you can access once you’ve signed into your account.
You can consume podcasts in multiple categories; if you enjoy listening to media of this kind, you may find something that you didn’t previously know existed.
Short Books
Books aren’t exactly known for being short-form, and many audiobooks on Audible will take several hours to listen to. However, that isn’t the case for all of them. If you want quick pockets of wisdom, you’ll find several short books that you can listen to in 90 minutes or less.
When you scroll down on your Home tab, you’ll see a section titled “Have 90 minutes to spare?”. You can choose from several titles and start listening straight away; if you want to listen later, you can add them to your library instead.
Access to Your Library
As you listen to more audiobooks and podcasts, your library in the Audible iOS app will grow. And over time, you might find that keeping track of everything becomes more complicated. Luckily, you can easily access everything you’ve saved without too much difficulty.
If you go to the Library tab, you’ll find all of your books and podcasts when you select All at the top. However, you can segment things further by choosing the likes of Not Started, In Progress, and Finished. You’ll also find options to check out your downloaded titles.
In the Library section, you can also access your wish list by going to the respective category at the top. Moreover, you can sort based on the author and release date – plus numerous other factors.
Is Audible Worth Using on iOS?
Different people will find differing amounts of value when downloading Audible for iOS. If you regularly consume audio content elsewhere, such as podcasts, you will likely find Audible a handy app. This is especially the case if you already read a lot of books.
You might also find Audible a great tool if you want to start consuming more books. Although some can argue that it’s better to read physical copies, audiobooks are a good starting point. You can listen to your titles when working out, cleaning the house, and commuting – along with multiple other categories.
Amazon offers a free trial for Audible, so you can always try it if you’re on the fence.
Is Audible Only Available on iPhone?
If you have other Apple devices, we’ve got some news; iPhones aren’t the only place you can use Audible. The app is also available on iPad and Apple Watch, and you can also sign in from your web browser on a Mac.
Elsewhere, you can use Audible on Android smartphones and tablets. And if you have a Windows computer, you can – like on macOS – sign in via your web browser.
Audible: Great for Listening to Books and More
Audible’s reputation as one of the best platforms for listening to audiobooks is well-deserved, and its iOS app is well worth checking out if you’re interested in audio content. You’ll find multiple titles, including books from popular authors like Stephen King.
While some users might find the one credit per month quite limiting, you can use it to be more selective about the content you consume. And in many cases, this should be more than enough. You can, of course, listen to several books and podcasts without even needing a credit – so if you’ve finished your main book for the month, consider looking at these.
Danny is a freelance writer who has been using Apple products for over a decade. He’s written for some of the largest technology publications on the web and previously worked as an in-house writer before carving his own route. Danny grew up in the UK, but now writes about tech from his Scandinavian base.
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