Audiobook Rental Plans

[tubemonkey]

Audiobook Rental Plans -- updated 25 Mar 2022


There are two types of subscription plans for audiobooks -- Purchase Plans where you own the audiobooks and Rental Plans where you borrow the audiobooks.

Note: even though an offer says it's for new members only and you've previously had a free trial, try it anyway. Sometimes you'll be able to get it again.


Amazon Plans

• FREE -- Free on Alexa --> details -- Echo/Alexa -- streaming only
  
• FREE -- Original Stories --> details -- KU/Prime only
  
• FREE -- Prime Reading --> details -- KU/Prime only
  
• PAID -- Amazon Kids+ --> details
  
• PAID -- Audible Plus --> details
  
• PAID -- Kindle Unlimited --> details

other Plans

• FREE -- Spotify --> details
  
• PAID -- Downpour --> details -- per book rates only
  
• PAID -- Scribd Audio --> details
  
• PAID -- SoundCloud --> details

Public Library Plans

• FREE -- cloudLibrary --> details
  
• FREE -- Hoopla --> details
  
• FREE -- OverDrive --> details

Discontinued Plans

• Amz Audio Shows --> details
  
• Amazon Rapids --> details
  
• Audible Channels --> details
  
• Audible Chan Prime --> details
  
• Audible Escape --> details
  
• Playster --> details -- Not Recommended
  
• RBdigital --> details -- sold to OverDrive Jun 2020
  
• Skybrite Audio --> details
  
• TuneIn Premium --> details

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[tubemonkey]

Downpour Rentals

• Price --> $2.95 ~ $9.95+ per audiobook (most audiobooks are $5.95 & $6.95 each)
• Period --> 30 ~ 60 days (based on audiobook length)
• Trial --> $1.99 for first rental --> details
• Catalog --> 14,000+ audiobooks
• Format --> Android & iOS only
• Offline --> offline listening allowed
• Availability --> worldwide
• Owner --> Blackstone Audio, Inc
• Spoiler:

  Blackstone Audio is one of the largest independent audiobook publishers in the United States, offering over 10,000 audiobooks. The company is based in Ashland, Oregon with five in-house recording studios. Blackstone distributes directly to consumers on their e-commerce site, as well as to the library market with titles from Blackstone, Hachette, HarperCollins, BBC and Disney Press.
  
  Blackstone was founded in 1987 by Craig and Michelle Black of Oregon. In August 2012, Blackstone launched an audiobook e-commerce website, Downpour.com, providing Blackstone audio titles as well as other publisher's titles to the retail market. In January 2013 the company was acquired by AudioGO for an undisclosed sum. Ten months later, in October of that year, AudioGO sold Blackstone back to the Black family, with the UK arm of AudioGO ceasing business operations as it sought a buyer or investor.

Audiobook Rentals -- First car rentals, then movie rentals, now digital audiobook rentals!

• Save up to 70% off retail pricing
• Get 30-60 days to complete an audiobook
• Free up space on your device

How It Works -- Choose from thousands of titles and listen on your mobile device.

1. Purchase Rental --> Add a digital rental to your shopping cart and checkout.
2. Download App --> Download the downpour iOS or Android app and sign in.
3. Start Listening --> Tap your rental within the app and begin listening.

Have Questions? We Have Answers.

If we are not able to help you with the FAQ below, we would love to hear from you. You can reach us at: 1-855-369-6768 or customercare@downpour.com

How long can I listen to a title?
We give you a minimum of 30 days to listen to a book from the time you start listening. With some of our longer books, such as Atlas Shrugged (63hrs), we extend the listening period to 60 days.

When does the rental start?
Your rental will begin when you start the first file or 10 days from date of purchase, whichever comes first.

What phones do you support?
Currently we support iOS and Android phones.

How many devices can I listen to my audiobook rental on?
You may listen to your audiobook rental on as many devices as you own. This includes any device running iOS or Android.

[tubemonkey]

Kindle Unlimited

• Released --> Introducing Kindle Unlimited -- 18 Jul 2014
  
  
• Price --> $9.99/mo
  
• Trial ---> free 30-day trial
  
  
• Catalog --> 50K+ audiobooks | 1M+ ebooks
  
• Period --> unlimited listening | duration of subscription
  
  
• Format --> AA/AAX (DRM) | Alexa, Android, Fire, iOS, Win Phn
  
• Offline --> allowed

Subscriptions -- Free Trial | Gift Plans | Catalog -- rental only
Kindle Unlim ----> details -- $9.99/mo | $80.30/yr | other options
Amazon Kids+ --> details -- $2.99/mo (Prime) | $4.99/mo (non-Prime) | other options

Unlimited Listening -- Thousands of Kindle books come with the free professionally narrated Audible audiobook. With Whispersync for Voice, whenever you see "Kindle Unlimited with Narration," you can switch seamlessly between reading and listening without ever losing your place. Just pop in your headphones, tap the play button, and keep the story going...in the car, in the gym, in the kitchen, wherever your day takes you.

Unlimited Reading -- Kindle Unlimited gives you the freedom to explore. Try new genres, discover new authors, and dive into new adventures with unlimited access to our wide and varied selection of books. From rhetoric to romance, or comedy to tragedy, you will find unlimited stories waiting to be discovered. Relive the classics you grew up with, start on that best seller you’ve been wanting to read or try one of the hundreds of thousands of books you won’t find anywhere. Find your next great read today.

Any Device -- You don't need to own a Kindle device to enjoy Kindle Unlimited. With our free Kindle reading apps, you can read on any device with the Kindle app installed. And of course, you can always read on your Kindle. With Kindle Unlimited, you can take every word, every sentence, every story, everywhere you go.

Introducing Kindle Unlimited: Unlimited Reading and Listening on Any Device—Just $9.99 a Month

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 18, 2014-- (NASDAQ:AMZN)—Amazon.com today introduced Kindle Unlimited—a new subscription service which allows customers to freely read as much as they want from over 600,000 Kindle books, and listen as much as they want to thousands of Audible audiobooks, all for only $9.99 a month. Finding a great book is easy, and there are never any due dates—just look for the Kindle Unlimited logo on eligible titles and click “Read for Free.” Customers can choose from best sellers like The Hunger Games, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and The Lord of the Rings, and with thousands of professionally narrated audiobooks from Audible, like The Handmaid’s Tale and Water for Elephants, the story can continue in the car or on the go. Kindle Unlimited subscribers also get the additional benefit of a complimentary three-month Audible membership, with access to the full selection of Audible titles. Kindle Unlimited is available starting today and is accessible from Kindle devices or with Amazon’s free Kindle reading apps. Start your free 30-day trial today at www.amazon.com/ku-freetrial.

“With Kindle Unlimited, you won’t have to think twice before you try a new author or genre—you can just start reading and listening,” said Russ Grandinetti, Senior Vice President, Kindle. “In addition to offering over 600,000 eBooks, Kindle Unlimited is also by far the most cost-effective way to enjoy audiobooks and eBooks together. With thousands of Whispersync for Voice-enabled audiobooks to choose from, you can easily switch between reading and listening to a book, allowing the story to continue even when your eyes are busy. We hope you take advantage of the 30-day free trial and try it for yourself.”

[tubemonkey]

OverDrive - Public Libraries

• Price --> unlimited checkouts: free w/ resident library card -or- paid w/ non-resident card
• Period --> 7 / 14 / 21 days -- checkout limits apply
• Trial --> no trial period
• Catalog --> ≤ 25,000+ audiobooks -- ≤ 110,000+ ebooks
• Format --> DRM Free MP3 -- device compatibility
• Offline --> offline listening allowed
• Availability --> 40+ countries -- find a library
• Owner --> Rakuten, Inc

OverDrive, Inc is an American digital distributor of eBooks, audiobooks, music, and video titles. The company provides secure management, digital rights management and download fulfillment services for publishers, libraries, schools, and retailers. OverDrive's catalog includes more than 2 million digital titles from more than 5,000 publishers. The company's global network includes more than 27,000 libraries and schools. OverDrive was founded in 1986 and is located in Cleveland, Ohio.

OverDrive was founded in 1986 and initially converted analog media to digital formats such as interactive diskettes and CD-ROMs. As the Internet became a reliable form of digital media distribution, OverDrive moved its services online. In 2000, the company opened Content Reserve, an online ebook and downloadable audiobook repository from which its distribution business would develop.

>>snip<<

In 2015, it was reported that Japan's Rakuten was planning to buy out OverDrive for $410 million, with the deal set to close in April. OverDrive CEO Steve Potash will remain in his current position and OverDrive will keep its name while operating under Rakuten USA.

Millions of Titles -- OverDrive libraries add to their collections from a catalog of over 2 million eBooks, audiobooks, and videos. Start exploring to see what's out there.

Thousands of Libraries -- With more than 30,000 libraries in 40+ countries, chances are there's a library near you.

One Great App -- The OverDrive app is one of the top-rated eBook apps available for iOS, Android, Chromebook, Mac OS, Windows, and Windows Phone.

Non-Resident Library Cards --> ebooks -- audiobooks --> updated 27 May 2016

• Orange Cty (FL) -- $125/year --> 88,783 -- 18,069 --> $100/6mo | $75/3mo
• Brooklyn PL (NY) -- $50/year --> 89,577 -- 17,075
• Fairfax Cnty (VA) -- $27/year --> 23,334 -- 12,224
• Houston Pub (TX) -- $40/year --> 31,993 -- 11,163 --> $20/6mo
• Free Lib Phil (PA) -- $50/year --> 24,919 --- 5,536 --> fee increase

• Hennepin Co (MN) -- $60/year --> Warning - digital checkouts NOT allowed

.

[tubemonkey]

Scribd Audio --> updated 28 Dec 2017

• Price 1 --> $8.99/mo for 1 premium audiobook & 5,000 non-premium audiobooks
• Price 2 --> $12.99 for each additional premium audiobook (most of the catalog)
• Period -->
• Trial --> free 14-day trial
• Catalog --> 45,000+ audiobooks -- 1,000,000+ ebooks
• Format --> Android, Fire, iOS
• Offline --> offline listening allowed
• Availability -->
• Owner --> Scribd

Scribd /ˈskrɪbd/ is a digital library and e-book, audiobook and comic book subscription service that includes one million titles. In addition, Scribd hosts 60 million documents on its open publishing platform.

Founded in 2007 by Trip Adler, Jared Friedman and Tikhon Bernstam and headquartered in San Francisco, California, the company is backed by Khosla Ventures, Y Combinator, Charles River Ventures, and Redpoint Ventures. Scribd's e-book subscription service is available on Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, as well as the Kindle Fire, Nook, and personal computers. Subscribers can access unlimited books from 1,000 publishers, including HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Harlequin, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Macmillan, Bloomsbury, Workman, Lonely Planet, Perseus Book Group and Wiley.

Scribd added audiobooks to its subscription service in November 2014 and comic books in February 2015. Scribd has 80 million users, and has been referred to as "the Netflix for books."

Read Like You Own Every Book in the World

Unlimited books, audiobooks & comics · Unparalleled discovery · Any device · $8.99/month

Why are some audiobooks going to require credits? -- posted 12 Aug 2015

Over the past two years, Scribd's digital library has grown from 100,000 titles to more than one million in a variety of formats like ebooks, audiobooks, and comic books. We’re extremely proud of the service we’ve built, and we’re constantly working to expand the selection across all the genres and formats to give each Scribd reader the broadest possible list of books to enjoy for $8.99 per month. Our goal is to bring great content to every book lover around the world for a low monthly price.

We are going to be transitioning to a credit based system for audiobooks soon. Not all audiobooks, mind you—you'll still have unlimited access to thousands of great audiobooks! However, for all other audiobooks on Scribd, you'll need to use a credit to access them in full. We truly value you as a reader and listener, so before the transition is complete there will be a 30-day grace period during which you can continue enjoying unlimited access to all audiobook titles on Scribd. This transition will be complete on September 20th.

After the grace period, you'll automatically receive 1 audiobook credit per month at the start of your billing cycle. If you use your free monthly credit and see a different book you want to jump into right away, don't worry—you'll be able to buy additional credits for $8.99 each, to enjoy it too! The next version of our app (version 3.13) will be required to keep listening to Scribd Audiobooks, so be sure to stay tuned and grab that update!

[tubemonkey]

Skybrite Audio

DISCONTINUED

• Price --> $9.99/mo for unlimited listening | 3mo= $7.99/mo | 6mo= $5.99/mo
• Period -->
• Trial --> free 5-day trial
• Catalog --> "thousands of audiobooks"
• Format --> Android & iOS -- streaming only
• Offline --> offline listening NOT allowed
• Availability --> worldwide
• Owner --> Skybrite LLC

Skybrite is a new streaming subscription service that gives users instant and unlimited access to a vast library of premium audio entertainment and E-learning content. By using its user-friendly interface, listeners can instantly stream every title in the Skybrite library through their mobile devices (iOS and Android) for a small monthly fee, anywhere in the world.

Listeners can sign up for a free trial subscription, which gives them unlimited access to Skybrite’s content for a limited time. When the free trial is over, a monthly premium subscription can be had for $9.99 a month. Subscribers will be billed once a month from the day the subscription was started. There are no additional fees or hidden costs.

Currently, Skybrite’s service is available for the iPad, iPhone, and Android tablets and phones. Future plans include versions for desktop, wearables, connected cars, dedicated streaming media hardware, and public transportation implementations.

Skybrite was founded in early 2013. More than 18 months were spent developing its technology platform as well signing multi-year licensing agreements from than 500 content publishers. The public beta version of the platform was released in the third quarter of 2014.

Skybrite is a joint venture between two existing companies: DailyMedia, Inc. and Big Vision Business, Inc.

Listen to Everything Your Heart Desires -- Skybrite is a new service that let's you enjoy instant and unlimited streaming access to thousands of best selling audio programs.

100% Mobile Friendly -- Listen on any iPhone, iPad or Android device.

Unlimited Streaming -- All you can enjoy at the push of a button.

No Obligation -- There is no obligation and you can cancel anytime.

[tubemonkey]

TuneIn Premium --> Blog | Facebook | Twitter --- Help

DISCONTINUED 15 Jan 2018

• Price --> $9.99/mo | $99.99/yr
  
• Period --> unlimited listening
  
• Trial --> free 30-day trial
  
• Catalog --> 60,000+ audiobooks
  
• App --> free app (ads, no recording) | Pro app $9.99 (no ads, allows recording)
  
• Format --> Android, Fire, iOS, Win 10, website
  
• Offline --> offline listening allowed
  
• Availability --> US, UK, Canada, Australia

TuneIn drops out of audiobook market effective January 15th

Subscribers to TuneIn Premium will not be psyched to learn that the streaming audio service is dropping out of the audiobook market effective January 15th. TuneIn started offering unlimited audiobook streaming for Premium subscribers in August 2015, making this feature decently short-lived.

>>> snip <<<

TuneIn provided this statement about the discontinuation:

What is TuneIn Premium?

Spoiler:

.

[tubemonkey]

Hoopla - Public Libraries

• Price --> limited checkouts: free w/ resident library card -or- paid w/ non-resident card
• Period --> 21 days -- checkout limits apply
• Trial --> no trial period
• Catalog --> xx audiobooks -- xx ebooks
• Format --> Android, Fire, iOS, Mac, PC
• Offline --> offline listening allowed (mobile devices only)
• Availability --> US, Canada
• Owner --> Midwest Tape LLC

Hoopla, stylized as hoopla, is a North American on-demand Internet streaming media service of the Holland, Ohio-based company Midwest Tape.

Subscriptions through public libraries enable patrons to "borrow" (in other words, have temporary access to) audiobooks, comics, ebooks, movies, music, and television shows online. The library pays a fee but library patrons get the service at no extra charge. Hoopla offers associated apps for Android and iOS devices.

Hoopla's parent company, Midwest Tape LLC, is a library vendor of audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, and other media co-founded by Jeff Jankowski. Midwest Tape began business in 1989; its president as of 2012 is John Eldred.

Instantly borrow free digital movies, music, eBooks and more, 24/7 with your library card.

FREEDOM STARTS HERE, NOW.

Bringing you hundreds of thousands of movies, full music albums, audiobooks and more, hoopla is a revolutionary digital service made possible by your local library.

From Hollywood blockbusters to best selling artists and authors – not just the hits, but the niche and hard-to-find as well – you’ll soon discover that hoopla provides you the freedom you've been searching for to experience, explore and enjoy what you want, when you want, and where you want.

Simple to access and use, without the hassle of having to return the items you’ve borrowed, all you need is your library card, a web browser, smart phone or tablet to get started. The freedom you want is here, now. Sign up today!

[tubemonkey]

Spotify Premium --> Blog | Facebook | Twitter -- DRM | Help | Thread

• Price --> $9.99/mo (individual) | $14.99/mo (family) | $4.99/mo (student)
  
• Trial --> FREE 3-month trial
  
• Period --> unlimited listening - no borrowing limits
  
• Catalog --> xxx titles
  
• Format --> Android, iOS, Windows | Chrome, Linux, Mac OS, Windows
  
• Offline --> offline listening allowed - device must have Spotify app

Spotify Technology S.A. (/ˈspɒtɪfaɪ/) is a media-services provider founded in 2006 in Sweden and now incorporated in Luxembourg. The company's primary business is its audio streaming platform that provides DRM-protected music and podcasts from record labels and media companies. As a freemium service, basic features are free with advertisements or automatic music videos, while additional features, such as improved streaming quality, are offered via paid subscriptions.

Launched on 7 October 2008, the Spotify platform provides access to over 50 million tracks. Users can browse by parameters such as artist, album, or genre, and can create, edit, and share playlists. Spotify is available in most of Europe and the Americas, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Africa and Asia, and on most modern devices, including Windows, macOS, and Linux computers, and iOS, and Android smartphones and tablets. As of July 2019, it had 232 million monthly active users, including 108 million paying subscribers.

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Spotify Premium

• Price --> $9.99/mo for unlimited listening
• Period --> no borrowing limits
• Trial --> free 30-day trial
• Catalog --> xxx titles
• Format --> Android, iOS, website
• Offline --> offline listening allowed
• Availability --> Americas, Western Europe, Oceania
• Owner --> Spotify Ltd

Is audio books a new feature from Spotify? I can find nothing about audiobooks on their web site.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by booklover6

Is audio books a new feature from Spotify? I can find nothing about audiobooks on their web site.

Open the app --> Browse --> Genres & Moods --> Word

I have no idea how long they've offered this and I don't know if these "books" are available for the free version or not. I currently have a free premium 3-month trial that won't end until 03 Aug.

I certainly wouldn't pay just to get access to this limited audio collection. It's not worth paying for.

For the most part, these "books" appear to be abridged public domain works. Some are dramatized, complete with sound effects. Great for commutes, short trips, kids, etc. So far, I haven't encountered any LibriVox recordings.

They're organized in 74 playlists by various categories: author, genre, type, etc:

Sample Categories

• Shakespeare
• Once Upon a Time
• Scary Stories
• Sherlock Holmes
• Learn Languages
• Science Fiction
• Sci-Fi Radio Dramas
• Radio Crime Dramas
• Poetry & Music
• French Literature

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I certainly wouldn't pay just to get access to this limited audio collection. It's not worth paying for.

I was just going to state that same opinion. The selection is pathetic.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by booklover6

I was just going to state that same opinion. The selection is pathetic.

Yep; but if you already have Spotify for the music, this is a bonus feature for short listens.

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Yep; but if you already have Spotify for the music, this is a bonus feature for short listens.

True, I have the free version.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by booklover6

True, I have the free version.

Do you have access to these "books"? If so, does it playback in order (by chapter) or randomly like it does with music?