If you already have Amazon Prime, you might be wondering whether Audible is included with your membership or if you need to pay separately.
The short answer is no. Audible is not included with Amazon Prime and requires a separate membership.
However, many Audible offers and benefits are available exclusively for Prime members, including extended free trial offers, special promotions, and access to some audiobooks through Prime Reading.
In this guide, I will explain exactly how Audible works with Amazon Prime, what benefits Prime members get, and whether an Audible membership is worth considering.
Table of Contents
- Quick Answer: Is Audible Free with Amazon Prime?
- What Audible Benefits Do Prime Members Get?
- Audible Free Trial for Prime Members
- Audible Discounts and Special Offers
- Prime Reading Audiobooks
- Audible vs Prime Reading: What’s the Difference?
- What Prime Members Do NOT Get
- Is Audible Worth It If You Already Have Prime?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Answer: Is Audible Free with Amazon Prime?
No, Audible is not free with Amazon Prime.
Although both services are owned by Amazon and use the same account, they are separate subscriptions. Having a Prime membership does not automatically give you an Audible membership, monthly audiobook credits, or access to the full Audible catalog.
That said, Prime members may occasionally receive extended Audible free trials, promotional discounts, and access to a limited selection of audiobooks through Prime Reading.
Amazon Prime and Audible: Quick Summary
| Included with Amazon Prime | Not Included with Amazon Prime |
|---|---|
| Some audiobooks through Prime Reading | Audible Standard membership |
| Occasional Audible free trial offers | Audible Premium Plus membership |
| Occasional Audible promotions and discounts | Monthly audiobook credits |
| Audible access using your Amazon account | Access to the full Audible catalog |
What Audible Benefits Do Prime Members Get?
Although Audible is not included with Amazon Prime, Prime members can still enjoy a few Audible-related benefits.
Audible Free Trial for Prime Members
Prime members are often eligible for Audible free trials, and occasionally Amazon offers extended trials or special promotions exclusively for Prime members.
The exact offer can vary throughout the year, so it is always worth checking the current Audible trial page before signing up.
Audible Discounts and Special Offers
From time to time, Amazon runs Audible promotions for Prime members. These may include discounted membership rates, bonus credits, or extended trial offers.
These promotions are not permanent and can change at any time, but Prime members are often among the first to receive them.
Prime Reading Audiobooks
One benefit many Prime members overlook is Prime Reading.
Prime Reading includes a rotating selection of eBooks that can be borrowed at no additional cost. Some of these titles also include audiobook narration, allowing you to listen without purchasing an Audible membership.
The selection is relatively small compared to Audible’s catalog, but it can be a nice bonus if you only listen occasionally.
Audible vs Prime Reading: What’s the Difference?
Many people confuse Audible with Prime Reading because both are Amazon services and both can offer audiobooks.
However, they work very differently.
| Prime Reading | Audible |
|---|---|
| Included with Amazon Prime | Separate subscription |
| Limited selection of books and audiobooks | Massive audiobook catalog |
| Rotating collection of titles | Audiobooks can be purchased and kept permanently |
| No audiobook credits | Credits available with Premium Plus memberships |
| Best for occasional listening | Best for regular audiobook listeners |
In simple terms, Prime Reading gives Prime members access to a small selection of books and audiobooks at no extra cost, while Audible is a dedicated audiobook service with a much larger catalog and additional membership benefits.
If you only listen occasionally, Prime Reading may be enough. But if you regularly listen to audiobooks, Audible offers far more choice and flexibility.
What Prime Members Do NOT Get
Because both Audible and Amazon Prime are Amazon services, many people assume that a Prime membership automatically includes all Audible benefits. That is not the case.
Even if you are an Amazon Prime member, you do not automatically get:
- An Audible Standard membership
- An Audible Premium Plus membership
- Monthly audiobook credits
- Access to the full Audible audiobook catalog
- Permanent ownership of Audible audiobooks
In other words, Prime membership and Audible membership are separate subscriptions.
While Prime members may receive free trials, discounts, and access to some audiobooks through Prime Reading, a dedicated Audible membership is still required to unlock the full Audible experience.
Is Audible Worth It If You Already Have Prime?
It depends on how often you listen to audiobooks.
If you only listen occasionally, the audiobooks available through Prime Reading may be enough. Since Prime Reading is already included with your Amazon Prime membership, there is no additional cost.
However, regular audiobook listeners will quickly notice its limitations. The selection is relatively small, titles rotate in and out, and you do not get audiobook credits or access to Audible’s full catalog.
That is where Audible comes in.
With an Audible membership, you get access to a much larger audiobook library, exclusive Audible Originals, and additional membership benefits depending on the plan you choose.
Prime Reading is a nice bonus for occasional listening. Audible is designed for people who listen to audiobooks regularly.
If you are unsure whether Audible is right for you, I recommend starting with a free trial. It is the easiest way to explore the service and see whether the additional features are worth paying for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Audible included with Amazon Prime?
No. Audible is a separate subscription service and is not included with Amazon Prime. Prime members may occasionally receive special Audible trial offers or promotions, but an Audible membership still requires a separate subscription.
Do Prime members get free Audible credits?
No. Amazon Prime does not include Audible credits. Credits are only available through eligible Audible Premium Plus memberships.
Can Prime members listen to audiobooks for free?
Yes, to some extent. Prime members can access a limited selection of audiobooks through Prime Reading at no additional cost. However, access to Audible’s full audiobook catalog requires an Audible membership or individual audiobook purchases.
Can I use the same Amazon account for Audible?
Yes. Audible and Amazon use the same account system, so you can sign in to Audible using your existing Amazon account.
Can I keep Audible audiobooks after cancelling my membership?
Audiobooks purchased directly or obtained using Audible credits remain in your library even after you cancel your membership. However, access to membership-based content ends when the membership expires.
Is Audible cheaper for Prime members?
Sometimes. Amazon occasionally offers Prime-exclusive Audible promotions, discounts, or extended free trials. However, Audible membership is not permanently discounted simply because you have Prime.
40 thoughts on “How does Audible work with Amazon Prime? Is It Free in 2026?”
I read and listen to books. Do I need Kindle unlimited, audible and Amazon prime? Currently I have all three. I guess I’m asking due to the expense of all 3. If I only have Amazon prime, would I get free books to read or listen to. ?
How do I cancel my audible membership?
Hello Suzanne,
Here’s an article that will guide you to cancel your membership:
https://gladreaders.com/how-to-cancel-audible-membership/
I want to cancel my Audible free trial and future membership.
If you want to cancel your membership you can go to profile>click the settings gear at the top right-hand corner>Click help and support>Under trending topics>click cancel. It will walk you through canceling your membership or you can go through Amazon’s help section and contact audible to cancel.
does audible have subjects such as self help and business books as well? I’ve looked for this info but not having luck!
Yes, Audible has a good number of books in these categories. To check these categories, visit Audible website, click on ‘Browse’ and then click on ‘All Categories’ option. You will get the list of all available categories in Audible.
I hope that helps!
Why can’t we just purchase an audible book??? why all the hazzle? My father is visually impaired and I would love to buy him his choice of books…audible does not allow this…why? help!
Lita, there is a library service intended for folks who are visually impaired. They send a player and you can choose audios for free. Please contact your library . I cannot remember the name, but it is free.
Hi Lita, You can buy a lot of them. I see many of them for 19.95.
They do allow this option you just have to do it through the audible website and not the app. For some reason you can only purchase books with tokens through the app. A lot people choose not to do it this way because of the price behind it. Audible books if not on sale can cost between $10 and $40 without the tokens. If you are an Amazon prime member you can also buy some audible book at a discount through Amazon. I hope this helps.
Yes they do!
Good morning,
I’m a member of both Prime and Kindle unlimited and have been pleasantly surprised how many books are offered with a complimentary audible add on. So great if you listen in the car but still like to actually read. Thanks for the above article. Super informative.
You are welcome, Jayna. I’m glad that it was helpful. ?
Why didn’t you explain how to access the Prime content via iOS? I’ve been lost for months.
Because I don’t have an iOS device, Jennifer! :-p
Hi! I have (had) a lot of audible books I purchased. It was great until last week the app stopped working and disappeared. It appears there is no free download so I can keep listening to my books? I am a prime member but didn’t used to have to pay for audible, which seems to have a lot of features I won’t use.. can I still get to my purchased books without going through the whole audible membership?
I’m an existing Audible member enjoying a free trial of Amazon Prime. Is Amazon planning to provide a bundle for these two services since I’m not planning on paying full price for both? I currently enjoy the full selection of Audible so a limited free selection wouldn’t be worth it.
I have no idea about that, G.
Do i need to buy Audible as an add on to Amazon Prime membership?
Not an add on exactly. But yes, you need to pay for Audible membership separately!
Can I listen to my purchased audio books without the audible app?
Hello Nanette,
Yes, you can listen to your audiobooks without the Audible app. Please refer to this article to know more https://gladreaders.com/how-does-audible-work/#devices-compatible-with-audible
I want to find the free audio book list through our Prime account. I can’t find what you mention. I am using my fire tablet which came with the Prime Video which is white with blue and black print and the Audible app which is orange and showing a book. Are you using a different app?
Hi Lynsta.
I don’t know about the working of Audible app on the Fire Tablet. But in the android and iOS phones, you can browse these free audiobooks using the method explained above.
Besides, the method mentioned above is for Amazon.com and Audible.com accounts. This might be different for other regional Audible and Amazon services.
I’m sorry, I’m still not clear, can you use Audible to download audio books and listen to them? Even is your purchased the audio book somewhere else?
No, Allen. It doesn’t work like that.
Through Audible, you can listen to audiobooks purchased from Audible’s official website and Amazon only.
I am a Prime member and I downloaded the Audible app, but I don’t see the “channels for prime” option.
Hi Natalie. The method mentioned in this article is based on Audible.com account.
If you are using any other country specific Audible account like Audible.co.uk, Audible.ca, etc, then this method method may not work for you. Please contact your regional Audible customer care to confirm the availability of this service.
If you are already a member of both Audible and Amazon Prime and the Prime day comes around can you get your current membership amount reduced or are you forever at the original amount or higher as rates go up?
I’m not really sure, Robin. But you can wait till Prime day (It’s on 15th & 16th July this year) and see if you get your current membership amount reduced. If not, you can cancel your membership and restart it with the Amazon Prime Day offer. But before you cancel your membership, please make sure you do not have any unused credits in your Audible account. You will lose them. Better you use them first.
Hello,
I am a prime member and I signed up for audio books And the first month is free. I have viewed two books using my 2 credits. If I cancel my audiobooks account within 30 days I think it says you can keep those two free audio books. My question is how do you view the two books if you no longer have an audio book account?
My other question is if I decide to keep the account can I also download books onto my PC or MP3 player or can you only view on the audio book platform?
Thank you
Hello Robert,
Even if you do not have an audible membership, you can still login to your audible account. Whatever books you have purchased (even during the free trial), those will be there in your Audible library for lifetime. You can access them anytime.
You can listen to them online from your PC but to download them you need to install the Audible App from respective stores depending on whether you are using Windows or Mac.
And I’m afraid, it might not be available for download on MP3 player…
I hope that helps!
My research did not explain it well, so THANK YOU for finally clearing this up and for the list of actual “free” audiobooks through Prime.
You are welcome, Raine. I’m glad that it was helpful. 🙂
I am confused . So the amazon prime membership does not give free access to the “free” audiobooks? I don’t believe I signed up for a membership plan. But you will charge me $14.95 monthly to listen to the “free” audiobooks? I that case I better unsubscribe asap!
That is not how it works, Saundra. Sorry that you got confused by this article.
Let me make it clear that you DON’T HAVE TO SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIBLE MEMBERSHIP TO LISTEN TO THE “FREE” AUDIOBOOKS. You just have to be an Amazon Prime member. That’s it.
I have explained the method to access free audiobooks in the article above. Please go through it.
And don’t worry, you won’t be charged $14.95 until you subscribe to Audible membership.
I am currently an Amazon prime member. I was looking to see if Amazon had any specials for Audible yearly payments instead of monthly payments and if so what are the advantages of paying yearly.
Thank you
Hi Mindy!
Yes, Amazon is offering the annual plan at just $119.5/year instead of the regular $149.50/year for the Prime members. This offer is valid till 31st July, 2019!
The obvious advantage is the Price which is considerably lower for the Annual plan (At least now that the annual subscription is available at $119.50 ). If you listen to audiobooks more often. You may go for Annual subscription.
Is the annual subscription for any books I don’t like any of the originals. I’m almost done with my trial but $14.95 for 1 book isn’t a good deal.
Why only “1” book for $14.95 month.