Audible has introduced a new, more affordable subscription option called the Standard plan. Priced at $8.99 per month, this plan is $6 cheaper than the existing Premium plan, which costs $14.95 monthly.
The Standard plan provides subscribers with one audiobook credit each month to use on any title from Audible’s main catalog. It also includes unlimited listening to a curated selection of Audible Originals. However, a key difference from the Premium plan is that subscribers will lose access to their consumed audiobooks if they cancel their subscription. The Premium plan allows users to keep their audiobooks permanently, even after unsubscribing.
Additionally, the Standard plan grants access to nearly 200 popular titles from the Wondery+ app, which is scheduled to shut down in the coming months.
This new plan is launching in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, and France. Audible is also testing the plan in additional markets.
The launch comes as Audible faces increased competition from services like Spotify. Spotify entered the audiobook space in 2022 and includes them in its Premium subscription bundle. The company reported a 36% rise in audiobook listeners and a 37% increase in listening hours over the past year, noting that more than half of its premium subscribers have engaged with an audiobook.
Spotify recently raised its subscription price for the third time in three years, a move that may create opportunities for competitors like Audible to attract cost-conscious customers.
Audible’s Chief Financial and Growth Officer, Cynthia Chu, stated that the new plan aims to maximize access for lighter listeners while helping publishers and creators reach new audiences. Early testing in the United Kingdom and Australia resulted in a double-digit increase in new member sign-ups. The company projects that the Standard plan will bring in millions of new customers as it expands.