If you're a fan of audiobooks, Audible is tough to beat. With a huge selection of books, great perks, and apps that let you listen from everywhere, it's the go-to choice for people who listen to audiobooks.

However, as good as Audible is, there are some tips and tricks you need to use to help you get your money's worth from your subscription or purchases.

1. Choose the Right Plan for Your Needs

You can use Audible either with or without a subscription. If you only want to buy and listen to a few audiobooks a year, you may be better off without a subscription plan. Additionally, some listeners use Audible on an ad-hoc basis when they get audiobooks through Prime Reading or Kindle Unlimited, as these subscription programs are separate from Audible’s subscription plans.

If you previously used Audible, you may be interested in learning that Amazon changed its subscription plans and is no longer using the Gold and Silver plans of the past. At the time of writing, Audible’s subscription plans include:

  • Audible Plus at $7.95/month for unlimited streaming of selected curated content, including podcasts, sleep tracks, guided meditations, Amazon Originals, and selected audiobooks. The content cycles on and off like Netflix or other streaming services.
  • Audible Premium Plus at $14.95/month for the benefits of Audible Plus and one Audible credit per month. You use these credits to buy specific audiobooks, and the unused credits roll over.
  • Audible Premium Plus 2 Credits at $22.95/month with the benefits of Audible Plus and two credits per month.

Each plan is available at a discount if you pay for an annual subscription. For details and to check current pricing, visit the Audible website. As with any streaming or media service, get the best value by choosing the plan best suited to your needs and how many audiobooks you enjoy.

2. Try Before You BuyAudible book selection UI

Audible has features to help you choose your next audiobook. First, listen to the sample to understand whether the narration appeals to you. There are multiple versions of some books to choose from, especially classics. Other features include bestseller lists (both Audible and New York Times), listener reviews, and genre lists.

3. Return Books You Don't Like

Your Audible credits are valuable—many audiobooks are worth more than the $15 you pay for the credit. So when you get one you don't like, it feels like a waste. But don't worry; the Audible returns policy lets you take back any books.

You can exchange an Audible book as long as it has been purchased within the past 12 months. When making self-service returns yourself, the number is limited—it's still not exactly clear what that Audible exchange limit is.

To return an Audible book, head to your account details and click Purchase History. From there, you'll see a list of your orders. Find the order with the book you want to return, and click Return. If you've reached the Audible return limit, you can still return your book by contacting Audible customer service.

4. Add Audible Narration to Your Kindle Books

Amazon add Audible narration when purchasing books

With Whispersync, you can sync your Kindle and your Audible books. That way, you'll always pick up where you left off, no matter which device you're using. It's also good for listening and reading at the same time. When buying Kindle books, look for the option Add Audible book to your purchase. Checking off that box will give you access to the Kindle and audiobook.

You can often get really good deals this way, too. If a book is on sale, the audiobook will likely decrease in price. The Whispersync add-on version of the audiobook is usually less expensive than your monthly audible credit.

Remember to use Amazon Matchmaker to see the Kindle books in your collection that can include an audiobook. Amazon has an entire section dedicated to Whispersync-enabled books. Also, if you have free books or library books on your Kindle, Matchmaker may find the Whispersync companion and offer it at a discount.

To view your Whispersync options, head to Audible's page and click More to Explore in the top menu. From there, scroll down and click Whispersync for Voice on the left sidebar.

5. Get Rewards for Listening to Your Favorite Books

Access to the Audible Rewards program varies depending on where you live; if you are a subscriber living in the U.S. or another eligible country, it is a great way to make the most of your membership.

The most notable is the annual Bonus Challenge, where Audible Premium Plus subscribers who listen for 20 minutes a day for at least five days in January receive a $5 credit. Check your Audible account to see which rewards are available for your subscription.

6. Keep an Eye Out for Sales

Like Kindle books, you can find some fantastic sales on Audible books. There's the Daily Deal, regular two-for-one sales, price drops on single books, and other ways to save. Amazon doesn't make the Daily Deal easy to uncover, but you can head to Audible's Daily Deal page to find it.

If you have a Premium Plus subscription, please note these sales are usually at prices well below the $14.95 value of your credits. Signing up for Daily Deal emails will keep you updated on these and many other sales. You can also add items to your wishlist to get updates on when they go on sale.

Speaking of savings, if you sign up for a 30-day Audible Premium Plus trial, you receive two free credits if you are a Prime member and one fee credit if not. To help you further, here are the audiobooks you should listen to during your trial.

If you want to go the extra mile, you can check for Audible discounts on discount and cashback websites like Groupon. You won't find deals all the time, but it's worth checking when you need to renew your membership.

7. Put Your Monthly Membership on Hold

Audible on iPhone next to a pair of headphones

If you have a monthly membership, you can put it on hold for up to three months (but only once a year). This is great if you know you're not going to be listening to many audiobooks for a while.

While your account is on hold, you can still buy books and use your accumulated credits, but you won't accrue any new credits. So, if a great sale comes up, you can still take advantage of it while saving some cash. If you are an Audible Plus subscriber, be aware that you won’t be able to stream Plus content during your hold.

You'll need to contact Audible customer service to put your membership on hold.

8. Learn Your Way Around the Plus Catalog

Audible Originals on iPad UI

You can access the Amazon Plus catalog featuring Audible Originals if you have an Audible subscription. With Plus, you may use the Audible app to stream:

  • Podcasts - The podcasts are free even without a paid subscription. Some you can find elsewhere, while others are Audible Originals. You'll find news, radio shows, fiction, true crime, and cultural topics.
  • Audiobooks in the Plus library - New content is frequently added while some older content cycles off, leaving hundreds of audiobooks to choose from among the popular genres.
  • Sleep and Meditation - You may not think of Audible as a wellness app, but the introduction of the Plus subscriptions added content like sleep music, sleep stories, soundscapes, ASMR, and guided meditation programs. You can easily find this content on the app, but you'll need to do some digging to find it on the website.

9. Get Free Audiobooks With Prime Reading

If you are a Prime member, Audible also includes a series of free ebooks thanks to Prime Reading. With Prime Reading, you can borrow up to 10 books with no fees. Some books have the option of Audible narration, so you'll get a good bang for your buck.

To find the free available books, go to Amazon's Prime Reading page, where you'll see thousands of books and magazines available.

10. Use Your Credits Before They Expire

You have one year to use your Audible credits. Take advantage of the fact that you don't need to spend your credits immediately, but make sure not to wait too long.

11. Make Listening Part of Your Lifestyle

Like any paid subscription, Audible only has value if you use it enough to justify the expense. Additional ways to integrate Audible Originals or podcasts into your daily life include:

  • Follow the news using PBS, CBS, NBC, BBC Radio, and more podcasts.
  • Work towards your wellness goals by following one of the meditation programs, sleep tracks, or fitness content.
  • Don’t have time for an audiobook? Listen to original shorts like Words + Music, interviews, short stories, and comedy specials.
  • Use the sleep timer to help you wind down while listening to an audiobook, sleep soundscape, or other content.
  • Take advantage of Audible’s portability. In addition to the browser app, Audible offers apps for iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, Alexa, Mac OS, Windows, and other devices. Just be sure to make any non-credit purchases on your desktop browser since such purchases are not allowed on some apps.

12. Almost Cancel Your Membership to Score Discounts

You have to be a little clever to get even more discounts on Audible. Go through the steps of canceling your Audible membership, but stop when you get asked why you want to cancel. For this option, select It's too expensive, and Amazon might offer you a discounted membership.

Get the Most Out of Your Audible Subscription

Audiobooks are a great way to enjoy more books, and Audible is one of the best ways to satisfy your literary cravings. But if you're still paying full price and not taking advantage of enough of these features, you're not making the most of your subscription.​​​​​​