Audible Standard: Cheaper audiobook subscription now also in Germany

Audible is now available a bit cheaper – with some disadvantages. Amazon is now offering its audiobook subscription in Germany in the “Standard” variant as well, which joins the previous “Premium” version. Audible Standard costs 7 euros per month and, like the Premium subscription costing 10 euros per month, grants access to one audiobook voucher (“credit”) per month.

In detail, however, the Standard subscription has two crucial disadvantages:

• In the Standard subscription, an audiobook credit expires if it is not redeemed within a subscription month. With Audible Premium, on the other hand, you can accumulate vouchers and redeem them at a later date as long as the subscription is still active.
• Audiobooks purchased with credits from the Standard subscription can only be listened to as long as the subscription is active. Audiobooks purchased in the Premium subscription, on the other hand, remain usable even if the subscription ends. Furthermore, unlike the Premium subscription, the Standard subscription cannot be paused.

In essence, both subscription variants offer a similar scope as long as you actively use the subscription. However, if you don't pay attention to the subscription for a longer period or even cancel it, the disadvantages of the Standard subscription become apparent: credits can expire, and access to audiobooks can be lost.

The Premium subscription offers more freedom

Ultimately, you might end up paying more with the Standard subscription because you are pressured to maintain the subscription permanently. The Premium subscription, on the other hand, can be easily cancelled for a few months if you have already accumulated a larger catalog of audiobooks and are struggling to keep up with listening.

Amazon already started testing the Standard subscription in Australia in 2024. The advantages for the online retailer are obvious: the fact that the Premium subscription can be paused or cancelled at any time has likely led to a very volatile subscriber base. With its stronger lock-in mechanisms, the Standard subscription is likely to bind users more long-term and reliably.

An audiobook alternative to Audible is Spotify: The Premium subscription includes 12 hours of audiobooks per month. With the additional option “Hörbücher+” for 9 euros per month, users can listen for an additional 15 hours.

(dahe)