Audible's two paid tiers confuse a lot of potential subscribers. Audible Plus ($7.95/mo) gives you unlimited access to a large catalog of included titles. Audible Premium Plus ($14.95/mo) adds one monthly credit redeemable for any book. The right choice depends entirely on how many new releases and bestsellers you want to read.
Audible Premium Plus
Premium Plus wins for listeners who want new releases and bestsellers. Plus is the right pick for anyone happy browsing the included catalog.
Specs Comparison
| Spec | Audible Plus | Audible Premium Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $7.95/mo | $14.95/mo |
| Monthly credits | 0 | 1 (any book) |
| Included catalog access | 11,000+ titles | 11,000+ titles |
| Full 500K catalog access | Purchase only | Yes (via credits) |
| Credit rollover | N/A | Up to 12 months |
What Each Plan Includes
Audible Plus covers the Plus Catalog — a rotating library of 11,000+ titles that Audible has licensed for unlimited streaming and downloading. The selection is decent but skews toward backlist titles, self-help, and genre fiction. Most current New York Times bestsellers are not included.
Audible Premium Plus includes everything in Plus and adds one monthly credit. Each credit redeems for any single audiobook in Audible's full 500,000+ title catalog, regardless of retail price. A $45 audiobook costs one credit. That flexibility is the key premium feature.
Value Calculation
The price difference is $7/mo ($7.95 vs $14.95). If you'd use your monthly credit on a book that costs more than $7 at retail, Premium Plus pays for itself. Most popular audiobooks retail at $25–$45, so the math usually favors Premium Plus for consistent listeners.
Audible often runs promotions — three months at $5.95/mo for Premium Plus, or discounted annual plans. The annual Premium Plus is often cheaper than monthly if you commit.
Credit Rollover and Flexibility
Credits roll over for up to 12 months. If you miss a month, you don't lose the credit immediately — you have time to use it. You can also buy additional credits at a discounted rate or pause your membership.
Amazon has made it notoriously difficult to cancel Audible cleanly; customer service cancellation retention tactics are well-documented on r/audible. Keep this in mind when choosing a plan.
Audible Plus Strengths
- Lower price ($7.95/mo)
- Good for casual listeners happy with backlist titles
- Unlimited streaming within included catalog
- Podcast originals included
Audible Premium Plus Strengths
- One credit per month for any book in full catalog
- Access to all new releases and bestsellers
- Credits roll over up to 12 months
- Can buy extra credits at discounted rates
Audible Plus Weaknesses
- New releases and bestsellers not in Plus Catalog
- Catalog can feel limited for current-content readers
- Still $7.95/mo on top of other streaming services
Audible Premium Plus Weaknesses
- At $14.95/mo, expensive alongside other subscriptions
- Cancellation process is deliberately difficult
- Credits expire if unused beyond 12 months
Best For
- a: Casual listeners happy exploring the Plus Catalog of backlist and genre titles without needing the latest releases
- b: Regular audiobook listeners who want to pick any new release or bestseller each month without paying retail prices
FAQ
Can I upgrade from Plus to Premium Plus later?
Yes — you can change your plan at any time through your Audible account settings. Credits begin accumulating from your upgrade date.
Are Audible Originals included in both plans?
Yes. Audible Originals are included in both Plus and Premium Plus at no extra cost.