Audible vs. Scribd audiobooks: What you need to know

Audible and Scribd are the two leading digital libraries. Read on to learn more about them and see which one suits you better.

The technological advancements we’ve been witnessing have changed the way we read. Millions of people have started listening to audiobooks, which is no surprise. Audiobooks are practical because they allow us to multitask, thus enhancing our productivity.

Moreover, audiobooks enhance our listening skills, improve fluency and pronunciation, and expand our vocabulary. Since there are numerous audiobook providers on the market, users can access the desired content without difficulty.

Some of the most popular audiobook platforms are Audible and Scribd. Here, we’ll discuss and compare both so you can get insight into the best audiobook service for you.

What is Audible?

Audible is a subscription-based service founded by Amazon in 1995. The platform contains thousands of audiobooks, podcasts, and other audio content. Users can access its vast digital library by paying a monthly fee.

Audible offers bestsellers, new releases, popular books, non-fiction content, and much more. Moreover, the platform has numerous titles that aren’t available elsewhere, called Audible Originals. This means users can enjoy exclusive content at an affordable price.

The platform offers two monthly subscription plans. You can also try Audible for free by signing up for a 30-day trial.

Audible is available on Windows and Mac computers and as a mobile Audible app for Android and iOS devices (including iPhone and iPad).

What is Scribd?

Scribd is a digital library featuring millions of high-quality audiobooks, podcasts, sheet music, articles, and magazines. The platform was founded in 2007 and has built a reputation as one of the best digital libraries.

Since Scribd offers an impressive collection, users can be confident they’ll find a piece of content they’re interested in. From popular titles to specific documents, Scribd has it all.

Like Audible, Scribd is a subscription-based service. Although you can access some titles without a membership, most functionalities are unavailable for non-members. If you’re not sure whether Scribd is the right fit for you, you can use the 30-day trial period to explore the platform.

Scribd offers one membership plan that gives users unlimited access to this audiobook subscription service and its entire collection.

The platform is often called “the Netflix of books.” It’s available on computers and mobile devices. The Scribd app for smartphones can be downloaded from the App Store (Apple) and Google Play (Android).

Scribd vs. Audible – The comparison

At first glance, Scribd and Audible may seem identical. However, these two services differ in several aspects. Let’s look into the similarities and differences between Scribd and Audible.

Pricing

One of the most important aspects for many users is pricing. Scribd offers one subscription plan that costs $11.99 plus tax where applicable. The Scribd membership gives users access to all available titles.

Unlike many similar services, Scribd doesn’t limit the number of books users can enjoy every month.

Audible offers two subscription plans: Audible Plus and Audible Premium Plus. The first audible subscription costs $7.95 per month and gives the users access to all titles in the Audible Plus catalog.

The second plan costs $14.95 per month and allows users to explore the platform’s entire collection. Premium Plus users get one free audiobook per month from the extended collection, or two titles for $22.95.

Number of books on the service

Audible has a collection of around 200,000 audiobooks, podcasts, and other spoken content. On the other hand, Scribd offers millions of titles. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the Scribd library contains other content like magazines, ebooks, sheet music, etc., so it’s impossible to compare them. An apt comparison for ebooks would be Amazon Kindle, but the combined price of Amazon’s services is going well above Scribd’s.

In terms of the audiobook collection for fiction and novels, Audible has the largest library of audiobooks in the world.

Extra features

Both Audible and Scribd offer a wide range of features and perks to their subscribers, like bookmarking, sleep timers, and note-taking. However, each platform brings something unique to the table.

For example, Scribd has sheet music, and Audible doesn't. On the other hand, Audible offers a wide range of exclusive content, and Scribd doesn’t. In terms of extra features, it’s impossible to say one is better than the other. Your choice depends solely on your preferences.

Ownership vs. streaming

One of the biggest differences between the two platforms is ownership. With Audible, you own the book forever. Even when you cancel your subscription, you can access the books you’ve purchased.

This isn’t the case with Scribd. Instead of purchasing a title, you rent access to it for as long as you pay for your subscription. If you cancel it, you’ll lose access to all titles.

Audio quality

Audible offers excellent audio quality at 64 kbps. Scribd has a solid audio quality (32 kbps). Although the difference may seem significant when you see the numbers, many people don’t notice it.

Access limitations

People can browse both libraries even if they haven’t purchased a subscription. While Scribd allows you to access some titles without a subscription, this isn’t the case with Audible. You can only listen to samples of audiobooks.

Platform availability

Both Audible and Scribd are available on Windows and Mac computers and as mobile apps.

What you can do with the books you read

Audible and Scribd feature a download option that allows users to save the books they’re reading and listen to them when they’re offline.