Prime Reading vs Kindle Unlimited

Prime Reading vs Kindle Unlimited: which is better? Read on to discover the differences between the two platforms.

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Besides shopping, you can use Amazon to read eBooks on Prime Reading and Amazon Kindle Unlimited. But which platform is better?

What is Amazon Prime Reading?

Amazon Prime Reading is a feature that lets Prime members read various magazines, eBooks, and listen to audiobooks. The platform allows you to download up to 10 books at a time.

Dozens of titles are available with high-quality Audible narration to enjoy while cleaning, running, or commuting.

What is Kindle Unlimited?

Kindle Unlimited is a program that enables you to read and keep as many books as you want for a subscription fee.

You don’t need to be a Prime member to access this feature. After joining KDP Select, Kindle Unlimited will automatically provide all your Kindle books.

Prime Reading or Kindle Unlimited – which should you choose?

Let’s compare the two reading subscription platforms.

Subscription costs

As previously mentioned, you can’t access Prime Reading without creating a Prime account. The monthly fee is $14.99, whereas you’ll need to pay $139 if you want to be charged annually.

The price would be too much if it only gave you access to Prime Reading. However, becoming an Amazon Prime member delivers many other benefits, such as faster shipping and free access to Prime Music and Prime Video.

The subscription service offers a free 30-day trial. You might also be eligible for a 50% discount if you’re a student or recipient of government assistance.

The monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited costs $9.99. It doesn’t have a yearly plan, but you can get longer packages (e.g., 6, 12, and 24 months) for a lower price.

This might work better if you need a plan similar to Netflix. It gives you unlimited access to a larger number of self-published books on the Kindle store.

Number of book titles

Apart from the pricing, the most significant difference between Prime Reading and Kindle Unlimited is the number of available titles.

On the one hand, Prime Reading has around 3,000 eBooks, audiobooks, comic books, and magazines.

On the other hand, Kindle Unlimited has more than two million titles, which is nearly a thousand times more than Prime Reading.

Despite the vast number of books, Kindle Unlimited has a few problems. Only two major U.S. publishers (Simon and Schuster and HarperCollins) offer their titles on the platform. Even then, you can only find a limited selection of books, so there might not be any of their bestsellers.

Avid readers should still get a lot of value from Kindle Unlimited. You can find more than half of Kindle’s bestsellers on this program, while Prime Reading only gives you three.

Also, the Kindle Unlimited lending library keeps growing. More and more titles are added every day, so it’s hard to compete against such a broad selection.

The only advantage of subscribing to Prime Reading regarding the number of books is regular rotation. In other words, they swap out less popular entries for trendy books to keep the audience engaged. 

There are no due dates on either program, so you can keep Prime Reading books or Kindle Unlimited entries for as long as you like.

Types of content available

You can read numerous eBooks and magazines while listening to audiobooks on Amazon Prime Reading. The available entries include children’s books, Kindle singles, Amazon-exclusive eBooks, and literary classics. There are also many recent bestsellers.

Kindle Unlimited offers few new releases. Instead, the platform usually specializes in classics:

• Harry Potter
• The Lord of the Rings
• The Handmaid’s Tale
• Skip Langdon
• Jane Austen Novels
• Mary Poppins

On top of that, you can find countless hidden gems on Kindle Unlimited. This makes it an excellent choice for avid book lovers who don’t mind reading little-known novels or emerging authors on their Apple devices.

Device availability

Prime Reading and Kindle Unlimited work well with most devices. They’re compatible with all Amazon platforms, including the Kindle Fire Tablet, Kindle Paperwhite, and the original Kindle.

You shouldn’t have any issues using Prime Reading and Kindle Unlimited on any other device. You can install the Kindle app on your Android smartphone, iPhone, Mac, and other iOS applications.

ChromeOS and Linux don’t support the app, but you can use the web-based version to read your books.

Which is best for you?

Prime Reading and Kindle Unlimited aren’t free, but they’re worth it. The platforms are highly optimized, so the choice depends on your needs.

If you’re a voracious reader who wants to experience all literary genres and discover new authors, Kindle Unlimited might be the better option. It’s also perfect if you read more than five new books per month.

The price is reasonable, unlocking books and audiobooks that would otherwise be too expensive.

But if you’re an occasional reader, stick to Prime Reading. Apart from its extensive bestseller list, this reading service gives you access to other Amazon perks.

FAQ

Is Prime Reading the same as Kindle Unlimited?

Prime Reading isn’t the same as Kindle Unlimited. It requires you to subscribe to Amazon Prime, whereas Kindle Unlimited can be purchased independently.

Is Prime Reading really free?

Prime Reading isn’t free. You’ll need to pay a monthly or yearly subscription fee.

Are Kindle Unlimited books included in Prime Reading?

Prime Reading doesn’t include a Kindle Unlimited subscription. You’ll need to purchase the feature separately if you want to read the content.

Is Prime Reading available in the Kindle app?

After buying an Amazon Prime subscription, you can use Prime Reading in your Kindle app on the Kindle e-reader or other compatible devices.

Is there a Prime Reading app?

Prime Reading isn’t an app. It’s a feature you can access on your browser or Kindle after creating an appropriate Amazon account.

What are some of the pros of Prime Reading?

There are many Prime Reading benefits, including a wide array of bestsellers and the perks of Amazon Prime membership.