What is Kindle Unlimited?

Kindle Unlimited allows you to read as many books as you want. Read on to learn what this service is and how it works.

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If you’re a tech-savvy book lover, you probably can’t get enough e-books. Luckily, the list of services offering numerous digital-form titles is quite expansive. Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited stands out as one of the leading e-book services due to its sheer library size.

However, with Kindle, Amazon Prime, and Kindle Unlimited overlapping to some extent, it might be unclear what Kindle Unlimited is and how it works. This article will explain all details about the service and help you decide whether Kindle Unlimited is for you.

The basics of Kindle Unlimited

Kindle Unlimited (sometimes abbreviated as KU) is a subscription service. Members pay a monthly fee, which gives them access to all e-books and audiobooks in the service’s library. Users can keep the books for the duration of their Kindle Unlimited membership without due dates.

There are over a million books on Kindle Unlimited. The selection includes editions from many publishing houses and a number of books on nearly every subject. The books are compatible with all Kindle e-readers, but users can also read them on mobile devices through the Kindle app.

How much is a Kindle Unlimited subscription

A Kindle Unlimited Subscription costs $10 a month. For that amount, users can use Kindle Unlimited catalog books without exceptions. We’ve already mentioned that the Kindle Unlimited library is quite expansive, so free access (by “free” we mean unrestricted) to that many books seems generous for such a low subscription fee.

It’s worth noting that subscribers with Amazon accounts, Prime Reading memberships, or Amazon Prime memberships will pay the same fee. There may be occasional special offers for those with Amazon Prime subscriptions, but those aren’t guaranteed. In other words, a subscription to another Amazon service like Prime Video or Prime Music doesn’t mean a free Kindle Unlimited account.

The pros of Kindle Unlimited

If you’re wondering if Kindle Unlimited is worth it, here are some of the benefits the service offers:

• Multi-platform support
• More than a million titles plus select audiobooks and magazines
• Allows you to borrow 10 titles at once
• Exclusive Kindle Unlimited titles
• Free Android and iOS app
• Free Audiobooks for specific titles
• 30-day trial
• Low subscription fee
• Subscription cancellation at any time
• Easy to use
• Convenient to try books you wouldn’t usually buy
• Cross-device functionality
• It may help establish and improve reading habits
  

The cons of Kindle Unlimited

Like most services, Kindle Unlimited doesn’t come only with perks. The service has some downsides, although avid readers might be ready to overlook those to access the vast library. The cons of Kindle Unlimited include:

• No free access or discounts for Prime members
• It might not have some bestsellers
• Books are often a few months or a year old - similar to how Netflix publishes content
• A solid chunk of indie and self-published books, which can dilute the overall quality
• It doesn’t cater equally to all niches
• Particular titles may be difficult to find
• Some major publishers like Penguin Random House and HarperCollins aren’t present
  

Can I get audiobooks via Kindle Unlimited?

Once you sign up for Kindle Unlimited, you’ll find that the Kindle store has about 2,000 audiobooks. These are available via another Amazon service - Audible. Your Kindle Unlimited subscription will grant you access to a more limited audiobook library. This list of available titles won't be enough if you love listening to books instead of reading them.

Fortunately, there’s a way to turn all your Kindle Unlimited books into audiobooks. You can do that with another excellent service: Speechify.

FAQ

Is Kindle Unlimited free for Prime members?

Amazon Prime members receive certain perks on Kindle Unlimited. However, they don’t get the e-book service for free.

What is the difference between Kindle and Kindle Unlimited?

Kindle is a service that sells e-books formatted for mobile devices. Kindle Unlimited offers monthly subscriptions during which users can borrow from a large selection of books.

Do you have to pay for books if you have Kindle Unlimited?

You don’t have to pay for individual books in Kindle Unlimited. Instead, you pay for the monthly subscription, which covers any titles you want to get that month.

Is Kindle Unlimited available for all Kindle devices?

You can read Kindle Unlimited books on any Kindle device. Even better, you can download a mobile app that allows you to read books outside of Kindle devices.