Do you want to learn how to listen to audiobooks without a subscription? Learn about your options and why Speechify may be the best place to buy audiobooks.

How to listen to an audiobook without a subscription

You’ve already fallen in love with audiobooks. There’s something about listening to bestsellers rather than reading them that entrances you, and the quality of the narration lends a whole new depth to your favorite books. There’s just one problem... You don’t want to be a subscriber to an audiobook service, like Amazon Audible. That would mean paying a monthly subscription fee to listen to books rather than having the option to buy them outright. As great as the Audible app may be, you’d rather be able to buy audiobooks. If this sounds like you, we’re here to help. Below, we examine some of the ways you can listen to audiobooks without a subscription.

Purchase individual audiobooks from Speechify

Audiobook listeners don't have to be tied into subscriptions anymore thanks to Speechify Audiobooks. Rather than paying monthly for an Audible subscription, you can buy audiobooks and listen to them using Speechify’s app. How does it work? Unlike services like Scribd and Audible, you don’t have to pay a monthly subscription to use Speechify. You also don’t need a library card, as you do with services like Librivox and Overdrive’s Libby. Instead, Speechify allows you to buy audiobooks outright with high-quality narration. The Speechify app has thousands of classic fiction and non-fiction audiobooks available. In addition, an audiobook from Speechify costs $1, meaning you can try one of the best audiobooks in the Speechify library without breaking the bank. What if you’re looking for free audiobooks? Speechify maintains a library of public domain books you can listen to without a monthly membership. You don’t have to maintain a monthly membership or go to a public library. Speechify allows you to listen to the books you buy using almost any device. Right now, the Speechify library contains over 60,000 titles—and it’s also growing every day. Here’s a sample of some of the amazing books available on the platform:

• The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
• The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
• The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
• Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

You don’t need an Audible membership or Amazon Prime subscription to use Speechify, and no trips to the local library are required. Instead, you can listen to your favorite books on your Android, iOS, macOS, or Microsoft Windows device from anywhere you are right after buying.

Where else can you buy audiobooks without subscribing?

What if you’ve tried Speechify and want to access some other audiobook services that don’t require subscriptions? There are plenty of other ways to buy audiobooks without feeling like you’re paying for a Netflix-like service that’s full of books in which you have no interest.

Libro.fm

As impressive as the Audible library may be, there’s no denying that Audible makes things tough for independent booksellers. The same goes for services like Kindle Unlimited and audiobooks.com. They all make it hard for booksellers to make money in their trade. Libro.fm aims to redress that balance. The service allows you to buy audiobooks without the need for a Google Play or Amazon account. One of the best perks of the service is that a portion of the proceeds from each purchase goes to your bookstore of choice.

Chirp

Chirp has a simple philosophy: Once you buy an audiobook, it’s yours to keep. Chirp requires no monthly membership fees. It’s also great for keeping up with your favorite authors. You can make a wishlist of authors you love, and Chirp will notify you when it gets a new release from that writer. The same goes for any book you like. Chirp’s a la carte model allows you to choose from a huge menu of audiobooks at your leisure. If you find something you like, highlight it to have Chirp notify you about similar books. Finally, there are the Chirp Daily Deals. Every day, Chirp offers a selection of audiobooks with discounts of up to 95%. This makes the app a great way to build your audiobook library.

Whispersync on Kindle

There is a way to get Audible narration without paying for Audible Premium Plus. If you’ve purchased a Kindle Book, you may be able to switch back and forth between reading and listening to the book. However, there are a couple of catches to this service. First, you’ll have to purchase the Audible version of the book via Kindle to access the narration. Second, Whispersync isn’t available for all books in the Kindle library. Still, it’s a great way to listen to some Audible audiobooks without paying for an Audible subscription.

Get started with Speechify today

Subscription services like Hoopla and Audible have done a lot to increase the popularity of audiobooks. Audible books are recognized for their high quality. Plus, the range of Audible Originals makes the service attractive to many. However, the need for a subscription means many people steer clear of these services. They want to buy the audiobooks they want rather than pay for a library of books to which they’ll never listen. Speechify Audiobooks solve this problem. With Speechify, you buy your audiobooks individually. Once you’ve made your purchase, you can listen to your books on an iPhone, iPad, or Android device. You can also listen using your desktop computer. There are no subscriptions or restrictions. Once you buy the book, it’s yours. Would you like to learn more? Check out Speechify Audiobooks today and get your first book for $1.

FAQ

Can I keep audiobooks I buy without a subscription?

If you use an appropriate service, you can keep the audiobooks you buy forever. For example, Speechify doesn’t require you to maintain a subscription to access the books you buy.

What’s the most expensive audiobook subscription?

Audible Premium Plus is the most expensive audiobook subscription service. It currently costs $14.95 per month, though it’s possible to lower these costs if you can find a discount.

Can I use Audible without a membership?

Generally speaking, you can’t use Audible without subscribing to one of its membership tiers. However, Amazon Prime members can access some Audible books with their subscriptions, as can Kindle readers who use Whispersync.

Can I listen to podcasts without a subscription?

Many podcasts are available on services like Spotify and YouTube, which don’t require a subscription for their ad-based free versions. You can also find many podcasts online that you can listen to without paying a subscription fee.