7 Alternatives to Audiobooks for Listening to Audio Stories

Audiobooks

vs.

Audible

67

Audiobooks and Audible offer users access to digital audio books. Audiobooks is known for its extensive library, offering over 150,000 titles in various languages, while Audible's library is more limited with only 80,000 titles. Audiobooks allows users to search for a specific title or browse by genre, author, narrator and language. Audible offers a “Recommended” section which highlights the most popular titles. Audiobooks offers an unlimited subscription plan which allows users to listen to any book in their library at no additional cost. On the flip side, Audible requires listeners to purchase individual books or sign up for a membership plan. Both websites offer free audiobook samples so listeners can try before they buy. In terms of audio quality and user experience, both platforms offer high-quality sound files and easy navigation on both desktop and mobile devices. Finally, Audiobooks has an app available on iOS and Android devices while Audible does not have an app yet.

Audiobooks

vs.

Books

83

Audiobooks and Books are both online retailers offering a wide selection of books for purchase. Audiobooks specializes in audiobook versions of titles, while Books offers both physical books as well as e-books. Audiobooks has the advantage of providing quick access to its library of audiobooks through its mobile app, which allows customers to listen to their books on the go. Additionally, Audiobooks’ collection includes exclusive titles and enhanced audio editions that are not available on Books. On the other hand, Books offers a larger selection of physical and digital books than Audiobooks, as well as an extensive range of genres including fiction, nonfiction, self-help, children’s literature, comics and graphic novels. Lastly, while neither website provides rentals or subscription services for memberships at this time, Books does offer a loyalty program that rewards customers with discounts and free shipping after they reach certain purchase thresholds.

Audiobooks

vs.

Comic

18

Audiobooks and Comic are both websites that offer a variety of audio and visual content for consumers. Audiobooks offers an extensive library of audiobooks to download as well as podcasts, radio shows, and lectures. It also features an artificial intelligence feature called “MoodGen” which uses a user’s music preferences to suggest new books and podcasts. Comic provides comics and graphic novels available in digital format, with added interactive features such as sound effects, animation, and soundtracks. Both websites have searchable content libraries with multiple sorting options. Additionally, Audiobooks has a community feature where users can discuss their favorite books, while Comic allows users to share their comics across various social media platforms.

Audiobooks

vs.

Kindle

30

Audiobooks and Kindle offer users the ability to access book content in different formats. Audiobooks can be streamed online or downloaded through their app, while Kindle offers an e-reading experience directly on their devices. Audiobooks also provides access to podcasts and other audio content. Kindle has a variety of features that enhance the reading experience such as page turning animations, text highlighting, dictionary lookup, and more. Audiobooks offers its titles in multiple formats including MP3 and WMA, while Kindle titles are available in both print and digital editions. Both websites allow users to search for titles by author, title, genre, or even keyword. Additionally, Audiobooks makes it easier for listeners to find the perfect book with its “curated collections” of titles organized by theme or category. Finally, both websites provide free samples for each title so that readers can try before they buy.

Audiobooks

vs.

Kindle Unlimited

19

Audiobooks and Kindle Unlimited are both online platforms that offer access to a large selection of books. Audiobooks provides access to more than 150,000 different titles, with new titles being added every week. The library includes audiobooks from major publishers as well as independent authors and publishers. Audiobooks also offers exclusive content such as original podcasts and audio dramas. Kindle Unlimited provides access to over 1 million different titles, including eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, comics, and more. Users can read or listen to content from their Kindle device or any compatible device with the Kindle app. Both services offer features that allow users to customize their reading or listening experience by highlighting passages, creating bookmarks, and setting reminders for when they want to continue their reading session.

Audiobooks

vs.

Scribd

24

Audiobooks and Scribd are both popular subscription services for digital books. Audiobooks offers a large selection of audiobook titles, including best sellers, classics, and exclusive content. Scribd provides access to an extensive catalog of e-books, magazines, sheet music, documents and audio books. Audiobooks is designed for those who prefer to listen to their books rather than read them. It has a wide selection of popular audio titles from authors such as Stephen King, J.K Rowling and David Sedaris. It also has exclusive audiobooks from Audible Studios that are only available on the platform. In addition to audiobooks, it also offers podcasts and radio shows. Scribd is focused on providing users with access to an expansive library of digital content across multiple formats such as e-books, magazines, sheet music and documents. Its library includes thousands of best selling books as well as classic titles from publishers all over the world. It also offers a curated selection of audio books that can be streamed on any device or downloaded for offline listening. Both services offer easy access to digital books with straightforward interfaces but they cater to different audiences; Audiobooks is tailored towards those who prefer listening while Scribd caters more towards readers who want access to a wider variety of content in multiple formats.