4 Methodes to Get Free Audible Books
In a world filled with podcasts, music, and videos, the immersive experience of a well-narrated audiobook remains unmatched. Audible, an Amazon company, stands as the giant in this space, offering an enormous library of bestsellers, new releases, and timeless classics. The only catch? A subscription comes with a monthly cost.
But what if you could tap into this vast library without opening your wallet? The good news is, you can. There are several legitimate, official ways to get free Audible books. This guide will walk you through the 4 best methods, ensuring you can start listening today.
Method 1. Audible Premium Plus Free Trial
The most well-known method for getting a specific audiobook you want for free is by using the Audible Premium Plus free trial. This is Audible's primary way of introducing new users to its premium service, and it's incredibly generous.
What You Get with the Audible Free Trial
Typically, a standard Audible free trial lasts for 30 days. During this period, you get:
- 1 Free Credit: This is the best part. This credit can be used to purchase any premium audiobook in their catalog, regardless of its price. Whether it's a new 20-hour epic or a short novella, you can get it for free with your credit.
- Access to the Plus Catalog: Beyond your credit, the trial also grants you unlimited access to the Audible Plus Catalog. This is a rotating collection of thousands of audiobooks, podcasts, and Audible Originals that you can stream on demand without using a credit.
Step-by-Step Guide to Claiming Your Free Audiobook
Step 1. Navigate to the Audible free trial page. You'll often see banners for it on Amazon as well.
Step 2. Click the Try 3 months for $0.00 button to begin the sign-up process. You will need to sign in with your Amazon account. If you don't have one, you can create one for free.
Step 3. Although the trial is free, you will likely need to add a payment method (like a credit card). This is for security and to allow the subscription to auto-renew if you choose not to cancel. You will not be charged if you cancel before the 30-day trial period ends.
Step 4. Once your trial is active, browse the Audible library and find the book you want.
Step 5. On the book's page, you'll see the option to "Buy with 1 Credit." Select this, and the audiobook is yours.
Critical Question: Do You Keep Books After the Trial?
This is a crucial point of confusion for many users. The answer is yes and no. The book you bought with your free credit is yours to keep forever, even if you cancel your membership. It will remain in your Audible library permanently.
Audiobooks you listened to from the Plus Catalog are only accessible during your trial or with an active membership. If you cancel, you will lose access to these titles.
Part 2. Audible Free Listens Collection
What if you don't want to sign up for a trial or provide payment information? Audible has you covered with its "Free Listens" collection. This is a permanently free selection of audiobooks and podcasts available to anyone with an Amazon account.
What is the "Free Listens" Collection?
This is a curated library of content that Audible offers completely free of charge to showcase the quality of its productions. You don't need a membership, a trial, or a credit card on file to access it. You simply need to sign in with your existing Amazon account.
The selection includes:
- Classic literature whose copyrights have expired.
- Audible Original podcasts and short stories.
- Book 1 of popular series to get you hooked.
- Wellness and meditation programs.
How to Access Hundreds of Free Titles Instantly
Step 1. Go to the Audible Website.
Step 2. Search for "Free Listens" or "Free Audiobooks". You can usually find a dedicated page or category for this content.
Step 3. If you aren't already, sign in with your Amazon account details.
Step 4. Simply browse the collection, find a title that interests you, add it to your library, and start listening. It's that simple. Besides, you can click on the More options button and select Buy for $0.00 to buy the audible books for free.
Method 3: Amazon Prime Membership
If you're one of the millions of Amazon Prime members, you have hidden Audible perks you might not even know about. While a full Audible Premium Plus subscription is not included with Prime, you do get free access to a rotating catalog of audiobooks.
Your Hidden Audible Perks as a Prime Member
Years ago, this benefit was known as "Audible Channels". Today, it has evolved into a much more robust offering. As a Prime member, you get free access to a rotating selection of thousands of titles from the Audible Plus Catalog.
This is different from the "Free Listens" collection. The Prime selection is often larger, features more well-known authors and bestsellers, and rotates more frequently to keep things fresh.
How to Find Your Rotating Selection of Free Audiobooks
Step 1. Go to the Audible website.
Step 2. Sign in with your Amazon Prime account information.
Step 3. Look for the "Included with Prime" category. The website will recognize your Prime status and show you the titles you can stream for free.
Method 4: Borrow Free Audiobooks from Your Public Library
Beyond the world of Amazon and Audible, there is a massive, completely free source of audiobooks: your local public library. Thanks to modern apps like Libby and OverDrive, borrowing digital audiobooks is easier than ever.
How Library Audiobooks Work
Your public library card is a key to a vast digital collection. Libraries purchase licenses for audiobooks, which they can then lend out to patrons for a set period (usually 2-3 weeks). If a book is currently "checked out," you can place a hold and get in line, just like with a physical book. The best part? It's all 100% free.
Step-by-Step Guide to Borrowing Free Audiobooks
Step 1. To bigin with, you should get a library card. If you don't have a library card, visit your local library's website. Many now offer online registration for instant access.
Step 2. Libby is the most popular and user-friendly app for library borrowing. Download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Step 3. Open Libby and follow the simple prompts to find your library and enter your library card number.
Step 4. Search the catalog for any audiobook. If it's available, you can borrow it instantly. If not, place a hold. The app will notify you when it's your turn.
Step 5. The app has a great built-in player. The audiobook will automatically be returned when your lending period expires, so there are never any late fees.
Bonus Tip: How to Keep Free Audiobooks via TunesKit Audio Capture
Want to keep these free audiobooks on your computer forever? By using a third-party tool like TunesKit Audio Capture, users can easily record and download audiobooks from Audible or other source platforms. TunesKit Audio Capture is a powerful and user-friendly audio recording tool that supports more than 20 audio types. It is a multi-track sound recording tool capable of recording any audio that is playing, such as streaming music, online meetings, and games.
Key Features of TunesKit Audio Capture
Record Audible books in simple clicks. Record high-quality audio on Win/Mac from any source without losing any audio quality.
The following steps will show you how to keep your free audible books on your computer by using TunesKit Audio Capture.
Step 1Download and install software
Download and install TunesKit Audio Capture on your computer first. When the program is install successfully, launch it. TunesKit Audio Capture is available on both Windows and Mac paltforms.
Step 2Set the output format for Audible books
If you want to set your output Audible book in specific formats, just click the Format icon to select the output formate.
Step 3Play and download Audible books
After selecting the output format, you can now start to record Audible books on your computer. Click on the button at the top-left corner of TunesKit Audio Capture, where you can see a program list drop down after clicking it. Select the browser you are using to play Audible books. Then, click on the Start button and TunesKit Audio Capture will launch the browser you have selected. Start and play the Audile book that you want to record.
Step 4Stop and edit
To stop the recording the process, just click on the Stop button in TunesKit Audio Capture. You can the cut and trim the recorded audio by clicking the edit button.
Step 5Save Audible books
When all is done, just click on the Save button to save the recorded Audible books to your computer. You can find all the recorded Audible books in the History list.
If you want to know more about how to download Audible books to computer, just move to How to Download Audiobooks from Audible >>
Part 5. FAQs about Audible Books
1. Is Audible really free with Amazon Prime?
Not entirely. You don't get a full Audible Premium Plus membership, but you do get free access to a large, rotating catalog of audiobooks and podcasts.
2. Can I get more than one Audible free trial?
Officially, the free trial is for new customers. However, accounts that have been inactive for a long time (typically over a year) are sometimes offered another trial.
3. What's the difference between an Audible credit and the Plus Catalog?
A credit is like a token that lets you "buy" and own any single audiobook from the premium library. The Plus Catalog is a "library" of titles you can stream, but you don't own them; it's more like Netflix for audiobooks.
Conclusion
The idea that Audible is a purely paid service is a myth. Whether you want a specific bestseller with a free trial, prefer to browse a no-commitment Free Listens collection, or want to leverage your Amazon Prime membership for more variety, there is a free path for you.
By understanding these four methods, you can dive into the rich world of audiobooks without spending a dime. Choose the option that best fits your needs and happy listening. If you want to keep these free Audible books on your computer, download and try using TunesKit Audio Capture.