Audiobooks are a new way to enjoy books without reading them, but they can be pricey to buy or subscribe to. That’s why we have compiled a list of the best audio book services for free in 2023.
Whether looking for fiction, nonfiction, classics, or new releases, you will find something to suit your taste and budget. Now let’s get started with the top 8 free audiobook services you should try:
1. Audible
Audible is the most popular and well-known audiobook service in the world. Its catalog has over 500,000 titles, including bestsellers, exclusives, originals, and podcasts. Users can listen to audiobooks with the Audible app or website on any device.
If you’re looking for contemporary audiobooks or after a specific title that isn’t in the public domain, try Amazon’s Audible. It offers a massive number of professionally narrated books and Audible original content. Though it’s a paid service, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial that comes with a free audiobook and access to a bunch of perks.
What’s more? Audible offers two subscription plans with different features: $7.95/month and $14.95/month. For example, the $14.95 subscription gives you one monthly credit to redeem for any audiobook on Audible and unlimited access to Audible Plus Catalog.
See how Audible compares to another audiobook service here.
2. LibriVox
LibriVox is a volunteer-based audiobook service that offers free access to over 60,000 public-domain audiobooks in various languages. It allows you to browse and download audiobooks from the LibriVox website or app. Another option is to stream them online or subscribe to them via RSS or iTunes.
LibriVox audiobooks are recorded by volunteers worldwide who donate their time and voice to make books available for everyone – such a great thing! The quality and style of the recordings vary depending on the narrator and the source material.
Moreover, there are reviews and ratings from other listeners to help you choose the best audiobook for you. Therefore, whenever you meet a favorite audiobook, remember to rate 5-star and leave a comment.
Also, why don’t you be a part of LibriVox? It always welcomes new volunteers who want to contribute to its mission. Join as a reader, proof-listener, editor, coordinator, or developer. Plus, as they offer high-quality free audiobooks, you can donate money to support its activities and expenses.
3. Spotify
Regarding the free audiobook online list, Spotify is a must-have. It is famous as a music streaming service and also offers a vast collection of audiobooks. Spotify’s extra features make it different, including creating playlists, following artists, and discovering new titles based on your mood and taste.
Spotify offers a free plan that lets you listen to audiobooks with ads and limited features. For a better listening experience, let’s upgrade to a premium plan. Here is Sopify’s pricing for your reference:
Spotify houses many short story podcasts featuring works from around the world. That makes it worth searching for the authors or stories you’re interested in on Spotify’s search bar. Our recommendation is the 1001 Classic Short Stories and Tales podcast. Visit Spotify right away and utilize these coupons to enjoy popular audiobooks.
4. Lit2Go
Lit2Go is an educational audiobook service with over 7,000 stories and poems in countless genres and languages. Start listening now by browsing and downloading audiobooks from the Lit2Go website or app.
Unlike LibriVox, Lit2Go audiobooks are products of professional narrators who bring the texts to life with their voice and expression. This trait proved that the quality and style of the recordings are consistent and high-quality. Each audiobook also comes along with a PDF file that includes the text, a summary, a citation, and some questions for further study.
For your information, Lit2Go is a project of the Florida Center for Instructional Technology at the University of South Florida. It supports literacy education by offering students and teachers free access to quality literature.
5. Audiobooks.com
Audiobooks.com is a premium audiobook service that many book lovers choose. It is similar to Audible, with more than 250,000 titles. This website also presents a 30-day free trial when you sign up for the first time. Yet, Audiobooks.com is generous when offering 3 free audiobooks in this trial.
Finding free audiobooks is easier, with almost 10,500 options in the Audiobooks.com catalog. After the trial, the monthly fee is $14.95 for one credit or $22.95 for two credits. You can also buy extra credits or individual titles at discounted prices.
6. BBC Sounds
BBC Sounds is a free new app since 2018 by the BBC. It owns thousands of radio programs, podcasts, and audiobooks from the BBC and other partners. These sources are available in English Language, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, and Irish.
As you might know, the BBC has a long history of teaming up with famous actors in the UK to produce radio plays. And now, they’re trying something new – giving out unlimited access to shorter audiobooks for free.
Users can get many podcasts on the BBC Sounds app or website, even if they’re not in the UK. But, some podcasts are only able to download within the UK due to rights agreements that prevent BBC from making the content public internationally.
If you like the shorter versions, this audio book service for free is all you need. Try it now on various devices, including mobile phones and tablets, personal computers, cars, and smart televisions.
7. Free Classic Audiobooks
Free Classic Audiobooks is a great website where you find lots of old and famous stories for free. They have over 200 classic books and even 600 short stories. As they are a traditional audio source, download them as MP3 or M4B files and enjoy them will give you an authentic vibe.
Especially, Free Classic Audiobooks has collections of these stories on a special USB stick for only $9.95. That’s a great way to support the website.
Furthermore, they also have language courses, like for learning Spanish or French, mixed with engaging stories. So, it’s perfect to learn a new language while enjoying fun stories.
Some of the stories they have include “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin,” “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine, and “My Story” by Helen Keller. They also have famous books like Kafka’s “Metamorphosis.”, so check them out!
8. Open Culture
Open Culture is an outstanding website with many exciting and educational stuff. They want to help people keep learning, no matter how old they are. So, Open Culture collects all free audio and videos and puts them in one place. No matter where you are or when you want to learn, find and use this top-quality stuff easily in their library.
Here are some of the cool things they have:
- More than 1,700 free online courses from well-known universities.
- Over 4,000 free movies to watch online, including classic films and documentaries.
- Around 1,000 free audiobooks that you can listen to or download.
- About 800 free eBooks for iPads and Kindles.
- Special courses from famous academies (some even give you certificates).
- You can learn 46 different languages for free online, like Spanish, Chinese, and English.
- More than 200 pieces of free content for kids, including videos, apps, books, and websites.
And guess what? When you find something incredible that you think should be on Open Culture, tell them about it. They’re open to new ideas, so send them an email with your suggestions. They’ll look at what you recommend and might add your idea to their website if it fits. Remember to read their rules and give them all the details they need.
The Bottom Line
Above is our list of best audio book services for free in 2023 to help you enjoy books in a convenient and enjoyable way. So, if you’re excited to dive into amazing stories and learn new things, these free services are magic doors waiting for you to open. Start listening today, and let your imagination run wild with the power of stories!
