Usually, we only recommend signing up for Audible if you can snag yourself a deal like this one from January. But after Amazon’s audiobook empire announced a new ‘Standard’ plan yesterday, we’re changing our tune. Currently rolling out to subscribers in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, and France, the plan is also available to any Saffas looking to get in on a good deal. They’ll just have to deal with the volatile Rand as they venture forth.
The plan has, apparently, performed well in Audible’s initial test in the UK and Australia, prompting the company to roll it out everywhere. “With its expansion across all new launching marketplaces, Standard is projected to bring millions of new consumers into the Audible experience over the next year,” Amazon wrote.
*audible squeak of excitement*
Before Standard, Audible’s cheapest plan was ‘Premium Plus’, coming in at $15/m (on the web) for only a single audiobook credit per month, while courting two credits would set subscribers back $23/m. The Standard plan is certainly less than that, going for $9/m. Plus, you still get access to one credit from the catalogue per month.
That credit is technically yours to keep forever, though with the caveat that cancelling your subscription means losing access to your claimed audiobooks. They’ll remain tied to the owner’s account, meaning you can take a break at any point before returning later. Think of it like PlayStation’s monthly PS Plus subscription.
The difference between the Standard plan and all the rest is everything else that comes with it. On top of a single credit per month, users also get access to “unlimited listening from a curated library that includes a selection of Audible Originals and nearly 200 of the most popular titles previously available on Wondery+.”
Audible’s announcement doesn’t mention access to podcasts in the text, but does include it in the promotional image as well as the app. The app claims buyers get “unlimited access to bingeable podcasts,” so you listeners can rest easy. The only features customers are missing out on are the ability to keep a claimed audiobook, even after they cancel, as well as unlimited listening to more than 150,000 books on Audible’s full catalogue.
Audiobook power-listeners may still find more value in the company’s higher tiers, though casuals will likely be more than content with their single credit per month and unlimited podcast listening. Without official service in SA, South Africans can sign up by visiting the website here and paying the dollar value.
