Spotify Audiobooks - Spotify (US) (2024)

FAQs

What's the deal with Spotify audiobooks? ›

How does the Audiobooks Access plan work? With the Audiobooks Access plan, you now get 15 hours of audiobook listening time every month from our audiobooks subscriber catalog. Unused listening hours expire at the end of each month and do not carry over.

Firstly, ensure that you have the appropriate type of Spotify account that includes audiobook access. Additionally, certain audiobooks may only be accessible after a specific date or billing cycle. If the problem persists, consider reinstalling the app or reaching out to Spotify support for assistance.

If you haven't yet purchased an audiobook a lock will appear next to the play button, informing you that you need to the buy the book before you can listen.

Where music streaming is characterised by infinite supply, audiobooks, at least for now, retain scarcity, which increases per-unit value. As such, listening to audiobooks is much more expensive than listening to music on Spotify.

One significant factor contributing to the removal of audiobook purchases from Spotify is Apple's rules and guidelines for in-app purchases. Apple, the company behind the iOS App Store and Apple Music, has certain policies that affect how apps like Spotify can handle transactions within their iOS app.

For $1 more per month, you can get Spotify Premium, which includes unlimited music and podcast listening, plus the same 15 hours of audiobook listening per month.

Your audiobook listening consumption will revert to being drawn from the new listening time allotted to you; and. Your top-up hours will continue to be available when your monthly audiobook listening time is used up.

If you're a devoted audiobook lover looking for a dedicated audiobook service, Audible might be your best bet. But if you enjoy a diverse range of audio content, including music, podcasts, and a growing selection of audiobooks, Spotify offers a compelling and all-encompassing streaming experience.

If you have a Premium subscription, you'll be able to listen to 15 hours of audiobooks for free per month. With the average audiobook running about eight to 12 hours long, Spotify Premium members have the opportunity to listen to at least one whole book for free every month—possibly more.

How do I listen to full audiobooks on Spotify? ›

How to listen to audiobooks in Spotify. After you've purchased an audiobook on Spotify, you'll find it in your library. On the desktop and the web, click the Audiobooks link at the top of the left-hand navigation pane, and on mobile tap Your Library, then Audiobooks.

You'll get an email after the purchase is completed. This one-time payment unlocks the title for your account and you can listen to the audiobook anytime on Spotify. For more information, check out our Audiobook Purchase Terms and Conditions.

Only the Family plan manager has access to audiobook listening time. Plan members don't have access.

Unfortunately, Spotify doesn't let you buy audiobooks through in-app purchases. This is because these transactions would require it to pay commission to Apple and Google. Instead, you'll need to buy audiobooks on the web, after which they'll be unlocked on the app for you to listen to.

By adding audiobooks, Spotify is aiming to attract new subscribers, and to keep existing subscribers on the platform for longer.

The titles in Spotify's audiobook catalog come from major publishers including Hachette, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster and RB Media, as well as independent authors and publishers globally, including Bolinda, Dreamscape and Pushkin.

While Spotify Free users can listen to public domain audiobooks, Spotify Premium users get 15 free hours of premium audiobooks every month. Premium users can also purchase 10-hour top-ups for audiobooks which last for 12 months, whereas the 15 free hours do not carry over from month to month.

Is the new plan worth it? Spotify's premium plan will only run you a buck more a month than its audiobook-only plan, and the premium version allows users to listen to music and podcasts without any ads. It also allows users to listen to 15 hours worth of audiobooks every month before having to pay for various titles.