Audible is a leading provider of premium digital spoken audio content, offering a vast library of audiobooks, podcasts, and other audio programs. In this article, we discuss the top Audible Competitors and Alternatives.
Founded in 1995 and based in Newark, New Jersey, Audible has revolutionized how people consume books and storytelling by enabling users to listen to their favorite audiobooks and titles anytime, anywhere. Audible has quickly become a go-to destination for millions of audiobook lovers worldwide with a user-friendly platform and a wide range of genres and languages.
Its commitment to high-quality production value and a seamless listening experience sets Audible apart from its competitors. The company works with renowned narrators, actors, and even authors to bring captivating stories to life for many listeners. Users can listen to popular bestsellers and literary classics on the best audiobook app and explore a diverse collection of exclusive Audible Originals featuring exclusive content created by celebrated authors and speakers.
- Product Type: Audio content provider.
- Industry: Entertainment.
- Founded Date: July 30, 1995.
- Founders: Don Katz.
- Headquarters: Newark, New Jersey, United States.
- Area Served: Worldwide.
- Current CEO: Bob Carrigan.
Table of Contents
The top Audible competitors are
1. Apple Books
- Product Type: Audiobooks
- Industry: Technology
- Founded Date: April 1, 1976
- Founders: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne
- Headquarters: Cupertino, California, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Tim Cook
Apple Books is the audiobook sector of Apple Inc., providing a wide selection of audiobooks directly integrated into Apple devices. It offers an immersive, interactive reading and listening experience for users across the globe via mobile devices. Its competitive edge is due to its seamless integration with other Apple services and the enormous existing customer base of Apple users.
2. Google Play Audiobooks
- Product Type: Audiobooks
- Industry: Technology
- Founded Date: March 14, 1997
- Founders: Larry Page and Sergey Brin
- Headquarters: Mountain View, California, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Sundar Pichai
Google Play Audiobooks is Google’s audiobook platform for mobile devices, offering users various books across different genres. This audiobook service is available on Android, iOS, and web platforms. It gives Google Play a unique opportunity to challenge the Audible service because it has mobile devices and can integrate with Google’s massively popular Android operating system.
3. Scribd
- Product Type: Audiobooks
- Industry: Technology
- Founded Date: March 2007
- Founders: Trip Adler, Jared Friedman, and Tikhon Bernstam
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Trip Adler
Scribd is an American ebook and audiobook subscription service. It is one of Audible’s main competitors due to its robust content library, including books, newspapers, and magazines. With an extensive selection of free audiobooks, Scribd employs a subscription model similar to Audible’s but with a heavier focus on unlimited listening and consumption.
4. Storytel
- Product Type: Audiobooks
- Industry: Technology
- Founded Date: April 2005
- Founders: Jonas Tellander
- Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden
- Area Served: Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East
- Current CEO: Jonas Tellander
Storytel is a European subscription-based audiobook and ebook service in several countries worldwide. Given its extensive audiobook collection and multi-lingual support, it is another strong competitor of Audible and other audiobook services. Storytel’s notable advantage is its substantial presence in non-English markets, providing numerous unique local language content.
5. Audiobooks.com
- Product Type: Audiobooks
- Industry: Technology
- Founded Date: 2011
- Founders: Ian Small and Sanjay Singhal
- Headquarters: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
- Area Served: United States and Canada
- Current CEO: Ian Small
Audiobooks.com is an online platform dedicated solely to the popular audiobooks around. This platform gives users the ability to rent or purchase audiobooks, focusing on offering an extensive range of titles from various genres. It is also known for its user-friendly interface and attractive pricing strategies to borrow audiobooks.
6. Libby and OverDrive
- Product Type: Audiobooks
- Industry: Technology
- Founded Date: 1986
- Founders: Steve Potash
- Headquarters: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Steve Potash
Libby and OverDrive are digital platforms that allow users to borrow and download audiobooks (and other digital content) from their local libraries. By partnering with public libraries worldwide, they give users free access to a wealth of audiobook content. The simplicity of access and free content make them strong competitors.
7. Kobo
- Product Type: Ebooks, Audiobooks, eReaders, and tablet computers
- Industry: Bookselling, Consumer Electronics
- Founded Date: December 2009
- Founders: Michael Serbinis
- Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Michael Tamblyn
Kobo is an audiobook and ebook platform owned by the Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten. Kobo is a contender for Audible’s market share. It offers a wide range of international content, a la carte purchase options, loyal books, and additional credits through its subscription service, making it flexible and versatile for users.
8. Downpour
- Product Type: Audiobooks
- Industry: Bookselling
- Founded Date: 2012
- Headquarters: Ashland, Oregon, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
Downpour is an online audiobook app retailer that offers a broad selection of audiobooks for sale and rent. Specializing in DRM-free content, Downpour is an alternative to Audible for those users who wish more freedom with their favorite audiobook purchases.
9. Libro.fm
- Product Type: Audiobooks
- Industry: Bookselling
- Founded Date: 2013
- Founders: Mark Pearson and Carrie Obry
- Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States
- Area Served: United States and Canada
- Current CEO: Mark Pearson
Libro.fm is an audiobook platform that partners with local libraries and independent bookstores. This unique business model allows customers to support their favorite local libraries and bookshops with every audiobook credit purchase they make on the platform. Libro.fm emphasis on community involvement distinguishes it from other platforms.
10. Hoopla
- Product Type: Audiobooks
- Industry: Library Services
- Founded Date: 2011
- Founders: Jeff Jankowski
- Headquarters: Holland, Ohio, United States
- Area Served: United States and Canada
- Current CEO: Jeff Jankowski
Hoopla is a web and mobile library media streaming platform that provides unlimited access to free audiobooks, ebooks, audible books, movies & television. Being a service pumping through users’ local libraries, it offers the users free access to local libraries with a wealth of content.
11. Chirp
- Product Type: Audiobooks
- Industry: Bookselling
- Founded Date: 2019
- Founders: Neil Baptista and Jeffrey LeBlanc
- Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
- Area Served: United States
- Current CEO: Neil Baptista
Chirp is a unique audiobook platform offering discounted audiobooks without a monthly subscription. Instead of a recurring monthly fee, customers can pick and choose from various library card rotating deals, providing a cost-effective alternative for audiobook listeners.
12. Beek
- Product Type: Audiobooks
- Industry: Publishing
- Founded Date: 2019
- Founders: Martijn de Best, Willem-Jan Brabers
- Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Area Served: Europe
- Current CEO: Martijn de Best
Beek is a social network and book recommendation platform focusing on the Latin American market. They offer a broad selection of audiobooks in Spanish, catering to a large audience looking for localized content. Beek’s unique angle is integrating social features with accompanying audiobooks, helping users find and share the books they love.
13. BookBeat
- Product Type: Audiobooks
- Industry: Publishing
- Founded Date: 2015
- Founders: Niclas Sandin, Simon Dunér, Love Bonnier
- Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden
- Area Served: Europe
- Current CEO: Niclas Sandin
BookBeat is a subscription fee-based audiobook and ebook service based in Sweden. Offering a wide selection of titles across various genres and languages, BookBeat is a strong competitor in the European market. They attract avid audiobook listeners across the continent by emphasizing a simple subscription model and user-friendly app.
14. Nook Audiobooks by Barnes & Noble
- Product Type: Audiobooks
- Industry: Retail
- Founded Date: 1873
- Founders: Charles M. Barnes, William Barnes, G. Clifford Noble
- Headquarters: New York City, United States
- Area Served: United States
- Current CEO: James Daunt
Nook Audiobooks by Barnes & Noble is an audiobook platform powered by the well-known American bookseller Barnes & Noble. With an extensive catalog of titles, Nook the Audiobooks app caters to the vast customer base of Barnes & Noble, providing readers with an alternative to Audible through an established name in bookselling.
15. eStories (formerly eMusic)
- Product Type: Audiobooks
- Industry: Music and Audiobooks
- Founded Date: 1998
- Founders: Gene Hoffman, David Pakman
- Headquarters: New York City, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
eStories (formerly eMusic) is an audiobook service that offers a mix of subscription plans and single audiobook purchases. It has a broad array of audiobooks and a user-friendly interface, allowing customers to pick from unlimited popular titles, new releases, and indie gems. Its DRM-free content enables users to enjoy their favorite books without restrictions.
16. Podimo
- Product Type: Podcasts and Audiobooks
- Industry: Media
- Founded Date: 2019
- Founders: Morten Strunge
- Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark
- Area Served: Europe
- Current CEO: Morten Strunge
Podimo is a Danish podcast and audiobook platform offering users curated content and personalized recommendations. Their unique business model focuses on supporting content creators through a revenue-sharing system. Podimo’s dedication to its creator community makes it an innovative competitor in the audiobook services market.
17. Blinkist
- Product Type: Book summarizing subscription service
- Industry: Publishing
- Founded Date: August 21, 2012
- Founders: Holger Seim, Niklas Jansen, Sebastian Klein, Tobias Balling
- Headquarters: Berlin, Germany
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Niklas Jansen
Blinkist is a unique audiobook service that offers condensed versions of popular science fiction and non-fiction books, providing busy individuals with quick insights and key takeaways. Blinkist is an alternative competitor to Audible by focusing on easy-to-digest summaries of short stories and targeting certain titles to a specific audience that values summarized information.
18. Playster
- Product Type: Audiobooks, eBooks, music, movies, and games subscription service
- Industry: Entertainment
- Founded Date: 2014
- Founders: Philip Keezer, Christopher Reid
- Headquarters: Montreal, Canada
- Area Served: Worldwide
Playster is a multimedia subscription service that offers audiobooks, free ebooks, music, movies, and games. As a competitor to Audible, Playster provides users with a one-stop shop for digital entertainment without subscription fees, making it an attractive choice for many customers.
19. AudiobookSTORE.com
- Product Type: Audiobooks
- Industry: Retail
- Area Served: United States
AudiobookSTORE.com is an online retailer that focuses on audiobook downloads and rentals. Boasting an extensive catalog of titles, it offers audiobooks in various genres. Its competitive pricing and intuitive website make it an appealing option for audiobook enthusiasts.
20. Podbean
- Product Type: Podcast hosting and monetization platform
- Industry: Media
- Founded Date: 2006
- Founders: David Xu
- Headquarters: Shanghai, China
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: David Xu
Podbean is primarily a podcast hosting and monetization platform, but it also hosts a growing library of audiobooks. By leveraging the popularity of podcasts and digital audiobooks, Podbean offers users a mix of content while expanding its footprint in the audio entertainment industry.
21. Tantor Media
- Product Type: Audiobooks
- Industry: Publishing
- Founded Date: 2000
- Headquarters: Old Saybrook, Connecticut, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Ron Formica
Tantor Media is a leading independent audiobook publisher that produces and sells audiobooks through various platforms, including its website. With a focus on high-quality narrations, new titles, and a rich catalog, Tantor Media presents itself as a compelling option for audiobook listeners searching for a wide range of titles and narrators.
22. Graphic Audio
- Product Type: Full-cast audiobooks
- Industry: Publishing
- Founded Date: 2004
- Founders: Anji Cornette, Richard Rohan
- Headquarters: Bethesda, Maryland, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Anji Cornette
Graphic Audio is a specialized audiobook publisher, producing unique “full cast” productions with actors, sound effects, and immersive storytelling. With their focus on engaging in audiobook listening experiences, Graphic Audio caters to a specific audience that values vivid narratives and dramatic listening adventures.
23. Blackstone Audio
- Product Type: Audiobooks
- Industry: Publishing
- Founded Date: 1987
- Founders: Craig and Michelle Black
- Headquarters: Ashland, Oregon, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
Blackstone Audio is an independent audiobook publisher offering various titles across various genres. Besides publishing, Blackstone Audio provides additional services like library distribution, digital books and downloads, and retail CDs. By emphasizing quality production and narration, it positions itself as a key competitor in the audiobook industry.
24. Recorded Books
- Product Type: Audiobooks
- Industry: Publishing
- Founded Date: 1979
- Founders: Henry Trentman
- Headquarters: Prince Frederick, Maryland, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Tom MacIsaac
Recorded Books is another leading independent audiobook publisher dedicated to bringing popular titles to life with its extensive library and high-quality narration and production. With an extensive collection of reading material that spans various genres, it is a contender in the audiobook market thanks to its library offerings and excellent narrations.
25. Findaway Voices
- Product Type: Audiobook production and distribution platform
- Industry: Publishing
- Founded Date: 2015
- Founders: Will Dages, Tyler Rouse
- Headquarters: Solon, Ohio, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Will Dages
Findaway Voices is an audiobook production and distribution platform that helps authors and publishers create, distribute, and sell audiobooks. As an Audible competitor, Findaway Voices does not focus solely on listeners but also offers opportunities for content creators, providing them with comprehensive solutions for the audiobook market.
26. LibriVox
- Product Type: Free public domain audiobooks
- Industry: Publishing
- Founded Date: August 10, 2005
- Founders: Hugh McGuire
- Headquarters: Montreal, Canada
- Area Served: Worldwide
LibriVox is a non-profit initiative that brings together volunteers to record audiobooks for public domain works, making them accessible to a wide range of users for free. As a competitor to Audible, LibriVox leverages its volunteer-driven model and public domain-focused content to attract listeners searching for free audiobook options.
27. Speechify
- Product Type: Text-to-speech software
- Industry: Technology
- Founded Date: 2015
- Founders: Cliff Weitzman
- Headquarters: New York City, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Cliff Weitzman
Speechify is an innovative text-to-speech application that enables users to listen to articles, PDFs, books, audiobooks, and other text-based content. Although Speechify is not a direct competitor to Audible in the traditional audiobook sense, it offers an alternative approach to consuming written content in an audible format, appealing to those who enjoy audio input during their daily tasks.
These were all the competitors of Audible. If you know any other competitors, please write in the comments below.
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