Audible has launched a new Standard membership tier in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany and France.
Audible says this offering expands flexibility and access to the audio format, the fastest growing in publishing, featuring one audiobook per month from Audible’s catalogue plus 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+.
With Audible’s global membership base larger than ever, the Standard plan is designed to welcome new audiences to audio storytelling, a media format that is increasingly shaping the cultural conversation. Priced from $8.99 per month, the plan offers an accessible entry point for listeners looking for the latest best-seller, or who are just beginning to explore audiobooks.
“The launch of our Standard tier reflects Audible’s ongoing commitment to serving the diverse preferences and listening habits of story-lovers everywhere,” said Cynthia Chu, chief financial and growth officer at Audible.
“By expanding our membership options, we’re maximizing access for lighter listeners while enabling publishers and creators to reach new audiences – a win-win that grows the entire audiobook category. Early testing of the Standard plan in select marketplaces shows strong member acquisition and retention rates. Initial testing in Australia and the UK indicated that the plan was responsible for driving a strong double digit percentage increase in new member sign-ups compared with previous offerings. With its expansion across all new launching marketplaces, Standard is projected to bring millions of new consumers into the Audible audiobook experience over the next year.”
With the Standard membership, subscribers can select one audiobook each month from Audible’s full catalogue, retaining access to that title for as long as membership remains active. Members also get unlimited ad-free listening access to a select catalogue featuring premium Audible Originals like The Winning Formula and Corked, global titles like The Big Lie and Mistletoe Murders, plus nearly 200 hit titles previously available on Wondery+ which are now Audible Originals – including acclaimed series such as Dr. Death, American Scandal, and Business Wars. While many of these titles will remain widely available, early access and ad-free listening previously enjoyed by Wondery+ subscribers will be available only for Audible members. Select titles such as Dying for Sex, The Shrink Next Door and Ghost Story will be be exclusive to Audible members.
Audible continues to offer its Premium Plus membership (priced from $16.45 AUD in Australia) which gives listeners one credit a month to buy any audiobook from Audible’s entire collection, along with unlimited listening to thousands of additional audiobooks and originals from the Plus Catalogue. Combined with the option to purchase titles à la carte, Audible provides a comprehensive range of options to match every listener’s needs.
The Standard plan is available immediately in Australia, the US, UK, Canada, Germany and France, with testing underway in additional marketplaces.
