Book subscription services and monthly boxes are a fun and cost-effective way to consume books. My favorites over the years of reading 100+ books per year come in various offerings and formats (audiobook, hardcover, and ebook). You’ll find something to suit your preferences and needs here, so let’s get literary!
What are good book subscriptions?
- Book of the Month: My preferred subscription for new release hardcover books
- Libro.fm: My preferred audiobook subscription generally, as it supports independent bookstores and allows me to pick a book of my choice
- Audible: My preferred audiobook subscription for exclusives, such as their collection of the classics narrated by famous actors
- Kindle Unlimited: My preferred e-book subscription when I need many e-books per month and like the current catalog’s offerings
- Everand (formerly Scribd): My preferred audiobook subscription service for months when I want to listen to many books. It acts like Netflix for audiobooks, but I don’t like it for ebooks because I can’t send them to my Kindle.
- Spotify: Best only as a perk for music lovers who pay for Premium (ad-free music listening). You also get 15 hours of audiobook listening per month with Premium, but the catalog is somewhat limited, and you can run out of listening time.
A Note From Jules
As a reader of 100+ books per year in all book formats, I’ve tested these recommended book subscriptions at various times over the years. I tend to go back and forth between them based on my current needs. They are all great options — it just depends on your preferences. Plus, you can often get books for free or books for less if you try them out!
Reviews of the Best Book Subscription Services
Book of the Month
Since 1926, Book of the Month is a very popular hardcover book subscription box (though it also offers limited audiobooks). Each month, Book of the Month picks five to seven of the best new reads (fiction and nonfiction). They emphasize early releases, fresh perspectives, Read with Jenna Book Club picks, and debut authors. Book of the Month members select one of those top picks and can “add on” additional hardcover books from a curated selection at a reduced cost.
PROS
- “Early releases” mean you get to read some big titles before the general public does.
- Great range of new book selections that help you discover your reads in an easy and fun way
- Reasonably priced with more bonuses the longer you’re a member, such as a free credit during your birthday month
CONS
- You can’t get a book from the “add-on” section without picking one of the five to seven books that are Book of the Month‘s picks. Sometimes the most popular books are in the “add-on” section.
- Only available in the United States, U.S. military locations overseas, and Canada (except Quebec)
- Credits expire (see above)
Libro.fm
Since 2014, Libro.fm is an audiobook subscription service that functions like Amazon’s Audible but supports 3,000+ independent bookstores and is employee owned.
PROS
- Like Audible, their catalog has 500,000+ books.
- Support independent bookstores generally or choose your favorite one.
- Credits don’t expire, so membership feels stress free.
- There are additional sales for members, such as “2 books for 1 credit” deals.
Amazon’s Audible
Audible is Amazon’s audiobook service, so it offers the perks of a massive corporation. There are two membership options: Audible Plus members get unlimited access to a selection of “thousands” of books in the Plus Catalog (not the full catalog). Audible Premium Plus members get unlimited access to the Plus Catalog and one credit per month for any title in Audible’s full catalog.
PROS
- More membership options
- Large catalog, including Originals and exclusives in the Plus Catalog, such as the classics read by famous actors
- Very easy to return books, cancel your membership, etc., in just a few clicks
- Member-exclusive sales, such as the Audible Daily Deal
- Audiobooks can sync with Kindle on books labeled “Whispersync for Voice,” which allows you to switch between Kindle reading and Audible listening to a book
CONS
- Supports a massive corporation
- Credits expire after one year, so you have to worry about using them.
- The Plus catalog is fairly limited.
Related Post: Review of Audible | Audible Plus vs. Premium Plus
Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited
For over ten years, Kindle Unlimited has offered access to over 4 million digital titles featuring best sellers, popular series, classics, and more. They are most known for their e-book selection, but some audiobooks and magazines are also included. Subscribers can keep up to 20 titles from the Kindle Unlimited library at a given time.
PROS
- Includes many popular new books, including romance, series, and thrillers
- Read on any device, including your Kindle, of course.
CONS
- You only get to choose from the Kindle Unlimited library, which is somewhat limited.
- Only available in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, UK, Brazil, Japan, India, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Australia
Everand (Formerly Scribd)
As of late 2024, Everand‘s offerings have changed. A monthly subscription now gets you one (or three) “unlocks” (credits) for a “premium” ebook or audiobook of your choice from a catalog of 1.5 million, including new releases and bestsellers. Subscribers also get unlimited access to a more limited catalog of e-books, audiobooks, magazines, podcasts, and sheet music.
PROS
- The best “unlimited” catalog I’ve experienced, especially if you like to read older titles. I have averaged about 5 reads per month.
- You can read or listen offline, too.
- The best bang for your buck overall if you read several e-books and/or audiobooks per month.
CONS
- The app doesn’t always work well (It buffers, etc.).
- You must read in the Everand app, so you can’t send books to your Kindle.
- Unused “Unlocks” expire very quickly.
- You don’t “own” any content past the time of your membership.
Spotify
The music streaming service Spotify recently started offering audiobook subscription benefits. Premium subscribers enjoy 15 hours of audiobook listening from a catalog of 375,000+ books.
PROS
- A great bonus to ad-free music listening
- Cheaper than other audiobook subscriptions
- You can get bang for your buck if you like to listen to short books.
CONS
- Smaller catalog than other audiobook services
- You can run out of listening time in the middle of a book.
- Unused hours expire each month.
- You must buy audiobooks via the Web Player (not the app).
- Not accessible on Apple Watch, Garmin, Samsung Watches, Tesla, and Car Thing
Conclusion
There are several best book subscription services for readers to try. They have different offerings, pros, and cons. The right one for you depends on your needs and preferences. As a reader of The Literary Lifestyle, you can take advantage of the following exclusive deals for two of my favorite ones:
- Get your first Book of the Month Club book for $5.
- New customers can get 2 audiobooks for the price of 1 with a new Libro.fm monthly membership with code LITLIFE.
Related Bookish Gift Guides
remember, it’s a good day to read a book. – jules