If you’ve been wondering whether Spotify Premium includes audiobooks, the answer is yes – but with some important details to understand. Spotify Premium subscribers get access to a large collection of audiobooks, but there are certain limits and costs involved. This article will provide a detailed breakdown of how Spotify Premium works with audiobooks, how it compares to the free plan, and what you can expect in terms of costs, availability, and features.

What You Get with Spotify Premium Audiobooks

Spotify Premium gives subscribers access to a catalog of audiobooks as part of their subscription. As of late 2023, Spotify includes 15 hours of audiobook listening per month for Premium subscribers. This means that you can listen to a variety of audiobooks without paying extra, provided you stay within that 15-hour limit.

How Audiobooks Work on Spotify Premium

• 15 Hours of Audiobook Listening: Premium subscribers get 15 hours of audiobook listening time each month at no extra charge. Once you reach that limit, you have a couple of options:
  • Purchase Additional Hours: You can buy extra audiobook listening time if you want to continue listening to audiobooks beyond your monthly limit.
  • Buy Individual Audiobooks: For audiobooks not included in the 15-hour bundle, you can purchase individual titles directly from the Spotify app.
• Ad-Free Experience: Spotify Premium offers an ad-free experience for both music and audiobooks, so you won’t be interrupted by ads while listening to your favorite audiobooks.
• Offline Listening: Premium users can also download audiobooks for offline listening. This is particularly useful if you want to enjoy your audiobook without needing an internet connection.

Differences Between Spotify Premium and Free Plans

While Spotify Premium offers a great audiobook feature, free users do not have access to audiobooks. If you’re on the Free plan, you can only listen to audiobooks by purchasing individual titles through the Spotify store. In short, free users are not included in the 15-hour monthly audiobook limit.

• Free Plan Users: They can purchase audiobooks individually, but they do not receive the monthly 15-hour allotment.
• Premium Plan Users: They enjoy up to 15 hours of audiobook listening every month, along with the option to buy additional hours or individual audiobooks.

Audiobook Availability by Region

Spotify’s audiobook feature was launched in 2023, and it is available in several countries. As of now, the audiobook service is available in:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• Canada
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Ireland
• France
• Belgium
• Netherlands
• Luxembourg

If you live in one of these regions, you will have access to the full audiobook catalog through Spotify Premium. However, if you are in a country where Spotify Premium audiobooks aren’t yet available, you will only be able to listen to music and podcasts on the platform.

Expanding to New Countries

Spotify has plans to expand its audiobook service to more countries in the future, so if audiobooks aren’t available in your region yet, it’s possible that they will be in the near future. Keep an eye on announcements from Spotify regarding new audiobook rollouts.

Additional Costs for Audiobooks

While Spotify Premium includes 15 hours of audiobooks each month, it’s important to know that you may incur additional costs if you exceed that limit. Here’s a quick overview of potential extra costs:

• Top-Up Hours: If you use up all your included audiobook hours, you can buy additional time (e.g., 10 extra hours for around $12.99). These additional hours can be used for any audiobook in the catalog.
• Purchasing Individual Audiobooks: Some audiobooks are not included in the 15-hour package and must be purchased separately. Prices for individual audiobooks vary but are generally in the range of $4 to $30 per book, depending on the title.

Unlike other audiobook services like Audible, Spotify does not have a subscription model for unlimited audiobook access. The 15-hour limit is a key factor to consider if you’re a frequent audiobook listener.

How to Access Audiobooks on Spotify

If you’re a Premium user and want to start listening to audiobooks, here’s how to access them:

Step 1: Upgrade to Spotify Premium

To access the audiobook feature, you need to be a Premium subscriber. If you’re on the free plan, you will need to upgrade to enjoy the audiobooks included with your subscription.

Step 2: Search for Audiobooks

Once you have a Premium account, you can find audiobooks by searching for them in the app. Here’s how:

1. Open the Spotify app (mobile or desktop).
2. Go to the “Search” tab.
3. Type in the title of the audiobook you want to listen to or click on the “Audiobooks” category to browse available options.

You can also explore specific genres or categories, such as fiction, non-fiction, self-help, and more.

Step 3: Start Listening

Once you’ve selected your audiobook, simply click to start listening. You can enjoy up to 15 hours of audiobooks each month with no interruptions from ads. If you hit your limit, you can either purchase more time or buy individual audiobooks.

Step 4: Download for Offline Listening

If you want to listen to your audiobook offline, just tap the “Download” button next to the title. This will allow you to listen to your audiobook without needing an internet connection.

Comparison of Spotify Premium vs Free Plan for Audiobooks

Here’s a quick comparison to help you understand the key differences between the Free and Premium plans when it comes to audiobooks:

Troubleshooting Tips for Audiobook Access

If you’re having trouble accessing or using Spotify’s audiobook feature, here are a few tips:

• Check Your Plan: Make sure you’re on the correct plan (Spotify Premium). Free users will not have access to audiobooks.
• Update Your App: Ensure you have the latest version of the Spotify app to access new features like audiobooks.
• Check Availability in Your Region: If audiobooks are not showing up, it might be because the service is not yet available in your country. Check Spotify’s announcements for updates.
• Confirm Your Hours: If you’re using the 15-hour monthly audiobook benefit, keep track of your usage. Once you exceed this limit, you will need to purchase more hours or audiobooks.
• Device Compatibility: Some devices may not support audiobook playback. Ensure you’re using an updated version of Spotify on compatible devices.

Myth vs. Reality: Spotify Premium Audiobooks

Myth 1: Spotify Premium offers unlimited audiobooks.

Reality: While Spotify Premium provides 15 hours of audiobook listening per month, there is a cap. Once you reach that limit, you’ll need to purchase additional hours or individual audiobooks.

Myth 2: Spotify Premium includes all audiobooks for free.

Reality: Not all audiobooks are included in the 15-hour allowance. Some titles require additional purchases, even for Premium users.

Myth 3: You can’t listen to audiobooks offline with Spotify.

Reality: With Spotify Premium, you can download audiobooks for offline listening, just like you can with music and podcasts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do I need Spotify Premium to listen to audiobooks?

Yes, Spotify Premium is required to access the 15 hours of audiobooks included in the subscription. Free users can only purchase individual audiobooks.

2. How many audiobooks can I listen to with Spotify Premium?

You can listen to up to 15 hours of audiobooks per month with your Premium subscription. After that, you can buy more hours or purchase individual audiobooks.

3. How do I find audiobooks on Spotify?

To find audiobooks, go to the “Search” tab in the app and look for the “Audiobooks” category or search directly by title.

4. Can I download audiobooks for offline listening?

Yes, Premium subscribers can download audiobooks to listen offline, allowing you to enjoy them without an internet connection.

5. What happens if I run out of audiobook hours?

If you run out of audiobook hours, you can either buy more hours or purchase the audiobook you’re listening to.

6. Are there any additional costs for audiobooks on Spotify Premium?

Yes, once you reach the 15-hour limit, you will need to purchase additional hours or buy individual audiobooks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Spotify Premium does include audiobooks, offering 15 hours of listening time each month at no extra cost. This is a fantastic benefit for audiobook lovers who also enjoy music and podcasts. If you hit your limit, you can purchase additional hours or individual audiobooks. However, free users do not get audiobook access and must buy audiobooks separately. Make sure to check your country’s availability and enjoy a wide range of audiobooks on Spotify Premium!