Libro.fm for Beginners: Top 20 FAQs Answered

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Libro fm is one of my top recommended audiobook platforms, with an extensive catalog of over 500,000 audiobooks, including bestsellers and new releases.

It is one of the few audiobook services that offer DRM-free audiobooks giving you flexibility to listen on the apps and devices that work best for you.

In this article, I will answer 20 of the most common questions beginners have about how Libro.fm works. Let’s dive in!

Related Article: A Detailed Libro.fm Review

20 Frequently Asked Questions about Libro.fm

1. Who owns libro fm?

Libro.fm is a 100% employee-owned Seattle-based company with a mission to support local bookstores.

Every time you buy an audiobook through Libro.fm, part of your purchase goes directly to the bookstore you choose.

The company was founded in 2014 after a conversation among friends at Third Place Books, a local book store in Seattle, Washington.

They saw rapid growth of audiobook format and lack of ways to purchase them from independent bookstores.

Here are the key milestones in Libro fm history

• 2014: Libro fm was co-founded by Mark Pearson (CEO), Carl Hartung (CTO), and Nick Johnson (Creative Director)
• 2020: The company expanded beyond the U.S., to Canada and partnered with Bookshop.org for audiobooks
• 2023: Libro fm expanded to UK, Australia, and New Zealand

Today, listeners from over 90 countries use Libro.fm to enjoy audiobooks while supporting their favorite local bookshops.

2. Is Libro fm free?

The Libro.fm app is completely free, and you can also create a basic account at no cost.

However, to listen to audiobooks, you will need to either:

• Buy audiobooks à la carte, or
• Join the membership plan for monthly credits and discounts

You can earn free audiobooks by referring others. When someone signs up for a membership using your referral link, you get a free audiobook credit.

3. Does libro fm have a free trial?

Libro.fm doesn’t offer a free trial but they do something different. You will get an extra audiobook when signing up for their membership plan.

Right now, you can use promo code SWITCH to get two extra audiobooks of your choice at signup.

 That means you will start with 3 audiobook credits, which you can use on any 3 audiobooks in their entire catalog.

Sign up for Libro fm and get 3 audiobooks with promo code SWITCH

4. Does Libro fm have eBooks?

No, Libro fm only offers books in audio format. If you are looking for eBooks, Kindle Unlimited is a great option.

If you want a mix of audiobooks and eBooks in one place, check out Kobo Plus or Everand. Both platforms offer subscriptions that include both formats.

5. How much is Libro fm membership?

Libro fm membership (1 Credit) costs $14.99/ month and gives you the following membership benefits.

• 1 Credit/ month to redeem for any audiobook of your choice
• 30% Discount of all audiobook purchases with cash
• Access to members exclusive sales

Note: You can sign up using the promo code SWITCH to get 3 credits in your first month.

As a member, you support local bookstores of your choice. The best thing about Libro fm is that your credits never expire, even if you cancel your membership.

You can also sign up for 2-credits plan for $23.99/month that gives you all of the above benefits with 2 credits every month.

6. How does Libro fm work?

You can start by creating a free Libro.fm account. Once you are signed up, you have two options:

• Buy audiobooks à la carte
• Join a membership plan for monthly credits and discounts.

After purchasing audiobooks, You can listen to them

• On the Libro.fm web player
• Through the Libro.fm apps (iOS | Android)
• Or download them in MP3 or M4B format to listen on any device or app you like

The best part? All audiobooks are DRM-free which means you truly own your audiobooks.

Related Article: How does Libro fm work?

7. How do Libro.fm credits work?

One credit can be used to get one audiobook of your choice from the entire catalog, regardless of its price.

As a member, you will receive credits each month, and you can also buy credit bundles if you need more.

The best use of credits is on expensive titles. If any audiobook costs more than a credit’s price, get it using the credit. For cheaper audiobooks, get them with cash.

The best part? Libro.fm credits never expire, even if you cancel your membership. That’s something you won’t find on many other platforms, like Audible.

8. How to get credits on Libro fm?

There are three ways to get credits on Libro fm

• Monthly Membership Credits: Members get monthly credits as part of their membership benefits. You get 1 or 2 credits every month, depending on your subscription plan.
• Purchase Credit Bundles: You can purchase credit bundles and they will be added to your account immediately to use in app or on website.
• Referral Credits: Share Libro.fm with friends and family. When someone signs up for a monthly membership using your referral link, you get a free credit. Go to the referral page to share Libro fm with others.

Anyone with a Libro.fm account is eligible to participate in the referral program, even if you are not paying for a monthly membership.

9. Do Libro fm credits expire?

No, Libro fm credits do not expire and you can use them whenever you want, even if your membership is paused or canceled.

You can also use credits to gift audiobooks to others.

10. Is Libro fm drm free?

Yes! Libro.fm is one of the few audiobook platforms that offers DRM-free audiobooks, or as they call them, cage-free audiobooks.

Once you have purchased a title, Libro fm gives you options to download the audiobook in MP3 or M4B formats.

This gives listeners true ownership and flexibility to play audiobooks on any device or app of their choice.

You not only truly own the audiobooks but can easily backup and share them without any platform restrictions.

11. How to download audiobooks from Libro fm?

To download a purchased audiobook from Libro fm, go to the Library section on the website.

Here you have 3 options for each audiobook; listen on the app, download files, or play with the Libro fm web player. Click on the Download files option.

You can either download the audiobook in m4b format (single file) or in mp3 format (multiple files in zip folders).

12. Does Libro fm have free audiobooks?

Libro.fm offers some audiobooks for free, there are two other ways to get free audiobooks.

• Referral Program: You can use Libro fm’s referral program to invite others to sign up for a monthly membership. You will get one free credit for each successful referral.
• ALC Program: Libro fm’s Audiobook Listening Copy program allows educators, librarians, booksellers, reviewers, and influencers to get complimentary audiobooks including new and upcoming releases.

You only need free Libro.fm account to join the referral and ALC programs.

13. Can I share my Libro.fm books?

Since Libro.fm offers audiobooks in MP3 or M4B formats, you have the freedom to play them on any device or app.

No platform restrictions means you can easily share your audiobooks with others.

You can even gift audiobooks to your loved ones, which is a better option.

14. How to return a book on libro.fm?

You can return an audiobook on Libro fm within 6 months of purchase date.

To return a title

• Email at hello@libro.fm or submit a ticket to their Customer Service
• Include the title of the audiobook you want to return. For pre-orders, also include the purchase date or purchase ID.

If you paid with cash, you will get refund to the account that you used. If it was purchased with a credit, you will get back the credit.

Learn more from Libro.fm’s return policy

15. How to gift libro fm?

You can either gift individual audiobooks or credit bundles to your loved ones on Libro fm. You have the option to send as gift on audiobook’s details page on website and app.

Once you click on send as gift option, you can send the audiobook gift through email now or at a later date. It’s also possible to print the gift card and hand deliver your gift.

Libro fm also allows you to gift credit bundles to others. This allows gift recipient to choose the audiobooks they want to listen to.

You can explore more gifts for audiobook lovers in your life.

16. How to cancel Libro fm membership?

You can cancel or pause your membership any time without losing the unused credits or purchased audiobooks.

To cancel/ pause your membership

• Go to libro.fm and sign in to your account
• Next click on Account (OR directly go to the Account section https://libro.fm/user)
• You have Cancel membership and Pause my membership options in the Membership section. Click on the Cancel membership option to cancel your subscription

After cancelation, you can

• Listen to your audiobooks and use the unused credits
• Purchase audiobooks with cash but you will not get 30% members exclusive discount

You can also refer others using your account’s referral link.

Related Article: How to cancel Libro fm subscription

17. How much does Libro fm give to bookstores?

Libro.fm supports your favorite local bookstores by sharing a portion of every audiobook purchase with them, typically 10–30% of the book’s price.

They also contribute a percentage of your membership fee to these independent shops.

According to Albee Romero, Publicity Director at Libro.fm, half of all profits goes directly to the independent bookstore you choose, as reported in The Orange County Register.

18. Does Libro fm have sales?

Yes, Libro fm offers cash discount sales every month. You can also join free Audiobook Clubs that feature hottest audiobook on sale each month.

Know more from Libro fm Sale page.

19. How to make a Yoto card from Libro fm?

Follow these steps to turn your Libro.fm audiobook into a Yoto card.

Step 1: Download Your Audiobook

1. Go to the Library section on the Libro.fm website.
2. Download the audiobook in MP3 format.
3. Unzip the folders and put all the audio files in one folder

Step 2: Create a Playlist on Yoto

1. Go to the My Playlists page in your browser.
2. Click Add Playlist

3. Fill in the details:
   • Name: Use the audiobook title.
   • Description: Optional.
   • Cover image: Download it from the audiobook’s details page on Libro.fm.
4. Click Add Audio and upload all your MP3 files.
5. Press Create and your playlist is ready.

Step 3: Link the Playlist to a Yoto Card

1. Open the Yoto app on your phone
2. Go to My Library > Make Your Own
3. Find your new playlist and tap on the cover image
4. Tap the three dots (top right) and choose Link to a MYO Card
5. Select Use Your Phone and hold a blank Yoto card up to your phone.

That’s it! Your audiobook is now on a custom Yoto card.

20. Is Libro fm legit Service?

Absolutely! Libro.fm is a well-established audiobook platform with:

• A catalog of 500,000+ audiobooks including best sellers and new releases
• Over 3,000 independent bookstore partners
• Members in 90+ countries worldwide

It’s a legit and trusted service with consistently great reviews from happy listeners who love supporting local bookstores while enjoying quality audiobooks.

You can also check out the Libro vs Audible article for a comparison of both platforms.