Libro.fm vs Audible: Which Platform Is Better for You?

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Learn more from Privacy Policy

Audible is the most popular audiobook platform, with a huge library of over 1 million titles. It remains the go-to audiobook source for most audiobook listeners.

Libro.fm is a compelling alternative, offering more than 500,000 audiobooks in its catalog. It’s one of the few platforms that provide DRM-free books.

Check out Libro.fm review & Audible review for details on each platform.

In this article, I will compare Libro.fm vs Audible to help you decide which audiobook platform is perfect for your needs.

Libro fm vs Audible: A Detailed Comparison on 9 Key Factors

1: Free Trial

Audible offers 30-days free trial of its Premium Plus membership which gives you access to all membership benefits for one month.

The free trial comes with

• 1 Credit to get any Audible book of your choice that you keep forever
• Unlimited access to the Plus Catalog with over 70,000 titles from different categories
• 30% discount on any audiobook purchases with cash
• Access to members exclusive sales and deals

You can enjoy all benefits for 1 month and cancel the free trial anytime, no strings attached. Amazon Prime members get 2 credits when they sign up for the free trial.

Libro.fm doesn’t offer a free trial but you will get an extra audiobook when signing up for their membership plan (2 credits instead of 1 credit for first month).

Note: Libro.fm is currently offering members to sign up with promo code SWITCH and get 2 extra credits [3 credits in total]

Audible’s free trial is the best way to test Audible service before committing to a membership plan.

Read More: Libro.fm for beginners

2: Membership Plans

Audible’s membership plans are divided into two main categories; Plus Plan and Premium Plus Plans.

The Plus Plan is Audible’s most affordable option at $7.95/month, offering unlimited access to a select catalog of audiobooks, called Plus Catalog.

Premium Plus (1 Credit) plan is the most popular subscription plan that costs $14.95/ month. You can also get a 2 credits/ month plan for $ 22.95/ month.

Audible also offers annual plans with 12 and 24 credits to cater to different needs of audiobook fans.

Annual plans offer better value for audiobook enthusiasts, providing significant savings compared to monthly subscriptions.

Related Article: Different types of Audible membership plans

 Libro.fm offers a standard monthly plan with 1 credit for $14.99, and a 2-credit plan for $23.99/month. They currently do not offer any annual membership options.

Audible is a better deal for frequent listeners. For the same price as Libro.fm,  you get one audiobook each month plus unlimited listening to 70,000+ titles in the Plus Catalog.

In contrast, Libro.fm only gives you one audiobook per month, which is not enough for most users.

3: Credit System

Both Audible and Libro.fm offer monthly credits that can be used on any audiobook, regardless of its price.

You can also buy extra credits on both platforms to save on expensive titles.

Audible offers members to buy extra credits at discounted price when they have 0-1 credits left in their account.

Audible’s credits expire after 12 months from the issue date. If you decide to cancel your membership, use your unused credits or they will be lost.

Libro.fm also offers extra credits at $15 each, with no discounts, but the big plus is: they never expire, even if you cancel your membership.

Although Libro.fm’s credits cost more, they have the advantage of never expiring.

4: Audiobook Selection & Catalog Size

Audible has the largest audiobook collection, with around 1 million titles across all genres.

They also offer exclusive content called Audible Originals, which you won’t find anywhere else.

I am impressed with Libro.fm catalog size, with over 500,000 titles, it’s the best audiobook collection among all Audible competitors.

I searched for books across various genres, and they were all available on Libro.fm.

Overall, if you want the widest selection including new releases, bestsellers, and classics, Audible is your best choice.

5: The Apps

Audible’s app combine simplicity and functionality to bring you the best listening experience. The app has four main sections: Home, Library, Discover, and Profile.

Home section highlights best titles from different categories, recommendations based on your interests and past listening history.

The Library section contains all of your purchased titles and the Discover section helps you find your next listen.

You can either browse Audible catalog here or use the search option to search for a title.

You can go to the Library section and tap on any title to start listening. The Audible player has an easy-to-use interface and comes with all basic features and controls.

The Profile section of the app gives you access to account settings, membership details, and app settings.

Read More: How Audible app works

Libro.fm also has an easy-to-use app that comes with all necessary features. You can use the Explore or Search sections to browse the catalog or search for a title you are looking for.

The Library section has all your purchased audiobooks in one place. You can tap on a book cover to download it on your device.

Once the audiobook is downloaded, tap on the Play option and it will start playing. The libro.fm app player has the following controls and features.

1. Play/ Pause
2. Rewind 15 seconds
3. Forward 15 seconds
4. Playback Speed: Increase/ decrease narration speed
5. Sleep Timer
6. Create a Bookmark
7. Tracks & Bookmarks
8. Car Play

The Menu section of the app gives you access to settings, wish list, your account information and more.

The Libro.fm app has two limitations.

• You can only buy audiobooks using credits in the app. To purchase with cash, you must use the Libro.fm website.
• Credit bundles cannot be purchased within the app

Both platforms have user-friendly apps, but Audible’s app offers more features.

The best thing about Libro.fm is that you can download purchased titles in MP3 or M4B format, allowing you to listen on any app or device you prefer.

Related Article: How Libro.fm works?

6: Sales and Deals

Audible offers members a variety of sales and deals, including cash discounts, 2-for-1 credit offers, daily deals, and sitewide sales.

Every month, Audible offers 2-for-1 credit deals and cash discount sales. My favorite is the sitewide sale, held twice a year, where you can get up to 85% off the entire catalog.

Read More:

• How to get most out of Audible sales
• 9 Tips to get most out of Audible’s sitewide sales

Tip: I add all audiobooks that I want to purchase to my wish list and grab them on sitewide deals and I am stocked up for the entire year.

Libro.fm regularly offers sales with discounts on selected audiobooks. You can also join their free Audiobook Clubs to get exclusive sale offers.

When it comes to sales and discounts, Audible offers far more value and variety compared to Libro.fm.

7: Return Policies

Both Audible and Libro.fm let members return audiobooks they don’t like, but their policies and processes differ.

Here is how Audible’s return policy works

• You can return a title within 365 days of its purchase date
• Only audiobooks purchased through credits can be returned. Purchases with cash are not eligible for return
• You can currently only return a title on Audible’s website (or mobile site). The return feature is not available in the Audible app

To return a title on Audible’s website, go to the Purchase History section [Account Name > Account Details > Purchase History] and click on the Return this title for the audiobook that you want to return.

The book will be returned and you will get back the credit to reuse it on another title of your choice.

Read More: How to return a title on Audible

You can return a title on Libro.fm within 6 months of its purchase date. Libro.fm allows return whether the title was purchased with cash or credit.

To return a title on Libro.fm

• Email at hello@libro.fm or submit a ticket
• Include the audiobook title you want to return. For preorders, also include the purchase date or purchase ID

If you paid by cash, you will receive the refund in the account you used to purchase the title. For purchases with credits, you will get back the credit in your account.

Read More: Libro.fm’s return policy

Both platforms have good return policies, but Audible only accepts returns on credit purchases, while Libro.fm accepts returns on both credit and cash purchases.

Audible returns are easy with one click, but Libro.fm requires contacting customer support.

8: Ethical Approach

When it comes to ethical practices, Libro.fm is a clear winner. Here are 5 reasons I consider Libro.fm an ethical alternative to Audible.

1. Support to Local Bookstores

With Audible, all your payments go to Amazon. In contrast, Libro.fm shares 10–30% of each purchase, and part of your membership fee, with a local bookstore of your choice, helping support independent shops.

2. DRM-Free Audiobooks

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

You truly own your audiobooks with Libro.fm and can download them in MP3 or M4B format, giving you the freedom to listen on any device or app you prefer.

3. Credits Never Expire

Audible credits expire 12 months after they are issued. Libro.fm credits never expire, even if you cancel your membership.

This gives you the flexibility to use them whenever you like.

4. Free Audiobooks for Educators, Librarians, & Booksellers

Libro.fm provides complementary audiobooks to educators, librarians, booksellers, reviewers, and influencers through their Audiobook Listening Copy program.

You can join the ALC program with a free account. The participants get a mix of new and upcoming audiobooks each month.

5. Author-Friendly Policies

Libro.fm doesn’t require authors to sign exclusive contract. In fact, they encourage authors to distribute their books on as many platforms as possible.

Audible offers authors to sign exclusive contracts, which can limit their ability to distribute audiobooks on other platforms and reach a wider audience.

I also like the fact that you can return Libro.fm audiobooks purchased with cash.

9. Customer Reviews & Ratings

Before buying an audiobook, I always check customer reviews and ratings. They give me a good idea about the narration and overall experience.

Reviews also help new authors and narrators get noticed. I recommend leaving a review after finishing a book to help other listeners and support authors.

Audible lets customers leave reviews, but Libro.fm doesn’t. Instead, they rely on bookseller recommendations.

I find real listener feedback more helpful, especially to know if a narrator’s style suits me.

I really like Audible’s review section and wish Libro.fm would add reviews and ratings too.

Libro.fm vs Audible: Which Audiobook Platform Is Right for You?

I think you have a pretty good idea from this Libro fm vs Audible article that Audible remains my top pick thanks to its massive catalog, frequent sales, Plus Catalog, and great member perks.

That said, if any service comes close, it’s Libro.fm. After using it for a few weeks, I am impressed by both its selection and ethical approach.

Libro.fm is an excellent choice if you value

• DRM- Free Audiobooks: Truly own your books. Flexibility to listen on any device or app of your choice. Easy to back up and share.
• Supporting Local Bookstores: Instead of giving all your money to a major corporation like Amazon, a portion of each purchase goes to the bookstore of your choice.
• Extensive Catalog: Libro.fm has the best audiobook collection outside Audible.

In short, if you want to support local bookstores, care where your money goes, and want real ownership of your audiobooks, Libro.fm is absolutely worth considering.