Audiobooks.com is the most direct Audible competitor in terms of business model: $14.95/month gets you one credit, plus access to a rotating bundled catalog (their version of Plus). The catalog is large but not Audible-large, the app is functional but not Audible-polished, and the brand recognition is lower than the major alternatives.
Audiobooks.com review summary
Audiobooks.com is an audiobook subscription with credit pricing similar to Audible: $14.95/month for one credit plus access to a rotating bundled catalog. A cheaper tier (VIP Plus at $9.99/month) gives access to the bundled catalog without credits. The catalog covers most Big Five publisher titles but is smaller overall than Audible. The app is functional but less polished than the major alternatives.
Is Audiobooks.com worth it?
Maybe, if Audible specifically does not work for you and you want a similar credit-pricing model from a non-Amazon company. For most listeners we would recommend Audible or Libro.fm first. Audiobooks.com is fine, but it does not particularly excel at anything except being not-Audible.
Audiobooks.com vs Audible
Same business model. Audible has a larger catalog, better app, and Audible Originals. Audiobooks.com has the VIP Plus budget tier at $9.99/month (cheaper than Audible Plus) and a non-Amazon corporate parent for listeners who care about that. For most listeners, Audible is the better choice. For listeners who specifically want to avoid Amazon, Libro.fm is the better choice. Audiobooks.com is the middle option.
Audiobooks.com vs Libro.fm
Libro.fm wins on values (indie bookstore support, DRM-free ownership). Audiobooks.com wins on the budget tier (VIP Plus at $9.99). For listeners who care about ownership and indie bookstores, Libro.fm. For listeners who want a slightly cheaper subscription, Audiobooks.com's VIP Plus.
The VIP Plus tier
VIP Plus at $9.99/month gives access to the rotating bundled catalog without including a monthly credit. This is the cheapest credit-pricing-adjacent audiobook subscription available. The bundled catalog covers most major Big Five publisher backlist and a respectable subset of new releases. For light listeners who only listen to one to two audiobooks a month and are flexible about which ones, VIP Plus can work as a budget alternative to Audible Plus ($7.95) or Spotify Premium ($11.99).
App quality and listening experience
The Audiobooks.com app handles the essentials (chapter navigation, sleep timer, speed control, downloads) but feels a generation behind Audible and Libro.fm. The bookmark management is less granular. The sleep timer has fewer options. The CarPlay integration works but is occasionally janky. For dedicated listeners these small frustrations add up.
Who should use Audiobooks.com
Use Audiobooks.com if you want credit-pricing on a budget tier (VIP Plus at $9.99 is cheaper than Audible Plus at full retail), if you prefer not to spend money inside Amazon, or if you specifically want their bundled catalog. The experience is competent and the gift options are good.
Who should look elsewhere
Most listeners. Audible has a bigger catalog and better app. Libro.fm has ownership and indie-bookstore support. Everand has unlimited listening. Spotify has the music+audiobook bundle. Audiobooks.com fits in the gaps between these, and the gaps are small.
Final verdict
Three stars. Audiobooks.com is fine; we just recommend Audible or Libro.fm first for almost every use case.