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Kindle Unlimited is one of Amazon’s many subscription-based services. It can be a cost-effective option if you read a lot of ebooks, magazines, comic books, or audiobooks each month.
But with so many different ways to get and consume our books these days, it’s tough to figure out which service is actually worth it.
We’ve spent some time researching the service to provide a detailed breakdown and help you decide: Is Kindle Unlimited worth it?
Key Takeaways
- Kindle Unlimited offers access to over 4 million books, audiobooks, comics, and magazines for $11.99 per month.
- You can borrow up to 20 titles at a time, and there are no due dates for returning them.
- The service is ideal for heavy readers or those who consume a variety of content across multiple devices.
- Not all books on Amazon are included, and its selection may not suit all tastes.
- Prime members may prefer Prime Reading, which offers a smaller selection at no extra cost.
- Show Full Guide
What Is Kindle Unlimited?
Kindle Unlimited is a monthly subscription that gives you access to a subset of books that Amazon sells. Specifically, Amazon says the subscription gives you access to “4 million digital books, as well as thousands of audiobooks, comics, and magazines.”
It’s worth noting that Amazon Kindle Unlimited is different from Prime Reading, which comes with a Prime membership. The subscription works more like a library. You borrow books, take your time reading them, and then return them whenever you’re ready to borrow something else — there’s no strict due date.
You can use Kindle Unlimited on any Kindle device, as well as on your phone, computer, or tablet through the free Kindle app.
How Many Books Can You Borrow on Kindle Unlimited?
Kindle Unlimited members can borrow and hold onto up to 20 titles at a time, including ebooks, digital comic books, and audiobooks. Magazine subscriptions do not count toward this limit.
You can return some or all of the titles to borrow new ones whenever you like, with no fixed due date. You’re free to take your time reading or listening to the books.
Does Kindle Unlimited Include All Books?
No, Kindle Unlimited doesn’t include all the books. It doesn’t even cover every book you can buy or read on Amazon. The subscription gives you access to around 4 million titles — a portion of the books Amazon sells, kind of like how being a Prime member gives you access to some of the movies Amazon offers, but not all of them.
The selection of audiobooks is even smaller, with only a limited number of Kindle Unlimited books available in audio format.
Still, you’ll find a wide range of titles, with some of the best books on Kindle Unlimited including popular bestsellers like The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, or the range of Colleen Hoover novels, to modern classics like Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and nonfiction like Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari.
Kindle Unlimited also includes a range of popular magazines and newspaper subscriptions, like USA Today, Reader’s Digest, Men’s Health, People Magazine, and Bloomberg Businessweek, to name a few.
Before signing up, you can head to the Amazon website or app and search for “Kindle Unlimited” in the search box to see the books, audiobooks, and magazines available to you.
How Much is Kindle Unlimited?
Kindle Unlimited Price: $11.99 a month
A Kindle Unlimited subscription costs $11.99 a month plus taxes in the US. The service is also available in Canada, Mexico, the UK, Brazil, Japan, India, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Australia, but the prices might vary by region.
For comparison, Prime Reading offers over a thousand titles for free if you’re already an Amazon Prime member. Amazon Audible, which only offers audiobooks, costs $7.95 a month for Plus or $14.95 a month for Premium Plus.
So, Is Kindle Unlimited Worth it in 2024?
4 Reasons to Get Kindle Unlimited
You read a high volume of books: If you read a high volume of books pretty quickly, it makes financial sense to get the Kindle Unlimited subscription. It gives you the option to borrow 20 books at a time, which means you’ll always have something to read.
You want to save money: Buying books can be pricey, even ebooks, which average around $10 each. With Kindle Unlimited, you get access to 4 million books for just $11.99 a month. Even if you read just 3 books a month, you’re already getting good value out of the subscription.
You want to read on multiple devices: Kindle Unlimited lets you read your borrowed titles across multiple devices. You can start a book on your Kindle and finish it on your phone. It’s a great feature if you like to read on the go or switch between devices.
You enjoy audiobooks, comics, and magazines: Along with millions of books, you also get access to audiobooks, comics, and magazines. Normally, you’d need separate subscriptions for each, like Audible for audiobooks. Individual issues of Men’s Health Magazine and People Magazine cost around $6.99, while the USA Today magazine costs $9.99 per month (Monday-Friday delivery).
Three Reasons Not to Get Kindle Unlimited
You don’t read much: If you don’t read much—say one or two books a month—you’d be better off buying them individually rather than paying $11.99 for Kindle Unlimited. And if you prefer audiobooks over ebooks, you’d get a better deal with Amazon Audible, which starts at $7.95 a month and gives you one audiobook of your choice to keep forever.
A limited selection of books: Finding a genuinely good, well-written novel on Kindle Unlimited can be tricky. Sure, the platform has 4 million titles, but you might struggle to find stand-out books or ones in your preferred genre or by your favorite authors. We also noticed that a lot of bestsellers aren’t available on the platform.
You’re already a Prime member: If you’re already a Prime member, you can take advantage of Prime Reading, which is included with your membership. It offers thousands of books, comics, and magazines, and even includes some books with Audible narration. The collection isn’t as extensive as Kindle Unlimited, but if you don’t read a lot, it could be a solid option.
Does Kindle Unlimited Have a Free Trial?
Yes, there is a Kindle Unlimited free trial — it lasts for 30 days and then automatically renews at the usual $11.99 per month.
How to Cancel Kindle Unlimited
You can cancel your Kindle Unlimited subscription at any time by going to the Manage your Kindle Unlimited Membership page and selecting “Cancel Kindle Unlimited Subscription.”
Your membership will stay active until your next billing date, but after that, you’ll lose access to your Kindle Unlimited titles. Also, you won’t get a refund for any membership fees you’ve already paid.
How do you Sign Up For Kindle Unlimited?
To sign up for Kindle Unlimited, you need an Amazon account with a payment method attached. Just log into your account and head to the Kindle Unlimited page to get started with your membership.
The Bottom Line
Whether Kindle Unlimited is worth it really depends on how many books you actually read in a month. If you’re averaging 4-5 books a month, the subscription will definitely save you some cash. But if you’re not a regular reader, it’s probably better to skip it.
It also comes down to the catalog. If the books you enjoy or your favorite authors aren’t available on Kindle Unlimited, it might not be the best fit for you.
We recommend taking advantage of the 30-day free trial to see what you’re getting. You can cancel anytime.
FAQs
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References
- Amazon.com (Amzn)
- Sign up to Kindle Unlimited for a Free Trial (Amazon)
- Amazon.com: Kindle Unlimited: Kindle Store
(Amazon)
