Kindle Unlimited: Is It Worth It?

Kindle Unlimited (KU) offers books and magazines for you to borrow for a monthly fee. But is that fee worth your time and money? Read on to learn more about Kindle Unlimited's offerings and figure out if the subscription is worth it.

Is Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited worth the money?

If you read more than 4 books a month or you frequently enjoy magazines or comic books, Kindle Unlimited is probably worth the subscription fee. But if you aren't an avid reader, alternatives like Libby or Prime Reading might be a better option for you.

Section 1 of 8:

Is Kindle Unlimited worth it?

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Kindle Unlimited may be worth it if you read more than one book a month. If you’re an avid reader, your Kindle Unlimited subscription can help you save money, especially compared to buying newly-released books. It might also be worth it if you're part of a family group because multiple people can read the same book.
- If you don’t read frequently, you might be paying more for the subscription than what you’d normally spend on books, so Kindle Unlimited might not be worth it.
- If you qualify for a free trial, you can see if you like the service. There may also be discounts for the subscription service that make it worth it.

Section 2 of 8:

What is included with Kindle Unlimited?

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Kindle Unlimited offers unlimited reading and listening from its library. You can read as many books or magazines as you please, and audiobooks are included. Also, you can use the Kindle app on any device—you don’t have to read on a Kindle.^{[1]
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- You can download up to 20 books, audiobooks, or magazines at the same time. Just return items once you finish them to download more.

Section 3 of 8:

How much does Kindle Unlimited cost?

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Kindle Unlimited costs $11.99 a month. It was $9.99 a month for a long time, but the price went up in May 2023.^{[2]
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Research source} However, you may be able to save on the subscription price by:
- Doing a free trial. You can usually get a 30-day free trial just for signing up for Kindle Unlimited. Sometimes the free trial even extends to 3 months.
- Watching for promotional pricing. Sometimes you’ll be offered a month of Kindle Unlimited for $0.99. You can also find deals on 6-month and 12-month memberships, especially during big sales like Prime Day or Black Friday. That can be a good way to enjoy the subscription without paying full price.

Section 4 of 8:

Are all books free when you have Kindle Unlimited?

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No, only the titles that are included in the Kindle Unlimited library are free. According to Amazon, there are about 4 million books included in Kindle Unlimited, covering genres like thrillers, nonfiction, self-help, romance, fantasy, and more. The library also includes thousands of audiobooks, plus newspapers and magazines.^{[3]
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- If you enjoy romance, science fiction, or thrillers, you’ll likely enjoy a wide variety of options. That said, some users find the selection to be limited, especially for newer books, best sellers, and literary fiction.

Section 5 of 8:

Pros and Cons of Kindle Unlimited

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Kindle Unlimited provides unlimited reading and flexibility. It’s an innovative subscription-based service for readers, and there’s a lot to like about it! Here are some of the benefits:
- Read anywhere from your Kindle or using the Kindle mobile app on your smartphone or computer
- Choose from over 4 million books, audiobooks, magazines, and comics
- Easily explore new authors without committing to a purchase
- Read trendy and viral books
- Enjoy seasonal updates (for example, when the holidays roll around, there are more holiday-themed books available)
- Listen to audiobooks
- Read entire series
- No hard deadline to return reading material
- Authors are paid for every page you read
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Kindle Unlimited doesn’t include all Amazon books and audiobooks. The monthly subscription price may not be worth it for all readers, especially because of drawbacks like:
- Limited availability of new releases and best-sellers
- Internet connection required for downloading materials
- You lose access to the books if you cancel your subscription
- You may find a similar free service at your local library
- The library can be difficult to browse

Section 6 of 8:

Is Kindle Unlimited right for you?

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Consider your reading habits and do a free trial to decide if it’s worth it. If you’re thinking about taking the jump into a Kindle Unlimited subscription, here are a few things that can help you decide if it’s right for you:
- Consider how much you read a month. If you read more than one book a month or you’re juggling multiple newspaper or magazine subscriptions, Kindle Unlimited could be a good option.
- Check out the Kindle Unlimited library. You don’t have to have a Kindle Unlimited membership to browse the library—just go to the Kindle Unlimited section of the Amazon Kindle Store. That should help you get a good idea of whether the selection includes the types of books you like to read.
- Try a free trial to see if you like it. If you don’t find much to read during the free trial, cancel it before you’re charged a subscription fee.

Section 7 of 8:

Kindle Unlimited Alternatives

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If you don’t think Kindle Unlimited is right for you, there are other options. Here are some alternatives that are cheaper for you to try:
- Libby: Libby offers free access to ebooks, digital audiobooks, and magazines.^{[4]
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  Research source} You just need a library card, and you're good to go! Download the Libby app for your iPhone, iPad, Android, Amazon Fire tablet, Windows PC, Mac, or Chromebook, then sign in with your library card. Search for the book you want to borrow, and it will appear in your "Shelf" so you can read it!
- Prime Reading: This is free if you're already an Amazon Prime member and you can access it the same way you would access Kindle Unlimited, through the Kindle app or web browser. Prime Reading has a very limited selection compared to Kindle Unlimited, but this might be worth it if you aren't an avid reader.
- Google Play Books: While there's no monthly subscription for renting books, a lot of books also aren't available to rent. Instead, search for your book and see if there's a renting rate. This is the better option than KU if you don't want to pay a monthly subscription, but just need to borrow a specific book. Check your library in the Google Books app to see how long you have left on the rental.^{[5]
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- Kobo Plus: Like Kindle Unlimited, Kobo Plus is a reading subscription that offers access to both ebooks and audiobooks. Depending on your preferences, you can sign up for a plan that offers just ebooks, just audiobooks, or both! The first 30 days are free for new subscribers, so you can test it out before you commit to spending money.^{[6]
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- Everand: This subscription offers access to unlimited ebooks, audiobooks, newspapers, magazines, podcasts, and even sheet music. Like many of the other options listed here, Everand offers a free 30-day trial.^{[7]
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Section 8 of 8:

FAQs

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How many books do you have to read a month to make Kindle Unlimited worth it? If you read more than a book a month, the cost of a Kindle Unlimited subscription is probably less than you’d spend buying books.
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Is Kindle Unlimited free for Prime members? No—Amazon offers Prime Reading to Prime members, but this is a different service from Kindle Unlimited. You do not need a Prime membership to use Kindle Unlimited.
3
How do I cancel my Kindle Unlimited membership? If you try it and don’t find it to be worth the cost, you can cancel Kindle Unlimited anytime by going to “Manage your Kindle Unlimited Membership,” then “Cancel Kindle Unlimited Subscription.”
4
Does Kindle Unlimited have new releases? Kindle Unlimited sometimes has new releases and best-sellers, but you likely won’t find every book you’re looking for. This is one of the main complaints from members.

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Tips

You can also search the "Free" category in the Kindle app to find free Kindle books.

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Every Kindle purchase you make earns rewards points, so you can buy books for cheap!

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