How to Cancel Audible: A Complete 2025 Guide (and What to Do First!)

Let’s be honest. We’ve all been there. You look at your credit card statement and see that familiar $14.95 charge from Audible. You look at your app and see “4 Unused Credits.” You look at your “To Be Read” pile, which has now achieved sentience and is threatening to unionize. The “cancel-anxiety” is real.

Audible, Amazon’s audiobook giant, is an incredible service. But it’s also a *commitment*. And sometimes, you just need a break. The problem? Canceling your Audible membership can feel intentionally confusing. Can you do it in the app? What happens to your books? And what about those precious credits you’ve been hoarding?

Welcome to Audiobook Wiki, your definitive guide to the world of audio. We’re here to demystify the entire process. This isn’t just a 500-word “how-to.” This is your 4000+ word *survival guide* to canceling Audible. We’ll give you the step-by-step instructions, but more importantly, we’ll cover the single biggest mistake U.S. users make, what to do *before* you cancel, and what your alternatives are.

Before you click that “cancel” button, read this guide. It will save you from a *massive* headache (and potentially a lot of lost money).

How to Cancel Audible on a Desktop (The Easiest Way)

Audible *really* wants you to do this on a computer. It’s the most straightforward method. Here is the simple, step-by-step process.

1. Step 1: Go to Audible.com and Sign In.

   Open your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) and go to the Audible website. Make sure you are signed in to the U.S. marketplace (Audible.com, not .co.uk or others).

2. Step 2: Navigate to “Account Details.”

   In the top-right corner, hover your mouse over your name, where it says “Hi, [Your Name]!” A dropdown menu will appear. Click on “Account Details.”

3. Step 3: Find the “Cancel membership” button.

   On the “Account Details” page, you’ll see a box with your current membership plan. Right below your membership details, you’ll see a small, blue link that says “Cancel membership.” Click it.

4. Step 4: Navigate the “Retention” Screens.

   Audible does *not* want you to leave. You will now face a series of screens designed to keep you.

   • The “Why are you leaving?” screen: They will ask for your reason. The most common is “I have too many unlistened books” or “It costs too much.”
   • The “Retention Offer” screen: Based on your answer, Audible will make you a special offer. This is often a free credit, or a “special” plan (like $7.95/month for 3 months). You can absolutely accept this if it’s a good deal for you!
5. Step 5: Confirm Your Cancellation.

   If you decline the offers, you will finally reach the last page. You’ll need to click the big button that says “Continue to Cancel” and then a final “Confirm Cancellation.”

6. Step 6: Check Your Email.

   You will *immediately* receive an email with the subject line: “We’re sorry to see you go.” Do *not* assume your membership is canceled until you have this email in your inbox. This is your official receipt.

How to Cancel Audible on a Phone (The “Hidden” Way)

This is where 90% of U.S. users get stuck. You’re trying to cancel on your iPhone or Android device, and you can’t. Here’s the secret:

You CANNOT cancel your membership inside the Audible app.

You must use your phone’s *web browser* (like Safari or Chrome) and follow a similar (but slightly different) set of steps.

1. Step 1: Open your phone’s *web browser* (Safari, Chrome, etc.). Do NOT open the app.
2. Step 2: Type “Audible.com” into the address bar.
3. Step 3: Sign in. This is the tricky part. Make sure you’re signed in.
4. Step 4: Request the Desktop Site. The mobile site is confusing. You need to force your browser to show the “full” desktop site.
   • On Safari (iPhone): Tap the “aA” icon in the address bar, then tap “Request Desktop Website.”
   • On Chrome (Android): Tap the three-dot menu icon (⋮) in the top-right corner, then check the box for “Desktop site.”
5. Step 5: Follow the Desktop Instructions.

   The site will now look tiny and zoomed-out, just like it does on your computer. Pinch and zoom to the top-right corner. From here, the steps are identical to the desktop guide above:

   • Hover over “Hi, [Your Name]!”
   • Tap “Account Details.”
   • Tap “Cancel membership.”
   • Navigate the retention screens and confirm.

This process is clunky *by design*. They are betting you’ll give up. Don’t.

Why Can’t I Cancel in the Audible App? (The Billion-Dollar Question)

This is the single most frustrating part of the Audible experience. You can *buy* credits in the app, but you can’t *cancel* your membership. Why?

The answer is simple: Apple and Google.

When you buy something *inside* an app (like an Audible credit on your iPhone), Apple takes a 30% cut of that revenue. This is why Amazon and Audible (and Spotify, and Netflix) *hate* in-app subscriptions. They would much rather you sign up on their website, where they keep 100% of the money.

To avoid this, Audible (and many others) have removed most “subscription management” features from the app itself. They *force* you to their website, where they have full control of the experience, the pricing, and (most importantly) the cancellation “retention offers.”

The One Exception: If you *did* sign up for Audible *through* the Apple App Store or Google Play Store (which is rare, as they push you to the website), then you *must* cancel through your phone’s main “Subscriptions” settings, not the Audible website. But for 99% of U.S. users, the website is the only way.

The Aftermath: What You KEEP vs. What You LOSE

Congratulations, you did it! You got the confirmation email. Now what? Your library is still there, but it’s different. Here is the simple breakdown.

This is the central model of the service, which we explain in detail in our “How Audible Works” guide. You are canceling your *membership*, not deleting your *library*.

Don’t Cancel! The 2 Best Alternatives

So, you’re drowning in credits and the $14.95/month is feeling steep. Before you go nuclear and hit “cancel,” you have two *much* better options that Audible offers to keep you.

Alternative 1: Pause Your Membership (The “Smart” Move)

This is the best-kept secret on Audible. If you just need a break to catch up, you can pause your membership.

• What it is: You can pause your account for 1, 2, or 3 months.
• What happens: Your billing is *frozen*. You are charged $0.00. You do *not* receive any new credits during the pause.
• Why it’s amazing: You KEEP all your existing credits. You KEEP your access to the Plus Catalog. You KEEP your access to member-only sales.

This is the perfect “Goldilocks” solution. It gives you 90 days to burn through your credit backlog without paying a dime, and you don’t lose any of your perks. You can find this option during the cancellation process—they will offer it to you as a “retention” tactic.

Alternative 2: Switch Your Plan (The “Downgrade”)

If your problem isn’t your *backlog* but the *cost*, you can switch to a cheaper plan.

• Audible Plus Plan: This is the $7.95/month plan. You get 0 credits, but you get full, unlimited access to the entire Plus Catalog. This is perfect for listeners who don’t care about “owning” the new bestsellers but love to binge-listen to the streaming library.
• Audible Premium Plus – Annual: You pay a one-time fee (around $149.50) and get 12 credits all at once. This drops your per-credit cost to about $12.46, saving you money over the year.
• The “Secret” Silver Plan: During the cancellation process, they may offer you the “Silver” plan. It’s not advertised publicly. It’s 1 credit *every other month* for $14.95. It’s perfect for the “light” listener.

The “Last Call” Shopping Spree: How to Spend Your Final Credits

You’ve decided to cancel. You have 3 credits left. It’s 10 PM. You have to spend them *now*. What do you buy? The strategy is simple: MAXIMIZE. VALUE.

Your $14.95 credit is a golden ticket. Don’t waste it on a 6-hour book that costs $12. Use it to buy a 50-hour epic that costs $49.95. Go for the biggest, most expensive, most “worthwhile” titles. Here are our top audiobook recommendations for your final credits.

Life After Audible: Your Books & Hardware Still Work

You’ve canceled. Your credits are spent. Your bank account is safe. Now what?

The most important thing to remember is: YOUR LIBRARY IS SAFE.

All those books you “bought” with credits are yours. You can still use the Audible app to download and listen to them, 100% free, forever. You are now just a “free user” of the app, which acts as your personal audio library.

This also means all that Amazon hardware you bought is still perfectly functional. In fact, it’s *still* the best way to enjoy the library you just built.

The Best “Rebound” Service: Kindle Unlimited

You’ve quit Audible, but you still need a “fix.” You miss the “all-you-can-eat” feel of the Plus Catalog. Your best bet, and the one that stays right in the Amazon ecosystem, is Kindle Unlimited (KU).

Kindle Unlimited is *actually* the “Netflix for Books” that people mistake Audible for. For a monthly fee (usually $11.99), you get unlimited access to a massive library of over 4 million e-books. But here’s the kicker: it also includes thousands of audiobooks.

When you browse the KU library, you’ll see many books with a “headphones” icon. This means you can get both the Kindle e-book AND the Audible narration for free as part of your membership. It’s the ultimate “streaming” version of Whispersync. This is the perfect “rebound” service to try after you’ve built your permanent library on Audible.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Canceling

Q: I just canceled and my credits are gone! Can I get them back?

A: Unfortunately, no. Once you confirm cancellation, they are forfeited. This is why spending them *first* is the golden rule. You can try contacting customer service, but the policy is very clear. This is the one mistake you can’t undo.

Q: I signed up on my iPhone/Android. How do I cancel?

A: This is the one exception. If you subscribed *through* the App Store, you must cancel *through* Apple. Go to your iPhone’s Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions. Find “Audible” and tap “Cancel Subscription.” The same goes for the Google Play Store on Android.

Q: Can I still buy audiobooks from Audible without a membership?

A: Yes, absolutely. You can log in any time and buy any audiobook you want using a credit card. You will just be paying the full, non-member cash price (and you won’t get the 30% discount or access to sales).

Q: What if I have the “Audible Plus” ($7.95) plan?

A: The cancellation process is exactly the same. The only difference is what you lose. Since this plan has no credits, you don’t have to worry about spending them. When you cancel, you will simply lose your access to the Plus Catalog. That’s it.

Q: Will I get a “win-back” offer if I try to re-subscribe later?

A: Almost certainly. Wait a few weeks or months, and Audible will likely email you a special “Come Back” offer, like “Get 3 months for $7.95/month” or a free credit just for re-joining. They want you back!

Final Thoughts: You’re in Control of Your Membership

Canceling Audible can feel like a breakup, but it doesn’t have to be. You are not deleting your account or losing the library you spent years and credits building. You are simply *pausing the billing*.

You are in the driver’s seat. You know the one “gotcha” (spend your credits!), you know the “secret” alternatives (pause or switch), and you know that your entire library of purchased books is 100% safe and yours to keep forever.

So, go ahead and hit that “pause” button. Or, if you’re ready, go on that “last call” shopping spree, fill your library with amazing titles, and cancel with confidence. Your books, and your Echo Dot, will be waiting for you whenever you’re ready to listen.