Audible Plus vs. Premium Plus: The Ultimate Guide

You’re sitting in traffic. You hear the same ad you’ve heard a dozen times on a podcast: “This episode is sponsored by Audible.” You finally decide to check it out, but when you get to the sign-up page, you’re hit with a confusing choice: Audible Plus or Audible Premium Plus? What’s the difference? One is cheaper, but the other one mentions… credits? Is “Audible” itself a *third* thing?

It’s one of the most common points of confusion for new U.S. listeners, and frankly, Amazon’s branding doesn’t make it easy. It feels like you need a flowchart just to buy a book.

Welcome to Audiobook Wiki, your definitive source for demystifying the world of audio. We are going to clear this up for you, once and for all. This ultimate guide will break down *exactly* what you get, what you don’t get, who each plan is for, and how to make the absolute best choice for your wallet and your listening habits.

By the time you’re done with this post, you’ll be an expert, able to navigate the system like a pro. Let’s get started.

The Core Confusion: “Audible” vs. “The Plans”

First, let’s clear up the main problem. The user’s question is “What’s the difference between Audible and Audible Plus?” This is the trap!

“Audible” is the company. It’s the entire Amazon-owned service. It’s the app on your phone, the website, the store with over 800,000 titles. Think of “Audible” as the name of the entire supermarket.

“Audible Plus” and “Audible Premium Plus” are the *membership plans* you can buy to *shop* at that supermarket. They are your two main entry tickets. You cannot compare “Audible” to “Audible Plus,” any more than you can compare “Netflix” to a “Netflix Standard Plan.”

So, the *real* question, and the one we will spend this entire answering, is: What is the difference between an “Audible Plus” membership and an “Audible Premium Plus” membership?

This is the single most important decision you’ll make, and our full “How Audible Works” guide is built on this very distinction. Let’s break it down.

Deep Dive: What is Audible Premium Plus? (The “Library Builder”)

Let’s start with the most popular plan, the one you hear about in ads: Premium Plus. This is the “classic” Audible membership that has been around for years. U.S. listeners built this company on this model.

This plan is built on two pillars:

1. Access to the Plus Catalog (the streaming library we’ll detail later).
2. 1 Monthly Credit (the “ownership” token).

The $14.95/month you pay is *really* for that one credit. The Plus Catalog is just a (very large) bonus. This plan is for people who want to build a personal, permanent library of their favorite books. It’s for the listener who hears about the brand new thriller from their favorite author and wants to *own* it on release day. That book will *not* be in the Plus Catalog, so you use your credit to buy it.

This is the plan for “The Collector.”

The “Credit”: The Single Most Important Concept

To understand Premium Plus, you *must* understand the “credit.” It is the heart of the Audible economy. A guide would be useless if we didn’t spend time here.

Here’s how it works: 1 Credit = 1 Audiobook. Period.

That’s it. It doesn’t matter if the audiobook’s cash price is $9 or $59. If it’s in Audible’s massive 800,000+ title store, one credit will buy it. Since your credit costs you $14.95 (as part of your membership), this means you are effectively getting a *massive* discount on premium books.

The “Credit Strategy” (How to Win)

This system turns you into a savvy shopper. The “hack” is to never use a $14.95 credit on a book that costs less than $14.95.

• That new 50-hour epic from our best fantasy audiobooks list? Its cash price is $49.99. Use a credit. You just got a $50 book for $14.95.
• That 45-hour history audiobook? Cash price is $45.00. Use a credit.
• That brand new Stephen King horror audiobook? $39.95. Use a credit.
• That 6-hour romance novel that’s on a cash sale for $6.99? Pay with cash! Save your $14.95 credit for a more expensive book.

A credit is a “golden token” that lets you buy any book, no matter how expensive, guilt-free. The “Audible Plus” plan does NOT include this. This is the #1 difference.

Deep Dive: What is Audible Plus? (The “Netflix Model”)

Now for the newer, cheaper plan: Audible Plus. This plan costs only $7.95/month.

For your $7.95, you get:

• 0 (Zero) Monthly Credits.
• Unlimited access to the “Audible Plus Catalog.”

That’s it. This is a pure “all-you-can-eat” streaming model. It’s exactly like Netflix or Hulu. You pay a monthly fee, and you can listen to *anything* you want, as much as you want… as long as it’s part of the “Plus Catalog.”

If a book leaves the Plus Catalog, you lose access to it. If you cancel your membership, you lose access to everything. You are *renting* the books, not *owning* them. This is the plan for “The Binger.”

The Plus Catalog: What *Exactly* Is In It?

This is the multi-million dollar question. If the “Audible Plus” plan (and a big part of the “Premium Plus” plan) is access to this catalog, what’s in it?

The Plus Catalog is a rotating library of over 11,000 titles. (Note: Audible’s *full* store has over 800,000). This 11,000-title library is composed of:

• Audible Originals: These are high-budget, exclusive audio dramas, documentaries, and series produced by Audible. Many are fantastic, full-cast productions.
• Podcast+ Content: A huge library of ad-free podcasts and exclusive series.
• A Deep “Backlist”: A large selection of audiobooks from various genres. These are typically *not* the brand-new, front-page bestsellers, but rather books that are 6 months, a year, or 20 years old.

You can find amazing gems in the Plus Catalog. You can discover a new author in the mystery section, binge-listen to a 10-part non-fiction series, or work your way through a classic fiction novel. It is a *fantastic* value for $7.95.

The “Gotcha”: What is *NOT* In the Plus Catalog?

This is the most important part of this guide. The Plus Catalog is *not* the entire Audible store. This is the #1 mistake new U.S. users make. They sign up for “Audible Plus,” search for the new John Grisham… and can’t find it. They get angry, thinking it’s a bait-and-switch.

It’s not a bait-and-switch. It’s a different model. The new John Grisham book is a “premium” title. It is *not* in the Plus Catalog.

As a rule of thumb, you will *not* find:

• Brand-new, A-list bestsellers.
• Mega-franchises (like *Harry Potter* or *The Lord of the Rings*).
• The vast majority of the 800,000+ books on the store.

These “premium” books can *only* be acquired with a credit (from the “Premium Plus” plan) or by paying full cash price.

This is the entire business model. “Audible Plus” gets you in the door with the streaming catalog. “Audible Premium Plus” is for the listener who wants the streaming *and* the ability to get the specific new bestsellers that *aren’t* in it.

Audible Plus vs. Premium Plus: Head-to-Head Chart

Here is the simple, at-a-glance breakdown

Feature	Audible Plus	Audible Premium Plus
U.S. Price (Monthly)	$7.95 / month	$14.95 / month
Monthly Credits	0 (Zero)	1 (The “Golden Token”)
Access to Plus Catalog?	Yes (Unlimited Streaming)	Yes (Unlimited Streaming)
Ability to *Keep* Books?	No (Streaming only)	Yes (With your credit)
Access to Premium Bestsellers?	No (Must buy with cash)	Yes (Using your credit)
Access to Member-Only Sales?	No	Yes (e.g., 2-for-1 sales)
30% Off Cash Purchases?	No	Yes
Model	“Netflix” (Streaming)	“Costco” (Membership + Ownership)

The Cost Breakdown: How Much Do They *Really* Cost?

The dollar signs are simple, but the *value* is what we need to unpack for this guide.

Audible Plus: The $7.95/month Plan

The math here is easy. You pay $7.95. You get access to the 11,000+ titles in the Plus Catalog. If you listen to even *one* book from that catalog a month, you’ve gotten your money’s worth. If you listen to *five*, you’re paying about $1.60 per book. For a “Binger” (see below), this is an incredible value. The only “catch” is that you *must* find books you want to hear inside that specific catalog.

Audible Premium Plus: The $14.95/month Plan

This is where the math gets fun. You pay $14.95. You get:

1. Access to the entire Plus Catalog (the $7.95 value).
2. 1 Credit.

This means you are paying $7.00 for your 1 credit ($14.95 – $7.95 = $7.00). Using that $7.00 credit to buy a $40 biography is an *astounding* deal. This is the core value proposition.

Premium Plus “Power-User” Plans

For avid U.S. listeners, there are even better deals. You can pay annually:

• Premium Plus Annual (12 Credits): Costs ~$149.50/year. This gets you all 12 credits at once, and your “per-credit” cost drops to $12.46.
• Premium Plus Annual (24 Credits): Costs ~$229.50/year. You get 24 credits upfront. Your per-credit cost plummets to $9.56.

If you *know* you’re going to buy more than 12 books a year, the annual plans are the best “bang for your buck” and solidify your “ownership” library at a rock-bottom price.

Who is AUDIBLE PLUS For? (The Binger)

This $7.95/month plan is *not* for everyone. But for the right person, it’s a perfect fit. This plan is for you IF:

• You are a “Browser,” not a “Hunter.” You enjoy browsing a library and finding hidden gems. You are not the type of person who *must* read a specific book on release day.
• You Listen to a *Lot*. You are a “Binger.” You burn through 3, 4, or 5+ books a month. At $7.95, this is a steal.
• You Love Podcasts and Originals. A huge part of the Plus Catalog value is the exclusive, high-production Audible Originals and ad-free podcasts. If this is your jam, the plan is a no-brainer.
• You’re on a Tight Budget. It’s half the price of the Premium plan. If $14.95 is too steep, $7.95 for access to 11,000 titles is a fantastic entertainment value.
• You Are a “Series” Listener. You might find a 10-book mystery series from 2015 in the Plus Catalog and be set for the entire month.

Who is PREMIUM PLUS For? (The Collector)

This $14.95/month (or annual) plan is the flagship. It’s the “default” for a reason. This plan is for you IF:

• You are a “Hunter.” You read reviews. You have a “To Be Read” list. When the new non-fiction bestseller by your favorite author comes out, you want it. *That* book will require a credit.
• You Believe in “Ownership.” You are a “Collector.” You like the idea of building a permanent, digital library that is yours forever, even if you cancel your membership.
• You Love High-Value Epics. You are a fantasy or history buff. You see the 50-hour, $50 behemoth as a *value* for your 1 credit, not an obstacle.
• You Want the Best of Both Worlds. You want to *own* your 1 “must-have” book per month, but you *also* want to binge-listen from the Plus Catalog in between. This plan gives you both.
• You’re a Deal Hunter. Only Premium Plus members get access to the legendary “2-for-1” or “3-for-2” credit sales and 30% off all cash purchases, letting you build your library even faster.

The “Ownership” Question: What Happens if I Cancel?

This is the most critical part of this guide. What happens to your books? The answer is completely different for each plan.

This is the fundamental trade-off. “Premium Plus” is an “asset-building” plan. “Audible Plus” is a “rental” plan. (And remember, as we warn in our cancellation guide, you MUST spend any unused *credits* before you cancel, or you will lose those, too!)

The Amazon Ecosystem: How Your Hardware Fits In

As an Amazon company, Audible’s plans are deeply integrated with Amazon’s hardware. Choosing a plan can depend on the hardware you already own.

The Best “Product” to Start With: The Free Trial

You’ve read over 3,000 words. You’re *still* not sure. What’s the best, no-risk way to find out?

Start with the 30-day free trial for AUDIBLE PREMIUM PLUS.

This is the single best “product” Amazon offers for this service. Here’s why:

1. You get 30 free days of the *entire* Plus Catalog. You can binge-listen just like an “Audible Plus” member.
2. You *also* get 1 Free Credit. You can “hunt” for any book in the entire store—a $50 bestseller!—and “buy” it for $0.
3. That book is yours to keep forever, even if you cancel your free trial on day 29.

This lets you “test drive” *both* plans simultaneously. You can see if the Plus Catalog is “enough” for you, while *also* experiencing the thrill of using a credit to own a premium book. There is no better way to find out which type of listener you are.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I get “Audible Plus” and still buy books?

A: Yes, but it’s a bad deal. If you have the $7.95 “Plus” plan and want to buy a premium bestseller, you have to pay the full, non-member cash price (e.g., $39.95). You also don’t get the 30% member discount or access to credit sales. If you plan to buy *even one* book per month, it is *always* cheaper to get the “Premium Plus” plan.

Q: I signed up for Premium Plus. Do I have to “use” the Plus Catalog?

A: No! Many “Premium Plus” members *only* use their monthly credit and never touch the Plus Catalog. You can think of it as a free “bonus” that you can ignore if you only care about owning your specific books.

Q: What if I want more than one book per month?

A: That’s why “Premium Plus” has higher tiers. You can get 2 credits per month (for ~$22.95) or buy the annual plans that give you 12 or 24 credits all at once. This is for the “power-collector” who wants to build a big library fast. We cover this in our How Audible Works guide.

Q: What kinds of books are in the Plus Catalog?

A: It’s a huge, rotating mix. You’ll find classics (Jane Austen, Sherlock Holmes), some great self-help and finance books, full-cast originals, and a *lot* of genre fiction (like romance and mystery series). The best way to see is to just get the free trial and browse it yourself.

Q: Can I switch between plans?

A: Yes! Amazon lets you switch easily. If you’re on “Premium Plus” and find you have too many credits, you can downgrade to “Audible Plus” for a few months to just stream. Then you can upgrade again when your “must-buy” book comes out. It’s very flexible.

The Final Verdict: Which One Should You Get?

The choice is actually very simple and comes down to one question: Do you want to “rent” or do you want to “own”?

Choose AUDIBLE PLUS if:

• You are 100% a “Binger.”
• You listen to 3+ books a month.
• You are *not* a “Hunter” and don’t care about specific new bestsellers.
• You are on a tight budget and just want the best “bang for your buck” in streaming.
• You listen to a lot of podcasts and love the idea of high-production “Originals.”

Choose AUDIBLE PREMIUM PLUS if:

• You are 100% a “Collector.”
• You have a “To Be Read” list and want *specific* new books.
• You love the idea of “owning” your audiobooks forever.
• You are a “power-user” who wants access to 2-for-1 sales and discounts.
• You are a fantasy, history, or biography fan who will get massive value from using one credit on a $50, 50-hour book.
• You own a Kindle and want to use the “Whispersync for Voice” feature.

For 90% of new U.S. listeners, the Premium Plus plan is the clear winner. The value of getting a $40 book for $14.95, *plus* getting the entire Plus Catalog as a free bonus, is simply one of the best deals in digital media. It gives you the best of both worlds: the “Netflix” streaming model and the “iTunes” ownership model, all in one package.

Ready to start? Grab that 30-day Premium Plus free trial, get your free book to keep, and see which kind of listener you are. Check out our full list of audiobook recommendations to find the perfect book for your first credit!