It’s safe to say that Audible is the most popular app for those looking to get into audiobooks. It’s owned by Amazon, so there’s a lot of money behind it, which makes the app almost inevitable. While generally a decent service, Audible is hampered by a host of paywalls and restrictions — regardless of the type of Audible subscription.
To me, Audible has always felt like as good an app as an audiobook app could get because it’s so much better than things like Spotify’s audiobook offering, despite Audible’s major flaws and high price. That feeling is what made me (and many other users) stick with it for years despite having to pay a small fortune just to stay up to date with the latest releases. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be that way, thanks to Libby.
Peter Hunt Szpytek / Digital trends
Libby is an audiobook and e-book app connected to libraries across the country. Libby gives users access to thousands of audiobooks, including new releases, at no charge. The app essentially works as an extension of your local library, meaning you don’t necessarily have unlimited access to the content in it. Instead, you must check out and reserve books as you would in a physical library.
While this may seem like a huge strike against it, Libby makes booking, keeping and getting credit extended extremely easy; all the information you need is provided in advance when you watch the audiobook for which you want to reserve or extend the term. It can be frustrating when the online queue can last for weeks as you wait to access the most popular current titles. However, there’s plenty of content ready when you sign into the app, so you’re far from running out of options while you wait for new audiobooks to be released.
Because Libby is connected to local libraries, it is not an app that can be used by everyone. People who live in areas without dedicated libraries won’t have access to it, which is worth keeping in mind if you’re trying to set up an account. However, if you’re like me and don’t have a library nearby, you can still bypass the hundreds of dollars an annual Audible subscription can cost as long as you have a friend or family member with a library card willing to share their login information with you.
Sharing an account means that your number of rental books must be split between you and anyone else on the account, but Libby allows its users to borrow up to ten audiobooks at once. My entire family of five share one account and never run into a problem other than potentially losing your spot in the audiobook when someone else starts it. However, this can be avoided with simple communication and courtesy.
Peter Hunt Szpytek / Digital trends
While Audible can give you instant access to newly released audiobooks, you’ll pay full price for them, and while Audible’s various subscriptions can help you save on audiobooks, they’re certainly not free. Plus, you’re not just paying for the book, you’re also paying for your monthly Audible subscription — which can cost anywhere from $8 to $23 a month. In other words, the cost of the service can add up quickly. Compare that to Libby’s free access for all library card holders, and one option makes a lot more financial sense, especially since Libby has no late fees for overdue books.
Libby makes a lot more financial sense, especially since there are no late fees for overdue books.
In addition to offering thousands of audiobooks, most of Libby’s library is dedicated to hosting e-books. While they offer a different experience than audiobooks, e-books are also completely free, plus they include things like comics and manga that simply wouldn’t be translated into audio. This means that if you’re an avid manga reader like me, you can keep up with all the latest releases while bypassing the subscription prices of other manga apps. Audible similarly hosts e-books in its app, but the pricing issue for that content is the same as the app’s audio offering.
Obviously, the two apps offer slightly different experiences: Audible lets you buy the audiobooks you own, while Libby simply lets you borrow them and return them when you’re done. That difference is pretty negligible, though, because if you want to listen to an audiobook again on Libby, you can easily watch it again or queue up for it again. Audible gives you instant replay, but its high price is hard to justify because it’s almost entirely a convenience cost.
Peter Hunt Szpytek / Digital trends
I had had enough of paying arms and legs for audiobooks on Audible and had written off audiobooks almost entirely until I found out about Libby. Instead of paying a monthly subscription plus whatever new books I want to listen to, the only price Libby has is the price of your patience as you potentially wait in line for your turn at the hottest new thing.
It’s an app that’s easy to use, supports libraries, and won’t cost you a dime. Give it a try if you’re like me and tired of Audible. The worst that will happen is that you’ll waste a few minutes of your time instead of paying a monthly subscription for an app you don’t like.
Editor’s recommendations
Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn