The Audible Alternative I am OBSESSED With

Today I’ve GOT to talk to you about Libro.FM, okay? I really have been wanting to share my review of the LibroFM service and compare LibroFM vs Audible as I’ve been testing it out for a few months now and feel like I can really speak to my experience and why I have officially made the switch to LibroFM as my audiobook provider.

But first we’ll talk about what Libro.Fm is, why I even started looking into it and how my experience has been! And to be clear, I am not getting paid to write this and I purchased my membership with my own money to test it out. In fact, Amazon gives a nice bounty to refer y’all to Audible so I really don’t gain anything except that good feeling of sharing something I discovered and LOVE. I cannot be bought haha

 

What Is LibroFM?

Simply put, LibroFM is a digital audiobook company founded in 2014 with the same sort of model that Audible has if you are familiar with how that works.

But there’s one big difference that sets LibroFM apart from the rest: your membership/purchase of an audiobook directly supports independent bookstores. You are able to choose that specific independent bookstore within your account and there are something like 800 bookstores that are currently partnered with them. It’s genius because it gives brick and mortar bookstore customers a place to purchase digital audiobooks that supports their indie bookshop.

They have a selection of over 125,000 audiobooks to choose from that you can listen to on any of your devices that will play an audiobook and all books are DRM-free (which just basically means IT IS YOURS and you can listen to it whenever you want, on whatever you want, etc.). That is not the same with Audible. LibroFM’s blog explains this all way better than I ever could with what DRM-free means.

There’s the option of a monthly membership or if you don’t listen as frequently you can choose to purchase them one off whenever you want. If you do the monthly option, you get one credit per month to pick an audiobook.  You can also gift memberships and individual books!

You can check out this spotlight from Publisher’s Weekly all about LibroFM.

Why I Signed Up

I’ve used Audible off and on for a few years, as well as the audiobook program through my library, but I had slowed down for a while so I had cancelled my membership until this Spring when I started going to the gym again and I was looking to sign up again to listen to audiobooks while I’m huffing and puffing on the treadmill to make it more bearable.

I was getting ready to reactivate my Audible account to fill in the gaps where my library couldn’t provide me with what I wanted. But then I heard about LibroFM via a couple people who were part of their listening squad to promote them and I was curious.

But I’m a skeptic at heart (especially if I don’t know if someone is only promoting because they get something out of it vs. they truly used it and THEN wanted to promote) and I’m also a creature of habit and I KNOW Audible. It’s always been good to me.

I decided I would give it a try for a month or two and see what I thought because, at the heart of it, it sounded wonderful. I mean, it’s basically the same price (a few cents difference, I think) as Audible but I get to support independent bookstores at no extra cost to me? COOL, because I am a broke book lover who loves indie bookstores with all my heart.

I’m not an Amazon hater by any means. I use Amazon. I’ve bought books on Amazon. Do I struggle with how crappy Amazon is for the book industry? YES. It pains me.  Do I try to support  the few indie bookshops in my area when I’m able and when I travel? YEP. I shop my indies frequently and I ALWAYS buy when I’m traveling and visit a new shop as a souvenir for myself.  Do I wish I had money to buy exclusively through indie shops? YEP. But alas, I am broke AF and consume a lot of books.

So I’m not one of those people who is going to shame you for using Amazon to get your books because I do sometimes and I get that it’s convenient in a lot of ways. HOWEVER, I’ve always been looking for an alternative to Audible that would be on par with it AND I’m always looking for ways to support my indies that is still conducive to my financial situation.

So with that all being said, as a background to WHY I decided to try out the service, let’s get to my review and some different questions I’ve been asked on Instagram when I’ve talked about switching.

You May Also Like: Tips For Getting Into Audiobooks Or To Up Your Audiobook Game

My Honest Libro.FM Review

My official review, before I get into specific thoughts that I’ve been asked, is that LibroFM is everything I could have hoped for.

It was so easy to figure out how to use and was a seamless transition because sometimes I struggle with NEW and I had been using Audible for so long that it was familiar.  It’s so nice to have an alternative that I feel passionate about and that supports something I really care about — independent bookshops — at the same price and with the same fantastic user experience.

Everything has been easy and positive so far in the 6 months I’ve been a member — finding the books I want, dealing with customer service when I’ve needed to, navigating their website and being able to listen to my audiobooks. I have had only a wonderful experience using the service and have listened to many audiobooks so far while at the gym, in the car, while cleaning.

But the thing I love most (besides the fact I’m supporting indie bookshops) is how much it FEELS like a place that really loves books. Like it was built by people who are really passionate about books. I love that they have bookseller recommendations and they have all sorts of lists that have helped me decided what to listen to and find new books that weren’t on my radar.

 

Signing Up With LibroFM

I signed up for a monthly membership, which was REALLY easy and straightforward, on their (very nice looking) website and for doing so I got a free audiobook credit, in addition to my monthly credit, which was nice.

For the bookstore that my membership would support, I picked a new bookstore that just opened up this summer in my area called Reads & Company because I really wanted to support them (and okay because my FAVORITE local bookstore isn’t on there yet). You just scroll through the list by state and choose the one you want.

I was pleased with the ease I had in signing up and navigating their website. I also think their website is really friendly and inviting and easy to browse around for a while.

I downloaded their really user friendly and sleek looking app so I could easily listen and my audiobook that I had already snagged was in there. Then I could download my book on to my phone. It was SO EASY. My audiobook was READY for the gym….even if I wasn’t quite.

You don’t HAVE to download their app to get the book but it was just what I chose to do. They have a guide on their website for how to do it if you don’t want to do it via the app.

One thing I really loved when signing up is that their credits never expire AND, let’s say you have an abundance of them built up or just want to share,  you can use your credit to give someone else an audiobook! It looks really easy to cancel your membership if you need to as well.

The Selection On LibroFM

I perused a bit and I was really pleased with the selection and so far I’ve found everything I’ve been looking for. I can’t complain at all. I would imagine with 125,000+ books in their catalog most of what you are looking for would be on there.

It is true that Audible has about double what they have in terms of selection but I personally have found everything I’ve been looking for. You might not find more obscure things as you would on Audible but I haven’t run into not being able to find what I’ve been looking for yet.

I also like that I can listen to a sample of it to get a feel for the narrator which is really nice! Another thing I like, in terms of book selection, is that while I’m trying to find an audiobook to listen to they have some great handpicked lists crafted by booksellers so I can find a book entirely to suit my mood if I DON’T know what I feel like listening to this month.

LibroFM’s customer service

My first book I got with my first credit was my book club’s selection for that month…..AND I COULD NOT GET INTO IT AT ALL. That rarely happens. But here I was struggling at 10% in with the book. OF COURSE this would happen with my very first credit using a new service.

So I decided to email them and just tell them that….that I really couldn’t get into the book I chose and see if I could switch it out. They replied back to me lightening fast, let me return it and get my credit back for a book that worked MUCH better for me. It was hassle-free and that credit was right back into my account.

That’s the only time I’ve had to deal with customer service but I was appreciative for their help and how quickly they helped.

LibroFM vs Audible

Since I’m coming from Audible, I was curious about how I stacked up.  I saw this comparison chart and went through and researched to be sure it was true.

Audible definitely had a bigger selection overall but, as I said before, I have not had any trouble finding what I’m personally looking for.

But a lot of the key things are exactly the same: You get the same sort of deal for signing up, both easy to listen to, the same price, a discount on audiobooks outside of your monthly credit.

But there’s a lot of things, that are personally important to me, that Audible just can’t boast about.

 

Why I’m OFFICIALLY Making The Switch To LibroFM + Think You Should Too

I feel like it’s a no-brainer for me after testing out LibroFM. I’m getting the same audiobooks & the same seamless ability to listen to them with a membership at basically the same price…..but I’m able to support independent bookstores, something so important to me, WHILE I’m doing it. I love shopping local, too, and it’s not always feasible for my wallet.

It’s nice to know I’m spending my money to support bookstores who are in a hard fight to stay afloat vs the big guys – some of whom actively work to discount books lower and lower because the book margins are made up elsewhere with sales.

If I’m going to spend that money anyways and getting the same exact thing….it only makes sense to me that Libro.FM is my new audiobook provider. I don’t feel like I’m getting a lesser service or sacrificing anything at all — in fact I feel the opposite. I feel like I’m part of something really cool that is doing something totally different by supporting independent bookstores via digital audiobooks.

And honestly? I always hate when it feels like there is no alternatives to something I buy. I like options and Audible literally holds 90% of the audiobook market and that annoys me.

But they’ve always been reliable, had the best selection and a good service so I’ve just done it because, until now, I’ve never found any suitable alternatives to Audible (and I’ve TRIED) that made me feel like I was getting something comparable.

But NOW I have an option and it makes me so excited to be able to choose based on what I think is best for me and I DO think that Libro.FM is a better alternative to Audible for a book lover like me whose life has been so enriched by independent bookstores in my community.

In the time SINCE I purchased the membership with my OWN MONEY I’ve decided to partner with them (not for money but I get opportunities for free credits and advanced listening copies) because I believe in them so much and want to spread the word that “HEY THERE IS A SUITABLE OPTION!!”

 

Try Libro.FM & Get 3 Audiobook Credits For The Price Of One

Sign up for a membership and give it a try for yourself and see if you will make the switch. You can use my referral link & promo code and sign up for a membership for a month and you’ll get 3 audiobook credits for the price of 1. If you don’t like it or prefer another audiobook platform, just cancel. The audiobooks are still yours!

I genuinely believe in this service and am so glad I decided to test it out before I just went back to Audible. I use audiobooks so often in my daily life so I’m just really all around pleased AND feel good that I’m supporting a new indie bookshop in my area. It’s a win-win.

Let me know if y’all have any questions because I am SO happy to talk to you about LibroFM!

 

Giveaway Of Your Choice Of An Audiobook

Giveaway closed. The winner has been notified.

Pin it for later:

P.S. Check out my list of full cast audiobooks to listen to!