Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Audible vs BookBeat
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Audible | BookBeat ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month | CA$8.99 | €9.99 |
| Price from | CA$8.99 | €9.99 |
| Free trial length | 30 days | 60 daysHigher |
| Access model | Credits | Hour cap |
| Markets | CA | AT |
| Monthly listening cap (hours) | Not confirmed | 20 to 100 |
| Titles in the catalogue | Not confirmed | 1,000,000 |
| Keep titles after cancelling | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Family profiles | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Student discount | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Offline use (Yes).
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Key differences
- Audible scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.2.
- Free trial length is higher at BookBeat: 60 days vs 30 days.
- Support channels: only Audible offers Phone.
- Support channels: only BookBeat offers Chat.
- Content types: only Audible offers Podcasts.
- Content types: only BookBeat offers Ebooks.
- Markets: only Audible offers CA.
- Markets: only BookBeat offers AT.
Our verdict on each
Audible
Audible suits Canadian listeners who will work through a set number of credits, and the free trial of 30 days is long enough to finish a book before deciding. The plan costs CAD 8.99 a month, and anything you have already claimed stays in your library afterwards.
BookBeat
BookBeat suits readers in AT who want audiobooks and ebooks on a single subscription and a set monthly budget. The trade-off is the hour cap: 1,000,000 titles sit behind 20 to 100 hours of listening a month, so heavy readers should measure their habit before signing up.
Score breakdown
| Area | Audible | BookBeat |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7HigherMonthly rate of CAD 8.99 and starting price of CAD 8.99 read the same, below Readability at $19.99 and Reading Eggs at £6.99. | 9.3Monthly plan of €9.99 and entry price of €9.99, under the category median monthly price of €11.43. |
| Offer | 9.3Free trial of 30 days, titles kept after cancelling, and offline playback on a credits model. | 9.3Trial of 60 days, 1,000,000 titles, family profiles, offline listening and a student discount. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 8.7Run by BookBeat GmbH, founded in 2015, with support running on chat and help centre. |
Which one suits you
Pick Audible if cost matter most.
Pick BookBeat if free trial length matter most.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Audible | BookBeat |
|---|---|---|
| Audiobook, ebook and book-summary apps | 1 of 24 | 6 of 24 |
Sources behind this comparison
Audible
- audible.ca: 10 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- audible.com: 1 fact, checked September 30, 2026
BookBeat
- bookbeat.com: 12 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- bookbeat.at: 2 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Audible | BookBeat |
|---|---|---|
| Content types | Audiobooks, Podcasts | Audiobooks, Ebooks |
| Legal entity | Audible, Inc. | BookBeat GmbH |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2015 |
| Support channels | Help centre, Phone | Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Audible | BookBeat | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | 30 daysat the median | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 days |
| Monthly listening cap (hours) | Not confirmed | 20 to 100at the median | 100 |
| Titles in the catalogue | Not confirmed | 1,000,000highest quarter | 240,000 |
Median across 19 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Audible
Pros
- The free trial runs 30 days, longer than the usual window across the brands compared, so a full title can be finished before deciding.
- Titles you have already claimed stay in your library if you cancel, so purchases survive a lapse in the membership.
- Offline playback is included, which covers commutes, flights and patchy signal.
Cons
- Access runs on credits rather than unlimited listening, so playback stops once the credits are used.
- Support runs on help centre and phone only, and live chat is not among the channels.
- The plan is sold in Canada, so members in other countries need a separate regional plan.
BookBeat
Pros
- The free trial lasts 60 days, and BookBeat ranks 1 of 16 brands compared on trial length.
- The catalogue holds 1,000,000 titles, against a category median of 240,000.
- Family profiles are included, so a household can share a single subscription instead of opening separate ones.
Cons
- Support runs on chat and help centre only, with no phone line in the listed channels for anyone who prefers to talk the problem through.
- Access is metered by the hour, hour cap, with 20 to 100 hours a month, so long listening sessions have to be spread across the month.
- The plan is listed for AT only, so readers in other markets see no local price from BookBeat.
Who each suits
Audible
Who it suits
- Listeners in CA who will spend credits on chosen titles each month rather than browse freely.
- Commuters and travellers, since offline playback is included.
- Readers comparing monthly rates, with the Audible plan at CAD 8.99 against Readability at $19.99.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone outside CA, who would need a separate regional plan.
- Bargain hunters, since AfriKDP lists $3 a month against the Audible plan at CAD 8.99.
- Listeners who want unlimited access, since the Audible plan runs on credits.
BookBeat
Who it suits
- Readers in AT who want audiobooks and ebooks covered by the same subscription.
- Households planning to share through family profiles and to download titles for offline listening.
- Students with a discount, who can test the service over 60 days before paying.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who would rather not count hours: BookBeat caps listening at 20 to 100 a month, and AfriKDP at $3 a month costs less for light use.
- Anyone outside AT, where Audible at CAD 8.99 a month and Readability at $19.99 a month are the listed comparisons instead.
Current offers
Audible
Current offer
Free trial
Try one month free then $8.99 per month: 30 days free
New customers only. $8.99/month plus tax after 30 days. Cancel anytime. Quebec residents not eligible for trial memberships.
Source, checked September 30, 2026
BookBeat
Current offer
Free trial
60 days free trial: 60 days
30 listening and reading hours included
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Audible | BookBeat |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Audible
What does the Audible plan cost a month?+
The Audible plan is listed at CAD 8.99 a month, and the Audible plan's starting price is CAD 8.99. Both figures read the same, so the rate met when you join is the rate that continues while the membership runs. Prices are set in Canadian dollars, which is worth remembering when comparing against services quoted in other currencies.
Does the price change after the free trial ends?+
No lower entry rate is listed: the Audible plan's monthly price of CAD 8.99 and its starting price of CAD 8.99 are the same figure, so the free trial of 30 days is the only discount on record. Once it ends the membership continues at the standard monthly rate, and access then depends on how many credits you spend.
BookBeat
What does BookBeat cost each month?+
The standard BookBeat monthly plan is €9.99, and the starting price quoted for the subscription is €9.99. They are published as separate figures, so the amount at entry and the amount that recurs each month can be weighed on their own terms.
How long is the BookBeat free trial?+
The free trial runs 60 days, and BookBeat ranks 1 of 16 brands compared on trial length. For scale, the median trial in this category runs 30 days.