Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
BookBeat vs storytel
BookBeat vs storytel: the differences
| Compare | BookBeat ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  storytel |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month | €9.99 | SEK 169 |
| Price from | €9.99 | SEK 99 |
| Free trial length | 60 daysHigher | 30 days |
| Monthly listening cap (hours) | 20 to 100 | 100 |
| Titles in the catalogue | 1,000,000 | 1,500,000Higher |
| Markets | AT | BE, BG, EE, FI, FR, DE, IS, IT, NL, NO, PL, ES, SE, TR, IN, ID, SG, KR, TH, BR, CL, CO, MX, EG, IL, SA, AE |
Same on both: Access model (Hour cap), Family profiles (Yes), Offline use (Yes), Student discount (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- BookBeat scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- Free trial length is higher at BookBeat: 60 days vs 30 days.
- Titles in the catalogue is higher at storytel: 1,500,000 vs 1,000,000.
- Support channels: only BookBeat offers Chat.
- Content types: only storytel offers Podcasts.
- Markets: only BookBeat offers AT.
- Markets: only storytel offers BE, BG, EE.
Our verdict on each
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.
storytel
Storytel suits households that read and listen together, with family profiles, offline listening and a catalogue of 1,500,000 titles in one subscription. Readers who want a cheaper single-user plan should compare AfriKDP first, since the monthly fee of SEK 169 sits high for one person.
Score breakdown
| Area | BookBeat | storytel |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherMonthly plan of €9.99 and entry price of €9.99, under the category median monthly price of €11.43. | 8.8The subscription starts at SEK 99 and lists at SEK 169, above $3 and $19.99. |
| Offer | 9.3HigherTrial of 60 days, 1,000,000 titles, family profiles, offline listening and a student discount. | 9.2A catalogue of 1,500,000 titles, a 30 days free trial and a 100 hour cap in one plan. |
| Trust | 8.7Run by BookBeat GmbH, founded in 2015, with support running on chat and help centre. | Not confirmed |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | BookBeat | storytel |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Sweden |
Which one suits you
Pick BookBeat if cost and free trial length matter most.
Pick storytel if titles in the catalogue matter most.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | BookBeat | storytel |
|---|---|---|
| Audiobook, ebook and book-summary apps | 6 of 24 | 14 of 24 |
Sources behind this comparison
BookBeat
- bookbeat.com: 12 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- bookbeat.at: 2 facts, checked September 30, 2026
storytel
- storytel.com: 11 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- storytelgroup.com: 2 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- support.storytel.com: 1 fact, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BookBeat | storytel |
|---|---|---|
| Content types | Audiobooks, Ebooks | Audiobooks, Ebooks, PodcastsCovers more |
| Legal entity | BookBeat GmbH | Storytel AB (publ) |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Sweden |
| Founded | 2015 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | BookBeat | storytel | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Monthly listening cap (hours) | 20 to 100at the median | 100at the median | 100 |
| Titles in the catalogue | 1,000,000highest quarter | 1,500,000highest quarter | 240,000 |
Median across 19 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
storytel
Pros
- A catalogue of 1,500,000 titles, first among the brands compared here on size.
- Family profiles are included, so several people can use one account.
- Offline downloads are available for travel and commutes.
Cons
- The monthly price of SEK 169 is higher than $3 at the same billing rhythm.
- Access is limited by a 100 hour cap rather than running without limits.
- Support runs on help centre only, with no live contact listed.
Who each suits
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.
storytel
Who it suits
- Households that share one account through family profiles
- Listeners who want audiobooks, ebooks and podcasts in the same app
- Readers who plan around a listening allowance rather than unlimited access
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants unlimited listening, since access sits under a 100 hour cap
- Readers who want live phone support, as support runs on help centre only
- Price-first single users who may find $3 easier to justify
Current offers
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 | BookBeat | storytel |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Brazil | No | Yes |
| Bulgaria | No | Yes |
| Chile | No | Yes |
| Colombia | No | Yes |
| Egypt | No | Yes |
| Estonia | No | Yes |
| Finland | No | Yes |
8 of 27 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
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.
storytel
How much does Storytel cost a month?+
The standard plan is billed at SEK 169 each month, with a lower entry plan starting at SEK 99. Both prices cover the full catalogue of 1,500,000 titles and the family profiles feature, so the tier mainly changes how much you can listen rather than what you can read.
Is there a free trial?+
Yes, Storytel offers a free trial of 30 days. That trial ranks third among the 16 brands compared on this measure, which makes it one of the longer evaluation windows in this category. The trial is long enough to test both the 100 hour cap and the app before the first payment.