Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Epic vs storytel
Where Epic and storytel differ
| Compare |  Epic |  storytel |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month | $9.99 | SEK 169 |
| Price from | $4.99 | SEK 99 |
| Free trial length | 7 days | 30 daysHigher |
| Access model | Unlimited | Hour cap |
| Titles in the catalogue | 40,000 | 1,500,000Higher |
| Monthly listening cap (hours) | Not confirmed | 100 |
| Catalogue languages | English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Gaelic | Not confirmed |
| Student discount | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Markets | Not confirmed | 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: Family profiles (Yes), Offline use (Yes).
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Key differences
- Epic scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- Free trial length is higher at storytel: 30 days vs 7 days.
- Titles in the catalogue is higher at storytel: 1,500,000 vs 40,000.
- Support channels: only Epic offers Email.
- Support channels: only storytel offers Help centre.
- Content types: only storytel offers Podcasts.
Our verdict on each
Epic
Epic suits households that want children's audiobooks and ebooks in a single family subscription rather than a single-reader plan. The monthly plan runs at $9.99 against $19.99 for Readability, and a free trial of 7 days lets a family test it before paying.
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 | Epic | storytel |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6Higher$9.99 monthly with entry at $4.99 ranks 5 of 22, a stronger cost showing than most of the field. | 8.8The subscription starts at SEK 99 and lists at SEK 169, above $3 and $19.99. |
| Offer | 8.7unlimited access, family profiles, offline downloads and a 7 day trial sit on top of 40,000 titles. | 9.2HigherA catalogue of 1,500,000 titles, a 30 days free trial and a 100 hour cap in one plan. |
Licences and countries
| Country | Epic | storytel |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Sweden |
How they place
| Ranking | Epic | storytel |
|---|---|---|
| Audiobook, ebook and book-summary apps | 7 of 24 | 14 of 24 |
How the counts compare
| Fact | Epic | storytel |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | 7 days | 30 days |
| Titles in the catalogue | 40,000 | 1,500,000 |
Choosing between them
Pick Epic if cost matter most.
Pick storytel if offer, free trial length, and titles in the catalogue matter most.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Epic | storytel |
|---|---|---|
| Content types | Audiobooks, Ebooks | Audiobooks, Ebooks, PodcastsCovers more |
| Legal entity | Epic Creations, Inc. | Storytel AB (publ) |
| Headquarters | United States | Sweden |
| Support channels | Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Epic | storytel | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | 7 daysbelow the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Monthly listening cap (hours) | Not confirmed | 100at the median | 100 |
| Titles in the catalogue | 40,000below the median | 1,500,000highest quarter | 240,000 |
Median across 19 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Epic
Pros
- Access is unlimited and family profiles give each reader a separate space inside the same subscription.
- Offline downloads are supported, so a child's saved titles travel on a device without a connection.
- The monthly plan at $9.99 sits well below Readability at $19.99 while still covering audiobooks and ebooks.
Cons
- Support runs on email only, so a billing question waits on a written reply.
- At 40,000 titles the catalogue sits below the 240,000 median in this category, so adults hunting general fiction will find it narrow.
- The trial of 7 days ranks 12 of 16 on trial length, a shorter window than most rivals.
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
Epic
Who it suits
- Parents who want a single payment covering several children's profiles under family profiles.
- Households that read on trips and want saved titles available through offline downloads.
- Readers who want audiobooks and ebooks in a single catalogue, both named in audiobooks and ebooks.
Who should look elsewhere
- AfriKDP, at $3 monthly, is the cheaper pick for a reader who wants the lowest monthly figure and has no use for family profiles.
- Readability, at $19.99 monthly, is the alternative for anyone who wants to put a larger monthly sum into reading than Epic's $9.99.
- Audible, at CAD 8.99 monthly, suits a single reader budgeting in a different currency and paying only for their own listening.
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
Country by country
| Country | Epic | 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
Epic
What does Epic cost to join?+
Epic's entry price is $4.99, and the monthly Epic plan is $9.99. The entry figure is the cheapest way into the service, while the monthly plan figure is what a household carries for as long as it stays subscribed. Both figures are quoted in the same currency.
Is there a free trial on Epic?+
A free trial of 7 days comes with the subscription, so a family can test the catalogue and the family profiles before paying anything. On trial length Epic ranks 12 of 16 here, shorter than the category median of 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.