Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
getAbstract vs storytel
getAbstract
storytel
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | getAbstractReviewVisitVisit | storytelReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month | €29.90 | SEK 169 |
| Price from | €0 | SEK 99 |
| Free trial length | 3 days | 30 daysHigher |
| Access model | Unlimited | Hour cap |
| Titles in the catalogue | 27,000 | 1,500,000Higher |
| Monthly listening cap (hours) | Not confirmed | 100 |
| Catalogue languages | English, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Portuguese, French, Arabic | Not confirmed |
| Keep titles after cancelling | No | Not confirmed |
| Family profiles | 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: Offline use (Yes), Student discount (Yes).
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Key differences
- storytel scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Free trial length is higher at storytel: 30 days vs 3 days.
- Titles in the catalogue is higher at storytel: 1,500,000 vs 27,000.
- Content types: only getAbstract offers Summaries.
- Content types: only storytel offers Audiobooks, Ebooks, Podcasts.
Our verdict on each
getAbstract
getAbstract suits students and busy readers who want condensed written summaries of non-fiction titles rather than long audiobooks. Entry through the student plan is €0, the catalogue holds 27,000 summaries, and a cost score of 9 makes it a light add-on rather than a long listening habit.
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 | getAbstract | storytel |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0HigherA cost score of 9 sits behind €0 entry on the student plan and €29.90 a month for the standard plan. | 8.8The subscription starts at SEK 99 and lists at SEK 169, above $3 and $19.99. |
| Offer | 8.6An offer score of 8.6 rests on unlimited access to 27,000 summaries, offline listening and a 3 day trial. | 9.2HigherA catalogue of 1,500,000 titles, a 30 days free trial and a 100 hour cap in one plan. |
| Trust | 9.5A trust score of 9.5 pairs getAbstract AG in CH, founded 1999, with help centre support. | Not confirmed |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | getAbstract | storytel |
|---|---|---|
| Audiobook, ebook and book-summary apps | 7 of 39 | 6 of 39 |
How the counts compare
| Fact | getAbstract | storytel |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | 3 days | 30 days |
| Titles in the catalogue | 27,000 | 1,500,000 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | getAbstract | storytel |
|---|---|---|
| Content types | Summaries | Audiobooks, Ebooks, Podcasts |
| Legal entity | getAbstract AG | Storytel AB (publ) |
| Headquarters | Switzerland | Sweden |
| Founded | 1999 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Help centre | Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | getAbstract | storytel | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | 3 dayslowest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Monthly listening cap (hours) | Not confirmed | 100above the median | 65 |
| Titles in the catalogue | 27,000below the median | 1,500,000highest quarter | 80,000 |
Median across 22 listed providers.
Pros and cons
getAbstract
Pros
- Entry on the student plan is €0, and that route ranks at 1 out of 24 brands on price from.
- The catalogue covers English, German and Spanish across summaries of 27,000 titles, with access that is unlimited.
- Offline downloads are available, which suits travel and commutes rather than desk-bound reading.
Cons
- The standard plan at €29.90 a month costs more than AfriKDP at $3 and Readability at $19.99.
- Keep after cancel is no, so summaries are not kept once a subscription ends.
- Support runs on help centre only, with no phone line or live chat listed.
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
getAbstract
Who it suits
- Students who can use the student discount and start at €0.
- Readers who want 27,000 condensed non-fiction summaries rather than full-length audio.
- Commuters and travellers who need offline access on the move.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after unabridged audiobooks: Audible at CAD 8.99 a month delivers spoken full titles instead of summaries.
- Readers watching the recurring bill closely: AfriKDP at $3 a month is lighter than the getAbstract standard plan at €29.90.
- Readers planning to keep summaries after cancelling, since keep after cancel is no.
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 | getAbstract | 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
getAbstract
How much is getAbstract a month?+
The standard plan is €29.90 a month. Students can join on the student plan at €0, the discounted entry route, which works well if the summaries are mainly wanted during term. The monthly figure is the ongoing one, so budget around €29.90 for a subscription that runs past a single billing period.
What does the subscription include?+
Access is unlimited across 27,000 summarised titles, and the listed content type is summaries rather than unabridged audio. Downloads work offline, which suits travel and commutes, and a 3 day trial comes first so a reader can judge the writing before paying.
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.