- Updated: March 3, 2026
- 4 min read
Audible Launches Cheaper Standard Subscription Plan to Challenge Spotify
–:–:–:– Founder Summit 2026 in Boston: Don’t miss ticket savings of up to $300. Register Now. Save up to $680 on your Disrupt 2026 pass. Ends 11:59 p.m. PT tonight. REGISTER NOW. Close Image Credits:Thomas Trutschel / Photothek / Getty Images Apps Audible launches a cheaper ‘Standard’ subscription plan, challenging Spotify Aisha Malik 8:40 AM PST · March 3, 2026 Audible is rolling out a cheaper “Standard” subscription plan that costs $8.99 per month, the Amazon-owned company announced on Tuesday. The new plan is $6 cheaper than the platform’s existing “Premium” plan, which costs $14.95 per month. The Standard plan includes one audiobook per month from Audible’s catalog and unlimited listening from a curated library that includes a selection of Audible Originals. Under the new Standard plan, subscribers will lose access to the audiobooks they’ve consumed when they unsubscribe.The Premium plan lets users keep the audiobooks they’ve listened to even if they unsubscribe. The Standard plan also includes access to nearly 200 of the most popular titles available on the Wondery+ app, which is shutting down in the coming months. The Standard plan is launching in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, and France. Audible is testing the plan in additional markets, the company says.The launch of the new subscription plans comes as Audible is facing growing competition from Spotify, which launched audiobooks in 2022 and has bundled the format with music and podcasts as part of its own Premium subscription. Spotify said last October that the number of users listening to audiobooks rose 36% over the past year, and listening hours increased 37%. Additionally, it noted that more than half of Spotify’s 281 million premium subscribers have engaged with an audiobook.Techcrunch event Disrupt 2026: The tech ecosystem, all in one room Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $400.Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit 1,000+ founders and investors come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediatelyOffer ends March 13.San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026 REGISTER NOW Spotify recently hiked the price of its monthly subscription plan for the third time in three years, potentially opening the door to competitors like Audible. “By expanding our membership options, we’re maximizing access for lighter listeners while enabling publishers and creators to reach new audiences — a win-win that grows the entire audiobook category,” said Cynthia Chu, chief financial and growth officer at Audible, in a press release.Audible says early testing of the new plan showed strong member acquisition and retention rates, as testing in the United Kingdom and Australia showed that the plan drove a double-digit increase in new member sign-ups compared with previous offerings. With its expansion to new markets, the Standard plan is projected to bring in millions of new customers, the company says.Topics Apps, Audible, audiobooks, Media & Entertainment, Spotify Aisha Malik Consumer News Reporter Aisha is a consumer news reporter at TechCrunch. Prior to joining the publication in 2021, she was a telecom reporter at MobileSyrup. Aisha holds an honours bachelor’s degree from University of Toronto and a master’s degree in journalism from Western University. You can contact or verify outreach from Aisha by emailing aisha@techcrunch.com or via encrypted message at aisha_malik.01 on Signal.View Bio June 9 Boston, MA Actively scaling? Fundraising? Planning your next launch?TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 delivers tactical playbooks and direct access to 1,000+ founders and investors who are building, backing, and closing.Register by March 13 to save up to $300.REGISTER NOW Most Popular ChatGPT uninstalls surged by 295% after DoD deal Sarah Perez MyFitnessPal has acquired Cal AI, the viral calorie app built by teens Julie Bort The trap Anthropic built for itself Connie Loizos Why did Netflix back down from its deal to acquire Warner Bros?Anthony Ha India disrupts access to popular developer platform Supabase with blocking order Jagmeet Singh Jack Dorsey just halved the size of Block’s employee base — and he says your company is next Connie Loizos An accountant won a big jackpot on Kalshi by betting against DOGE Julie Bort Loading the next article Error loading the next article