What is an audiobook?
An audiobook is an audio recording of a book being read out loud. 
The narrator is sometimes the author but can also be a voice actor or celebrity.
Audiobooks offer a flexible option for people who want to listen to a book from their mobile phone or other device, while ‘on the go’, for example while commuting, exercising, or doing chores. They are also an accessible option for people who have visual impairments or for those who struggle to read physical books.
Whether fiction or non-fiction, audiobooks are a popular choice for their ability to bring stories and information to life through the added dimension of the narrator’s expression and tone of voice.
As well as audiobooks for recently published literature, there are various online libraries for audio versions of classic literature.
Where to listen to audiobooks
Most audiobook services feature a mobile app where you can buy, download and listen to audiobooks. Some apps offer audiobooks that you can listen to for free, whereas others require a paid subscription or a one-off payment for each book.
Some of the options are as follows:
- Libraries
Many public libraries offer free access to audiobooks through apps such as Libby (www.overdrive.com/apps/libby) or BorrowBox(www.borrowbox.com). You will need a valid library card/library membership information to activate this service via the app. Go to www.gov.uk/local-library-services to check if the service is available at your local library.
- Free ‘public domain’ audiobooks
Public domain books are books that do not have a copyright and are therefore free to access. A book is in the public domain in the UK if it has been at least 70 years since the author died.
There are various websites and apps where you can listen to public domain audiobooks for free, such as LibriVox (https://librivox.org) and Project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org/). Other sites such as Internet Archive (https://archive.org/ ) and Open Culture (www.openculture.com/freeaudiobooks) have collated lists/databases of free audiobooks available across a range of providers, including LibriVox and Project Gutenberg. There are also websites such as Storynory (www.storynory.com/) which specialises in free audiobooks for children.
- Subscriptions services and retailers
To access the most extensive collection of audiobooks, including recent titles, there are various subscription services and retailers to choose from:
- Audible - Owned by Amazon, Audible (www.audible.co.uk ) is one of the most popular platforms for listening to audio books. You can either buy each audiobook individually or set up a subscription (with a free trial) that includes a number of titles per month. There is also a library of public domain titles that can be listened to for free.
- Audiobooks.com - Like Audible, Audiobooks.com offers a free trial and then a subscription plan that includes credits for audiobooks each month. Despite its name being a URL, it also has an app where you can download and listen to your audiobooks.
- Spotify - While primarily a music streaming service, Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/) has a growing collection of audiobooks. Spotify has a free subscription option where users can listen to public domain audiobooks, and a paid subscription to access the full catalogue.
- Google Play Books/Apple Books – Google Play Books (https://play.google.com/store/books/category/audiobooks) is Google’s platform to buy individual books, which can be listened to on either Android or iOS (Apple) devices, while Apple Books (www.apple.com/uk/apple-books/) is Apple’s platform for iOS devices only, which also offers a wide range of audiobooks to buy and listen to.
How to download an audiobook
- Choose a platform (e.g., Audible, Apple Books, Libby).
- Create an account: Sign up if you don't already have an account. This usually involves registering with an email address and a password, and a payment method for paid services (credit/debit card details). Note- you can access Audible via the same login details as Amazon if you already have an Amazon account.
- Browse/search for a book: Use the search function to find a desired book.
- Buy/borrow: Click on the title and follow the prompts to buy or borrow.
- Download: After the transaction, click the 'Download' button.
- Listen: Open the downloaded book in the app and start listening.
For an in-depth guide to setting up Audible and buying an audiobook, Age UK have this guide (www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/digital-instruction-guides/a-guide-to-entertainment-and-hobbies-online.pdf)
Last updated August 2024