Buzz
As the leading platform for audiobooks, Audible has a wealth of features that many users overlook, even after countless hours of listening. Discover how to maximize your Audible experience and uncover ways to save money along the way.
Sign Up for the Exclusive Silver Membership to Cut Costs
Audible allows you to purchase audiobooks directly, but its subscription model, priced at $15 per month, offers a free book credit each month. For avid listeners, this is a great value. However, if you can make a single audiobook last longer than a month, there’s a way to save. Audible offers a lesser-known Silver plan, which costs $15 every two months. While you still receive one credit per renewal, this plan is ideal if six books a year suffice for your needs.
The Silver plan isn’t publicly advertised, and you can’t enroll without specifically requesting it. To access Audible Silver, visit this support link. Under the first section, select My Account. In the next section, choose “Change or cancel my membership” from the first dropdown and “Upgrade/downgrade my membership” from the second. This ensures you connect with the right support agent. You can then reach out via chat, phone, or email. Note that since Silver isn’t a promoted plan, approval isn’t guaranteed, but Audible is generally flexible.
Pause Your Membership to Preserve Unused Credits for Later
If there’s a gap between new releases of your favorite books or you’re too busy to listen, it’s helpful to avoid paying for credits you aren’t using. Canceling your subscription outright means losing your credits, but Audible provides an alternative. Before you cancel, they’ll offer the option to temporarily suspend your account.
Audible permits you to pause your account once annually for up to three months. During this period, you retain access to your library, can use existing credits, and enjoy store discounts. However, no new credits will be issued. This feature is perfect for taking a short break or saving money temporarily.
Leverage Amazon Matchmaker to Find WhisperSync-Compatible Upgrades
WhisperSync is one of Amazon’s standout features, bridging Audible and Kindle. When you own both the ebook and audiobook versions of a title, you can seamlessly switch between them. For instance, listen to a few chapters during your commute, then continue reading on your Kindle before bed. However, you’ll need to purchase both formats to enjoy this feature.
Amazon Matchmaker can analyze your Kindle library to identify books with corresponding audiobooks. Visit this link and log into your Amazon account. It will automatically search your Kindle library, locate matching audiobooks, and display discounted prices. Note that this method doesn’t allow the use of Audible credits, but you might not need to. Since purchasing the audiobook version of an ebook you already own comes with a discount, it’s often wiser to save your credits for pricier audiobooks without discounts.
Adjust the Skip Interval for Back and Forward Buttons
The Audible app features a convenient button that lets you skip backward or forward in 30-second increments. However, you can customize this interval in the app’s settings. To modify these buttons, open the menu, tap Settings, and select Playback Settings. Here, you’ll find separate options to adjust the Jump Back and Jump Forward intervals, ranging from one second to five minutes.
Opt for Higher Quality Downloads for Enhanced Audio
By default, Audible downloads audiobooks in the lower (“Standard”) quality. While this is often sufficient, some audiobooks feature high production values, including music and professional voiceovers. For these, you may prefer the enhanced audio experience of higher quality downloads.
To access higher quality audio, navigate to the settings in the Audible app, select Download Settings, and then tap Download Format. Choose “High Quality” from the options. If your audiobook is already downloaded, you may need to delete and re-download it to upgrade to the better version. Be aware that higher quality files are larger, so ensure your device has sufficient storage.
Automatically Resume Playback When Headphones Are Reconnected
Audible, like many audio apps, pauses playback when headphones are unplugged. However, you can configure it to resume automatically when headphones are reconnected. This feature is ideal for scenarios like briefly unplugging your phone in the car or accidentally disconnecting your headphones. To activate it, go to Audible’s settings, tap Headset & Lockscreen Settings, and enable the “Resume Playback” toggle.
