Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers can now access audiobooks from the Audible library.

Amazon has intensified competition with Spotify in the audiobook sector. Starting today, Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada have access to a library of over a million Audible audiobooks. Both individual subscribers and holders of the main account in family plans can listen to one audiobook per month at no additional cost, along with their ad-free music and podcasts.

However, Amazon is careful not to undermine Audible’s business. The latter offers, through its Premium Plus subscription, a range of on-demand content, in addition to a credit for one audiobook per month. This credit allows users to obtain a title permanently, even if they cancel the plan. In contrast, Amazon Music Unlimited's strategy resembles that of a library: it allows users to "borrow" one audiobook from the Audible catalogue at a time. Users can enjoy the book as much as they want during the month, and at the beginning of the next billing cycle, they can either choose another title or repeat the same audiobook for another month. For those who need more than one audiobook per month, there is the option to subscribe to Audible or purchase audiobooks individually.

Additionally, Amazon is offering new Music Unlimited subscribers three months of free access. The normal cost of Amazon Music Unlimited is $10 per month or $99 per year for Prime members, while for other users it is $11 monthly.

Last year, Spotify launched an option for its Premium subscribers that allows for 15 hours of audiobooks per month at no additional cost, although this is not sufficient to complete works like The Lord of the Rings. An exclusive audiobook plan was also introduced, offering 15 hours of listening for $10 per month, which is only one dollar less than the cost of a Premium plan that includes many more features.