The current subscription service remains the same, but Amazon has rebranded Kindle Unlimited as Kindle+ and included a larger selection of audiobooks. The change gives US readers more listening options without having to sign up for a separate Kindle+ membership.
What is Kindle+ ?
Amazon has changed the name of its Kindle Unlimited subscription to Kindle+. Members without a Kindle device can borrow eligible eBooks and audiobooks for a monthly fee.
The service is available through the Kindle app and Kindle e-readers. No, you do not have to be an Amazon Prime member.
Per the Kindle Direct Publishing documentation from Amazon, Kindle+ includes eligible audiobooks in its digital book catalog.
What’s the difference between Kindle Unlimited and Kindle+ ?
But the biggest change is not the fundamental subscription model, but the broader selection of audiobooks.
Kindle Unlimited used to have a limited selection of audiobooks. Kindle+ opens up access to more eligible titles, including books narrated with Amazon’s Virtual Voice technology.
Amazon previously published the subscription price for the United States at $11.99 per month. Current members will retain their subscriptions, reading history, saved books and billing arrangements as evidenced in publicly shared customer communications. Subscribers should check their Amazon accounts for the current price.
Kindle+ adds AI narration to its audiobook selection
Amazon’s audiobook push includes eligible books published via Kindle Direct Publishing and ACX.
Some titles are narrated using Amazon’s synthetic narration technology, Virtual Voice. This allows participating publishers to offer audio editions without traditional studio recordings.
Kindle+ doesn’t give you unlimited access to the whole Audible audiobook catalog, but the expansion is a win for subscribers, who now have more options to listen to.
Amazon also has new royalty documentation that includes qualifying listening activity, creating a new potential source of subscription earnings for participating authors.
Is Kindle+ Worth It
Kindle + might be more cost effective for those who check out multiple books or listen to audiobooks on a regular basis.
At the current rate of $11.99 a month, this comes out to a full-year price of $143.88 before tax. Readers that buy eBooks on an irregular basis may find their expenditures lower when purchasing single titles.
This depends on whether the subscription catalog has preferred books and audiobooks.
What You Need to Know Now as a Subscriber
Kindle+ is a replacement, not a competitor, to Kindle Unlimited. Existing subscribers generally do not need to register again.
The biggest change for readers is the increased audiobook catalog. The value of the feature will depend on the availability of titles, the quality of the narration and how frequently subscribers use the listening feature.
Amazon has added additional details to the Kindle+ documentation about what publishers are involved and what content is eligible.