Are you trying decide if Kindle Unlimited is the answer to all of your reading needs? This guide will help you determine if it’s right for you.
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What is Kindle Unlimited?
Simply put, Kindle Unlimited is a subscription platform that allows users to borrow books without a limited term or due date. This service is provided through Amazon and available to anyone with an Amazon account.
This service is not included in Amazon Prime and does not include a subscription to Comixology.
How does it work?
In order to use the service you need to have an Amazon account and either a Kindle or the Kindle app. This means that you do not have to buy any new equipment to use the service. You can access the free app from your phone or tablet if you do not already own a physical Kindle.
Through the app you simply browse through their vast library and pick a book, audiobook, or magazine to enjoy. You can keep up to 20 books at a time before returning any. That should definitely keep you busy!
In order to use audiobooks you will also need an account with Audible.
How much is Kindle Unlimited?
You can give Kindle Unlimited a test run with a 30 day free trial.
If you’re ready to commit you can start with an account for $4.99 for the first two months followed by $11.99 a month after that.
If you want audiobooks that’s going to cost you a little extra. The mandatory Audible account also starts with a free 30 day trial but will then cost you $7.95 a month for Plus or $14.95 a month for Premium Plus.
What is on Kindle Unlimited?
Here’s the big question, what is actually available to read?
This huge library offers every genre you could think of. They have fiction from fantasy to historical, horror, sci fi, LGBTQ, YA, and even comic books. Nonfiction including science, memoirs, and even cookbooks. They boast of having more than 4 million books to choose from, certainly you’ll be able to find something that fits your taste.
In addition to novels and traditional books they also offer audiobooks and magazines (such as Time or Food Network) all under the same monthly fee.
Popular series that are available include Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, as well as popular classics such as A Handmaid’s Tale and 1984. You can even find a lot of indie and self published books that I’ve reviewed here such as Hell, South Carolina or Lost Touch.
How to cancel Kindle Unlimited?
If you decide that the subscription is no longer what you’re looking for Amazon makes it easy to cancel. Simply go to your account and click on “Manage your Kindle Unlimited membership.” From there select “manage membership” and then “cancel Kindle Unlimited membership.” You can choose what date you would like your subscription to end.
What’s the difference between Unlimited and Prime Reading?
Amazon offers various ways to read a ton of books. Remember, they actually started as a humble online book retailer!
Kindle Unlimited is a monthly subscription with their largest selection of all kinds of books. Prime Reading is included with a Prime membership but has a far more limited selection.
Unlimited allows 20 books at a time and has over 4 million titles.
Prime allows 10 books at a time and only has about 3,000 titles. However, a Prime account also comes with other services like free shipping, Prime video and music, and cloud storage.
In addition to these two options Amazon now also has Great on Kindle specifically for nonfiction books. This program makes digital nonfiction books much cheaper than traditional hard copies.
Is Kindle Unlimited worth it?
For many readers the answer is yes. The average price of a new book costs between $13 and $20 so the monthly cost of a subscription of $11.99 would easily pay for itself with one or two books a month. If you read more than that it could be well worth the cost.
Now, of course, a library is fully free and there are a lot of other places that you can get books for free online. However, these options often include wait times, return due dates, and more limited options. If you want to read a lot of books and have a ton of options then it’s at least worth trying the free trial.
Readers who criticise the Unlimited service say that they’re unsatisfied with the reading options. Many claim that the bulk of those 4 million titles are low quality self-published books and that they’re frustrated by the lack of new releases. As with any subscription service there are going to be a few lacking features. I suggest checking out the library and deciding for yourself.
In full honesty, I don’t actually use this service. I used to and I liked it. However, since I run a whole darn website about books I have way more than I can keep up with. For my particular circumstances, it’s not actually worth the monthly fee. However, for most avid readers who just read for fun this is a great way to gain access to seemingly endless reading material.
This was super helpful! I’ve been wanting a kindle because I’ve been doing a lot of reading on my phone. I know when you buy a kindle they have the option for kindle unlimited. I’ve been seeing a lot of books I want to read on there (seems a been overwhelming) I’d probably take advantage of the free trial at first, probably wouldn’t pay for it.
I love my kindle, I like the screen that doesn’t look like a phone or tablet screen. Seems to be better for eye strain. Hope you enjoy the free trial!
Yeah, that’s the main reason I’ve been wanting one cause at the end of the day it’s still me reading on my phone. I want to eliminate that eye strain.
Great guide, I’ve often wondered about Kindle Unlimited. I still prefer physical copies of books, but I do use a Kindle for when I’m travelling or on holiday.