Libro FM vs Audible: Which Is Your Best Option

Part 1. Libro FM vs Audible: What You Should Know

Founded in 1995 as a subsidiary of Amazon, Audible has become the world's largest online audiobook and podcast platform. Users can subscribe to its over 470k audiobook resources or trade-in credits or money to get the audiobook ownership. You can play Audible books on iOS, Android, desktop, and even Amazon electronic products due to its relation with Amazon.

Libro FM, founded in 2014, is regarded as an alternative to Audible, which offers audiobook resources only. This audiobook platform is prevalent with its clean interface and clear operation. Likewise Audible, and Libro. fm users can start a membership to play its over 450k audiobooks or buy the audiobook ownership with credits and money.

Part 2. Libro FM vs Audible: A Comprehensive Comparison

What are the differences between the two platforms and how to choose the best one? In this part, I will make an Audible vs Libro. fm comparison from their pricing plan, resources, the ownership of audiobooks, audio quality, compatibility, and advanced support for your reference.

	Audible	Libro FM
Monthly Price	$7.95(Plus without Credit) $14.95(Premium Plus with 1 Credit) $22.95(Premium Plus with 2 Credits)	$14.99(1 Credit Plan) $23.99(2 Credits Plan)
Audiobooks	470k+	450k+
Podcasts	Audible Originals	❌
Compatibility	Play with Audible or other authorized devices and apps only.	Play downloaded audiobooks on any device without limitation.
Offline Playing	✔	✔
Supported Devices	iOS/Android/Desktop /Amazon Alexa	iOS/Android/Desktop
Audio Quality	Up to 128 kbps	Superior Audio Quality
Ownership	Purchased books can be played forever.	Purchased books can be played forever.
Advanced Support	Car Mode/Sleep Mode /Connect Waze	Car Mode/Sleep Mode /Connect Waze

1. Pricing Plan & Membership Benefits

Audible and Libro FM both offer credits and a 30% discount for their members to redeem audiobooks. However, there still exists some slight differences between their pricing plan and membership benefits.

Generally, Audible is cheaper and flexible than the Libro.fm. Audible offers 2 subscription plans, the Audible Plus and the Audible Premium Plus members. If you have no demands to buy audiobooks, the Audible Plus member is the most suitable for you. If you like to purchase audiobooks, Audible still offers a cheaper subscription plan with credits, as Audible Premium Plus costs $22.95 with 2 credits per month, and the Libro FM subscription plan costs $23.99 with 2 credits per month.

Besides, you can buy additional credits on Libro.fm without limitation, while Audible only allows users who are paid Audible Premium Members over 30 days and have less than 2 credits in their account to buy 3 credits at once. Additionally, Audible credits have an expiration date while Libro.fm credits can be used forever.

Audible vs Libro.fm Pricing: Audible Wins.

2. Content Resources

Can you find what you want to play on the audiobook platform? With 470k+ audiobooks on Audible and 450k+ audiobooks on Libro.fm, you can find most of your demands on the two platforms. While some audiobooks are Audible exclusive, you can only play them on the Audible. Moreover, Audible provides many podcasts to enrich your listening experience. As for Libro. fm, it features in working with the local bookstores and itself doesn't hold any exclusive audiobook copyright. So all its resources are accessible to other platforms. Actually, Libro.fm regards Audible Exclusives as an access barrier and doesn't support it.

When it comes to audiobook recommendations, Libro. fm is actually more attractive than the Audible. It offers 3 clubs featured with children, young adults, and romance fiction lovers, like a monthly on-sale collection. Besides, its Bookseller Picks section displays many worth-to-listen-to audiobooks suggested by booksellers. While Audible's recommendations are relatively typical.

Libro.fm vs Audible Content Resources: Audible Wins.

3. Audiobook Ownership

Subscription to Audible and Libro. fm gives you access to resources on the two platforms like you borrow books from them. Once your subscription has expired, you cannot play the audiobooks anymore. Fortunately, Audible and Libro. fm allows you to buy audiobooks. Once you buy the audiobooks, you can play them whatever you want even though you are out of their member plans.

Libro.fm vs Audible in Audiobook Ownership: You own the purchased audiobooks in both Libro.fm and Audible forever.

4. Audio Quality

You must not want to hear some strange noise when emerging in interesting audiobooks. In this case, the audiobook's audio quality is an important consideration in choosing audiobook platforms.

While Audible offers High and Standard download quality on its app on the phone, you cannot adjust Libro. fm audio quality on its all channels. According to Libro.fm, it offers superior audio quality with 2x industry standard. However, some threads still complain that Libro has poor audio quality than Audible on the same audiobooks. Actually, during my testing, both of them sounds good on the same audiobook.

Libro.fm vs Audible Audio Quality: Both Audible and Libro. fm are good.

5. Compatibility

As many new electronic devices have been developed in recent years, many people may want to play different content on different devices. In this case, the compatibility of an audiobook platform is also an important factor when making a choice.

Talking about online playing on Audible and Libro.fm, Android, iPhone, and computers are basic supported devices. Besides, you can play Audible on Amazon Alexa by voice-activated, while you can only play Libro.fm audiobooks on Alexa via the Bluetooth connection. Additionally, some audiobooks with Whispersync for Voice icons support you in reading Kindle ebooks with Audible narration.

View also: How to Sync and Use Audible on Kindle Devices

However, the key difference between their compatibility is that Libro.fm allows you to download your purchased audiobook in DRM-free MP3 format on a computer, which can be played on any media player of your choice. While Audible only offers DRM-protected AA/AAX files that can only be played on the Audible player. From this aspect, Libro FM has a wider compatibility than the Audible.

Audible vs Libro FM Compatibility: Libro FM Wins.

Bonus Tip: Do you want to play Audible books on your MP3 player or other media player? Check Part 3 to unlock the top way!

6. Advanced Support

If you use phones to play audiobooks when you are driving or ready to sleep, the car mode and sleep mode are necessary. Thankfully, both Libro. fm and Audible support the 2 modes.

Except for the additional modes, Audible has many features. It will pause the playing audiobook automatically when you transfer to another app also playing audio. This feature is convenient when you have a sudden phone call at the time you playing Audible. Besides, it offers several Audible badges to encourage you to play audiobooks. You can also check your listening history stats under its Achievement section on the app.

Although Libro. fm doesn't support the above Audible features, it also has exclusive features that Audible doesn't have. For example, on Libro.fm, you can custom audiobook tags on your library to manage your resources more flexibly.

Audible vs Libro.fm Advanced Support: Audible Wins.

7. Libro FM vs Audible: Pros and Cons Summary

From the Audible vs Libro FM comparison above, I make a summary of the pros and cons of Audible and Libro FM for your reference.

	Audible	Libro FM
Pros	- More audiobook resources with exclusive content - Better download audio quality - Cheaper subscription fees - Interesting Achievement system	- Support local bookstore development - Great audio quality - Featured audiobook recommendations - Purchased audiobooks are DRM-free to play on any player
Cons	- Audio files are DRM-protected - Unable to custom tags on library	- Cost more than Audible - No automatic pause when transferring to other apps

Audible vs Scribd Summary: Audible Wins.

Part 3. How to Play Audible Books on Other Players

Even though Audible only allows you to play all of its audiobooks on the authorized device and app, you can still play Audible books on any other players by removing its encrypted DRM protection.

The AudFree Audio Converter is a professional software to convert AA/AAX formats to MP3, M4A, M4B, WAV, AAC, and FLAC without DRM protection. In this case, you can play your Audible books on your MP3 player and other media players without limitation. This software also offers practical built-in tools to split long audio into small chapters, increase or decrease the volume, and keep and edit the original ID3 tags. Surprisingly, you can customize the audio quality to your needs.

Notice: Before converting with the AudFree Audible Book Downloader, you should download audiobooks from Audible. If you download the audiobooks on your Android or iPhone, remember to transfer them to your computer via the USB cable or sync Audible books to iTunes.

View also: How to Download Audible Books to Mac

How to Download Audible Books to PC

Step 1. Import Downloaded Audible Books

You can hit the second Add button at the bottom left to import from your local folder. Alternatively, you can click the first Add from iTunes button to import Audible books from your iTunes library.

Step 2. Define Output Format and Quality

Click the Speaker icon at the bottom right and you can select the output format as MP3, M4A, M4B, AAC, etc. Additionally, you can select Codec, Channel, Sample Rate, and Bit Rate to customize the audio quality. If you pursue lossless high-quality audio, please tickle the Keep lossless quality(AA, AAX) at the bottom.

Step 3. Export Audiobooks to Your Devices

You can hit the Convert button at the bottom right once all is set. The AudFree Audio Converter will export converted audio at a faster speed of 30X. Once converted, click the Folder icon a the bottom to locate the exported audio files. You can move the Audible books to your MP3 player or play them on any media player on your devices.

Part 4. FAQs on Libro FM and Audible

Q1: Is Libro.fm Legit?

A1: Yes. Libro.FM is a legit company with about 10 years. It allows you to buy audiobooks from your chosen local bookstores as a way to support the local economy and physical bookstores.

Q2: How Does Libro.fm Work?

A2: You can listen to Libro FM by starting a membership per month. In this way, you are unable to access your audiobook once your subscription has expired. Additionally, you can use the credits or money to buy audiobooks. Libro FM will give local bookstores a commission on each of your purchases to support them. You can download your purchased audiobook and play it on any device without DRM protection.

Q3: Does Libro.fm Have As Many Books As Audible?

A3: No. Libro. fm has over 450k audiobooks covering most of the bestsellers and new releases, which is fewer than Audible's over 470k titles. Besides, Audible offers exclusive audiobooks that only Audible users can play them.

Q4: What Is the Difference Between Audible and Libro?

A4: The key differences between Audible and Libro. fm are that Libro gives commission to local bookstores for each audiobook you buy on it and allows you to download DRM-free audiobooks once you buy them. Besides, Audible membership enjoys a higher discount when buying audiobooks.

Part 5. Conclusion

Libro FM vs Audible, which audiobook platforms do you prefer? In my opinion, the most attractive features of Libro. fm is that it gives some commissions to local bookstores on each of your purchases and allows you to download DRM-free audiobooks on your computer. However, you can also download DRM-free Audible books for personal use with the AudFree Audio Converter. If you choose Libro. fm because of this, you can consider Audible as a cheaper option with more comprehensive services.