We Broke Up With Audible (And What We Use Instead)
If you’re anything like us, your “to be read” pile grows faster than your free time.
Between work, kids, running a business, laundry, dishes, and all the little things that fill a day, finding hours to sit down with a physical book can feel impossible. That’s why audiobooks have become one of our favorite ways to read.
Whether we’re driving to work, cleaning the kitchen, folding laundry, or taking a walk, audiobooks help us fit more stories into our lives.
For years, we used Audible.
But recently, we made a switch.
please note there will likely be affiliate links in these blogs, thank you for supporting our little shop!
Why We Left Audible
First, let’s be clear: Audible works. We never had major complaints about the listening experience.
The app is easy to use, the audiobook selection is massive, and it’s introduced us to countless stories.
But as owners of an independent bookstore, we started asking ourselves a simple question:
If we believe independent bookstores matter, shouldn’t our audiobook purchases support them too?
The more we thought about it, the harder it became to ignore.
We spend our days encouraging readers to shop local, discover indie bookstores, and support the literary communities they love. Yet our audiobook spending was going elsewhere.
Eventually, we decided it was time for a change.
What We Use Instead: Libro.fm
Today, we use Libro.fm for nearly all of our audiobook listening.
The experience is remarkably similar to Audible. You purchase audiobooks, listen through an app, and build your personal library.
The difference?
When you buy audiobooks through Libro.fm, your purchase supports an independent bookstore.
That means your monthly audiobook habit can help keep local bookstores thriving.
For us, that was a game changer.
Why We Love Libro.fm
It Supports Independent Bookstores
This was the biggest reason we switched.
Every audiobook purchase helps strengthen the independent bookstore community that we care so much about.
The App Is Easy to Use
One of our concerns was whether we’d be giving up convenience.
Thankfully, we haven’t found that to be the case.
The app is simple, clean, and easy to navigate.
The Selection Is Excellent
Most of the books we wanted were already available.
From bestselling fiction and romance to memoirs, mysteries, and literary fiction, we haven’t felt limited in our choices.
We Still Get to Read More
At the end of the day, the reason we listen to audiobooks hasn’t changed.
They allow us to experience more stories during seasons of life when sitting down with a physical book isn’t always possible.
Do Audiobooks Count as Reading?
This debate pops up in the book world all the time.
Our answer is simple:
Yes.
Reading isn’t a competition.
The goal isn’t to impress anyone with how many books you’ve finished or what format you used.
The goal is to experience stories, learn new ideas, connect with characters, and enjoy books.
If audiobooks help you do that, they count.
When We Listen to Audiobooks
Most of our listening happens during everyday moments:
- Morning commutes
- School pickup lines
- Walks around the neighborhood
- Folding laundry
- Cleaning the house
- Long road trips
- Quiet afternoons by the pool
Those little pockets of time add up surprisingly fast.
Final Thoughts
Breaking up with Audible wasn’t about finding a better app.
It was about finding an option that aligned more closely with our values.
As readers and independent bookstore owners, we wanted our audiobook purchases to support the kinds of places we love.
For us, Libro.fm has been the perfect fit.
If you’ve been curious about audiobooks or looking for an alternative to Audible, it may be worth exploring.
You might discover your next favorite book—and support an independent bookstore at the same time.
Use code SWITCH to get two free audios!
note this is an affiliate blog and our one bookstore does make profit share from ordered links. Thanks for shopping our little store!
Happy listening,
Paper & Vine
