How to Cancel Your Audible Membership | Follow These Steps

Audiobooks are a great way to enjoy stories without needing to read. Whether you’re commuting or relaxing, they make it easy to listen to your favorite books. But sometimes, you might want to cancel Audible membership if it no longer suits your needs.

Audible, owned by Amazon, offers a huge library of audiobooks, podcasts, and exclusive content. In this guide, you’ll learn how to cancel your membership, explore other options, and find answers to common questions about canceling Audible.

Understanding Your Audible Membership

Before diving into the cancellation process, let’s break down what an Audible membership entails. Understanding the features and benefits of your subscription will help you make an informed decision about whether to cancel, pause, or modify your membership.

Types of Audible Memberships

Audible offers two primary membership plans, each catering to different listening habits and preferences:

1. Audible Plus: This plan provides unlimited access to the Audible Plus Catalog, which includes thousands of audiobooks, podcasts, and Audible Originals. It’s ideal for voracious listeners who enjoy a wide variety of content.
2. Audible Premium Plus: This plan offers everything in Audible Plus, plus one or two credits per month (depending on the specific plan) to purchase any title from the Audible Premium Plus Catalog. This option is great for those who want access to the latest bestsellers and new releases.

Key Benefits and Features

Audible memberships come with several perks that make them attractive to audiobook enthusiasts:

• Access to a vast library of audiobooks, ranging from classics to contemporary bestsellers
• 30% discount on additional audiobook purchases beyond your monthly credits
• Exclusive access to Audible Originals, content created specifically for the platform
• Offline listening capabilities, allowing you to download content and listen without an internet connection
• Multi-device synchronization, so you can seamlessly switch between your phone, tablet, and computer

What Happens to Your Audiobooks After Cancellation?

It’s a common concern among Audible members: will you lose your audiobooks if you cancel? The good news is that any audiobooks you’ve purchased or acquired with credits remain yours even after cancellation. You’ll be able to access these titles through the Audible app or website indefinitely. However, you’ll lose access to the Audible Plus Catalog and any unused credits, so it’s important to use them before canceling.

Before You Hit That Cancel Button

Before proceeding with cancellation, it’s worth taking a moment to consider your options and the implications of ending your membership.

Weighing the Pros and Cons

Let’s break down the advantages and disadvantages of keeping your Audible membership:

Pros of keeping your membership:

• Regular access to new audiobooks, ensuring you always have fresh content
• Member discounts on additional purchases, saving you money in the long run
• Exclusive content not available elsewhere, including Audible Originals
• The convenience of a curated listening experience

Cons:

• Monthly fees that may not be justified if you’re not using the service regularly
• Accumulating unused credits if you’re not selecting new titles each month
• Potential overwhelm from the vast selection, leading to decision fatigue

Alternative Options to Consider

Before canceling outright, consider these alternatives that might better suit your current needs:

1. Pausing your membership: Audible allows you to pause your membership for up to 3 months. This option is perfect if you need a temporary break or want to catch up on your existing library.
2. Switching to a different plan: You might find a lower-tier plan more suitable. For example, if you’re not using your credits but still enjoy the Plus Catalog, switching to Audible Plus could be a good option.

Timing Your Cancellation

To maximize benefits, consider canceling near the end of your billing cycle. This strategic timing allows you to:

• Use any remaining credits
• Enjoy member benefits for the full period you’ve paid for
• Download any content from the Audible Plus Catalog you want to listen to in the near future

Step-by-Step Cancellation Guide

If you’ve decided that canceling is the right choice for you, here’s a detailed guide on how to do it through various methods.

Through the Audible Website

Canceling through the Audible website is often the most straightforward method:

1. Log in to your Audible account at audible.com
2. Click on your name in the top right corner of the page
3. Select “Account Details” from the dropdown menu
4. Scroll down and click on “Cancel membership”
5. Follow the prompts to confirm your cancellation

Pro tip: During the cancellation process, Audible may offer incentives to stay, such as discounted rates or extra credits. Consider these offers carefully before finalizing your cancellation, as they might provide better value than canceling outright.

Using the Audible Mobile App

Those who primarily use Audible on their mobile devices can cancel directly through the app:

For iOS devices:

1. Open the Audible app on your iPhone or iPad
2. Tap the “Profile” icon in the bottom right corner
3. Select “Account Settings”
4. Tap “Cancel membership”
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process

For Android devices:

1. Open the Audible app on your Android phone or tablet
2. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner
3. Select “My Account”
4. Tap “Cancel membership”
5. Follow the prompts to finalize your cancellation

Canceling Through Amazon

Since Audible is an Amazon company, you can also manage your subscription through your Amazon account:

1. Go to Amazon.com and log in to your account
2. Hover over “Accounts & Lists” in the top right corner
3. Click on “Memberships & Subscriptions”
4. Find Audible in the list of your active subscriptions
5. Click “Cancel subscription” next to the Audible membership
6. Confirm your cancellation when prompted

Contacting Audible Customer Support

If you encounter issues with the above methods or prefer personal assistance, contacting Audible customer support is a reliable option:

1. Visit the Audible Help page (help.audible.com)
2. Click on “Contact Us” at the bottom of the page
3. Choose your preferred contact method (phone, chat, or email)
4. Explain to the representative that you wish to cancel your membership
5. Follow their instructions to complete the cancellation process

Customer support can also help if you have specific questions about your account or need assistance with any part of the cancellation process.

Post-Cancellation Checklist

After successfully canceling your membership, there are a few important steps to take:

• Confirm your cancellation via email: Audible should send you a confirmation email. Keep this for your records.
• Download any audiobooks you want to keep: While your purchased books will remain accessible, it’s a good idea to download any you plan to listen to soon.
• Use any remaining credits: Credits typically expire 30 days after cancellation, so use them before they’re gone.
• Note the date your benefits will end: This is usually at the end of your current billing cycle.
• Review your library: Familiarize yourself with what content you’ll retain access to after your membership ends.

Alternatives to Full Cancellation

If you’re not quite ready to fully cancel your membership, Audible offers some flexibility in managing your subscription.

Pausing Your Membership

Audible allows you to pause your membership for up to 3 months, which can be a great middle-ground solution.

Pros of pausing:

• Temporary break from membership fees
• Retain your accumulated credits and member benefits
• Ability to “pause” your subscription up to 3 times per year

Cons of pausing:

• Limited to a maximum of 3 months at a time
• Can only be used once per 12-month period
• You won’t earn new credits during the pause period

To pause your membership:

1. Go to your Account Details page
2. Look for the “Pause membership” option
3. Choose the duration you want to pause (1, 2, or 3 months)
4. Confirm your selection

Downgrading Your Plan

Another option is downgrading your Audible membership to a lower-tier plan. This can help you maintain access to Audible’s library while reducing your monthly costs.

Available options for downgrading include:

1. Switching from Premium Plus to Plus: This removes the monthly credit but keeps access to the Plus Catalog.
2. Changing from an annual to a monthly plan: This provides more flexibility and lower upfront costs.

To downgrade:

1. Go to your Account Details page
2. Look for “Switch membership”
3. Review the available plans and select the one that suits you
4. Confirm your new plan selection

Refund Policies and Fine Print

Understanding Audible’s refund policies can save you money and prevent unexpected charges. Here’s what you need to know:

Membership Fee Refunds

Audible typically doesn’t offer refunds on membership fees for time periods that have already passed. However, they may make exceptions in certain circumstances, such as:

• Technical issues that prevented you from using the service
• Accidental renewal of an annual membership
• Other extenuating circumstances (at Audible’s discretion)

If you believe you’re entitled to a refund, contact Audible customer support to discuss your situation.

Unused Credit Refunds

Unused credits are not refundable in cash, but they remain valid for a limited time after cancellation:

• Credits from monthly memberships expire 30 days after cancellation
• Credits from annual memberships expire 1 year from the date they were issued

It’s best to use these credits before they expire, as they cannot be recovered once lost.

Gift Membership and Gift Card Policies

Gift memberships and gift cards are generally non-refundable. However, if you’ve received a gift membership and wish to cancel, you may be able to convert the remaining value to Audible credits or an Amazon gift card. Contact customer support for assistance with this process.

Life After Audible

Leaving Audible doesn’t mean giving up on audiobooks. There are several alternatives available, each with its own unique features:

1. Libby by OverDrive: This app allows you to borrow audiobooks for free through your local library. It’s a great option if you have a library card and don’t mind potential wait times for popular titles.
2. Scribd: A subscription service that offers unlimited access to a wide range of audiobooks, ebooks, and magazines for a monthly fee. It’s a good Audible alternative if you’re a heavy consumer of various types of content.
3. Kobo Audiobooks: This platform uses a pay-per-book model with no subscription required. It’s ideal if you prefer to purchase audiobooks outright without ongoing fees.
4. Google Play Books: Google’s platform offers audiobooks for purchase, often at competitive prices. It’s a good option if you’re already invested in the Google ecosystem.
5. Apple Books: For iOS users, Apple Books provides an audiobook store integrated with other Apple services. It’s convenient if you primarily use Apple devices.

Here’s a comparison table of these Audible alternatives:

Platform	Subscription Model	Library Size	Unique Features
Libby	Free with library card	Varies by library	Borrow ebooks and audiobooks
Scribd	Monthly subscription	1 million+ titles	Includes ebooks and magazines
Kobo	Pay-per-book	100,000+ audiobooks	No subscription required
Google Play Books	Pay-per-book	200,000+ audiobooks	Integrated with Google services
Apple Books	Pay-per-book	100,000+ audiobooks	Seamless iOS integration

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with a straightforward process, you might encounter some hurdles when trying to cancel your Audible membership. Here are some common issues and how to resolve them:

“Why Can’t I Cancel My Audible Membership?”

If you’re having trouble canceling, it could be due to one of these reasons:

• An active gift membership: Gift memberships often can’t be canceled until they expire.
• Technical glitches: Sometimes, the cancellation button may not appear due to website or app issues.
• Restrictions on your account: In rare cases, there might be account-specific restrictions preventing cancellation.

In these cases, contacting Audible support directly is your best bet. They can help you identify the issue and find a solution.

Removing Auto-Pay Settings

To ensure you’re not charged after cancellation, it’s important to remove Audible auto pay settings:

1. Go to your Account Details page on Audible.com
2. Click on “Change” next to your payment method
3. Select “Remove” to stop automatic payments

If you signed up through iTunes or Google Play, you’ll need to manage your subscription through those platforms instead.

Dealing with Unexpected Charges

If you notice unexpected charges after cancellation:

1. Check your cancellation confirmation email to verify the effective date of your cancellation
2. Review your Amazon payment settings to ensure Audible isn’t still listed as an active subscription
3. Contact Audible support immediately if you believe you’ve been charged in error

Keep in mind that if you cancel mid-billing cycle, you might still see a charge for that period, as cancellations typically take effect at the end of the current billing cycle.

Conclusion

Canceling your Audible membership is a straightforward process, but it’s important to consider all your options before making a final decision. Whether you choose to cancel, pause, or downgrade, make sure it aligns with your listening habits, budget, and overall content consumption preferences.

Remember, the world of audiobooks extends far beyond Audible. Explore alternatives, make use of free resources like public libraries, and keep enjoying the magic of storytelling in audio form. The right choice is the one that best fits your lifestyle and reading habits.

FAQs

To wrap up, let’s address some frequently asked questions about canceling Audible memberships:

What happens to my unused credits?

Unused credits typically expire 30 days after cancellation for monthly memberships, and one year from issue date for annual memberships. Use them before canceling if possible.

Will I lose access to my purchased audiobooks?

No, you retain access to all audiobooks you’ve purchased or acquired with credits. These remain in your Audible library indefinitely, even without an active membership.

How does cancellation affect my Amazon account?

Canceling Audible doesn’t affect your Amazon account; they’re separate services. Your Amazon account and any other Amazon subscriptions will remain active.

Can I get a refund for the remainder of my membership period?

Generally, Audible doesn’t provide prorated refunds for partially used membership periods. However, you can continue to use your benefits until the end of the current billing cycle.

What happens to my listening progress and bookmarks?

Your listening progress and bookmarks for purchased books are saved and will be available if you reactivate your membership or access your books through the Audible app.

By following this comprehensive guide, you’ll be well-equipped to manage your Audible membership effectively, ensuring you get the most out of your audiobook experience, whether that’s with Audible or another platform. Happy listening!