Audible for Business has shut down: What’s the best alternative?

Audible for Business has shut down. What’s the best alternative for this business audiobook giant?

Audible for Business might have been a valuable asset for your enterprise. However, the platform closed two years ago.

The good news is that there are great alternatives to Audible’s business platform. This article will reveal the best option.

What was Audible for Business?

Audible is the largest producer and seller of audiobooks. The company’s content covers various topics, including education and entertainment. Audible is operated by Amazon, much like Kindle Unlimited, and both offer subscription models for users to access a select number of books for a monthly fee.

Several years after the release of Audible, more and more people started using the platform. The audience came from different spheres, but business customers made up a large chunk of Audible’s client base.

That’s why Amazon launched Audible for Business.

This software allowed organizations and their audiobook listeners to explore some of the most important business skills, including communication, mindset, and leadership. They were no longer restricted to Kindle or low-quality providers of free audiobooks.

To meet the increasing demand for business Audible audiobooks and podcasts, the app had to ensure a scalable local library for all users within an organization. They needed a robust database solution that would provide customers with many high-quality features.

For instance, Audible for Business wanted the administrators of their enterprise customers to maintain a set of end users. This would allow them to add and remove users from Audible for Business whenever necessary.

The database also had to offer scalability for complex relationship networks, seamless access to new releases, Audible Originals, and compatibility with Alexa.

A number of services met their requirements, but Amazon Neptune proved to be the best solution. A fast and reliable database service, it enables you to run and build apps in an optimized environment.

Most importantly, it allowed businesses with an Audible subscription to provide their customers with scalability at any time. If an enterprise client had thousands of users that belonged to various groups, they could set up specific permissions for each group for easier management.

Audible for Business was relatively successful for a certain period, but it shut down in June of 2021. If you were one of the users of this platform, you might be wondering, what happened to the titles you purchased before the closure?

Luckily, you can still log into your account and access the popular audiobooks in the playlist whenever you want. You get unlimited access to the books purchased under your monthly subscription service.

Why audiobooks for business are a good idea

Incorporating audiobooks into your business is a great idea for many reasons. Primarily, it can elevate your employees’ skills and boost team confidence. Audiobooks are also highly convenient, as your staff can listen to them while commuting or taking a lunch break. It’s easier for business-minded individuals to find new books and download audiobooks online compared to visiting local bookstores.

Here are some of the best audiobooks you can add to your organization from different platforms, like Spotify, Libro.FM, Audiobooks.com, Scribd, Kobo books, Chirp audiobooks.

The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Jim Huling and Sean Covey

You may have countless ideas as an entrepreneur. You might be considering breaking into another market or making organizational changes to boost productivity. Additionally, you could be looking to relocate your headquarters.

Here’s the problem – most of your ideas may fail if you don’t have the right execution plan. You can change this with The 4 Disciplines of Execution.

Two accomplished businessmen wrote this guide, offering their practical insights into executing ideas. It features feedback from many founders who’ve tried this tactic, which is a testament to the efficiency of the tips in this audiobook.

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg

If you’re looking for an accurate depiction of women in the workplace, Lean In is an excellent choice. It portrays the challenges women face in gender-biased companies. The author also addresses the family/work balance problem, which is the central issue in the life of many women.

This audiobook is six hours long, featuring profound takes on equal pay, feminism, glass ceilings, and other fascinating topics. It’s a thought-provoking business title and a must-have for entrepreneurs.

The Everything Store by Brad Stone

Making your employees more ambitious and motivated is one of your main goals as a business owner. There’s hardly a better way to achieve this than to have them read The Everything Store by Brad Stone.

The writer tells the story of how one of the richest men on the planet rose to prominence by selling books on the internet. He talks about Jeff Bezos’ relentless spirit, ambition and how he leveraged his strengths to build his empire.

This acclaimed book is a great resource for learning more about Amazon. It features stories by previous employees and family members’ previously kept secret from the public.

The biggest takeaway of the book is that you need a clear business vision to run a successful company.

Creativity, Inc by Ed Catmull

Ed Catmull, the creator of Pixar, and Amy Wallace, a best-selling author, tell the story of what building Pixar from scratch involved. They describe the victories, the struggles, and how working together is the recipe for success.

The writers provide insights into critical business aspects, such as innovations, leadership styles, communication, and team cohesion. Listen closely, and this audiobook can help take your management skills to the next level.

The best Audible alternatives for business

Here are some of the best alternatives to Audible books for business:

Libby

Developed by OverDrive, Libby allows users to borrow eBooks, audiobooks, and more from their local public library for free. The app has a sleek, user-friendly interface that helps you navigate through a vast collection of content with ease.

Hoopla

A digital media service offered by public libraries that allows users to borrow movies, music, audiobooks, eBooks, comics and TV shows. Hoopla boasts an extensive catalog of titles, offering a great alternative to Audible, with no waiting or holds required.

LibriVox

Known for its free public domain audiobooks read by volunteers from around the world, LibriVox is an ideal choice for those seeking classics and older works. The service offers access to a wide array of languages and a range of genres, but lacks the polished professional narrations found in paid services. Regardless, it is a limited but free alternative.

OverDrive

A widely-used platform providing access to eBooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines from local libraries and schools. Users can conveniently borrow titles on the OverDrive app, or by visiting the website and downloading them for offline use.

Chirp

Chirp offers a broad collection of audiobooks for purchase with no subscription fee. They offer "Deals of the Day", where selected audiobooks are available at a significant discount, making it a cost-effective alternative to subscription-based services.

Google Play Books

With Google Play Books, users can buy or rent audiobooks and listen to them across multiple devices. The platform also syncs your progress across devices, so you can pick up exactly where you left off, whether you're on your phone, tablet, computer, or e-reader.

Kobo

Kobo offers a selection of millions of titles across eBooks and audiobooks, including new releases and bestsellers. The platform also features expert reviews and recommendations, plus it allows users to earn points on every purchase which can be used for discounts.

eStories

eStories features a library of over 120,000 audiobooks, including bestsellers and new releases, offering a robust alternative to Audible for business. With no restrictions on devices and the ability to listen offline, it provides a flexible user experience.

Nook

Nook by Barnes & Noble provides access to a vast library of over 4 million eBooks, magazines, and newspapers, though it's more focused on written content than audio. However, Nook Audiobooks app offers a decent selection of audiobooks that can be purchased without any subscription.

Libro.FM

Libro.fm supports local independent bookstores with their audiobook platform, allowing users to choose which bookstore they would like to support with their purchases. They offer a vast selection of audiobooks across genres, with flexible membership options and DRM-free files.

Spotify

Known primarily for music, Spotify also offers a growing catalog of podcasts and audiobooks. While it does not have a dedicated audiobook section, it provides free access to a variety of audiobooks intermingled with its vast music and podcast library.

Audiobooks.com

Audiobooks.com is a subscription-based service providing access to over 250,000 titles, including bestsellers and new releases. It features offline listening and allows for bookmarks and notes, helping users to customize their listening experience.

Scribd

Scribd provides access to a vast library of eBooks, audiobooks, news, and magazines for a monthly subscription fee. The platform boasts unlimited access to their library, making it a unique value proposition for voracious readers and listeners.

Downpour

Downpour offers a vast selection of audiobooks for rental or purchase, with an optional subscription service for additional savings. This platform is known for DRM-free audiobooks, meaning users can listen to them on any device without restrictions.

Apple Books

Integrated into Apple's ecosystem, Apple Books offers a huge selection of audiobooks that can be purchased individually without a subscription. The platform seamlessly works across all Apple devices, syncing progress so you can switch between devices effortlessly.

Speechify Audiobooks

If you want to listen to one of the largest audiobook libraries online, then Speechify Audiobooks should be your number one choice to access your favorite audiobooks. This platform features books for business, along with other non-fiction, short stories, science fiction, and much more.

Let Speechify for business become your go-to audiobook service

Audible for Business is no longer available, but this doesn’t mean you should deprive your team of valuable resources. There are many Audible alternatives, like Libby’s library card model, Hoopla, LibriVox, OverDrive, Chirp, Google Play Books, Kobo, eStories, and Nook.

However, Speechify Audiobooks is by far your best option because it offers the only Business subscription available.

Speechify’s Audiobooks for Business runs a straightforward system—each user gets 12 audiobook credits per year, and one credit buys one book. After the 12 credits employees receive from their job have been redeemed, they can choose to order more on their own if they wish. It’s a simple method that eliminates the confusion associated with some other platforms.

Another excellent feature of this audiobook app is the vast library. It contains more than 70,000 best-selling audiobooks for businesses and includes user-friendly functionality. Some of the most popular titles include The Magic of Thinking Big, Extreme Ownership, Deep Purpose, Principles, and Building a Story Brand.

Check out Speechify Audiobooks for Businesses today on your computer, Android, or iOS devices (iPhone, iPad) and add it to your bookmarks. You can download the app from the Google Play and App Store.

FAQ

Is Audible discontinued?

Audible is not discontinued, but Audible for Business was discontinued on July 31, 2022.

What does the shutdown of Audible for Business mean?

The shutdown of Audible for Business means you need to find an alternative. Speechify’s audiobook business subscription is a remarkable feature that features a vast library and a user-friendly credit system.

How do I cancel my Audible account?

You can cancel your Audible Plus or Audible Premium Plus account or other accounts by navigating to your Account Details and tapping the Cancel Membership button. You can do so from your Mac, Windows PC, or smartphone.