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Spotify’s 30-hour audiobook plans leave long-book listeners unsatisfied

Spotify has introduced 30-hour audiobook add-ons for Premium users, doubling the previous 15-hour monthly limit. These add-ons cater to individual, Duo, and Family plan managers, offering more flexibility for audiobook fans. But the core issue remains: 30 hours simply isn’t enough for those who prefer epic-length titles. Popular books like The Way of Kings or The Eye of the World exceed this limit, making it impossible to finish them within one month’s allocation. For binge listeners or fans of long-form storytelling, Spotify’s current model falls short—especially when compared to platforms that offer full-book ownership.

How Spotify 30-hour audiobook plans compare to Audible

While Spotify’s new offering allows subscribers to automatically roll over into a higher listening tier, it lacks one major perk: permanent ownership. Competing services like Audible let users buy and keep a book each month, regardless of length. With Spotify, even if you pay extra, you’re essentially renting time rather than owning content. Also frustrating is the inability for Premium users to purchase included audiobooks outright. This limitation restricts both listener freedom and direct support for authors, something many users expect from a premium-tier subscription.

Where Spotify 30-hour audiobook plans are available

Currently, Spotify’s 30-hour audiobook add-ons are only accessible in select regions such as the UK, Australia, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. US users still rely on one-time 10-hour top-ups for $12.99. Pricing varies, but UK listeners, for instance, pay £8.99 for the add-on—almost doubling the monthly cost of an individual Premium plan. Spotify says it will expand the offering to other countries, including the U.S., but no timeline has been confirmed. The automatic top-up model aims to reduce friction for audiobook enthusiasts, though it’s still not a complete solution.

Why Spotify’s audiobook strategy still feels incomplete

Spotify’s audiobook strategy shows promise, but it’s clearly designed around casual listeners who might enjoy a few short titles monthly. For more serious audiobook fans, the platform’s limitations are glaring. Lack of ownership, inflexible time-based plans, and limited availability hinder Spotify’s ability to compete directly with Audible or other dedicated audiobook services. While the company does pay authors better, the inability to support them through purchases undermines this benefit. Until Spotify offers more generous or user-friendly options, its audiobook expansion may continue to frustrate its most avid readers.