As someone who relies heavily on audio platforms to get through long commutes and winding chores, Spotify has always been my go-to—mainly for music and podcasts. But in recent months, I’ve leaned increasingly on their audiobooks offering, which until now, granted Premium users 15 hours of listening time per month. That limitation has often left me just short of finishing a book or exploring more than one title at a time.
Spotify seems to have anticipated this pinch point. They’ve now introduced an Audiobooks+ add-on, which effectively doubles the available audiobook listening time. It started as a pilot in Ireland and Canada and is now rolling out more broadly across Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. From my perspective, this expansion shows that Spotify is taking audiobook consumption more seriously, not just as an experimental add-on but as a viable part of their ecosystem.
What makes this addition even more compelling is that it integrates directly into existing Premium accounts—specifically for Individual and Plan members. For an additional fee, which is £9 in the UK (roughly $12), you get another 15 hours on top of your base allowance. For people like me who frequently find themselves rationing out listening hours, this is a welcome, if not overdue, enhancement.
Subscription Structure and Flexibility
Interestingly, for those using Premium Family ($20/month) or Duo ($17/month) plans, the responsibility to activate Audiobooks+ falls on the plan manager. They’re also offered a one-time top-up of 10 hours, which feels like a thoughtful nod to flexibility, though I’d personally prefer more automated options.
In the U.S., Spotify already offers a standalone Audiobooks Access plan, which isn’t bundled with Premium and includes ads in other media formats. While that feels like a slightly fragmented offering, the unified approach of Audiobooks+ under Premium could streamline the experience for global users once it’s available stateside. Spotify has confirmed that a U.S. rollout is on the horizon, though exact pricing remains to be seen.
This new direction aligns with what I see as a broader push by Spotify to diversify and retain user engagement. While it doesn’t revolutionize the platform, it definitely makes the audiobook experience more accessible—and for a multitasker like me, that counts.
