Is Kindle Unlimited Worth it?

I get asked about Kindle Unlimited a lot, especially because most of what I read does come from the KU program. I always swore I’d never convert to e-books, but I downloaded the Kindle app on a whim and have been obsessed ever since. After reading hundreds of Kindle Unlimited books, I’ve figured out where Kindle Unlimited shines, where it falls short, and who it truly makes sense for.

Today I’m breaking down how Kindle Unlimited works, the kinds of books you’ll actually find on it, and how it compares to buying books outright. I’ll also share when the subscription is worth the monthly cost, or when you’re better off skipping it and spending your money on select non-Kindle Unlimited reads instead. If you’re on the fence about Kindle Unlimited, wondering if it’s worth it, or hesitant to add another subscription to your monthly bills, this is my honest, unsponsored review.

PS: you can also try Kindle Unlimited for free for three months if you want - highly recommend it!

is kindle unlimited worth it? my honest take after reading hundreds of books

what is kindle unlimited?

Kindle Unlimited is a subscription service that allows you to read over 4 million e-books, thousands of audiobooks, and magazines for a flat monthly fee. Similar to a digital library, you can download (or borrow) up to 20 books at a time. Where Kindle Unlimited differs from a library, though, is that there are no waitlists or due dates, so it’s a little more instant, convenient, and simplified.

Kindle Unlimited costs $11.99/month, but you can start a trial to get your first three months for free. I’ve been a subscriber for a while now, and there has never been a price hike, which I really appreciate since so many other subscription services (Netflix, Spotify, etc.) seem to increase at least once a year.

how kindle unlimited works

Kindle Unlimited is super easy and beginner-friendly. You sign up for a membership on Amazon, and you’ll be charged $11.99 monthly after three months of free trial time. There are no surprise fees, and I’ve never seen a price markup in the years that I’ve had a membership. From there, you can download up to 20 books to read at your own pace.

You don’t need a Kindle tablet to use Kindle Unlimited; just download the Kindle app to your phone or read on your laptop/ tablet.

Once you finish a book (or decide you don’t want to), you can return it and start over with a new selection.

If you’re curious about how authors are compensated, they receive payment per page read, so if you don’t need to worry that they’ll be punished if you don’t finish a book. Also, I love that KU makes it much easier for authors to self-publish their books, so they can live their dream without having to be “chosen” by a publishing house in order to become an author.

is kindle unlimited worth it?

Yes! I cannot rave about Kindle Unlimited enough, and that’s coming from someone who hates how subscription-based life has become. I read over 100 books a year, most of which I access through the Kindle Unlimited program. If not, I would not be able to afford my reading habit with how expensive books have gotten. I love that Kindle Unlimited eliminates some of the inconveniences of libraries like due dates and waitlists; it makes it easier to read as a daily habit, helping me to limit my screen time, too.

Unlike other subscription services, the price of Kindle Unlimited has also remained the same, which I genuinely appreciate. There are moments where you have to deal with formatting issues or typos in books, but that’s not necessarily a flaw of the Kindle Unlimited service.

My experience with Kindle Unlimited has been incredible. I read more (especially with the convenience of the Kindle app), don’t scroll social media as much as I used to, and have discovered so many fantastic authors I never would’ve discovered in a bookstore. Kindle Unlimited is easy to use, worth the value, and while I never thought I’d like e-books over a good hardcover, I’m so glad I made the switch. I’m on track to read over 200 books this year, and Kindle Unlimited is the reason I’m able to hit that goal.

when kindle unlimited is worth it

If you read at least one book a month, Kindle Unlimited is worth it. It’s rare to find a book for less than $20 these days, and if you read even one, you’re going to get the full value ($11.99) out of the Kindle Unlimited membership. Bookworms like myself will also benefit from the Kindle Unlimited membership; if I had to pay for each book I read, there’s no way I’d be able to afford my reading habit, so I’m extremely grateful for the Kindle Unlimited membership.

I’d also recommend Kindle Unlimited to people who want to go to the library but never seem to make it on a regular basis, or if they do, struggle to return books on time. You can download Kindle Unlimited books anywhere that has WiFi, so you can’t beat the convenience and don’t have to schedule in an extra errand to get a new book. You can also have the books downloaded for as long as you want, so you don’t have to worry about due dates.

when kindle unlimited isn’t worth it

If you are a casual reader (a few pages a month, never really finishing a book) or only read one traditionally published, new release book as part of a book club, I don’t think you’ll get value out of a Kindle Unlimited membership. Books are on average anywhere from $10-$30 a month, so reading just one will pay for the monthly membership fee. On the other hand, book clubs oftentimes pick a new release that’s typically backed by a major publishing house, most of which aren’t immediately available to read with Kindle Unlimited, so you’d still have to buy that book separately.

That being said, if you still want to try it out, I recommend the free three-month trial; you can try Kindle Unlimited for yourself and peek around to see if your book club selections are available (or find a good one to recommend instead).

what kinds of books are on kindle unlimited?

I’ve found so many incredible books on Kindle Unlimited that I never would’ve discovered at a bookstore. I love that you can test out new genres risk-free, as you can just return the book if you aren’t loving it. If I had to pick five books worth starting with, they’d be:

And if you’re ready to jump in, I have quite a few book round-ups of the best books available on Kindle Unlimited. They are:

the pros and cons of kindle unlimited

pros

  • Access to millions of books in a wide variety of genres.

  • If you read at least a book a month, the membership pays for itself.

  • No need to have a Kindle to join; you can use your laptop, tablet, or the Kindle app on your phone to enjoy the benefits.

  • Includes books, comics, magazines, audiobooks, and novellas.

  • Plenty of books for all ages - from toddler picture books to YA and everything in between.

  • Lets you test out new genres or books without paying outright, so you can skip or return it without fees or penalties.

  • No due dates or waitlists.

  • Allows indie or self-published authors a chance to share their work with a broader audience.

cons

  • The quality of books can be hit or miss. You may see a few typos, or some half-baked plots as there isn’t really quality control (especially since anyone can self-publish).

  • New releases from traditional publishers aren’t always included, and if they are, they’re delayed by at least a few months.

  • Books are not always accessible, meaning authors can switch back and forth and remove their books from the program. If you want to read a book, keep it downloaded to get around this pain point.

  • Can only have 20 books downloaded at once. Sounds like a lot, but if you want to keep your favorites downloaded, they can add up after a while.

kindle unlimited vs buying books

I personally find the Kindle Unlimited membership to be a much better value than buying books, and I say that as someone who used to head to the local bookstore to buy 1-3 books weekly! Books are (on average) around $20 now, and if you read 2 books a month, that’s $40, but with the Kindle Unlimited membership, you’d only pay $11.99.

Authors are still properly compensated, though! They are paid based on pages read. Many of the authors that make their work available on Kindle Unlimited are also self-published or with indie publishers, so they’re receiving more of the compensation than if they had to split fees (or pay back an advance) with a major publishing house.

books worth buying outside of kindle unlimited

As I mentioned, I read a lot, so this list could go on for far too long. Add me as a friend on GoodReads to keep up with every book I read (and let me know what you love!) but if I had to pick my top 10 books that are worth buying outside of Kindle Unlimited, they’d be:

kindle unlimited vs libby app

Kindle Unlimited is a paid subscription ($11.99), whereas Libby is a free library app. Libby will help you access more traditionally published books, but it requires a library card and there is often a waitlist for popular titles. There are no waitlists with Kindle Unlimited, and you don’t need a library card. I find Kindle Unlimited to be much more convenient, and it’s worth the cost to me. If you already have a library card, it may be worth looking into the Libby app as a compliment to the Kindle Unlimited memberships, especially if you tend to prefer traditionally published authors.

kindle unlimited FAQs

is kindle unlimited really unlimited?

Yes and no. You get access to millions of titles, so in that way, it really is Kindle Unlimited. However, you can only download up to 20 Kindle Unlimited books (e-books, audiobooks, or comics) downloaded at the same time. It’s similar to a library loan, as once you reach the limit, you must return one to borrow another. On the plus side, there are no due dates so you can keep them as long as you're subscribed and under the 20-book limit. In the past, I’ve returned a book and then checked it out a day later, so I don’t find the process annoying.

Pro tip though: Books sometimes come off of Kindle Unlimited and you aren’t given notice, so if there’s a book you really want to read, hold onto it! That way you won’t have to pay to re-download it if it comes off the KU program.

do you need a kindle app to use kindle unlimited?

No. You can read Kindle Unlimited books on your phone, tablet or computer with the free Kindle app. I have a Kindle Paperwhite, but do at least 50% of my reading on the Kindle app. It’s a great way to limit my scrolling and get more reading in. The app is easy to use; I highly recommend it.

can you keep books?

Yes. There are no due dates, so you can keep a book downloaded for as long as you’d like.

are new releases included?

Yes. Kindle Unlimited does a great job of letting you know when new releases are coming out, especially if they’re by an author you’ve read before. There are some new releases that aren’t included (at least initially) with Kindle Unlimited; I think this correlates with traditional big-time publishing houses. But stay tuned, as after a few months they sometimes make their way onto Kindle Unlimited.

can you cancel anytime?

Yes, you can. You do this under the “Memberships and Subscriptions” tab of your Amazon account; it’s easy and straightforward to do.

are audiobooks included?

Yes. Not all books have them, but you can download the respective audiobooks for hundreds of thousands of Kindle Unlimited books.

are magazines included?

Yes, magazines are available on Kindle Unlimited. Some options include Good Housekeeping, Real Simple, People, Us Weekly, Readers Digest, AllRecipes, Muscle & Chrome, and more.

are comics included?

Yes, you also get access to comic books and manga through the Kindle Unlimited membership.

are there kid books on kindle unlimited?

Yes, there are books for all ages on Kindle Unlimited, with plenty of early reader picture books, chapter books, YA best sellers, and everything in between. I love the idea that parents can download books onto a Kindle for kids to enjoy; it feels less like overstimulating screen time to me.

Try Kindle Unlimited risk-free with a three-month free trial here.

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lifestylePaige DiTulliokindle, kindle unlimited, books, amazon, reviewComment