So here’s a little confession: I used to be that guy. You know the one—I had a recurring Audible subscription and a library of audiobooks narrated by overly peppy voices that I kept meaning to finish. It was convenient. It was easy. But somewhere along the way, I realized I was quietly funneling money into the great, sprawling Amazonian beast. And the more I thought about it, the more it bothered me.
Then I found Libro.fm, and suddenly, I felt like I’d just discovered some magical little indie coffee shop in a world full of Starbucks. You know that feeling when you walk into a used bookstore and the air smells like paper, dust, and endless possibility? That’s what Libro.fm feels like, but for audiobooks.
Not Just Another Audiobook App
At first glance, Libro.fm works pretty much like Audible. You pay a monthly fee (currently $14.99), and in return, you get one audiobook credit per month plus access to a bunch of great deals and curated playlists. But here’s the kicker: instead of handing over your money to Amazon, you’re supporting a local independent bookstore of your choice. Every. Single. Time.
Yes, seriously.
You get your audiobook, and your chosen indie bookstore gets a cut. It’s like the ultimate bookish win-win. I chose Boswell Books in Milwaukee, which is one of my favorite real-world bookstores—friendly staff, great events, and that dreamy smell of old wood floors and new pages. But there are tons of bookstores you can pick from, depending on where you live or just who you want to support. No gatekeeping.
Why I’m Smitten With Libro.fm
Let’s talk pros. Because there are many. Grab a snack.
1. It Feels Good to Shop Here
There’s something deeply satisfying about knowing my audiobook habit is actually helping keep indie bookstores afloat. Every time I hit “Buy,” I don’t feel that little pang of regret like I used to with Amazon. I feel… kinda noble? Like a literary Robin Hood, but less arrows and more earbuds.
2. You Actually Own Your Audiobooks
This is a big one. With Audible, you’re kinda renting your books—if you ever cancel your membership, you can keep what you’ve downloaded but you’re still locked into Amazon’s ecosystem. With Libro.fm, you’re buying DRM-free audio files. That means you can download them, back them up, play them on any device. It’s yours. Forever. Like in the Before Times.
3. The App is Pretty Dang Good
I was skeptical. I mean, could they really rival Audible’s slick interface? But yeah, they totally can. The Libro.fm app has all the good stuff: sleep timer, variable speed playback (hello, 1.25x, my old friend), bookmarks, and an intuitive layout that doesn’t require a PhD in “why won’t this play on my phone.” I’ve used it on both iOS and Android with no hiccups.
4. The Staff Picks and Playlists Are Actually Cool
They’ve got these themed playlists curated by real bookstore employees—people who actually read and care. Not weird algorithm-generated “You might also like this 27-hour lecture on 18th-century plowing techniques.” I’ve found some absolute gems this way. It’s like having your favorite bookseller whispering in your ear.
5. You Can Gift Credits or Start a Membership for Someone
Perfect for that friend who says they don’t have time to read (but you know they’re stuck in traffic for 40 minutes every morning). Or just for someone who could use a pick-me-up that isn’t socks or a scented candle. Audiobooks = serotonin.
6. They’re Transparent AF
I love that they’re super open about where the money goes. You can see how much your bookstore earns, what the revenue split is, and they’re big on community and ethics. It’s refreshing. There’s no sleazy corporate fog hanging over them.
The (Very Tiny) Cons
Okay, I promised to be honest, so here are a couple of minor nitpicks:
- They don’t have every single book Audible does. Some publishers are still being weird about distribution. But I’ve only run into this a handful of times, and it’s getting better.
- No fancy “free Audible Originals” or whatever. But honestly, I never listened to those anyway, so… no real loss?
So yeah…
Libro.fm just feels better. Like, spiritually. It aligns with my “support small, skip the Bezos empire” values, and it doesn’t ask me to compromise on quality or convenience to do it. If anything, it makes me feel more connected to the book world—and more excited to hit “play” on the next story.
So if you’ve ever felt a little icky sending your audiobook money into the Bezos void, give Libro.fm a try. You might just fall for it like I did. And hey, if you do sign up, pick your favorite indie bookstore to support. Or copy me and go with Boswell Books—those folks are the real deal.
Currently listening to: “The House in the Cerulean Sea” and crying in public like it’s a lifestyle.