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The 6 best ebook subscription services, compared


Internet subscription services are the future. They offer unlimited media streaming for a fixed monthly fee, providing some of the best entertainment value. But what about an Internet subscription for literature?

SummaryAre ebook subscriptions worth it?1. Scribd2. Unlimited Kindle3. Bookmate4. 24 symbols5. Kobo Plus6. ComiXology UnlimitedWhat is the best ebook subscription service?

Ebook subscription services have been around for a while now, and if you're an avid reader, if you're not using one, you're missing out. These are the best ebook subscription services that will satisfy your reading need.

Are ebook subscriptions worth it?

Some scoff at the idea of ​​paying a monthly fee to read books. Of course, if you're not a big book reader to begin with, you probably won't benefit much from signing up for an eBook subscription service.

Before deciding on an online book subscription, the three most important questions to ask yourself are:

  1. How many books do you read per month?
  2. Which genres do you prefer to read?
  3. What ebook devices do you have?

If you rarely read, you probably can't justify the monthly fee. If you read in obscure genres, you might not find anything interesting. And depending on the devices you own or where you live, you might not even be able to use some of these services.

Either way, you should always check your local public library first. Most libraries offer free e-book rentals, which is best for occasional readers. Obscure genre readers and readers who prefer new releases are often better off buying e-books as and when they want.

But for those somewhere in the middle, ebook subscriptions can be extremely helpful. Here are the best ebook subscription services worth checking out…

1. Scribd

Scribd was originally launched as an academic paper publishing service. It exploded in popularity in 2009, when Scribd signed a deal to sell ebooks. Since then, Scribd has been one of the best places to buy user-submitted articles and retail books.

In 2013, Scribd launched its subscription service which allowed users to access the entire Scribd library for a monthly fee. The best part is that you get access to magazines, newspapers, and audiobooks in addition to Scribd's huge collection of books.

  • Price: $10/month for unlimited reading
  • Free trial: Yes, 30 day free trial
  • Selection: Over a million e-books, audiobooks and magazines
  • Books per month: Unlimited
  • Platforms: Web devices, Android, iOS, Kindle Fire, Nook
  • Regions: Worldwide, although some ebooks may not be available in certain regions

2. Unlimited Kindle

The 6 best ebook subscription services, compared

Unlimited Kindle offers the largest selection of ebooks for a moderate price, but also comes with unlimited free audiobooks with Audible narration. You can seamlessly switch between reading eBooks and listening to audiobooks. Even better, it also lets you browse the latest issues of popular magazines.

Unfortunately, the “Big Five” publishing houses (Penguin Random House, Macmillan, HarperCollins, Hachette and Simon &Schuster) all declined to participate. This is one of the reasons why some people think Kindle Unlimited isn't worth the money, because you might not be able to find some of the e-books you want to read.

  • Price: $10/month for unlimited reading
  • Free trial: Yes, 30 day free trial
  • Selection: Over a million e-books, audiobooks and magazines
  • Platforms: Web, Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Kindle Fire
  • Regions: Available in most major countries

3. Bookmate

The 6 best ebook subscription services, compared

Bookmate is a mobile reading application with an e-book reading subscription. Since its launch in 2010, Bookmate has enjoyed huge success in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). So much so that it has spread to Scandinavia, Singapore, Indonesia and parts of Latin America.

Two unique aspects of Bookmate include its social element (follow your friends to see their feeds and shelves) and the fact that you can upload your own EPUB and FB2 ebooks and sync them across all your devices.

  • Price: $10/month for unlimited reading
  • Free trial: No
  • Selection: Over 1.8 million ebooks
  • Platforms: Web, Android, iOS, Windows Store
  • Regions: N/A

4. 24 symbols

The 6 best ebook subscription services, compared

24 symbols is the only service on this list that offers a discounted rate for a one-year subscription at a time, essentially making it the cheapest option by a significant amount. If you're looking for value, you'll find it here.

Along with having an extensive collection of fiction and non-fiction books, it also offers comics and graphic novels. By registering on the site, you will also have access to the active community of 24symbols readers.

  • Price: $9/month or $90/year for unlimited reading
  • Free trial: No
  • Selection: Over a million ebooks and audiobooks
  • Platforms: Web, Android, iOS, Kindle Fire, BlackBerry
  • Regions: N/A

5. Kobo Plus

The 6 best ebook subscription services, compared

It would be great if all Kobo owners could take advantage of this eBook subscription service, but Kobo Plus is only available in a few countries. As of this writing, Kobo Plus is only available in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Canada.

Despite regional limitations, the service has been wildly successful, so if you live in either country, it may be the best option for you.

  • Price: $10/month for unlimited reading
  • Free trial: Yes, 30 day free trial
  • Selection: Hundreds of thousands of e-books and audiobooks
  • Platforms: Web, Android, iOS, Kobo devices
  • Regions: Canada, Belgium and the Netherlands

6. ComiXology Unlimited

The 6 best ebook subscription services, compared

If comics are more your thing, there's also an unlimited eBook subscription. ComiXology was purchased by Amazon in 2014 and has since grown exponentially.

With ComiXology Unlimited , you'll get access to thousands of comics from DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Image, and more. But if you're more of a Marvel fanatic, you might want to read our article pitting ComiXology against Marvel Unlimited.

  • Price: $6/month for unlimited reading
  • Free trial: Yes, 30 day free trial
  • Selection: Over 25,000 digital comics
  • Platforms: Web, Android, iOS, Kindle Fire
  • Regions: United States

What is the best ebook-subscription service?

As for blueprints, Scribd is the best option overall. It is an affordable service with a wide selection of ebooks. Plus, it's not boycotted by the "Big Five" publishers, and it's available worldwide with partial restrictions for certain regions.

Bookmate and Unlimited Kindle are also solid ebook subscription services if you don't like Scribd. They both have the same price, and while Kindle Unlimited has the most selection, it's only available in certain countries. 24 symbols is an excellent Bookmate finalist.

And while Kobo Plus is promising, its regional restriction makes it almost useless for most countries in the world. Finally, ComiXology Unlimited is best reserved for avid comic book readers.

If you want to add more ebooks to your collection, just keep in mind that you don't necessarily need a subscription. Many sites offer free e-book downloads that you should definitely take advantage of.

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The 6 best ebook subscription services, compared