How Does Kindle Unlimited Work? Experts Weigh in on How to Use Your Membership
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What Is Kindle Unlimited?
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“Kindle Unlimited is essentially a massive digital library that you can borrow from endlessly for a flat monthly fee,” William Green , literature expert and founder of Poem Analysis , tells Best Life . “With over three million titles across virtually every genre, it provides a vast collection of reading material at your fingertips.”
“As someone deeply passionate about literature and making knowledge accessible, I’m always looking for services that can enrich people’s reading lives,” he adds. “It’s a bibliophile’s dream come true!”
How Does Kindle Unlimited Work?
Do I Need to Have a Kindle to Use Kindle Unlimited?
Buonocore notes that “you can use the free Kindle app on any device, like your iPhone,” as well as other tablets, making it easy to access no matter which device you have at hand.
“I even have the app downloaded on my laptop. I like this for searching my Kindle notes,” she says.
What Books Does Kindle Unlimited Include?
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Life in the era of streaming services has made on-demand content the norm. Buonocore explains that signing up for a subscription gives you access to “millions” of Kindle Unlimited books at the push of a button, just as signing up for Netflix gives you a library of movies and TV shows to choose from.
“While many are self-published books by authors trying to gain exposure, there are also countless bestselling titles from extremely popular authors like Freida McFadden , Colleen Hoover , Lucy Score , Rebecca Ross , Ana Huang , and Abby Jimenez ,” she says. “These are some of the hottest authors on BookTok and Bookstagram right now.”
Green adds that even though you won’t find every bestseller, available Kindle Unlimited titles cover a wide range of fiction, non-fiction, classics, and indie books. “There are popular options like romance, mysteries, and celebrity bios alongside more niche picks,” he says. “You’ll also get access to thousands of audiobooks and current magazine issues.”
How Much Does a Kindle Unlimited Subscription Cost?
Like any subscription service, how much you consume could make Kindle Unlimited work best for your budget versus individual purchases and downloads from the general Kindle store.
“For around $11.99 per month, you get unlimited access,” says Green. “No calculating whether buying individual e-books is cheaper: It’s one flat fee for as much as you want to read.”
Does Kindle Unlimited Come With Prime?
“Prime Reading is a separate perk that provides Prime members with a rotating selection of e-books, audiobooks, and magazines at no extra cost,” he explains.
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Kindle Unlimited vs. Prime Reading
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According to Phil Strazzulla , tech expert and founder of Select Software Reviews , Prime Reading has a smaller selection of approximately a thousand books and magazines by comparison to Kindle Unlimited. And in some cases, this could make Kindle Unlimited worth signing up for on top of a Prime subscription.
“It’s ideal for casual readers,” he tells Best Life . “However, for people who consume books or want specialized titles for professional development, Kindle Unlimited is a superior value. I choose Kindle Unlimited because the larger range meets my ongoing demand for new business insights and varied genres.”
Buonocore agrees, saying that the decision ultimately depends on the person picking the titles.
“Prime Reading does come free with Prime but users are limited to borrowing just 10 books from a much smaller library of just a few thousand books,” she says.
You also likely won’t find as many hot new bestsellers there as you might when you browse Kindle Unlimited books. “I’ve often found it to include a lot of classics and older bestsellers. You won’t always find a lot of gems there, but it’s useful to check. For example, I first read Harry Potter from Prime Reading!” she says.
Is Kindle Unlimited Worth It?
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“If you think you can read at least two to three books per month from the vast Kindle Unlimited library via e-book or audiobook, then you are very likely saving money versus individually purchasing the books,” says Buonocore. “It can be especially worth it if you are looking to read a lot of those popular bestselling romance and thriller authors I mentioned or if you want to binge a lot of books at once at a very low price.”
Green agrees, saying the cost of a subscription is usually offset by being a bookworm.
Green also points out that it’s relatively risk-free, as you can cancel Kindle Unlimited if you get too busy to use it as much as you’d like.
However, he does concede that there are a few customers for whom it might not make sense to shell out for the extra title access. “If you only read a few books per year and prefer sticking to new releases from big-name authors, purchasing those specific titles might make more sense financially,” he says. “Or if you read at a more casual pace, Prime Reading’s limited but free selection could suffice.”
In addition to individual value, Kindle Unlimited plays a major role in encouraging reading and making work accessible, he explains.
“As someone who runs a massive poetry analysis database, I have an immense appreciation for resourcefulness and accessibility in the literary world,” says Green. “Kindle Unlimited provides incredible value by opening the doors to millions of reading options that may have otherwise gone undiscovered. It empowers people to explore various genres, authors, and topics seamlessly.”
Conclusion
Whether you already own an e-reader or are just considering diving into the world of e-books, there’s no doubt that Kindle Unlimited is an attractive option. Experts point out that you can get started simply by downloading the Kindle app on any device you already own. But by figuring out how to use Kindle Unlimited the right way, you could end up saving some serious money on book purchases in the long run.
