Is Kindle Unlimited Worth It? 4 Reasons Why You Should Get a Membership

A Kindle Unlimited subscription can be a cost-effective strategy for those who read a lot of ebooks, magazines, comic books, or audiobooks every month. However, this Amazon membership may not be the best solution for casual consumers who only read one or two books now and then.

We explored the Kindle Unlimited benefits to help you decide whether this service is best for you based on which media you consume, how often you consume it, and your budget.

What Is Kindle Unlimited?

Kindle Unlimited is a monthly subscription service that lets subscribers digitally borrow media from a selection of Amazon’s large library of content. All media accessed within the Kindle Unlimited service isn’t purchased nor owned by the subscriber. Instead, subscribers can digitally borrow items to read or listen to from Amazon’s digital library and then return them to borrow something else as often as they like.

Around 4 million ebooks and digital comic books are available within the Kindle Unlimited library. Thousands of audiobooks and a large number of magazines are also available. All of the above can be consumed via a web browser on any device, a Kindle ereader or tablet, or the Kindle app.

Who Should Get Kindle Unlimited

A Kindle Unlimited subscription can be a smart way to save money if you consume a lot of media. You might want to subscribe to Kindle Unlimited if:

• You read more than two magazines per month.
• You often buy more than two books per month.
• You’re planning to catch up on comic book back issues.
• You have multiple Kindle users in your household or family.

Who Shouldn’t Get Kindle Unlimited

Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited library has a lot of content, but it’s not for everyone. You may want to give a Kindle Unlimited membership a miss if:

• You don’t buy new books or magazines that often.
• You’re an audiobook fan and already use Audible.
• The titles you’re interested in aren’t available with Kindle Unlimited.

Why You Should Buy Kindle Unlimited

Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited benefits are plentiful and can make the subscription service incredibly tempting for those who read a lot of magazines or ebooks per month. Let’s explore some of the main benefits that Kindle Unlimited offers members.

You Want to Save Money

The price of a Kindle Unlimited membership is $11.99 per month. This means the service could pay for itself if you usually spend more than this on books, audiobooks, or magazines. For example, individual issues of Men’s Health Magazine and People Magazine cost around $6.99. If you usually buy both of these every month, Kindle Unlimited is a solid choice as it gives you access to these as part of your subscription.

You Love to Read Books

With over 4 million titles, there are plenty of good books to read within the Kindle Unlimited library. Loads of popular fantasy and romance titles and a good number of non-fiction books are available.

You Love Comic Books

One feature of Kindle Unlimited often overlooked is its large selection of comic books from major publishers such as Marvel Comics. Many modern and classic comic book issues are available as part of the Kindle Unlimited library, making it a great way to catch up on old and new storylines that are usually only available in expensive or hard-to-find trade paperbacks.

You Want Your Family to Read More

The primary Kindle Unlimited subscriber can share any item from the library with any member of their Amazon Household. This means you can send books, magazines, etc, to your significant other or family members to enjoy as often as you like at no additional cost. 

When You Shouldn't Buy Kindle Unlimited

A Kindle Unlimited membership may be a good fit for some, but it isn’t for everyone. Here are some reasons why the subscription might not be for you.

You’re Not a Power Reader

If you only have time to read one book or magazine monthly, you may pay more with a Kindle Unlimited subscription than if you bought the book outright. It’s important to be realistic with your media consumption habits.

The Titles You Want Aren’t Available

The Kindle Unlimited library is large, but it doesn’t have everything. A good portion of the books in the library are self-published titles that don’t have broad appeal, and many brand-new titles often don’t get added until months or even years after their release, if at all.

You’re Only Interested in Audiobooks

Many audiobooks are available within Kindle Unlimited, but not nearly as many as on Amazon’s Audible subscription service, which is dedicated solely to audio content. If you’re only interested in listening to audiobooks, you'll likely get bored of Kindle Unlimited quickly.

You Want to Own Your Books and Magazines

It’s important to remember that Kindle Unlimited only lets you borrow content, not own it. You’ll lose access to a title if it’s ever removed from the library. This works similarly to how Netflix often refreshes its library and replaces old content with newer releases. Similarly, you’ll also lose access to any borrowed titles whenever you cancel your Kindle Unlimited subscription.

You Prefer Physical Books and Magazines

This may seem obvious, but it’s an important point to emphasize. Kindle Unlimited only offers digital versions of books, comic books, magazines, and audiobooks. If you enjoy the feeling of paper in your hands or having a CD ready for when the internet goes down, Kindle Unlimited isn’t for you.

Kindle Unlimited vs. Prime Reading

Amazon actually has a similar service called Prime Reading that comes as part of the Amazon Prime membership in some regions. Here’s how Prime Reading and Kindle Unlimited are different.

How Can I See Kindle Unlimited Titles Without Signing Up?

To see which books, magazines, audiobooks, and comic books are available as part of Kindle Unlimited, simply add “Kindle Unlimited” to any Amazon website or app search.

For example, to see which magazines are available as part of the Kindle Unlimited membership, search for “Kindle Unlimited magazines.” Similarly, you can search with phrases like “Kindle Unlimited romance,” “Kindle Unlimited best sellers,” and “Kindle Unlimited fantasy” to browse specific genres for titles that are included in the subscription.

Does Kindle Unlimited Have a Free Trial?

Yes, Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited subscription does have a free trial. The free trial lasts for 30 days, automatically renewing at the usual $11.99 monthly rate.