Is Kindle Unlimited Worth It in 2024? Thoughts from an Avid Fiction Reader

As a long-time user of Kindle Unlimited, I have experienced the ups and downs of this subscription service. Offering access to a vast library of ebooks, Kindle Unlimited has undoubtedly changed the way I read. But is it worth it for everyone? Let’s dive deeper into this topic to help you decide if Kindle Unlimited is the right choice for you.

I enjoy Kindle Unlimited because it allows me to read as much as I want, with access to a plethora of titles and no due dates for borrowing and returning ebooks. However, the service isn’t without its drawbacks. So, is Kindle Unlimited Worth it in 2024? Here’s a quick list of pros and cons I’ve personally experienced with Kindle Unlimited:

Disclosure: There are affiliate links in the below article which means if you make a purchase after clicking on one, I may earn a commission. For disclaimer here.

Pros:

• Reading without limits

• Access to unlimited titles

• No due dates for borrowing and returning ebooks

Cons:

• Only certain books available

• Not ideal for casual readers

• You don’t get to keep the ebooks

What Is Kindle Unlimited?

Kindle Unlimited is a subscription service from Amazon that offers access to an extensive collection of ebooks, audiobooks, comics, and magazines. The Kindle Unlimited catalog has more than 4 million titles, making it an enticing option for avid readers like me.

Some key features of Kindle Unlimited:

• Over 4 million digital books to choose from

• Thousands of audiobooks, comics, and magazines included

• No due dates – I can keep books for as long as I want

Signing up for a Kindle Unlimited subscription is pretty straightforward. A monthly fee of $11.99 USD grants you access to their massive library, including thousands of audiobooks and a few magazine subscriptions. Best of all, you don’t need a dedicated Kindle device to use it – Kindle Unlimited works with all Kindle devices and on the free Kindle app for smartphones and tablets.

Now, if you’re not sure whether Kindle Unlimited is for you, Amazon offers a free trial before committing to the monthly payments. During the trial, you can explore the platform and even download titles from the catalog.

You can always test it out using the free trial and decide if it’s worth having a Kindle Unlimited membership in the long run.

Is the price worth it? The answer depends on how much you read. The more you read, the cheaper to cost per book! For instance:

• Read 5 books per month: each book costs roughly $2

• Read 7 books per month: each book costs roughly $1.70

Keep in mind that these are just examples, and your personal cost per book will vary based on your reading habits. Also, don’t forget to factor in the convenience aspect of having access to a vast library right at your fingertips.

How Do You Join Kindle Unlimited?

Joining Kindle Unlimited is pretty simple. First, you’ll need an Amazon account. If you don’t already have one, you can sign up for free. Once you have an account, you can head over to the Kindle Unlimited page on Amazon.

There, you’ll find a big button that says “Join Kindle Unlimited.” Clicking that will take you to the next step, which involves choosing a subscription plan.

After choosing my plan, you’ll be prompted to enter my payment details. You can use my existing Amazon payment method or add a new one. Once that’s done, you’re all set to start enjoying Kindle Unlimited. The best part is that you don’t need an actual Kindle device to access the content – you can use the Kindle app for your phone or tablet, or even read on your computer with the Kindle Cloud Reader.

Kindle Unlimited vs Prime Reading: What’s the Difference?

It’s important to note that Kindle Unlimited is separate from Prime Reading. While both services allow you to borrow books from a pre-selected range, Kindle Unlimited has a much larger library. Also, unlike Prime Reading, which is available for free to Amazon Prime members, Kindle Unlimited comes with its own subscription fee.

• Cost: With Kindle Unlimited, you’ll pay $11.99 per month for access to their vast library. On the other hand, Prime Reading comes free as a part of your Amazon Prime subscription.

• Library size: Kindle Unlimited boasts a collection of over 2 million titles, which is pretty impressive! Prime Reading, though still impressive, has a smaller selection, with around 1,000 titles at any given time.

• Availability: As a standalone service, Kindle Unlimited is available to anyone willing to pay the subscription fee. In contrast, Prime Reading is exclusively available to Amazon Prime members.

How Many Books Can You Download at Once?

At any given time, you can only have 20 Kindle Unlimited books downloaded to your device. When you want to download the 21st book, you will have to return one of the already downloaded books.

For most people, borrowing 20 books at a time is more than enough! (When was the last time you checked out 20 books at once from the local library?) Returning a book is quite easy. All you have to do is go to the Your Library section in the Kindle app or your Kindle device, find the book you want to return, and click on Return this book. It’s as simple as that!

One last thing I’d like to mention here is that the 20-book limit doesn’t apply to regular Kindle ebook purchases. This restriction is only for Kindle Unlimited downloads. So, if you have bought other ebooks from Amazon, don’t worry – they won’t be counted toward your Kindle Unlimited limit.

Kindle Devices and Apps

The Kindle is a dedicated e-reader designed specifically for the Kindle platform. The most basic model is the Kindle, which offers a glare-free screen, adjustable brightness, and a battery life that lasts for weeks. For those who want a bit more, the Kindle Paperwhite provides a higher resolution screen, waterproofing, and a slightly sleeker design. If you’re willing to splurge, the Kindle Oasis is the ultimate e-reader, with a larger, ultra-thin design, adjustable warm light, and buttons for page-turning.

But don’t worry if you don’t have a Kindle device; the free Kindle app is available for smartphones, tablets, and computers. I love how this app syncs across devices, allowing me to pick up right where I left off, regardless of which device I’m using. Plus, the app has adjustable font sizes, background colors, and even a built-in dictionary for quick word definitions while reading.

• Kindle Devices:

  • Basic Kindle

  • Kindle Paperwhite

  • Kindle Oasis

• Kindle App:

  • Available for smartphones, tablets, and computers

  • Syncs across devices

How to Cancel Kindle Unlimited

Canceling Kindle Unlimited is a pretty straightforward process that can be done in just a few steps. First, I need to log in to your Amazon account and hover over the “Account & Lists” button at the top of the screen. From the dropdown menu, select “Memberships & Subscriptions.”

Now, find the “Kindle Unlimited Settings” button and click on it. At this point, you can see your membership settings and the option to cancel your Kindle Unlimited subscription.

What Happens When You Unsubscribe?

When I decide to cancel my Kindle Unlimited subscription, it’s important to know that the service will remain active until the end of the current billing period. This means that you can still enjoy the benefits of Kindle Unlimited until that date arrives.

Once your subscription ends, you lose access to all Kindle Unlimited books and audiobooks. However, any notes, highlights, or bookmarks I’ve saved will remain in my Amazon account. So, if you decide to rejoin Kindle Unlimited in the future or purchase those books, you can still find your saved content.

Also, keep in mind that there are no partial refunds for unused months of prepaid Kindle Unlimited memberships. So, if you’ve purchased a long-term subscription as a gift or on a promotional deal, it’s a good idea to weigh the benefits of canceling my subscription against the value of the remaining months.

Overall, canceling Kindle Unlimited is a simple process, and you can choose to re-subscribe at any time if you decide the service is worth it for you.

My Thoughts on If Kindle Unlimited Is Worth It

As an avid reader, I have mixed feelings about whether Kindle Unlimited is truly worth it. When I first got my subscription, I loved the idea of having access to a vast library at my fingertips. However, I soon realized that to make the most out of my subscription, I needed a solid plan in place.

What worked for me was waiting until I had a list of books I wanted to read that were part of the Kindle Unlimited catalogue. Then I’d subscribe and binge-read those books within a couple of months. That way, I could justify the monthly subscription fee, and then cancel it once I got through the list.

If I didn’t do this, there were times when I’d go months without reading a single Kindle Unlimited book, even though I continued paying the fee.

Personally, I’ve found that the value of Kindle Unlimited depends on several factors:

• The number of books you read per month

• Your preferred genres

• The cost of the books you’d typically purchase

I read several books a month but a lot of the books on my TBR list are not available on Kindle Unlimited. Therefore, it isn’t really worth subscribing all year around. If you only read one or two books a month, then it’s not really worth it since you could most likely buy the Kindle versions of those books for the same price, if not less. It’s essential to weigh the costs and benefits before committing!

Genre-wise, I also find that Kindle Unlimited has its limitations. For instance, I find it lacking in quality non-fiction titles. However, it’s an excellent resource for finding hidden gems in genres like fantasy and romance. (Be sure to check out my list of the top fantasy books on KU!)

Conclusion on If Kindle Unlimited is Worth It

To sum it up, figuring out whether Kindle Unlimited is worth it or not is a personal decision, depending on how much you read, your genre preferences, and your book-buying habits. It’s definitely a service that shines if you have a clear plan and make full use of its offerings.