Spotify has officially launched its Audiobooks+ plan in the U.S., making audiobook access available to all members of Family and Duo plans for the first time.
The new subscription, priced at $11.99 per month, provides users with 15 hours of audiobook listening per month, on top of what’s already included in Spotify Premium. Until now, only the primary account holder on a Family or Duo plan had access to Spotify’s audiobook library.
Related: Spotify Hikes Premium Subscription Prices Across Multiple Global Markets
This update significantly widens audiobook accessibility, enabling every household member on a shared plan to enjoy curated audiobooks across Spotify’s catalog through an add-on dubbed “Audiobooks+ for Plan Members.”
Spotify originally introduced audiobooks to the U.S. market in 2022. However, access remained limited, prompting pushback from users and publishing partners. In December, HarperCollins CEO Brian Murray confirmed Spotify was working on a fix, and the streaming platform has now delivered.
The U.S. joins a growing list of countries offering Audiobooks+, including the U.K., Canada, Germany, Australia, and others. Spotify reports audiobook listening hours are up over 35% year-over-year in the U.S., U.K., and Australia, even before the rollout of these expanded plans.
The new offering arrives after a challenging quarter for Spotify, with missed financial expectations and weak ad performance. Despite this, Spotify saw a silver lining with an 11% increase in monthly active users, reaching 696 million, and a 12% rise in paid subscribers, now totaling 276 million.
Spotify also recently increased Premium prices in several global regions and plans to test more options for audiobook fans, including direct book purchases.
