Kindle Unlimited in Australia: Worth it?

Kindle Unlimited offers over one million ebooks for one monthly fee but hither in Australia, you lot will struggle to observe a book worth reading.

Brodie Fogg

If there'southward one affair that the ereader revolution has taught us, it's that no digital alternative will always truly replace physical books. Where the ever-evolving applied science of video made VHS and DVDs an easy target for digital and streaming video-on-demand platforms, paperback and hardcover books will never be obsolete. But that doesn't hateful in that location isn't a case for digital ebooks. In fact, books are a rare example where digital and physical exist in (almost) perfect harmony.

Ane of the most pop choices for ereaders in Australia is Amazon's ever-popular Kindle devices. There are a few reasons why only perchance well-nigh important is its affordable pricing, accessibility and an unmatched selection of ebooks. If your appetite for ebooks is stronger than your bank account tin can sensibly back up, the purchases tin add together upward rapidly. That's where Amazon's subscription-based ebook library, Kindle Unlimited, comes in.

What is Kindle Unlimited?

It's kind of like Netflix for ebooks.

Subsequently nigh x years of success in the ereader space, Amazon launched Kindle Unlimited in Australia back in 2016, aiming to accommodate to the success of subscription-based streaming services for the ebook market.

If y'all subscribe to services similar Netflix for movies or Xbox Game Laissez passer for games, you'll have a practiced idea of how Kindle Unlimited works. For a single monthly subscription fee, y'all get access to Kindle'due south library of one million digital ebooks to read on your Kindle ereader, iOS or Android device, or any other Amazon Fire/Kindle device.

One meg books? Sounds like a lot but the truth is, not every all-time-seller, cult archetype or recent release is available. There are some gaping holes in the Kindle Unlimited library.

How much does Kindle Unlimited price?

A Kindle Unlimited subscription costs $13.99 per calendar month in Australia.

Kindle Unlimited costs $thirteen.99 per calendar month in Australia. That equates to $167.88 per twelvemonth. Unlike digital movie platforms like iTunes and Google Play, in that location'due south no set price for titles purchased on Kindle. Pop books typically toll between $2.99 and $10 per title, but pricing is set by the author and tin vary greatly betwixt titles.

Kindle Unlimited is in the unique position of being largely unchallenged in the subscription-based ebook infinite. In that location aren't whatever real competitors other than Amazon's ain Prime Reading characteristic, which is included with any Amazon Prime subscription. That might accept something to practice with the $13.99 subscription toll, which is a little steep when compared to Amazon Prime, which costs $6.99 per month and includes Amazon Prime Video, Prime Reading, Prime Music and all the shopping perks included with Prime number.

With all that said, Amazon is currently offering two-months of Kindle Unlimited for complimentary to new subscribers so even if you lot aren't completely sold on the concept, yous tin yet try it out without paying a cent.

Kindle Unlimited gratuitous trial

Is the monthly price worth it? That's almost impossible to reply. It all depends on whether there's enough in Kindle's huge library to make the $13.99 per calendar month charge worth information technology for you. Thankfully, Kindle Unlimited has a 30-day gratis trial so you tin can feel the service for yourself without paying annihilation.

In improver to the regular free trial, Amazon is currently offering 2 months admission to the service for $0; basically doubling the gratuitous trial catamenia for a limited time.

Later on the 30-solar day free trial is up, you'll be charged $13.99 automatically for your first calendar month, so it'southward worth cancelling before the free trial ends if you decide it's non for you.

Kindle Unlimited only offers calendar month-to-month payments, which means there'due south no discount for annual payments, but it likewise ways you won't be locked in for whatsoever corporeality of fourth dimension if y'all decide information technology'due south not for yous.

How practise I access Kindle Unlimited?

Kindle Unlimited is bachelor on Kindle ereaders (obviously) plus iOS/Android devices.

Kindle Unlimited tin can, of course, be accessed via any Kindle ereader device but y'all don'tneeda Kindle to access Kindle Unlimited. In fact, if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, the entire library of ebooks and audiobooks included in your subscription will be available in the respective Kindle iOS (e.g. iPhone) and Android (e.1000. Samsung Milky way) apps.

In short, essentially anyone with a smartphone or tablet tin can admission Kindle Unlimited (unless you're however rocking a Windows telephone after all these years)./au/technology/best-ereader/

Model Kindle Kindle Paperwhite Kindle Haven
Price $139 at Amazon $239 at Amazon $399 at Amazon
Screen size 6-inch vi-inch vii-inch
Screen resolution 167ppi 300ppi 300ppi
Storage 8GB 8GB or 32GB 8GB or 32GB
Backlight Yes, 4 LEDs Aye, 5 LEDs Yes, 25 LEDs
Waterproof No Yes Yes
Folio turn buttons No No Yes
Adjustable warm light No No Aye
Automobile brightness No No Yeah

Kindle Unlimited books

A good pick of classics simply recent best-sellers are hard to find.

As mentioned in a higher place, Amazon claims that there are over 1 meg books available with Kindle Unlimited at any given time. Then information technology's near-impossible to say for sure whether it has enough for y'all, specifically.

Nosotros can, all the same, take a look at some of the classics and some of the all-time-selling books in Australia to give y'all an idea of what to expect. For example, when nosotros starting time published this commodity, we found that classics like 1984, The Peachy Gatsby, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Moby Dick, Wuthering Heights, and War and Peace were all available as function of the AmazonClassics collection. The Catcher in the Rye, To Impale a Mockingbird, Lolita, The Lord of the Rings, Anna Karenina, and Catch-22, all the same, were non bachelor with Kindle Unlimited.

Next, we took a look at the pinnacle 10 all-time selling books of 2019 and 2020, according to Readings.com.au. None of Australia'southward best-selling books of either yr were bachelor with Kindle Unlimited. That includes Bruce Pascoe's Night Emu, Behrouz Boochani'south No Friend but the Mountains, Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton, Julia Baird's Phosphorescence, The Dictionary of Lost Words past Pip Williams, and The Yield by Tara June Winch.

That's hardly an exhaustive search considering the sheer amount of books on the platform but if yous're after the biggest books of recent years, it'south not likely you'll find them on Kindle Unlimited.

That's not to say there's not something for yous. At the time of writing, every Harry Potter volume is available on the subscription, as is a whole lot of steamy,steamy romance.

The all-time way to notice if there's something worth reading on Kindle Unlimited is checking for yourself before subscribing to the free trial.

All you need to do is caput to Amazon'southward Kindle Store, search for the book you lot're looking for, and tick the 'Kindle Unlimited Eligible' filter in the left side-bar. That'll give you a listing of books that are eligible with Kindle Unlimited.

Kindle Unlimited vs Prime Reading

Prime Reading is included with whatever Amazon Prime subscription.

Both Kindle Unlimited and Prime number Reading offering essentially the aforementioned service. They are subscription-based ebook libraries that you tin access for a monthly subscription. They're even owned by the aforementioned visitor, Amazon. With that said, there are a few differences and Prime number Reading is the clear winner in our books.

Firstly, there's the price. Kindle Unlimited will cost you $13.99 per month, whereas Prime Reading is a do good that's part of the standard Amazon Prime subscription, which only costs $6.99 per month hither in Australia. Non only do y'all pay a smaller monthly fee with Prime Reading, but you also proceeds admission to other benefits, like Amazon Prime Video, Amazon's music streaming app Prime Music, free games and discounts with Prime Gaming, and all the usual online shopping perks that come with an Amazon Prime number subscription. Like Kindle Unlimited, Amazon Prime (with Prime Reading included) has a free 30-day trial.

The other key difference between Prime Reading and Kindle Unlimited is the number of ebooks available with each subscription. Kindle Unlimited claims to offer over i meg books, whereas Prime Reading cycles out books regularly, offering around two,000 titles at any given fourth dimension. At a glance, it seems that every ebook eligible for Prime number Reading is likewise bachelor on Kindle Unlimited. With that said, it also seems like a lot of the popular books from Kindle Unlimited's collection are available on Prime Reading. At the time of writing, the Harry Potter series is available on Prime Reading, and a agglomeration of Amazon Classics as well.

Is Kindle Unlimited costless or cheaper for Prime number members?

Unfortunately, Kindle Unlimited isn't gratis or even cheaper for Amazon Prime members, despite both services being endemic past the same company. Equally mentioned above, Prime number membersdotake access to Prime Reading, which is a sort of lighter version of Kindle Unlimited just they are considered 2 seperate services and so signing up to Prime doesn't guarantee a deal on Kindle Unlimited and vice-versa.

Does Kindle Unlimited offer audiobooks?

It's a little complicated

Information technology does, to an extent. Yous can search for "Books with Narration in Kindle Unlimited" on Amazon.com.au. That volition bring up a listing of included titles that come up with an included audiobook narration that can be listened to on smart devices via the iOS and Android Kindle app. In the U.S., Kindle Oasis users can download audiobooks to their device and connect a pair of Bluetooth headphones but that feature isn't currently available on models sold in Australia. Likewise, Kindle Unlimited's audiobook library is far more limited down nether. If that'southward your thing, we'd suggest Audible or Scribd.

Older models actually had a 3.5mm headphone jack that fabricated listening to audiobooks on Kindle a lot easier, but more than recently Amazon has followed Apple's footsteps by removing the headphone jack from its range of Kindle Devices.

If you want to mind to an audiobook downloaded through Kindle Unlimited, y'all'll need to do then via the Kindle app on iOS and Android hither in Australia.

You can too mind to audiobooks purchased via Amazon'south Audible in the Kindle app.

How to cancel Kindle Unlimited

Cancelling your Kindle Unlimited subscription is the same as any other Amazon service. It's all managed under your Amazon.com.au login. Information technology should be noted that you demand to login to Amazon on a web browser to cancel, Amazon's app doesn't allow you to manage subscriptions.

  1. Login with your account details at Amazon.com.au
  2. Click 'Account and Lists' in the top-right corner of the screen next to the search bar
  3. Curlicue down to 'Subscriptions' and click 'Your Memberships and Subscriptions'
  4. Nether 'Your Memberships and Subscriptions,' click the Kindle Unlimited icon
  5. In the left sidebar, under 'Manage Membership,' click 'Cancel Kindle Unlimited Membership'
  6. On the adjacent page, ostend counterfoil by clicking 'Cancel Membership'

Done. You'll now accept access to whatever titles you borrowed until the finish of your free trial menstruation (due east.m. 30 days after your gratis trial began).

Login with your business relationship details at Amazon.com.au and click 'Account and Lists'

Scroll down to 'Subscriptions' and click 'Your Memberships and Subscriptions'

Under 'Your Memberships and Subscriptions,' click the Kindle Unlimited icon

In the left sidebar, under 'Manage Membership', click 'Cancel Kindle Unlimited Membership'

On the next page, confirm cancellation by clicking 'Cancel Membership'

Done. You've now got the balance of your free trial period to read any books you lot borrowed.

Brodie Fogg

Written by

Brodie Fogg

Brodie Fogg is the Australian editorial lead at Reviews.org. He has covered consumer tech, telecommunications, video games, streaming and entertainment for over five years at websites like WhistleOut and Finder and can be found sharing streaming recommendations at 7NEWS every month.

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