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The best book subscription services to give the gift of reading
There is nothing like curling up with a good book. Nowadays, reading comes in different forms: Ebooks, audiobooks, and of course, an actual printed book in your hands. Whatever way you like to read, there is a book subscription for you.
Book subscriptions offer paid memberships that deliver a new book to your hands each month.
They are great for those looking to add to their home library and readers looking to expand beyond their common interests and genres.
I've rounded up the best book subscription services available so you can start checking books off of your reading list.
Also: We found the best book lights to gift the reader in your life
- Great way to build up your home library with vetted titles
- Inexpensive price range
- Discover new and noteworthy titles
- BOTM Logo appears on the cover of every book
- Some subscribers say the page quality is slightly different than store-bought books
Book of the Month features: Skip and add-on options | Hardcover books | 5 books to choose from
You may have heard of the Book of the Month, and that's because it has been around since 1926. The subscription service lets you choose one of five fiction/nonfiction books per month, so that you can add to your growing home library. The service has an emphasis on early releases and debut authors. Some notable books featured in the Book of the Month include It Ends with Us by Coleen Hoover, Somebody's Daughter by Ashley C. Ford, and The People We Keep by Allison Larkin.
The first month's book is just $9.99, and after that, you'll pay $15.99 per month to get a new hardcover to read. Of course, you can always skip a month if you're not intrigued by any of the titles, and, if you want more than one of the five titles, you have the option to add up to two books to your monthly selection for an extra cost.
- Offers ebook and audiobook subscription versions as well
- Books are completely customized to your taste
- Hardcover only costs extra
- Does not accept cancellations
Page 1 features: 3, 6, or 12-month subscription options | Large-print options | Mix of hardcover and paperback
If you'd rather get more personalized book recommendations, Page 1 offers a customized subscription option strictly based on your tastes. When signing up, you'll tell the service what books and authors you love and what ones you don't, and they will curate books for you each month -- you can even link to your Goodreads account.
You'll receive a mix of hardcover and paperback titles, and if you receive a book you've already read, Page 1 will ship you a new title, free of charge.
It's important to note that Page 1 does not accept cancellations of whichever subscription you purchased. But it does not auto-renew subscriptions and does offer free book replacements.
- Audible Narration included
- Great for genre readers and those open to indie/self-published books
- Read multiple books at a time
- Big-name publishing houses aren't available, so many best-sellers are left out
- Choosing from among so many titles/options can be overwhelming and time-consuming
Amazon Kindle Unlimited features: Free 30-day trial | 2 million digital titles | Up to three magazine subscriptions included in membership
Of course, if you're an ebook reader, there's always Amazon Kindle Unlimited, which offers around 2 million digital titles. The service works much like a library: For $9.99 a month, you can borrow up to 10 books at a time, including up to three magazines. In addition, Kindle Unlimited's catalog is updated regularly, so there are always new titles to discover.
You don't need an Amazon Kindle device to enjoy the service. You can download the Kindle app to any device and read your ebooks on your smartphone or tablet. You can swap between different devices, and the app will save your reading place across every device.
- Each box is built around a theme
- Price includes book and collectible items
- Shipping is not included in the price
- Books mostly lean towards the fantasy and magical realism genres
OwlCrate features: Two box options | Skip option | Hardcover books
Young Adult readers will appreciate the OwlCrate subscription, which specifically caters to the YA genre. The service offers two different subscriptions: OwlCrate Jr. ($29.99 per month) for kids aged 8-12 and OwlCrate ($32.99 per month) for fourteen and older. Each box comes with extras like a letter from the author, a monthly magazine, an activity, or unique book-related goodies, and more.
OwlCrate also frequently offers limited edition boxes packed with special edition titles and even more goodies.
- Podcasts included in the subscription
- Compatible with Amazon Alexa devices
- Must be a Prime member for the best benefits
- Different plan options and credit-based system can be confusing
Audible Features: Audible Originals | Five membership plans | More than 200,000 titles
Those who prefer to listen to books on the go should look no further than Audible's audiobook selection. It offers more than 200,000 titles, and plans start at $7.95 per month and go up to $22.95 per month. With each plan, you get a different amount of credits, which can be used to purchase any audiobook, regardless of price.
During your free 30-day trial, you receive two credits, worth one title each, toward the premium library. Once the trial ends, you revert to the standard one credit per month.
The service also features Audible originals, which are exclusive audio titles created by celebrated authors, journalists, playwrights, and other storytellers, and produced by Audible Studios. In addition, Audible offers a sleep collection that includes bedtime stories, soundscapes, and ASMR.
What is the best book subscription service?
We chose the Book of the Month club as the best book subscription based on price, book selection, and reviews.
Book subscription | Price | Plan options | # of titles to choose from |
Book of the Month | $15.99/month | 1 | Five books per month, but you also can choose books from previous months |
Page 1 | $99 for three months | 3 | N/A |
Kindle Unlimited | $9.99/month | 1 | 2 million digital titles |
OwlCrate | Starts at $29.99/month | 2 | N/A |
Audible | Starts at $7.95/month | 5 | More than 200,000 titles |
Which book subscription is right for you?
While all of these book subscriptions are great options, it ultimately comes down to what types of books you like to read, if you prefer an actual printed book, an audiobook, or an ebook, and what amount you're willing to spend.
Choose this book subscription... | If you want... |
Book of the Month | The best overall option. You'll get five books to choose from as your book of the month. |
Page 1 | A book subscription that's customized to your interests. It also has large-print book options. |
Kindle Unlimited | A book subscription for e-readers. You can borrow up to 10 books at a time. |
OwlCrate | A kid/young-adult-friendly book subscription. Each box is built around the book's theme. |
Audible | A subscription to audiobooks and podcasts. You'll get access to more than 200,000 titles. |
How did I choose these book subscription services?
I chose these book subscriptions after extensive research into the product category. I compared factors like pricing, reviews (both good and bad), different reading methods, and the number of book titles offered. All of the book subscription services were compared at their lowest price point offered.
Are book subscription services cheaper than buying a single book?
It really depends -- if you want to buy a new book online or at a bookstore, that can cost you anywhere between $14 and $20, so if you're a brand new hardcover book lover, it might be cheaper to opt for a book subscription service.
Used books will cost less, but you might not find those new and best-selling titles in a used bookstore.
Are there alternative book subscriptions to consider?
There are other book subscription services for all kinds of readers. Here are a few other options worth looking into: