The Ultimate Guide to Free Audible Audiobooks for Families
TL;DR: Audible's 30-day free trial gets you 1-2 credits (books), but the real goldmine is their Plus Catalog with thousands of free titles, Audible Originals, and podcasts. Stack this with your library's Libby app for audiobooks, use family sharing, and strategically time trials around road trips. Your kids can build a solid listening library without spending a dime if you're smart about it.
Audible isn't just "pay $15/month for one audiobook." There are actually several ways to access free content, and most parents don't know about half of them.
The 30-Day Free Trial: You get one credit (one audiobook of any price) during your trial. Pick something expensive—like the entire Harry Potter series narrated by Jim Dale (regularly $120+). Cancel before day 30, keep the book forever.
The Plus Catalog: This is the secret weapon. Even with a free trial, you get unlimited access to Audible's Plus Catalog—thousands of audiobooks, podcasts, and Audible Originals. Tons of kids' content lives here. Think of it like Netflix for audiobooks, except you can access it during your free month.
Audible Originals: These are exclusive productions you won't find anywhere else. Some are incredible—full-cast productions, celebrity narrators, interactive stories. Many live in the Plus Catalog.
Here's where you get tactical. If you have a partner or co-parent, you each get your own 30-day trial. That's two free credits and two months of Plus Catalog access.
Best times to activate trials:
- Right before a long road trip or vacation
- Start of summer break when kids are home and screen-fatigued
- Before a long flight or series of car rides
- When your kid is obsessed with a series and you need the next book NOW
Pro tip: Set a calendar reminder for day 28 to cancel if you don't want to continue. Amazon will auto-charge you on day 31.
During your free trial (or if you ever subscribe), the Plus Catalog is where you'll spend most of your time. Here's what's actually good for kids:
For Ages 4-8
- Dog Man series: Full productions with sound effects. Kids who love Dav Pilkey will demolish these.
- Pete the Cat: Musical audiobooks that are actually tolerable for parents.
- Magic Tree House: The entire series rotates through Plus Catalog. Grab them when they're available.
For Ages 8-12
- Percy Jackson: Sometimes in Plus Catalog, sometimes requires a credit. Check before using your trial credit.
- Wings of Fire: Dragon-obsessed kids will binge the entire series.
- The Wild Robot by Peter Brown: Frequently in Plus Catalog, and the narration is beautiful.
For Teens
- Six of Crows: Fantasy heist story with incredible world-building.
- The Hate U Give: Powerful, important, and the audiobook hits even harder.
- Audible Originals YA section: Constantly rotating new content, often with celebrity narrators.
Amazon Household lets you share Audible content across family members. Set this up and:
- One subscription (or trial) benefits multiple listeners
- Each family member gets their own library and recommendations
- Kids can't accidentally buy books without permission
Setup: Go to Amazon.com → Accounts & Lists → Amazon Household → Add a teen or child. Link their device to your Audible account.
This means your trial credit and Plus Catalog access work for everyone in your household simultaneously. One month, multiple listeners, maximum value.
Real talk: Libby (your library's audiobook app) should be your primary source for free audiobooks. Audible trials are the supplement, not the main course.
Why Libby wins:
- Completely free, forever
- Huge selection of kids' audiobooks
- No trials to remember to cancel
- Supports your local library
Why Audible complements it:
- No wait times (Libby often has holds)
- Better app experience for kids
- Offline downloads are smoother
- Audible Originals aren't available on Libby
Use Libby for your regular listening, save Audible trials for when you need something specific immediately or want to explore the Plus Catalog.
You have 30 days of Plus Catalog access. Here's how to maximize it:
Week 1: Let your kids explore. See what they gravitate toward. The Plus Catalog has a "Kids" section—start there.
Week 2: Download everything they might want for the next few months. Seriously. Plus Catalog titles can rotate out, but anything you add to your library during your trial stays accessible through the end of your subscription period.
Week 3: Use your credit on the most expensive book you'll actually listen to. The Harry Potter series, Lord of the Rings, or long fantasy series are your best value.
Week 4: Last-minute downloads of anything you missed. Set that cancellation reminder.
Audible's Plus Catalog includes podcasts, and some are legitimately excellent for kids:
- Wow in the World: Science and curiosity for elementary ages (also free elsewhere, but convenient here)
- Story Pirates: Stories created from kids' ideas
- Audible Original kids' podcasts: Constantly adding new series
These don't require credits and stay accessible during your trial. Worth exploring if your kids are podcast-curious.
Look, sometimes the subscription makes sense:
- If your kid listens to 2+ audiobooks per month
- If you're using it yourself too
- During long commutes or chronic illnesses when screens aren't an option
- If the Plus Catalog has multiple series your kid is actively reading
At $15/month (often less with promotions), it's cheaper than buying audiobooks individually. But most families can get by with strategic trial use plus Libby.
Audible's kids section is pretty well-curated, but:
- Set up a 4-digit PIN for purchases in your Amazon account settings
- Use Amazon Household to give kids their own profile
- Review the Plus Catalog Kids section before letting younger kids browse alone
- Some Audible Originals are adult content—the app doesn't have robust parental controls
For younger kids (under 10), consider using Amazon Kids+ instead, which has age-appropriate audiobooks with better guardrails.
Free Audible audiobooks are absolutely possible, but it requires strategy. The 30-day trial is valuable if you time it right, use your credit wisely, and maximize the Plus Catalog. Stack it with Libby from your library, and your kids can have an endless listening library without spending money.
The key is treating Audible as a supplement to your library's free offerings, not a replacement. Use trials for immediate needs, new releases with holds on Libby, or when you want to explore the Plus Catalog's exclusive content.
And honestly? If you're strategic about it—rotating trials between family members, maximizing Plus Catalog downloads, and using Libby for everything else—you might never need to actually pay for Audible at all.
Next Steps:
- Check if you've ever used an Audible trial (Amazon tracks this)
- Download Libby and get your library card set up
- If you have a trip coming up, time your Audible trial for the week before
- Set up Amazon Household so your whole family benefits
- Make a list of expensive audiobooks you'd want if you use a credit
Want recommendations for specific age groups or genres?
The Screenwise chatbot can help you find exactly what your kid will actually listen to.