Audiobook services compared
Compare the subscriptions, prices and free trials of Storytel, Nextory and BookBeat and find the audiobook service that suits you best.
What is an audiobook service?
An audiobook service is a streaming subscription that lets you listen to audiobooks and read e-books for a monthly fee. Instead of buying individual books, you pay a fixed monthly price and get access to the whole catalog or an agreed number of listening hours.
You listen through the service's own mobile app on your phone or tablet. You can download books in advance for offline listening, continue from one device to another, and listen in the car via CarPlay or Android Auto. Most services include e-books alongside audiobooks in the same subscription.
The most popular audiobook services in Finland are Storytel, Nextory and BookBeat. They differ mainly in pricing, monthly hours, the number of simultaneous users and the length of the free trial. On this page you can compare the services side by side and find the one that best fits how you listen.
The widest catalog and a family plan for up to six users.
The cheapest entry tier and up to four simultaneous users on Unlimited.
The longest free trial and affordable extra profiles for families.
Services compared at a glance
The table shows each service's cheapest subscription, whether unlimited listening is available, user limits, the free trial and the catalog size.
How to choose the right audiobook service
The cheapest monthly price is not always the best choice. First consider how much you listen per month and whether you share the subscription with others. Compare the services on these factors:
Monthly hours
Most subscriptions have a monthly hour cap. A cheap tier is enough for occasional listening, but if you listen daily, choose an unlimited or high-hour subscription.
Simultaneous users
If you share the subscription with your family, check how many people can listen at once. Family and Unlimited tiers allow several profiles, while cheap tiers are meant for a single user.
Free trial length
Every service offers a free trial. A longer trial gives you time to test the app and catalog before your first payment.
Catalog size
Check whether your favorite authors and the languages you want are in the catalog. The Finnish-language selection varies by service, even when the total catalog exceeds a million titles.
Price per hour used
Compare the price against the hours you get. The cheapest tier can be expensive per hour if you listen a lot, in which case a high-hour subscription is the better value.
Audiobooks and e-books
Storytel, Nextory and BookBeat include both audiobooks and e-books in the same subscription, so you can switch between listening and reading the same book.
Compare the services head to head
See direct comparisons between the services and what suits you best.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best audiobook service?
The best audiobook service depends on your usage. Storytel has the widest catalog and a family plan, Nextory is the cheapest to start and offers concurrent use on the Unlimited tier, and BookBeat has the longest free trial. Compare hours and prices based on how much you listen.
How much does an audiobook service cost per month?
The cheapest tiers start at around 8.99 €/month and unlimited tiers cost 26.99-29.99 €/month. The price depends on the monthly hours and the number of users.
Can you try an audiobook service for free?
Yes. All three services offer new users a free trial. The trial length varies and may change with campaigns, so check the current offer on the service's own pages.
What is the difference between an audiobook service and buying individual audiobooks?
With an audiobook service you pay a fixed monthly fee and get access to the whole catalog or an agreed number of listening hours. Buying a single audiobook often costs more than a month's subscription, so a service pays off if you listen to more than one book per month.
Can you listen to audiobooks without an internet connection?
Yes. All three services let you download books to the app in advance so you can listen offline, for example on a plane or the metro. Downloading is done in the service's own mobile app.
Are e-books included in an audiobook service?
Storytel, Nextory and BookBeat subscriptions include both audiobooks and e-books, so you can read and listen to the same book interchangeably at no extra cost.