Scribd ebook and audiobook subscription service launches in Australia

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By Sharmishta Sarkar
published

To take on Amazon's Kindle Unlimited and Audible

Scribd ebook and audiobook subscription service
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

US-based ebook and audiobook subscription service Scribd has officially launched Down Under, putting it in direct competition with Amazon's Kindle Unlimited and Audible platforms.

For AU$13.99 a month, avid Aussie readers will get unlimited access to over two million ebooks, audiobooks, magazines and podcasts. In fact, Scribd is also home to a vast library of other documents like sheet music that's available to subscribers as well.

To make it a more compelling option for an Australian audience, Scribd has teamed up with local publishers like Fremantle Press, Allen & Unwin, Murdoch Books,  and the Australian branches of HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, so readers can access titles from Aussie authors.

Scribd was established in the US in 2007 and today boasts over a million subscribers worldwide.

Taking on an Amazon

In Australia, a Kindle Unlimited subscription also costs AU$13.99 a month, but you only get access to books that authors have made available through the platform. Admittedly it's a staggering number of books (and Audible versions of those books), but there's no guarantee you'll be able to find your favourite Aussie titles on it.

To compete with Amazon, Scribd has promised to expand its existing library of not just books, but podcasts as well, including exploring options for some original content.

Moreover, Scribd's subscription also gets you access to newspapers, magazines and journal articles as well, not to mention sheet music for several instruments – a huge bonus for musicians – alongside other types of documents, like templates for contracts.

Scribd is already up and running in Australia, and is offering a 30-day free trial for new customers, with no lock-in contracts – you can cancel any time. The Scribd app is also available to download for free on the App Store and Google Play Store, so you can read anytime and anywhere.

To sign up for a free trial, head to the Scribd website.

Sharmishta Sarkar
Sharmishta Sarkar
Managing Editor (APAC)

Sharmishta is TechRadar's APAC Managing Editor and loves all things photography, something she discovered while chasing monkeys in the wilds of India (she studied to be a primatologist but has since left monkey business behind). While she's happiest with a camera in her hand, she's also an avid reader and has become a passionate proponent of ereaders, having appeared on Singaporean radio to talk about the convenience of these underrated devices. When she's not testing camera kits or the latest in e-paper tablets, she's discovering the joys and foibles of smart home gizmos. She's also the Australian Managing Editor of Digital Camera World and, if that wasn't enough, she contributes to T3 and Tom's Guide, while also working on two of Future's photography print magazines Down Under.