Originally launched in 1995 as an online book vendor, Amazon has since transformed into the world’s largest e-commerce platform. That said, it hasn’t forgotten its roots and still offers a number of products and services related to books. One of those is a book subscription service called Kindle Unlimited, which may be of interest to avid readers.
HOW DOES KINDLE UNLIMITED WORK?
As mentioned, Kindle Unlimited, or KU as it’s commonly known, offers a subscription-based model for fiction and non-fiction readers. While other subscription-based models exist, none boast the same large catalogue that Amazon has.
For a monthly fee, you’ll have access to this library and be able to borrow books and read as much as you like.
WHAT DOES KINDLE UNLIMITED INCLUDE?
Your subscription to Kindle Unlimited includes:
- Access to over one million Kindle titles (audiobooks, ebooks, magazines, and more)
- Ability to read on any Amazon Kindle device, including your iOS or Android phone or tablet, using the Kindle app
- The ability to borrow up to ten titles at a time with no due dates.
- No limits on how often you can borrow books.
HOW TO SIGN UP FOR KINDLE UNLIMITED?
To use Kindle Unlimited and access its vast library, you must sign up for a subscription, which currently costs $9.99/month. Keep an eye out, as sometimes there are special offers on a six-month membership.
To use the service, you need an Amazon account and a valid credit card. You must also enable one-click payment. While you can use the service on a Kindle device, all you really need is the Kindle app. The Kindle app is available for iOS, Android, Mac, or PC, so you can likely use it on a device you already own.
If you’re on the fence, it’s worth giving it a try. You can sign up for a free 30-day trial, and even after that it’s low cost and zero risk—you can cancel anytime.
ENABLING 1-CLICK PAYMENT ON AMAZON
If you don’t already have 1-click payment enabled on Amazon, here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Head to “Your Account”, and then “Your Content and Devices”
- Select the “Preferences” tab
- Under “Digital Payment Settings”, enable 1-click payment
WHAT ARE THE BEST BOOKS ON KINDLE UNLIMITED?
The answer to this question of course depends on your preferences. To each their genre, as we say.
That said, we’ve found romance to be the most widely read genre on KU overall. But there are other popular genres as well. We’ve compiled a list of the most popular KU titles released in the last 90 days by genre:
Criteria for Using Kindle Unlimited
IS AMAZON PRIME AND KINDLE UNLIMITED THE SAME THING?
If you have a Prime membership, you may be wondering if that includes access to KU. It does not. KU is a completely separate feature from Amazon Prime. You can have both memberships, neither, or either one.
Prime members do get access to a free, exclusive book borrowing service called “Prime Reading.” Prime Reading works quite similarly to Kindle Unlimited, but it offers a much smaller selection of content. There are over 1,000 titles available for Prime Reading, compared to the 1,000,000+ in Kindle Unlimited.
CAN I OFFER KINDLE UNLIMITED AS A GIFT?
You can purchase Kindle Unlimited as a gift for friends or family using pre-paid gift plans. The plans include a 20% discount, the 12-month plan a 33% discount, and the 24-month plan a 40% discount.
So if there’s an avid reader in your circle of friends, a subscription to Kindle Unlimited might be the perfect gift!
HOW TO USE KINDLE UNLIMITED
Finding books in the KU library is an easy process. Simply head to the Kindle Unlimited sidebar on the Amazon home page. To get there, click “Kindle E-readers & Books” under “Digital Content and Devices” or “Books” under “Shop by Department”.
Additionally, you can browse Amazon as usual for book titles. Books available on Kindle Unlimited will have the logo and information on the product listing. If you see Kindle Unlimited indicated, you can click “Read for Free” or “Read with Kindle Unlimited” to borrow the book from the Unlimited service, and your selection will be available to read via your Kindle device or app.
HOW TO RETURN KINDLE UNLIMITED BOOKS?
Unlike a library, there is no limit on how long you can borrow a book from KU, but you should return them once you’re finished. The process to return a book to Kindle Unlimited is simple:
Find “Your Kindle Unlimited” under “Your Account”.
View the list of “Your Borrowed Items” to see how many books you have out.
Select “Return” on the title(s) you want to return.
KINDLE UNLIMITED AUDIOBOOKS
If you see a headphone mark next to the Kindle Unlimited logo on the book product detail page, that book includes a free audiobook. You will automatically have access to the audiobook portion for books with a free audiobook companion. Many books have this option, but the selection for audiobooks is definitely smaller, which means they can be harder to find.
Kindle Unlimited audiobooks are compatible with most Kindle devices and some non-chargeable Kindle reading apps. Switching between listening to audiobooks and reading is a piece of cake.
Keep in mind that Audible and audiobooks available through Kindle Unlimited are two separate things. If you want access to the Audible library, you need a separate subscription for that.
HOW TO USE THE KINDLE UNLIMITED APP?
The Kindle app is another great place to browse for content or manage your items. Here’s how it works:
- Choose “Kindle Unlimited” under the “Discover” tab.
- Search for Kindle Unlimited items or “Manage Your Titles”.
- If you see an item you want to borrow, select “Add to Library”.
- Under “Manage Your Titles”, you can see the full list of items you’ve borrowed. This area is where you can select titles to return, as well.
HOW TO CANCEL KINDLE UNLIMITED?
Kindle Unlimited is a great service, but it may not be for everyone. You can easily cancel the subscription at any time. If you cancel in the middle of a billing cycle, you will retain your access until the next billing date. However, if you cancel a pre-paid subscription, you will not receive any refund for the unused months, you cannot restart at a later date, and the cancellation will be effective immediately.
The steps for canceling your subscription are:
- Head to the “Your Kindle Unlimited” page. Click “Manage Membership”.
- Select “Cancel Kindle Unlimited Membership”.
- The next page will inform you of how much longer you will retain benefits. There, you can confirm to “Cancel Membership”, or choose to “Keep my Membership”.
- Following cancellation, you will receive an email confirmation.
To reinstate your Kindle Unlimited membership in the future, you must revisit the “Your Kindle Unlimited” page. Then select “Continue Kindle Unlimited Membership” in the “Manage Membership” box.
LOOKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TO KINDLE UNLIMITED?
The Kindle Unlimited subscription program is a convenient tool that avid readers may love, but it’s not the only option.
At Crave Books, you can find unbeatable fiction and nonfiction e-book deals. It’s 100% free to sign up, and you can get unbeatable access to incredible authors. When you sign up as a reader, you get free and discounted books that suit your preferences, and you can find the best deals all in one place.
Additionally, you can chat with your favorite authors! Crave offers a unique reading experience with free sign-up. Discover new books that you’ll love and receive early access to award-winning authors. To learn more about Crave Books or to sign up for free today, click HERE.
