If you are a voracious reader, chances are your reading habit often causes a dent in your wallet. There are several ways you can save your money and find new books to read. A library, sales or deals happening on retailers, and online book subscriptions through which you borrow e-books or audiobooks at a nominal fee.
I prefer e-book subscriptions, and my go-to is Kindle Unlimited by Amazon. I’ve been using it for quite some time now and have found a lot of books to read – some that have landed on my top reads list.
For those who don’t know what that is or are trying to figure out if it’s worth the money, this post dives into the nitty-gritty of Kindle Unlimited Subscription, and you can figure out if it’s for you.
TL;DR:
Kindle Unlimited costs $11.99/month (US), lets you borrow up to 20 books at a time, and is best for romance, fantasy, and mystery lovers. It’s not free, but worth it if you read 5+ books monthly.
What is Kindle Unlimited Subscription?
KU or Kindle Unlimited is an eBook subscription offered by Amazon. For a monthly/yearly fee, subscribers to Kindle Unlimited get access to books, magazines, and even audiobooks from Amazon’s collection of millions of titles available on KU.
You can borrow up to a specific limit of books with no due date and can keep them till the end of your subscription.
How does Kindle Unlimited work?
To subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, first, sign up for an Amazon Account if you don’t have one yet. Note: Only US users can access the Kindle Unlimited service from the .com website. Many countries, including India (i.e., amazon.in), offer local Kindle Unlimited services. Ensure that you set your location to one of these countries.
Once you’re set, you can sign up for Kindle Unlimited either by downloading the free Kindle App from Android/IOS or via your browser.
You can find Kindle Unlimited Books just like how you find your normal books on Amazon. Search for the book. If you find a ‘Read for Free’ button on the eBook page, it’s available on Kindle Unlimited, and you can start reading it with your KU Subscription!
Is Kindle Unlimited Free?
No, Kindle Unlimited is a paid subscription, but for first-time users, you get a free one-month trial.
Often, authors market books as ‘free on Kindle Unlimited’. However, it is worth noting that these books are available to read if you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription. You don’t purchase the book; you simply borrow it.
If you’re mainly looking for free reads (especially romance 💕), you might want to peek at my guide on how to get free romance books online.
How much does Kindle Unlimited cost?
Here is a list of Kindle Unlimited Monthly Subscription Fees for some of the countries:
| Countries | Kindle Unlimited Subscription Cost* |
| USA (Amazon.com) | $11.99 / month |
| India (Amazon.in) | ₹169 / month |
| Canada (Amazon.ca) | $11.99 / month |
| UK (Amazon.co.uk) | £9.49 / month |
| Australia (Amazon.com.au) | $13.99 / month |
* As on 28th August 2025. These prices are subject to change as per Amazon’s Policies.
If you’re not satisfied with the books, you can cancel the service at any time.
During sales and promotions, Kindle Unlimited has special offers for monthly subscriptions! Keep an eye out for them if you want to subscribe to this service at a lower cost.
Looking for an e-reader? I broke down the best Kindle for reading if you’re considering an upgrade.
What is the Kindle Unlimited book limit?
You can borrow up to 20 digital books on Kindle Unlimited.
Kindle Unlimited doesn’t have a due date for returning the books. It allows you to keep 20 ebooks in your library. If you want to read another book and have reached the limit, return one of your current borrowed books.
If you cancel the KU subscription, you can still keep the ebooks till your subscription period ends.
Kindle Unlimited vs Prime Reading
Amazon Prime is a premium membership that offers users several benefits, including free delivery and access to Prime Video, as well as shopping offers.
Prime Reading is one such benefit that Prime members can avail. Users can borrow books from the Prime Reading catalog, which currently features around 1,000 titles.
Is Kindle Unlimited the same as Prime Reading?
No, Kindle Unlimited and Prime Reading are different services. Kindle Unlimited provides access to millions of titles, while Prime Reading offers a rotating selection of about 1,000+ eBooks for Prime members.
Is Kindle Unlimited free for Prime members?
No, Prime members do not get Kindle Unlimited for free; they only have access to the Prime Reading selection.
Can I read unlimited books with Amazon Prime?
Amazon Prime users can borrow up to 10 books at a time. Similar to Kindle Unlimited, once you reach the limit, you have to return a book to borrow a new one.
If you’re curious about whether Prime Reading is worth it on its own, I did a full breakdown in this post: Is Amazon Prime Reading Worth It?
Kindle Unlimited vs Audible
Audible is a service offered by Amazon for users who prefer to listen to audiobooks. The subscription provides one or two credits, which you can use to buy any audiobook that you can keep forever.
Is Audible free with Kindle Unlimited?
Yes and No. Audible is a separate service. But you can access some audiobooks via Kindle Unlimited.
Do you get any audiobooks with Kindle Unlimited?
Yes, KU users have access to some audiobooks, but not the entire Audible catalog. The users can listen to the audiobooks for free, but cannot keep them forever.
Popular Genres on Kindle Unlimited
Kindle Unlimited (KU) offers an enormous catalog, but some genres shine more than others. Here’s a Medium Article that’s gone in depth:
- Romance: Romance makes up 45% of KU readership, dwarfing other genres in popularity.
- Fantasy: About 25% of KU readers favor fantasy, positioning it as the second most consumed genre.
- Mystery/Thriller: Thirdly, Readers enjoy suspenseful indie reads
Alternatives to Kindle Unlimited
What are the alternatives to KU, you ask? Well, I personally haven’t subscribed to any other services, but here are some that are popular:
- Kobo Plus: Offers a Kindle-like subscription, providing access to over 1.3 million e-books and 100,000 audiobooks.
- Everand (by Scribd): Gives access to a vast library of e-books, audiobooks, and more through a streaming model.
Is Kindle Unlimited worth it - My review as a romance reader
At the very basic, Kindle Unlimited has its pros and cons.
PROs:
- You can read books on any device. If you switch devices, the ebooks you have borrowed will still be there in your app.
- A variety of books to choose from, especially in romances. New authors – especially indies.
- No due dates on books. You can keep them for as long as you are subscribed to the service.
- You save a lot of money. You can try a new-to-you author without spending a dime and see if you like their writing style.
CONS:
- Large publishers usually do not offer their books in Kindle Unlimited.
- You will find self-published authors more than the established ones. And many times, I have found that the quality of the book is low in terms of writing.
- You may find that some genres are pretty limited on KU. But, as a romance reader, I find a lot of options to choose from. Lately, romantasy books have seen a rise.
For me, cost of an eBook is higher than even the paperbacks sometimes. Kindle Unlimited lets me borrow alternate book recommendations. The major benefit is the cost-saving.
I am a die-hard romance reader (no other genres work for me), and you can find this genre in spades on Kindle Unlimited. There are several well-known authors who do drop their series on KU for a limited time.
So in conclusion, (and I speak for myself), I think Kindle Unlimited is worth it.
FAQs not already covered above:
Do you keep Kindle Unlimited books forever?
No, you don’t actually own Kindle Unlimited books. Think of it like a library card: as long as you’re subscribed, you can borrow and read them. Once you cancel your subscription or return a book to borrow another, it disappears from your Kindle library.
Is Kindle Unlimited different in different countries?
Yes, Kindle Unlimited catalogs vary by country. While the core service is the same everywhere, the selection of books depends on publishing rights in your region. The subscription is based on the location/country your account is registered in.
Can I use Kindle Unlimited in another country?
You can use your existing Kindle Unlimited membership in another country, provided you don’t change the location of your account. However, if you move and change your location, the existing KU membership is canceled, and you’ll have to check if the service is available in your new region.