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Audible vs Roku

Audible logo

Audible

Software

Audiobooks as you've never experienced them

From
$7.95/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Roku logo

Roku

Software

Streaming made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Roku has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Audible auto renews monthly and must be cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current membership period, per the App Store listing; Roku roku takes a 20 percent cut of all revenue channel publishers receive through Roku Pay (purchases, subscriptions, ads), paying out the remaining 80 percent no later than 60 days after the end of the month the payment was received, with non-US partners restricted to PayPal or wire transfer (ACH/direct deposit is US-only) and bank fees applying to wire and ACH payouts (archived developer documentation, 2 May 2021)
  • They diverge on capability: Audible covers Audiobooks, Roku covers Streaming aggregation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Audible and Roku actually diverge.

Attributes where Audible and Roku differ
AttributeAudibleRoku
Starting price$7.95/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIos, Android, Desktop, KindleRoku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android
Founded19952002

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Audible

  • Audiobooks
  • Podcasts
  • Originals
  • Offline listening
  • Amazon Echo
  • Kindle
  • Apple Watch
  • Family library

Only in Roku

  • Streaming aggregation
  • Free content
  • Voice search
  • Private listening
  • All major streaming apps
  • Smart home
  • PIN protection
  • Parental controls

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Audible

  • Audiobook listeningnot Roku
  • Podcast consumptionnot Roku

Roku

  • TV streamingnot Audible
  • Content discoverynot Audible
  • Free entertainmentnot Audible

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Audible

  • Auto renews monthly and must be cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current membership period, per the App Store listing
  • Renewal is charged at the rate of the selected plan within 24 hours before the end of each membership period, per the App Store listing

Roku

  • Roku takes a 20 percent cut of all revenue channel publishers receive through Roku Pay (purchases, subscriptions, ads), paying out the remaining 80 percent no later than 60 days after the end of the month the payment was received, with non-US partners restricted to PayPal or wire transfer (ACH/direct deposit is US-only) and bank fees applying to wire and ACH payouts (archived developer documentation, 2 May 2021)

Pricing, plan by plan

Audible

$7.95/month
  • Plus$7.95/month
    • Plus catalog
    • Podcasts
  • Premium Plus$14.95/month
    • 1 credit/month
    • Plus catalog

Roku

Free
  • FreeFree
    • The Roku Channel
    • Free content
    • Ad-supported

Which should you pick?

Choose Audible if

  • You need audiobooks.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Desktop, Kindle.
  • You also want podcasts.
Audible review

Choose Roku if

  • You need streaming aggregation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Roku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android.
  • You also want free content.
Roku review

Questions people ask

Is Audible or Roku better?
Neither clearly leads. Audible starts at $7.95/month and Roku at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Audible or Roku?
Roku has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $7.95/month for Audible and Free for Roku.
Does Audible or Roku run on more platforms?
Audible runs on Ios, Android, Desktop, Kindle. Roku runs on Roku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android.
Can I use Roku for free?
Yes. Roku has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Audible starts at $7.95/month.
What is Audible best used for?
Audible is most often used for audiobook listening, podcast consumption. Of those, audiobook listening and podcast consumption are not what Roku is typically brought in for.
What can Audible do that Roku cannot?
Audible covers Audiobooks, Podcasts, Originals, Offline listening. Roku covers Streaming aggregation, Free content, Voice search, Private listening. Both handle Ios support, Android support.
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