Spotify is officially expanding its audiobook offerings in the United States, launching the $11.99 per month “Audiobooks+” plan to grant household members on Duo and Family subscriptions access to 15 hours of monthly listening for the first time.
Closing the Gap for Family Plan Subscribers
Although Spotify introduced its audiobook service to the U.S. market in 2022, the feature was previously restricted to the primary account holder. Household members on Duo and Family plans were notably excluded from this benefit, a limitation the company is now addressing.
While standard Premium subscribers already receive 15 hours of monthly audiobook listening, the new Audiobooks+ plan allows users to purchase an additional 15 hours of recurring access every month. More importantly, it enables other members within a shared subscription plan to access the catalog via the “Audiobooks+ for Plan Members” add-on.
Global Rollout and Strategic Monetization
With this U.S. launch, the country joins a growing list of international markets offering Audiobooks+, including the U.K., Australia, Canada, Ireland, and much of Europe. This expansion follows a tough quarter for Spotify, where the streaming giant reported missed expectations and weaker-than-anticipated ad revenue.
While ad revenue remains a challenge, Spotify continues to see strong user growth, with active users rising 11% to 696 million and paid subscribers growing 12% to 276 million in Q2. The Audiobooks+ plan serves as a strategic move to drive higher average revenue per user (ARPU) from its existing base.
Addressing Technical Hurdles
The move to include family members was previously teased by HarperCollins CEO Brian Murray, who noted that Spotify was working to resolve a “technical problem” that had restricted audiobook access. Following successful tests in other regions, Spotify is now fulfilling that promise in the U.S.
Although specific usage numbers remain private, Spotify reports that total audiobook listening hours have surged more than 35% year-over-year in the U.S., U.K., and Australia—even before these add-on plans were introduced.
This latest expansion comes on the heels of Spotify’s announcement regarding subscription price hikes across several global regions, including Europe, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific. Looking ahead, the company indicated it intends to experiment with further options for book enthusiasts, potentially including direct sales.
