Home

 › 

Vs.

 › 

Scribd vs. Kindle Unlimited: Which One Should You Buy?

Scribd vs Kindle Unlimited featured image

Scribd vs. Kindle Unlimited: Which One Should You Buy?

Reading is one of the most popular leisure activities in the world, and people have been reading books for centuries. However, with the rise of digital content, readers now have more options than ever before when it comes to accessing their favorite stories.

This blog post will compare two of the most popular options: Scribd and Kindle Unlimited. We’ll take a look at what each service offers and their pros and cons so you can decide which is right for you. Happy reading!

Scribd vs. Kindle Unlimited: Side by Side Comparison

ScribdKindle Unlimited
PurposeKnown as the “Netflix of books”, Scribd offers unlimited access to eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, and more.Kindle Unlimited is a service that allows you to read unlimited eBooks that authors have made available through Amazon Kindle Unlimited.
Country LimitationAvailable World WideNot Available World Wide
Customer SupportEmail onlyPhone, live chat, email
Free Trial Period30-days30-days
Monthly subscription$9.99 USD$9.99 USD
AccessibilityIt is not available on e-ReadersAvailable on e-Readers
Scribd vs Kindle Unlimited
Scribd is a digital library and e-book, audiobook, and comic book subscription service.

©dennizn/Shutterstock.com

Scribd vs. Kindle Unlimited: 5 Must-Know Facts 

  • Kindle Unlimited is simple to use, and you can use Kindle books on the Kindle e-Reader. At the same time, Scribd doesn’t allow the same. You can only read Scribd books on your phone and tablets via the Scribd app.
  • Sometimes, Scribd unlimited access is not the absolute, unlimited service. Conversely, that is not the case with Kindle. 
  • Scribd works with the “big five” publishers, meaning you can find many bestsellers and professionally edited books on the site. In contrast, the majority of Kindle Unlimited titles are published by independent authors. This means you may have to wade through some poorer quality books to find a good one.
  • If you’re looking for audiobooks and e-books in one place, Scribd is the way to go. With Amazon, you’ve got two different services – Kindle Unlimited for e-books and Audible membership for audiobooks.
  • Another limitation with Kindle Unlimited is that you can only borrow ten books at a time. This can be annoying if you want to read more than ten books monthly. However, this is not the case with Scribd. With Scribd, you can borrow an unlimited number of books for a monthly fee.

Scribd: Review

If you’re looking for a digital library that offers a little bit of everything, Scribd may be worth checking out. It’s a paid subscription service, so you’ll pay $9.99 per month to access its collection of books, audiobooks, articles, magazines, and music. However, the variety may be worth the price for some users.

With Scribd, you can read books, listen to audiobooks, and even stream music from one platform. Plus, new content is added regularly, so there’s always something new to explore. Of course, whether or not Scribd is right for you will ultimately depend on your reading and listening habits. But if you’re looking for a comprehensive digital library, it’s worth considering.

Furthermore, downloading an eBook from Scribd is like taking a dip in Netflix for books. You can read popular titles for free with a library card – and the best part is that you don’t even need to leave your house!

If you’re interested in trying out Scribd but are short on time, you’ll love their Snapshots feature. These are bite-sized excerpts from popular eBooks, perfect for anyone looking to get a taste of the latest titles without committing to a full book.

Lastly, users will be excited to find a great selection of titles to read. Scribd doesn’t seem to rely on algorithms to make recommendations, unlike other popular eBook platforms. Instead, it depends on the expertise of its editorial team, which handpicks titles that they think readers will enjoy and love to read. As a result, we’ve discovered some fantastic new books and authors that we would never have found otherwise.

Kindle Unlimited: Review

If you like to have multiple options, Kindle Unlimited might not be for you. With a limit of ten books at a time, you might find yourself quickly running out of things to read. However, for others, this can be the perfect amount. You can return books once you’re finished, making room for new ones.

And, if you are fortunate enough to find a book with an Audible audiobook version, you can listen to it while you read. This can be especially helpful if you’re struggling to get through a particularly long book. However, it’s worth noting that not all books have an Audible version. So, if it sounds like a deal-breaker, look elsewhere.

If you love reading on the go, then Kindle Unlimited is your service. With support for phones, tablets, and e-readers, you’re never more than a few taps away from your next book. And there’s no problem if you get interrupted in the middle of a chapter! Kindle Unlimited will automatically sync your place across all your devices, so you can pick up right where you left off. That means no more lost bookmarks or having to flip through pages to find your spot. Just relax, and enjoy your reading.

There’s no denying that Kindle Unlimited is a great deal. For $11.99 a month, you have access to an impressive catalog of books. And let’s face it, we all love a good book (or ten) but there is one downside to Kindle Unlimited that I can’t ignore: the temptation to binge read.

So if you’re considering signing up for Kindle Unlimited, keep an eye on your reading habits (and your budget). 

kindle fire vs kindle paperwhite
Scribd and Kindle Unlimited offer users access to a library of eBooks and more.

©SERGIO V S RANGEL/Shutterstock.com

Kindle Unlimited vs. Scribd: What are the Differences?

The two most prominent names in digital subscription services are Scribd and Kindle Unlimited. Both services offer users unlimited access to an extensive library of eBooks, audiobooks, and other digital content for a monthly fee. However, there are a few critical differences between the two services that we will discuss below:

Kindle Unlimited Offers More to Read

Kindle Unlimited has many more books in its library than Scribd does. On top of that, they don’t boast an unlimited download offer when unlimited is quite arguable. Compared to Scribd, the Kindle’s library is massive. And if you’re looking for audiobooks, Kindle Unlimited has Audible integration while also being significantly cheaper.

So if you’re someone who needs a lot of options or doesn’t want to be bogged down by limitations, Kindle Unlimited is the way to go.

Scribd Allows You to Post Your Content

Another significant difference between Scribd and Kindle Unlimited is being able to upload your own content. Not many people know that uploading content to Scribd is a great way to share your work with a wider audience. 

Whether you’re a writer, musician, or artist, Scribd provides a platform for you to showcase your talent. Since membership is required to access most of the site’s content, you can be sure that only serious readers will be accessing your work. 

Plus, since Scribd limits the file size of uploaded content, you won’t have to worry about people downloading gigabytes of data from your page. If you’re searching for a smooth platform to share your work with the world, Scribd is worth considering.

Availability 

Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited is one of the most popular eBook subscription services available, but it’s not available in all countries. In contrast, Scribd is a global eBook subscription service in over 190 countries. If you’re looking for an eBook subscription service that you can use no matter where you are in the world, Scribd is the better option.

While Kindle Unlimited has a more extensive selection of titles, Scribd offers a more diverse selection of books, magazines, and comics from around the world. Still, Scribd also offers audiobooks and document sharing, making it a more well-rounded eBook subscription service.

Selection of Books

Kindle Unlimited boasts a massive selection of books, with over one million titles and thousands of audiobooks. This makes it an appealing option for bookworms who want access to a large number of titles. However, it’s worth noting that many independent authors only publish to Kindle Unlimited, so if you’re a fan of these authors, you may want to go with Kindle Unlimited.

On the other hand, Scribd has a smaller selection of books than Kindle (over half a million), but it does offer some other benefits that Kindle Unlimited doesn’t. In addition to books, Scribd membership includes access to audiobooks, magazines, sheet music, podcasts, and even user-published articles and essays. So if you’re looking for a more well-rounded membership service, Scribd may be your better option.

Scribd vs Kindle Unlimited
Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited is one of the most popular eBook subscription services available.

©Anna Svetlova/Shutterstock.com

Things To Consider Before Subscribing to Any:

Despite all the differences and benefits, here are some things to note before subscribing to any of these services:

Kindle is Not ideal For All

The Kindle Unlimited service is a great way to get access to a large number of eBooks for a monthly price. However, some people have complained that the selection of books available on the service is not very diverse. If you’re not a fan of romance or women’s fiction, you may find that there aren’t many options available to you.

Not Enough Bestsellers

One of the drawbacks of the Kindle is the absence of bestsellers on its list. While you can find some well-known titles like the Harry Potter series and The Hunger Games, these are relatively rare. Very few books by major publishers like HarperCollins, Simon and Schuster are available for the Kindle. This can be a big problem for people who want to read the latest and most popular books.

Due to high demand, Scribd often imposes throttling restrictions on popular titles. This means that once a certain number of users have checked out a book, it becomes unavailable until the next month. As a result, users who want to read popular books may have to wait their turn or look elsewhere for reading material.

Service Limitations

Although Scribd offers a convenient way to borrow books, it’s essential to be aware of the service’s limitations. The most significant drawback is that you don’t own the books you download. This means that if you cancel your Scribd membership, you’ll no longer have access to those books.

Scribd vs. Kindle Unlimited: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Use?

So there you have it! Our comprehensive guide to Scribd VS Kindle Unlimited. We hope this guide clears all your doubts and answers any questions you may have had about the two services. 

At the end of the day, both Scribd and Kindle Unlimited are great options for readers who want access to an extensive library of books. If we had to choose one, we would probably go with Scribd – its combination of an affordable price tag and a wide variety of content make it hard to beat.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below which service you prefer and why.

Scribd and Kindle Unlimited in the News

In recent months, both Scribd and Kindle Unlimited have added some extra features to their platforms to entice users to join. Kindle Unlimited has added a new feature, Kindle Kids+. This adds a library of children’s books and audiobooks for an additional $2.99 a month.

While both platforms are constantly adding new books to their library, Scribd has added a feature called “Scribd Originals”. This allows users to access additional content from top publishers and authors.

Scribd vs Kindle Unlimited infographic

Up Next

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a Kindle to use Kindle Unlimited?

Kindle Unlimited is a great way to get unlimited access to thousands of books, but you don’t need an actual Kindle to use it. You can download the free Kindle app on your phone or tablet and get all the same benefits as someone with an actual Kindle. Plus, you can read your Kindle Unlimited books (or any other Kindle books you buy) on any device with the Kindle app installed. If you’ve been wondering whether or not you need a Kindle to use Kindle Unlimited, the answer is no – you don’t.

Is Kindle Unlimited free for Prime members?

Many Kindle users are surprised to learn that Kindle Unlimited is not free for Prime Members. Even if you are a Prime Member, you will still need to pay the monthly fee of $9.99 to use Kindle Unlimited. This can be a bit of a bummer for those expecting unlimited access to books as part of their Prime Membership.

Can I read Scribd books on Kindle?

If you’re a fan of reading and Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite, you may have been disappointed to discover that the two don’t play well together. That’s because currently, Scribd is not compatible with any e-ink-based Kindle readers.

If you were hoping to catch up on your reading list while enjoying Paperwhite’s crisp display, you’re out of luck. The same goes for Amazon’s Kindle DX. While these devices are great for reading long-form content, they don’t allow you to install third-party applications like Scribd.

How many devices can use Scribd?

The latest Scribd app allows you to save titles on four different devices. You can also view or open any title on six devices. Scribd is the best way to keep your reading habit going strong, whether you’re commuting, traveling, or just taking a break.

How Does Kindle Unlimited Work?

If you’re a fan of reading, Kindle Unlimited is a great way to get your hands on many books without breaking the bank. Like regular Kindle books, you can add Kindle Unlimited books to your account and deliver them to your devices with a click.

To top