Recently I was contacted to try out a new audiobook subscription service - eStories. Is this company a viable competitor to Audible? I think so.
Like other subscription book services, you pay a monthly fee to receive credits that are then used to purchase books. Their basic plan starts at $11.99 for 1 credit per month (it's a little cheaper if you pay the fee annually instead of monthly) and you have 6 months to use the credit. They have an app for Android and iPhone, plus you have the option to listen in browser. Interestingly, instead of popping up a separate window the player runs along the bottom of their page and you can continue browsing their site without interrupting the player.
As for the selection: it's great. I saw a lot of classics like Orwell's 1984 and Hinton's The Outsiders, but there were also brand new releases such as I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi. There was an overwhelming number of choices. I had a hard time choosing but decided to go with a cozy mystery since it is difficult to find cozy mysteries at my digital library. I got A Most Curious Murder (A Little Library Mystery #1) by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli and I look forward to listening to it.It was easy to navigate the site and "purchase" the audiobook. The app seems pretty straight forward. I like that when I clicked on "view book details" was I not only offered suggested reads but that there was a link to "more by narrator". I don't see this option very often, but I do occasionally love a narrator so much that I want to hear more books by them.
I downloaded the book on my computer so that I would be sure to have it forever. The MP3 tracks come in a zip file and can be listened to using any media player that uses MP3 files.
Overall, it was an easy site to use with a large selection of audiobooks that ranged from the classics to new releases. There were titles I readily recognized as well as ones I'd never heard of (I'm going to look for a paperback copy of How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas Foster).
If you are looking for an audiobook subscription service, I recommend eStories. But don't take my word for it: Sign up for a 30-day FREE trial today and see for yourself.
Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.
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I love audiobooks on the go and for listening while I'm working or doing crafts around the house. I have never heard of eStories. I clicked over, and the selection is really good. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI was impressed with their selection, too.
DeleteI've used eStories for a few years now. I have a casual membership, allowing me a few credits per year. They have charged my account twice for book credits, but I'm unable to use them; it says I should use support. Here goes another week or more! They seldom respond to support emails quickly, it often takes a few weeks to get a response.
ReplyDeleteLately, their selection is absolutely awful. There are rarely any new books. You cannot search for authors or book titles, and neither the app, nor the webpage works for searching.
I would stay away!