What is Amazon Prime Reading?
Access books, magazines, comics and more with a subscription service that won’t break the bank
Lugging around a sack of books isn’t very convenient, especially if you’re someone who is always on the go. So, what if you had an entire library of books on your Kindle, phone or tablet ready and waiting for whenever you want to use it? That’s where Amazon Prime Reading comes in.
Amazon Prime Reading is a service that allows you to access a comprehensive library of books, comics and magazines all in one place. You don’t even need to pay anything upfront before testing it out either – simply sign up for an Amazon Prime 30-day free trial and see how you like it. Curious? Here’s our guide to Amazon Prime Reading.
How does it work?
Amazon’s library service offers a long list of recent releases and classic literature, including fiction, non-fiction, short stories, children’s books and more. It’s easy to use and you can access the service on your smartphone, tablet or Kindle. Simply download the Amazon Kindle App – compatible with both iOS and Android – and you’re good to go.
You can download up to ten titles on your device at any one time, and once you’ve finished with one you can return it and swap it for something new. Think of it as your own portable local library and you’ve got the right idea.
READ NEXT: What do I get with Amazon Prime?
What kind of books are included?
Amazon Prime Reading promotes works that are ”right off the news stand” and provide a variety of books, magazines and more with the subscription service.
When Prime Reading was first launched, they included titles from authors such as J.K. Rowling, and classics like the ‘The Complete Peanuts Vol.1′. They also typically make available current issues of magazines and the more popular magazines such as People Magazine and Sports Illustrated. Some books also come with Audible narration.
You can view a list of some of the current works included in the subscription here.
How can I get it?
All you need to get started is an Amazon Prime account. Amazon Prime also gives you access to a wide range of other services including Amazon Photos and Amazon Prime Video, along with other benefits such as faster delivery on a wide range of products. The service costs £7.99 per month (you can cancel at any time), or £79 for an annual subscription.
If you’re not already a member (or haven’t been in the past), you could start a 30-day free trial and pay nothing until you decide whether or not you would like to continue with the service.
Alternatively, there’s also a wide selection of concessional payment plans to choose from. If you want to provide access to other family members as well as your own account, you may want to choose the household plan, which costs £79/mth. This allows up to six members to share all the benefits of the subscription service. A student plan is also available for £3.99/mth – or £39 annually.
Do I need Amazon Prime Reading?
For most people, Amazon Prime Reading is simply another one of those services that’s included in your Prime membership, and rarely used. You initially signed up for free delivery – or to access those Prime Video exclusive TV shows and movies – and happened to get Prime Reading as part of your membership.
However, If you aren’t already a Prime subscriber, and you’re hoping to ditch the physical copies of your favourite books, then Amazon Prime Reading offers a well-priced, comprehensive digital library with a handful of extra services thrown in for good measure.
