In today's streaming era for movies and music—think Netflix and Spotify—ownership has largely given way to access. Yet e-books haven't fully embraced this model like digital libraries might suggest.
Once, ebook subscriptions were dominated by four players: Oyster, Entitle, Kindle Unlimited, and Scribd. Oyster and Entitle have since shut down, leaving Scribd and Kindle Unlimited as the top contenders. As of 2016, which offers the best value?
Before diving into catalogs and limitations, here's a clear overview of each service.
Kindle Unlimited (KU) costs $9.99 per month for unlimited ebooks and audiobooks. Availability varies by country, and catalogs differ regionally.
Scribd costs $8.99 per month, allowing three items per month from its ebooks, comics, and documents library, plus one audiobook and unlimited access to "Scribd Selects"—a curated collection of 150,000+ titles rotated monthly by editors. Scribd is global, but title availability varies.
Pricing is a near tie—the $1 difference is minor. Scribd limits monthly reads but offers variety; KU's unlimited access depends on catalog quality.
The key question: Do they have the books you want? I've explored both catalogs extensively.
Scribd partners with major publishers like HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, including full backlists up to 2012-2013. Penguin Random House is testing audiobooks there too.
No big publishers commit fully to KU, yet its catalog surprises with volume.
For horror master Stephen King, Scribd offers six English titles from Simon & Schuster, but misses hits like Misery, The Dark Tower series, The Stand, or It. KU fares worse, with just one essay—and confusion from a lesser-known author sharing the name.
KU shines with Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games trilogy (ebooks), while Scribd limits to audiobooks. Scribd edges out on classics like Gone with the Wind or The Great Gatsby.
After checking classics and post-2010 bestsellers, Scribd suits broader tastes slightly better. But it's not black-and-white—Scribd doesn't dominate just because of publisher ties. Tastes vary: Scribd for mainstream explorers, KU for niche gems, bios, and memoirs.
Test personally: Search your top five books and authors.
Scribd shines beyond ebooks with comics, select audiobooks (many author-narrated), and niches like Lonely Planet travel guides.
Its comic reader lags behind ComiXology or Marvel Unlimited on tablets, and comics count toward your three-item quota—frustrating for series like Grant Morrison's New X-Men (seven volumes).
Worst: No e-reader support—app or browser only.
KU integrates seamlessly with Kindle e-readers, boosting reading habits. E-readers beat tablets for focus and vacations.
Community highlights and notes add value. But audiobooks, comics, and manga pale vs. Scribd—no major publishers like DC or Marvel.
Your choice depends on devices and tastes:
Pro Tip: I prefer my Kindle, so KU fits me, but for tablet comics, Marvel Unlimited beats Scribd on price and selection (though skips other publishers).
Which will you choose? Tried OverDrive or others? Share in the comments.
