I've Used Libro.fm to Listen to Audiobooks for Years and It's The Perfect Last-Minute Gift for Readers

For me, the fact that Libro.fm supports the independent bookstore of your choosing with every audiobook purchase is more than enough to keep me coming back, but there's so much more that makes it *so* worth it, whether you're signed up for a monthly subscription or picking up (giftable!) credit bundles as you go.

There are more than 500,000 audiobooks available in every genre on the platform—from romance to science fiction, mystery, thrillers and so much more—but if you need a little help deciding, you can browse a bunch of curated playlists. Here you'll find recommendations from the pros at Libro.fm on titles that fit various themes, including most-challenged books, audiobooks for teens, readers' choice and more. Once you choose a book, simply download it to your phone or browser and you're ready to listen.

The platform also gives you plenty of options for how you can listen to your audiobooks. As you can see in the video below, you can set the narration from anywhere between the slowest 0.5x speed and the fastest 3.5x speed. (I'd suggest starting out at 1x speed and adjusting from there to see what works best for you—and, pro tip, you might prefer different speeds for different narrators). Plus, you have options to set a sleep timer, enter the car mode (which has larger buttons for easier control) and use AirPlay to project your audiobook to different devices.

When it comes to using your credits, one of the best things about this platform is that they never expire, whether you have an active membership or not. Libro.fm's audiobooks are also DRM-free, which means have full ownership over the digital audio files that you download, and can listen to them via any app or device that has the ability to play them (which isn't the case for some other, similar platforms). And if you're gifting credits, you have the choice to either gift them instantly or schedule them to be delivered on an exact date (like Father's Day or their birthday).

For memberships, there's a monthly cost of $15, which will get you one credit that also doesn't expire, so if you're having a busy month you can save it for later (and you always have the option to cancel or put your membership on hold at any time). Or, if you find yourself ready for another read before the next month's credit kicks in, members also get a 30 percent discount on the site and access to special sales. (Psst: I can confirm the sales are good.) Even better? When you "make the switch" right now, you can score two free audiobooks with your membership, too.

Honestly, the only downside I've found with Libro.fm is that you can't purchase additional credits or audiobooks straight from the app—you have to log on to the website through a browser—but it's a small thing that really doesn't bother me much. I know I'll continue using the platform for years to come considering how easy, convenient and affordable it is, and I'm totally confident any reader in your life will love it. And, bonus: They'll never suspect you placed that gift order just hours before celebrating their special day.