Kindle Unlimited vs Scribd

2024. Scribd rebrands as Everand



Scribd, the platform known for file-sharing, e-books, and audiobooks, has undergone a significant transformation, now operating under the name Everand. Previously, users had access to three distinct entities - Everand, Scribd, and SlideShare - each confined to their respective domains. However, with the rebranding, all services now fall under the Everand umbrella. Despite the change, the company assures users that from their perspective, everything remains unchanged. Login credentials and billing information used for Scribd are still valid for Everand, ensuring a seamless transition. Users can continue to access the platform as usual, with all content consolidated under a single identity.


2019. DC Comics now available on Prime Reading and Kindle Unlimited



Amazon has recently reached an agreement with DC Comics, resulting in the availability of select titles on Comixology Unlimited, Kindle Unlimited, and Prime Reading. This development greatly facilitates the enjoyment of DC's Super Heroes by Amazon customers. Comixology Unlimited now offers thousands of chosen DC single issues, collections, and graphic novels, including exclusive fan-favorites from the DC Vertigo imprint, all for $5.99 per month with a 30-day free trial for new members. Kindle Unlimited members will also have access to a variety of single issues, collections, and graphic novels, while Prime Reading subscribers can enjoy a curated and rotating collection of highly regarded DC and DC Vertigo graphic novels at no extra cost. This expansion across the three services presents excellent entry points for newcomers to explore the world of DC and DC Vertigo.


2018. Amazon discounts Kindle Unlimited to compete against Scribd



As part of a campaign, Amazon is currently offering a special promotion where you can enjoy two months of access to Kindle Unlimited for only 99 cents. However, it is important to note that at the end of the promotional period, your subscription will automatically renew at the regular price of $9.99. Amazon has attributed this promotion to World Book Day, but it is evident that their underlying intention is to attract subscribers away from Scribd, a competing platform. Scribd offers an unlimited ebook subscription service for $8.99 per month, providing readers with access to both audiobooks and ebooks from major publishers. Unlike Amazon, which has faced limitations in securing support from major publishers over the years, with the exception of a few specific titles, Scribd's content boasts a wide range of offerings. Amazon's ebook library primarily relies on their Kindle Direct Publishing platform, resulting in a relatively lower overall quality. Thus, their approach to compete against Scribd revolves around enticing potential subscribers with significant discounts, capitalizing on those who may not be fully aware of the disparities between the two platforms.


2018. Scribd reintroduced unlimited audiobooks and eBooks



Scribd has reintroduced its unlimited subscription system for audiobooks and ebooks. This system allows subscribers to enjoy unlimited access to a wide range of content, including ebooks, magazines, newspapers, sheet music, and audiobooks. For casual readers who typically read a few books a month from well-known publishers, Scribd's service is highly appealing. However, avid readers may encounter limitations. Once a certain number of titles have been read, access to the entire Scribd catalog is restricted, and readers can only choose from a limited selection. The exact threshold for this limitation remains unknown. Scribd's main competitor is Amazon Kindle Unlimited, but it is only available in specific countries and offers fewer titles from major publishers.


2017. Scribd removes digital comics



Scribd has made the decision to discontinue the availability of digital comics on their platform, resulting in the removal of over one thousand single issues and graphic novels. The company cited the high royalties associated with comic reading as economically unviable, leading them to suspend the service instead of pursuing alternative solutions. Scribd has encountered several challenges in recent years, despite many of their competitors exiting the market. They initially removed over 225,000 romance and self-published e-books from their platform, followed by announcing cuts to their audiobook system due to financial losses. Consequently, they eliminated their unlimited audiobook package and restricted subscribers to listening to a single title per month. In 2016, Scribd transitioned from an unlimited service model to a credit-based system.


2016. Scribd is limiting the number of e-books you can read



Commencing in March, Scribd subscribers will receive Monthly Read credits, granting them the ability to enjoy three e-books and one audiobook per month from Scribd's extensive library. Moreover, subscribers will still have unlimited access to books from Scribd Selects, a curated collection of titles that rotates regularly. Scribd highlights that approximately 97% of its customers read fewer than three books monthly, implying that this change will likely have minimal impact on the majority of users. The unsustainable nature of the unlimited e-book subscription model is evident, as numerous companies in this space have ultimately closed down. Despite raising significant amounts of funding, such as Entitle and Oyster's hundred-million-dollar investments, these companies were unable to establish a sustainable model for this concept.


2015. Scribd acquired social reading app Librify



Ebook subscription startup Scribd has recently announced its acquisition of Librify, a social reading app. The companies highlighted Librify's emphasis on the social reading experience as a compelling factor behind the deal. This news comes at a time of intense competition in the publishing industry, with Amazon, Oyster, and others vying to establish themselves as the leading "Netflix for books," offering similar products. Scribd intends to leverage Librify's social features to enhance its own platform, aiming to create a more comprehensive and engaging social e-reading experience. Scribd's co-founder and CEO, Trip Adler, expressed appreciation for Librify's focus on the social reading experience and their significant contributions to reading communities. The acquisition aligns with Scribd's existing product and reflects their commitment to further explore and develop this aspect of their platform, in response to the desires of both the company and its readers.


2015. Kindle Unlimited will pay authors get paid based on the number of pages consumer reads



Amazon has announced significant changes to its payment structure for authors participating in the Kindle Unlimited program, which operates similarly to Netflix, allowing readers to borrow an unlimited number of books for a monthly fee of $10. Starting from July 1, authors will receive payment based on the number of pages readers actually consume. Previously, Amazon compensated authors based on whether a reader reached the 10% mark in a book, regardless of its length. Following this calculation, a shared revenue pool was distributed among authors. However, some independent authors exploited the system by publishing numerous shorter books, thereby earning equal or even greater revenue than authors with fewer titles but longer page counts.


2015. Scribd adds 10,000 comic books for unlimited subscription



For those who already enjoy unlimited access to a vast library of e-books and audiobooks for $8.99 a month, Scribd has exciting news to share today—it is expanding into the world of comic books. The service is introducing over 10,000 comics and graphic novels from renowned publishers such as Marvel, Archie, Boom! Studios, Dynamite, IDW/Top Shelf, and Valiant. Available on iOS, Android, and the web, the subscription service now offers readers the opportunity to explore comic books and graphic novels through various categories, publishers, and even key characters. To enhance the user experience, Scribd employs a dedicated team of marketing and editorial professionals who curate collections on the platform. With this expansion, Scribd continues to provide a diverse and engaging reading experience to its subscribers.


2014. Scribd adds 30K audiobooks to its $8.99/month ebook subscription



As of today, Scribd has introduced a new section for audiobooks, granting its subscribers access to 30,000 titles. This addition allows users to seamlessly switch between reading and listening experiences for books that have both text and audio versions. For instance, you can begin reading a book at home and continue listening to the story in your car while driving. Notably, Scribd has expanded its audiobook collection without increasing its $8.99 monthly subscription fee. Furthermore, the platform boasts over 500,000 e-book titles, and its subscriber base has been growing steadily, averaging a 52 percent monthly increase since the quiet launch of the subscription service in January 2013.


2014. Scribd builds new discovery experience



Subscription ebook service Scribd is set to introduce an innovative book discovery engine. This new technology combines editor tagging, curation, and a novel book categorization system that diverges from the widely used BISAC classification scheme. With the aid of algorithms, these elements work harmoniously to enhance the surfacing of fresh and improved book recommendations for users. Scribd aims to amplify the number of serendipitous discoveries, which currently accounts for over half of its titles. The company recognizes that increasing this proportion is crucial for retaining subscribers. In the realm of subscription services, recommendation engines play a vital role, as customer engagement is pivotal for sustaining retention.


2014. Amazon launched own ebook subscription service Kindle Unlimited


Amazon is set to launch Kindle Unlimited, an all-you-can-read subscription ebook service, in a bid to compete with Scribd and Oyster. Currently available exclusively in the U.S., Kindle Unlimited offers subscribers access to a vast selection of approximately 640,000 ebooks for a monthly fee of $9.99. Moreover, Kindle Unlimited stands out as the most cost-effective option for enjoying both audiobooks and ebooks together, with a collection of over 600,000 titles. Through Whispersync for Voice, users can seamlessly transition between reading and listening, ensuring the story can continue even when their eyes are occupied.


2014. Scribd launches Windows Phone app, updates Android, iOS apps



The popular ebook subscription service, Scribd, has made significant updates to its iOS and Android apps, while also introducing a new app specifically designed for Windows phones and tablets. Existing users of the iOS and Android apps will enjoy a fresh browsing and book page experience, along with new fonts and color palettes. Windows phone and tablet users can now access unlimited reading anytime and anywhere, with all the features available to mobile web users. By launching the Windows app in addition to existing apps for iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, and Nook tablets, Scribd has achieved over 6 million downloads, surpassing other subscription book services in terms of device presence across various countries. This latest development further exemplifies the company's global commitment to fostering a love for reading. For further information, you can also explore: How to read Google Books on Windows Phone?


2014. Scribd adds notes and highlights to its reading app



The leading ebook subscription platform, Scribd, has enhanced the reading experience by introducing exciting new features to its iOS and Android mobile reader apps. Firstly, users now have the ability to highlight their favorite passages, paragraphs, and quotes, as well as share them with friends. Additionally, the apps allow users to add notes, annotations, and ideas while reading. The second new feature is Image Zoom, enabling users to zoom in on maps and other illustrations for a closer examination. Furthermore, all notes, highlights, and bookmarks seamlessly synchronize across all mobile devices, and users can conveniently access them on a per-book basis.


2014. Scribd takes on Amazon - launches app for Kindle Fire



Scribd, the e-book subscription service, has introduced a new app specifically designed for Kindle Fire tablets, providing users with an alternative to Amazon's Kindle e-book store. While Scribd is already accessible on iOS and Android devices, as well as through web browsers, this expansion into specialized e-readers marks their first foray into the dedicated book reading market. Trip Adler, CEO and co-founder of Scribd, acknowledged the demand from their global readership for a Kindle Fire-compatible app. Recognizing the popularity of Kindle Fire as one of the leading reading devices available today, Scribd aims to enable their readers to enjoy the Scribd experience seamlessly across all their devices.


2013. Scribd and Oyster sing more book publishers



Competing ebook subscription services, Oyster and Scribd, have recently secured partnerships with new publishers to expand the selection of titles available on their platforms. Oyster has collaborated with Perseus, although the specific number of titles to be distributed through the subscription provider has not been disclosed. Noteworthy additions include popular works such as "Friday Night Lights," "Masters of Sex," and "Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage," all of which will be accessible to Oyster subscribers for a monthly fee of $9.95. On the other hand, Scribd has inked a deal with self-published ebook distributor Smashwords, effectively more than tripling its existing catalog. With the inclusion of Smashwords titles, the number of ebooks available through Scribd's $8.99 monthly subscription will surpass 325,000. Additionally, Smashwords titles will also be available for individual purchase on the broader Scribd site. It's worth noting that Oyster also has an existing partnership with Smashwords. At present, Oyster and Scribd boast a highly similar, if not entirely overlapping, catalog of titles. For further comparison, refer to the article on Oyster vs Scribd.


2013. Scribd wants to be the Netflix for e-books



Scribd, the popular document publishing and sharing service formerly known as the "Youtube for documents," is now aiming to become the "Netflix for e-books." They are introducing an ebook subscription service that allows users to pay $8.99 per month for unlimited access to e-books and other written works. This price point is lower than that of the recently launched mobile ebook platform Oyster, which charges $9.99 per month, and eReatah, a book club-like service with plans starting at $16.99 per month. The selection of book titles is also similar, as Scribd relies on the same publishers as Oyster, including HarperCollins, Kensington, Red Wheel/Weiser, Rosetta Books, Sourcebooks, and Workman. However, unlike Oyster, which is the closest competitor to Scribd's new venture, Scribd is accessible on iPhone, iPad, Android, and web browsers.