Kindle Unlimited costs $11.99 a month in the US, plus tax. Amazon’s signup page pushes a 30-day free trial, but that offer applies once, to accounts that have never subscribed before.
After the trial ends, or if you’re not eligible for it, you’re billed the full $11.99 every month until you cancel.
The price Amazon doesn’t put on the button
Go to the Kindle Unlimited signup page and the first thing you see is a trial offer, not a price. The actual cost lives in Amazon’s own FAQ: $11.99 USD/month plus applicable tax, no annual plan, no discount for paying upfront.
There’s no student rate for Kindle Unlimited. One membership covers one Amazon account, though that account works across every device signed into it.
Video: Lottie Smalley
Kindle Unlimited and Prime Reading are not the same thing
Amazon’s checkout flow sometimes blurs this: Prime Reading comes free with an existing Prime membership. Kindle Unlimited does not.
Prime Reading gives you a rotating pick of around a thousand books, magazines, and comics.
Kindle Unlimited gives you access to a catalog Amazon lists at over 5 million titles, plus thousands of audiobooks, with up to 20 books borrowed at once. Prime members still pay the full $11.99 a month for it.
| Detail | Prime Reading | Kindle Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | Included with Prime | $11.99 + tax, separate charge |
| Catalog size | About 1,000 rotating titles | 5 million+ titles |
| Audiobooks | Select titles only | Thousands included |
| Borrow limit | 10 titles at a time | 20 titles at a time |
| Free trial | N/A, tied to Prime trial | 30 days, new subscribers only |
How the free trial actually works
The 30-day trial is a one-time offer for accounts that have never subscribed to Kindle Unlimited. If you’ve had it before, even years ago, you won’t see the trial option again at signup.
Once the trial ends, Amazon converts it automatically to a paid membership at $11.99 a month. Cancel any time from the Manage Your Kindle Unlimited Membership page and you keep access until the current billing period runs out. After that, borrowed titles stop opening.
None of this requires a Kindle device. It works through the free Kindle app on iOS, Android, Mac, and PC, on Fire tablets, and through Kindle Cloud Reader in a browser.
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FAQ
Does Kindle Unlimited cost extra if I already pay for Amazon Prime?
Yes. Prime and Kindle Unlimited are billed separately. Prime includes Prime Reading, a much smaller free catalog, not full Kindle Unlimited access.
Can I cancel Kindle Unlimited whenever I want?
Yes. Cancel from the Manage Your Kindle Unlimited Membership page with no minimum commitment. You keep your borrowed titles until the current billing period ends.
Can I get the free trial again if I’ve used it before?
No. Amazon limits the 30-day trial to subscribers who have never had a Kindle Unlimited membership. Returning subscribers go straight to the $11.99 monthly rate.
