Kindle Unlimited Coming to India: Price, Availability, and More

Amazon is set to finally bring Kindle Unlimited to India. This is a subscription based model where you can read books or listen to audiobooks by simply paying a monthly fee, and you can choose from over 1 million titles to read and thousands of audiobooks to listen to.

The launch is supposed to happen next week, and you'll be able to use Kindle Unlimited with subscription plans that will start at Rs. 199 per month. Considering that most books and audiobooks cost more than that, even if you aren't a heavy reader, this plan sounds like a great way to save lots of money while also encouraging people to read more.

In the US, Kindle Unlimited costs $9.99 per month - approximately Rs. 660. The Indian service being significantly cheaper isn't unexpected though; comparatively, music streaming is also significantly cheaper in India than it is in the rest of the world. For example, Apple Music costs Rs. 120 per month in India, with family plans cost Rs. 190. On the other hand, the US pricing is $9.99 (approximately Rs. 660) for an individual account, and $14.99 (approximately Rs. 990).

So what do you get with a Kindle Unlimited subscription?

Amazon hasn't shared any details about Kindle Unlimited yet, but in the US, you get access to ebooks and audiobooks, on any of your devices - if you don't own a Kindle, then you can still make use of the subscription by using the Kindle app on your iOS or Android device, or on the Web.

Amazon also offers a free 30-day subscription to Kindle Unlimited, so you try out the service without paying any cash upfront; you can "borrow" up to 10 books (or audiobooks) at a time, for as long as you'd like.

While the low pricing makes Kindle Unlimited sound like a great deal, it's worth noting that not all the books on offer will be the bestsellers that most people want to read. Not all the books you'll find on the Kindle store are going to be a part of Kindle Unlimited, but if you're used to reading a lot, then it sounds like a great idea, particularly with a one-month free trial to get a good look at the catalogue before you have to start spending money on it.