Scribd used to be the simple answer to "Netflix for books." That changed. Its ebook and audiobook library now lives in a separate app, Everand, and most popular titles need an unlock rather than being included without limit. Many long-time readers started looking around.
This guide explains what Scribd and Everand offer today, compares the main alternatives on price and catalogue, and helps you choose between renting and owning.
What Scribd and Everand are today
Scribd now focuses on documents. Its ebooks and audiobooks moved to Everand, and one subscription covers Scribd, Everand, SlideShare and the Fable book club app.
| Everand plan (US) | Price | Unlocks a month |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $11.99 | 1 |
| Plus | $16.99 | 3 |
| Deluxe | $28.99 | 5 |
Every plan also includes unlimited access to a catalogue of 20,000+ ebooks, audiobooks and podcasts that don't need an unlock. Unused unlocks now roll over for up to six months. Everand says an unlocked book is yours for the duration of your subscription, so access depends on staying subscribed.
Why readers look for a Scribd alternative
| Reason | What it means |
|---|---|
| Unlock limits | Popular books use credits; one a month on the Standard plan |
| Nothing to keep | Unlocked books are tied to an active subscription |
| Cost for heavy readers | Five unlocks a month costs $28.99 |
| Smaller unlimited shelf | The no-unlock catalogue is a fraction of the full library |
| Documents vs books | Readers who only want books may not need the document side |
Scribd alternatives compared
| Option | US price | How it works | Keep books after you stop? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everand | $11.99 to $28.99 a month | Unlocks plus a smaller unlimited catalogue | No |
| Kindle Unlimited | $11.99 a month | Borrow from a large rotating catalogue | No |
| Kobo Plus | From $7.99 a month | Borrow from Kobo's subscription catalogue | No |
| Libby | Free with a library card | Borrow for a set loan period; waitlists for popular titles | No |
| Buying ebooks | Per book | Buy once | Yes |
Kindle Unlimited: the closest match
Kindle Unlimited costs the same as Everand Standard, $11.99 a month in the US, but lets you borrow many books at a time from its catalogue without unlock credits. The catch is the catalogue itself: it leans heavily on independent and Amazon-published titles, and many big-publisher bestsellers aren't included. Books stay in Amazon's apps and devices.
Kobo Plus: the cheaper subscription
Kobo Plus starts at $7.99 a month in the US for ebooks, with a higher tier that adds audiobooks. It works on Kobo e-readers and in the Kobo apps. Like Kindle Unlimited, its catalogue is strongest in independent titles.
Our Kindle Unlimited alternatives guide compares the subscriptions in more depth.
Libby: free, if you can wait
Libby lends ebooks and audiobooks through your public library, free. Popular titles often have waitlists, and loans expire, but for many readers it covers most of what they read. Some libraries also offer hoopla, which works differently and may have monthly borrowing limits. Check what your library supports.
Buying ebooks: fewer books, but yours
A subscription is rent. You pay every month, and the books go when you stop. Buying is the opposite: you pay once and the book stays in your library.
That matters most for books you reread, reference or want to share with your family on your own devices: devotionals, history, business books, a favourite series. It also matters if you tend to read one or two books a month, where a subscription often costs as much as simply buying them.
Renting vs owning: the sums
A rough comparison over one year, using US prices.
| You read | Everand Standard | Kindle Unlimited | Buying at $4.99 each |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 book a month | $143.88 | $143.88 | $59.88, and you keep 12 books |
| 2 books a month | $203.88 on Plus, or $143.88 if one book comes from the unlimited shelf | $143.88 | $119.76, and you keep 24 books |
| 4 books a month | $203.88 on Plus (3 unlocks) | $143.88 | $239.52, and you keep 48 books |
The pattern is clear. Light and moderate readers often spend less by buying, especially on sale. Heavy readers of subscription catalogues save by subscribing, but own nothing at the end. Many readers do both: borrow widely, buy the books they love.
How BooksOasis fits
BooksOasis is an independent bookstore for ebooks, paperbacks and hardcovers. There is no subscription. You buy a book once and it stays in your library, readable in Oasis Reader on any phone, tablet or computer.
- A daily deal and weekly offers bring prices down.
- Series bundles: the first three, or the complete series, at one price.
- Offline: download a book once and read without a connection.
- Highlights and notes that follow you between devices.
More on saving in how to find ebook deals and ebook bundles.
What BooksOasis does not do
- It has no subscription or all-you-can-read plan.
- It doesn't sell audiobooks or host documents.
- Its catalogue is far smaller than Everand's, with a focus on independent and house titles.
- It doesn't send books to Kindle, Kobo or Nook e-readers.
What to look for in any alternative
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Are the books I want included? | A subscription is only good value if your books are in it |
| Can I keep what I read? | Borrowed and unlocked books disappear when you stop paying |
| Where can I read? | Phone, tablet, computer, browser or e-ink |
| Can I read offline? | Flights, commutes and patchy signal |
| Are there deals? | Daily deals and bundles can beat a monthly fee |
| How easy is it to leave? | Check cancellation terms before you sign up |
Take ten minutes before you subscribe to anything: search for five books you want to read next and see which service actually has them. That short test usually settles the choice faster than any comparison chart.
Three readers, three choices
A thriller fan who reads a book every few days moved to Kindle Unlimited, because most of the series she binges are in its catalogue and a flat fee beats unlock credits at her pace.
A pastor who reads slowly and rereads often stopped subscribing altogether. He buys devotionals and history books when they are on sale and keeps them in one library, returning to his highlights when he prepares a talk.
A student on a tight budget borrows almost everything through Libby, joins waitlists early, and buys only the one or two books a term she knows she'll want to keep.
Try before you commit
Whatever you choose, sample first. Most subscriptions offer a free trial; set a reminder a few days before it ends. When buying, read a book's description, check whether it belongs to a series you'd want to finish, and look for a series bundle before buying volumes one at a time. A short sample habit saves more money than any single deal.
If you used Scribd for audiobooks
Audiobook listeners have different options. Everand still covers both formats, Kobo Plus has an audiobook tier, Audible is the biggest dedicated store, and Libby lends audiobooks free. If you mainly listen, choose among those; if you mainly read, the ebook options above cost less.
If you used Scribd for documents
Scribd's document library still exists and is part of the same subscription. If documents were the main reason you subscribed, you may want to keep Scribd and look elsewhere only for books.
Reading comfortably after you switch
Moving apps means setting up your reading comfort again. Pick a theme for the time of day (Light by day, Sepia or Dark at night), raise the text size a step, and add a little line spacing. If you read in bed, your phone's night mode helps too. In Oasis Reader these settings are remembered on each device, so your phone and laptop can each be set up the way you like. More in reading ebooks on your phone.
Building a library you own
If you decide to buy more, a little structure helps. Start with the books you returned to most on Scribd, then fill in the series you never finished. Buy the first three volumes of a new series before committing to the whole set, and save books to your favourites with the heart icon, so you can pounce when one appears in the daily deal. Over a year, a library built this way costs little and stays with you.
Leaving Everand without losing your place
- Finish or note what you're reading.Unlocked books go when the subscription ends.
- Use your remaining unlocks.Unused credits roll over for up to six months, but only while subscribed.
- Write down favourites.Make a list of the books you'd want to own or reread.
- Check your library.See which titles Libby can lend you.
- Buy the keepers.Watch for deals on the books you want to keep.
Scribd alternatives by reader type
| Reader | Best alternative |
|---|---|
| Reads four or more books a month | Kindle Unlimited or Kobo Plus, if your books are included |
| Reads one or two books a month | Buy on sale, and keep them |
| Happy to wait for loans | Libby |
| Loves series | Series bundles you buy once |
| Mostly listens | Everand, Audible or Libby |
| Wants documents and books | Stay with Scribd |
Books to start with
The bottom line
Scribd's move to Everand's unlock plans made it a different service. If you want the old all-you-can-read feel, Kindle Unlimited is the closest match and Kobo Plus the cheaper one. If you want free, use Libby. And if you read a book or two a month, buying the ones you love, on sale, often costs less and leaves you with a library that's yours.
Questions
Is Scribd still unlimited?
Not for most books. Scribd's ebooks and audiobooks now live in Everand, where plans include a monthly number of unlocks for premium titles, plus unlimited access to a smaller catalogue of 20,000+ titles.
How much does Everand cost?
In the US, Standard is $11.99 a month with 1 unlock, Plus is $16.99 with 3 unlocks, and Deluxe is $28.99 with 5 unlocks.
Do I keep Everand books if I cancel?
Everand says an unlocked book is yours for the duration of your subscription. If you want to keep a book after you stop paying, buy it.
What is the best Scribd alternative for ebooks?
Kindle Unlimited has a large rotating catalogue for $11.99 a month in the US. Kobo Plus is cheaper. Libby is free with a library card. If you want to keep your books, buy them from a store you like.
Is there a free alternative to Scribd?
Libby lends ebooks and audiobooks free with a library card. Some libraries also offer hoopla. Availability depends on your library.
What happened to Scribd?
Scribd now focuses on documents. Its ebook and audiobook library moved into a separate app, Everand, and one subscription covers Scribd, Everand, SlideShare and the Fable book club app.
Can I read Everand books offline?
Yes. Everand lets you download titles to its app to read offline while your subscription is active.
Is buying ebooks cheaper than a subscription?
It depends on how much you read. At one or two books a month, buying on sale is often similar or cheaper, and you keep the books.
Does BooksOasis have a subscription?
No. You buy each ebook once and keep it in your library. Daily deals, weekly offers and series bundles bring prices down.
Can I use a subscription and buy books too?
Yes. Many readers keep one subscription for sampling and buy the books they want to reread or own.
Own the books you love
Buy an ebook once and keep it, with daily deals and series bundles.