We’re not here to debate if audiobooks count as reading, and neither is Audible. Audiobooks are an essential part of the reading world, providing an accessible and convenient option. But what if you want to read and listen at the same time? Well, Audible has built that into its app.
Read & Listen is the latest feature coming to Audible. Now, while listening to an audiobook, the app shows synchronized text to the audiobook track. It’s a flexible option for those moments you want to be fully immersed and others when you just want to listen on the go.
You can swap between Listen and Read & Listen modes on any book.
Credit: Audible / Mashable
Included in the Read & Listen feature is one-tap mode switching between listen and read & listen, real-time synchronization, which highlights word-by-word, and easy discovery in which Audible automatically identifies matching e-books in a customer’s Kindle library, surfacing eligible titles in a dedicated Library tab. The catalogue is global for Listen & Read with titles available in English, German, Spanish, Italian, and French.
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Andy Tsao, Chief Product Officer at Audible, says, “Read & Listen gives book lovers the best of both worlds. Whether you’re learning a new language, studying for school, or lost in a story’s world, you no longer have to choose one format over the other.”
According to Audible, users of Read & Listen consume twice as much content per month compared to audiobook-only listeners. The Read & Listen feature was previously only available in the Kindle app as part of the Whispersync for Voice experience. Now it’s fully integrated into the Audible app, with discounted audiobooks available for customers who own the matching e-book.
The feature is now available to United States Audible users as of Feb. 18, 2026. Users in the UK, Australia, and Germany can access the feature on March 18, 2026.
Join Audible Premium Plus for $14.95 per month.
