Kindle Unlimited
Prime Reading or Kindle Unlimited: differences and choice
In short
Prime Reading, called “Lee con Prime” in Spain, is a selection of books, magazines and comics included in Amazon Prime at no extra cost. Kindle Unlimited is a separate subscription at €9.99 a month, with more than a million titles and a 30-day free trial. If you read one book a month or fewer and already have Prime, start with Prime Reading. If you read two or more and they are in its catalogue, Kindle Unlimited.
Full guide: Kindle Unlimited
| Prime Reading | Kindle Unlimited | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Included in Amazon Prime | €9.99 a month |
| Catalogue | A selection that keeps changing | More than a million titles |
| Free trial | The Prime one: 30 days | 30 days |
| Requires Prime | Yes | No |
| Where you read | Kindle app or Kindle e-reader | Kindle app or Kindle e-reader |
| Lock-in | No | No |
What Prime Reading is
Prime Reading is the reading benefit of Amazon Prime, shown as “Lee con Prime” on Amazon.es. According to Amazon, it gives access to a selection of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, comics and manga. It is not bought or paid for separately: it comes with the Prime fee, like Prime Video or the music.
The key word is “selection”. The catalogue is much smaller than Kindle Unlimited's and it rotates: titles come and go.
What Kindle Unlimited is
Kindle Unlimited is Amazon's flat-rate reading subscription: more than a million ebooks for €9.99 a month, with a 30-day free trial. It is independent of Prime: you can have it without being a member.
The difference that matters: the size of the catalogue
The two services work the same way. You choose a title, download it in the Kindle app and read it. The difference is how much there is to choose from.
- Prime Reading: a limited selection, designed so there is always something to read.
- Kindle Unlimited: a catalogue of more than a million titles, designed for reading a lot.
Neither includes every book on Amazon. New releases from the big publishers are usually sold separately.
What each one costs
| Option | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Reading (with annual Prime) | Included | €49.90 |
| Kindle Unlimited | €9.99 | €119.88 |
| Annual Prime + Kindle Unlimited | — | €169.78 |
Our own calculation with October 2026 prices. If you already pay for Prime for delivery, Prime Reading costs you nothing more. Kindle Unlimited adds €119.88 a year.
How to tell which one is enough: the five-book method
- Write down the next five books you want to read.
- Look them up on Amazon.es and see how many say they are included with Prime.
- See how many say they are in Kindle Unlimited.
- If Prime Reading covers at least two, start there.
- If Kindle Unlimited covers three or more and Prime Reading none, try Kindle Unlimited.
It takes ten minutes and replaces any comparison, because it uses your books and not somebody else's.
How many books you read a month
| Your pace | What suits you |
|---|---|
| Fewer than one book a month | Prime Reading, if you already have Prime |
| One book a month | Prime Reading first; Kindle Unlimited only if you cannot find anything to read |
| Two books a month | Kindle Unlimited: each book works out at €5.00 |
| Three or more | Kindle Unlimited: each book works out at €3.33 or less |
Examples
You have Prime and read on holiday
Prime Reading covers you. Two or three books a year do not justify €119.88.
You read a novel a week
Kindle Unlimited. With four books a month, each one works out at €2.50.
You do not have Prime and only want to read
Kindle Unlimited is the direct option, because it does not require Prime. Monthly Prime costs less, €4.99, but its reading selection is far smaller.
You mostly read new releases
Neither covers you fully. Check title by title before paying for anything.
Where you read
In both cases, with the free Kindle app on your phone, tablet or computer, or with a Kindle e-reader. There is no need to buy a device. The settings that help are in reading on your phone with the Kindle app.
You can have both
Yes, and they do not get in each other's way. If you are a Prime member and take out Kindle Unlimited, you will have both catalogues. In practice, almost everything you use will be in Kindle Unlimited.
And if you prefer to listen
For audiobooks, Amazon's service is Audible, with more than 90,000 titles for €9.99 a month. We compare it with reading in Audible or Kindle Unlimited.
How to use Prime Reading
- Sign in to Amazon.es with your Prime account.
- Find the section for reading included with Prime.
- Choose a title and select the option to read it free with Prime.
- Open it in the Kindle app or on your e-reader.
- When you finish, return it to choose another.
Titles are borrowed. There is a maximum number you can hold at once, which the page itself shows. There is no return date for as long as you remain a Prime member.
How to use Kindle Unlimited
It works the same way, with a different catalogue. On the page of each included book you see the option to read it with Kindle Unlimited. You download it, read it and return it when you want another. It also has a maximum number of titles at once.
What happens to the books when you cancel
| If you cancel | What happens to what you have on loan |
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime | Prime Reading titles stop being available |
| Kindle Unlimited | Kindle Unlimited titles stop being available when the paid period ends |
In both cases, books you have bought remain yours. What you lose is what was borrowed. Your highlights and notes are kept in your account in case you borrow the book again.
Magazines and comics
Prime Reading is not only novels. According to Amazon, the selection also includes magazines, comics and manga. If you read specialist magazines or comics now and then, that may be enough and you may not need anything else.
If you are a student
Prime Student includes the same benefits as Prime, reading among them. In addition, Amazon's June 2025 announcement mentioned two months of Kindle Unlimited for these members. Check on the page whether it still applies. The sums for a whole academic year are in student subscriptions.
Kindle Unlimited's cost per book
| Books per month | Cost per book |
|---|---|
| 1 | €9.99 |
| 2 | €5.00 |
| 3 | €3.33 |
| 4 | €2.50 |
With Prime Reading there is no sum to do if you already pay for Prime for another reason: the added cost is zero. That is why it is the logical starting point.
A free alternative: the library
Before paying to read, remember that public libraries lend ebooks at no cost with a library card. The catalogue and formats depend on each service. It is compatible with everything above: many readers combine the library, Prime Reading and the odd purchase.
Where to start, step by step
- If you have Prime, use Prime Reading for a month.
- Note the books you looked for and could not find.
- If there were three or more, see whether they are in Kindle Unlimited.
- If they are, start the 30-day trial.
- On day 23, count the books you have read and decide.
This order avoids paying for a large catalogue when the small one would have been enough.
Common mistakes
- Thinking Kindle Unlimited comes with Prime.
- Paying for Kindle Unlimited without having looked at Prime Reading.
- Assuming every new release is there.
- Forgetting to return titles and running out of slots to borrow others.
- Leaving the subscription active in months when you do not read.
What kind of books each one has
Both catalogues have a bit of everything, but not in the same proportion. Kindle Unlimited is rich in independent authors and in genres read as series, such as romance, crime or fantasy. If that is what you read, you will find plenty. If you mainly look for new releases from the big publishers, you will find less.
Prime Reading, being a short selection, works more like a recommendations table: a few titles of each kind, which keep changing.
Reading on several devices
On both services, the book syncs. You can start on your phone on the bus and carry on from the same page on your tablet or Kindle e-reader at home. Highlights and notes travel with the book. To read offline, download it before you leave.
Five checks before starting the trial
- Have I already looked at what is included with Prime?
- Are at least three of my next five books in Kindle Unlimited?
- Will I have time to read this month?
- Have I put day 23 in the calendar?
- Do I know where to cancel?
If the third answer is no, wait. A reading trial in a month of exams or heavy work will tell you nothing. Where to cancel is in how to see and cancel your subscriptions.
In short
- Prime Reading: included in Prime, a small rotating catalogue.
- Kindle Unlimited: €9.99 a month, more than a million titles.
- Fewer than one book a month: Prime Reading.
- Two or more a month: Kindle Unlimited.
- Before deciding, look up your next five books.
Frequently asked questions about Prime Reading and Kindle Unlimited
What is the difference between Prime Reading and Kindle Unlimited?
Prime Reading is a reading selection included in Amazon Prime. Kindle Unlimited is a separate subscription with more than a million titles.
Is Prime Reading free?
It has no extra cost for Amazon Prime members: it is included in the Prime fee.
How much does Kindle Unlimited cost?
€9.99 a month after a 30-day free trial, according to the prices checked in October 2026.
Is Kindle Unlimited included in Amazon Prime?
No. Prime includes Prime Reading. Kindle Unlimited is paid for separately.
Do I need to be a Prime member to have Kindle Unlimited?
No. Kindle Unlimited is independent of Amazon Prime.
What does Prime Reading include?
According to Amazon, a selection of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, comics and manga.
How many books does Kindle Unlimited have?
More than a million ebooks.
Does the Prime Reading catalogue change?
Yes. It is a rotating selection: titles come and go over time.
Do I need a Kindle to use Prime Reading?
No. You read with the free Kindle app on your phone, tablet or computer.
Do I need a Kindle to use Kindle Unlimited?
No. The free Kindle app on any device is enough.
Can I have Prime Reading and Kindle Unlimited at the same time?
Yes. If you are a Prime member and take out Kindle Unlimited, you have access to both catalogues.
Which one suits me if I read one book a month?
If you already have Prime, Prime Reading. Kindle Unlimited only if you cannot find anything to read in the selection.
Which one suits me if I read two or more books a month?
Kindle Unlimited, provided the books you want to read are in its catalogue.
Does Kindle Unlimited include new releases?
Not all of them. New releases from the big publishers are usually sold separately.
How do I know whether a book is in Kindle Unlimited?
The book's page on Amazon.es says so next to the price.
How do I know whether a book is in Prime Reading?
The book's page on Amazon.es says whether it is included with Prime.
How much does Kindle Unlimited cost per year?
€119.88, which is the monthly fee times twelve.
Does Kindle Unlimited have a lock-in?
No. It can be cancelled at any time.
What is the five-book method?
Looking up the next five books you want to read and counting how many are included in each service before you pay.
Does Prime Reading include audiobooks?
Amazon mentions audiobooks within the selection. For a wide audiobook catalogue, the service is Audible.
Sources and date checked
- Amazon: benefits included in Prime, announcement of June 2025 (in Spanish)
- Terms published by Amazon.es for Kindle Unlimited, checked in October 2026
The practical advice, examples and calculators are the work of Global Store Afiliados. Facts last checked: 10 October 2026. How we check the facts: editorial methodology.
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