If you’re a seasoned Kindle user, you’re probably already familiar with Kindle Unlimited. This subscription service allows you to borrow as many books as you can read every month from a vast selection of titles. You might already own a subscription yourself, but have you ever considered giving one as a gift?
Kindle Unlimited makes an excellent gift for friends and family who are avid e-book readers. You can purchase it as a standalone subscription that can be used on any device, or for an extra special someone, you can gift it along with a brand new Kindle.
In this article, I’ll explain more about Kindle Unlimited and how it works. Then, I’ll show you step by step how you can give the gift of Kindle Unlimited to your loved ones and how they can redeem it.
What is Kindle Unlimited?
If you’re not already part of the Amazon Kindle family, you might be wondering what on earth the Kindle Unlimited subscription service is and how it all works.
Kindle Unlimited gives you access to over two million e-books, as well as thousands of audiobooks. Plus, you’ll also receive up to three magazine subscriptions of your choosing. Their massive library of eligible e-books spans every genre imaginable and includes brand new releases, all-time classics, Amazon Originals, self-published works, and pretty much everything in between.
There are no caps; once you sign up, you can read as much as you want from each and every category.
To find Kindle Unlimited books, look out for the special icon in the corner of each book thumbnail throughout the whole Kindle library. You can also filter your search results to show only Kindle Unlimited books or head over to the dedicated Kindle Unlimited library. To start reading, click on the “read for free” icon.
For free Kindle Unlimited audiobooks, search through the Kindle Unlimited library and look out for the “with narration” icons, or check out the large selection of books with free audiobook companions.
Don’t own a Kindle? No problem! You don’t actually need a Kindle to access Kindle Unlimited; you can read unlimited books on your phone, laptop, or tablet by downloading the Kindle App. Plus, if you’re not convinced it’s worth the $9.99 monthly subscription fee, you can try it free for 30 days and cancel if it’s not for you.
At HookedtoBooks, we have a more in-depth guide about Kindle Unlimited that covers everything about what it is and how to use it. If you’re considering signing up for your own subscription, I highly recommend you check that out.
How to Give The Kindle Unlimited Gift?
If Kindle Unlimited sounds like the sort of thing your friends and family would enjoy, then read on. You can give the gift of an unlimited reading subscription in just a few simple steps.
Step 1: Head to the Kindle Unlimited Gift Page
Rather than going to the regular Kindle Unlimited home page to process a new subscription, you’ll need to head to Amazon’s official Kindle Unlimited Gift page. Click on the link to open it in your browser.
Step 2: Pick a Subscription Length
Now, decide how long you’d like the Kindle Unlimited subscription gift to last for. The shortest contract currently available is 6 months, or you can opt for longer 12 or 24-month subscriptions too. Whichever length you choose, the recipient will have access to all of Kindle Unlimited’s features and extras for that time period.
When you’ve chosen the contract length you’d like to gift, click on the “Continue” icon to move onto the next page.
Step 3: Enter the Recipient’s Details
You’ll now be directed to the purchase notification page. Check the options you’ve selected so far are correct and click “proceed to checkout.”
There will be a box at the top of the page entitled “Give Kindle Unlimited as a Gift.” Make sure this is checked and proceed to the Gift Options Page.
Now, you’ll be prompted to fill in the gift recipient’s details, including their email address and the date that their membership will begin (e.g., on their birthday, or Christmas day, etc.). Don’t worry; Amazon won’t spoil the surprise for you; they’ll only contact the recipient with instructions to set up their account on the day the subscription begins. You can choose for the subscription to start any time within a year from the date of purchase, so if you like to plan your gift-giving ahead of time, that’s no problem.
If you’d prefer to print off the subscription confirmation page to give to the recipient in person, enter your own email address instead of theirs. Just remember to forward the welcome email over to them when the time comes so that they can set up their own account.
Step 4: Add a Personalized Message
On the same page, you’ll have the option to enter a short personalized message to the giftee. Unless you want your gift to be anonymous, don’t forget to fill in this step so that your friend or family member knows who their gift is from. Your message will appear in the welcome email, which will be sent to them on the start date of their subscription.
Once you’re happy with the gift message and you’ve entered all the correct details, click the orange “Save Gift Options” tab at the top right-hand corner of the page.
Step 5: Confirm Your Order
Once all the details are saved, click on the “Continue to Payment” icon to select your payment method. Just like with all Amazon purchases, you’ll be given a variety of payment options, including your credit or debit card or Paypal.
Now, click the “Place your order” button, and viola, your Kindle Unlimited subscription gift is ready to go.
How to Redeem a Kindle Unlimited Gift?
Amazon makes it easy to redeem a Kindle Unlimited subscription as a gift, but if your chosen recipient needs a little help for any reason, here are some instructions.
1. Open the Welcome Email and Redeem Your Gift
On the day the subscription begins, Amazon will send the recipient an email letting them know they’ve been gifted Kindle Unlimited.
If the gift giver chose to enter their own email address and print the confirmation page themselves, then they’ll need to forward the welcome email to the recipient so they can activate their own membership.
Once you’re ready to activate a subscription, click the orange “Redeem Your Kindle Unlimited Membership” button in the center of the email to be directed to the next step.
2. Choose Your Options
Although most avid e-book readers would love a Kindle Unlimited subscription, some people would rather receive a gift card that allows them to purchase not just e-books but anything from Amazon. That’s why at this next stage, the recipient can choose between receiving a Kindle Unlimited Subscription, or loading the equivalent of the purchase price onto their own Amazon account, in the form of a gift card. This is also handy if the recipient already has Kindle Unlimited, as your gift won’t go to waste.
To go ahead and register your Kindle Unlimited gift, click the large orange icon that says, “Redeem your (insert subscription length here) months of Kindle Unlimited.”
To opt for an Amazon gift card instead, follow the instructions to “Click here to register your membership as a gift card.” It’s worth mentioning that this part of the page is a little misleading, as it implies that you can only register for a gift card if you already have a Kindle Unlimited membership. Thankfully, that’s not the case; anyone can choose the gift card option for any reason.
What’s the Difference between a Kinde Unlimited Gift Subscription and a Regular Subscription?
When you purchase Kindle Unlimited as a gift for someone else, you are buying a membership for either 6, 12, or 24 months. But when you sign up for Kindle Unlimited as a regular subscription, rather than a gift, you pay on a month-to-month basis. You’ll also get a 30-day free trial to make sure it’s right for you.
But did you know that you can give yourself the gift of Kindle Unlimited?
While it’s great to have the flexibility to cancel at any time with a regular subscription, there are often great deals on Kindle Unlimited gift subscriptions, which means you’ll save money in the long run. Amazon regularly runs offers and discounts that range anywhere from 20% to even 40% off the 6, 12, or 24-month subscription fees. As it stands, there’s nothing to stop you from sending Kindle Unlimited as a gift to yourself. If you know that you’ll be using the subscription service for at least six months, be sure to check for any gift offers before you commit.
These offers are more likely to roll around during the build-up to Christmas and other major holidays, around the time of Black Friday and on Prime Day.
Conclusion
I love the idea of giving an e-book subscription-like Kindle Unlimited as a gift to my nearest and dearest. It’s an original and thoughtful gift that will keep on giving for at least six months or longer if you choose.
You can also purchase Kindle Unlimited alongside an actual Kindle and gift both together at the same time. That way, your friend or family member can enjoy their new device straight away and have access to millions of e-books, thousands of audiobooks, as well as magazine subscription services.
Are you already signed up for Kindle Unlimited? Check out my recent post about the best Kindle Unlimited books out now, as well as some free open source Kindle books that everyone can enjoy.