The 10 Best Platforms for Publishing Your Audiobook
Reading Time: 4 minutesOnce you’ve made your audiobook, it’s time to publish it. Consider one of these platforms, some of them will even help you with the creation process.
Writing a novel is difficult, but it’s only the first part of your journey to being an author. Once you’ve created your story, you need to produce and distribute your work, and that’s only the beginning.
Over a quarter of Americans listen to audiobooks, which is a very significant market to simply ignore. Audiobook production, publication, and distribution can be difficult tasks. Luckily, there are a wide variety of different services available out there that can handle parts of the process for you.
Here are some of the best audiobook publishing platforms for you to consider.
1. ACX
First up on this list comes Audiobook Creation Exchange, or ACX. ACX is Amazon’s audiobook marketplace aimed at professional narrators, authors, and more. If you’re looking to get your audiobook published, then ACX is one of the most popular websites out there for doing just that, and comes with a lot of variety in what it offers.
If you’re looking to find someone else to make your audiobook, you can use ACX to engage audiobook producers to create it for you. Alternatively, you can sell the audio rights entirely to audio publishers. You can also choose to narrate your own audiobook if you so wish, which will let you have greater control over the end result.
The audiobooks will end up on Audible, Amazon.com, and Apple Books, with the option of exclusive or non-exclusive distribution being up to you.
2. Findaway Voices
Next up, we have Findaway Voices. If you’re looking for professional-level audiobook production, then Findaway Voices is a great resource.
If you want to learn how to create your first audiobook, Findaway Voices connects you with voice actors in an in-depth process that will ensure you get the perfect audiobook. There’s an extended sample phase, where narrators will submit approximately 15-minute samples for you to listen to and make sure that you’re getting the best fit before production.
Findaway Voices gives you a lot of control over what stores you distribute in and the prices of your audiobook, making it perfect for anyone who prefers a more hands-on approach.
3. Kobo Writing Life
If you’re already planning to self-publish your ebook, then Kobo Writing Life is a great way to go about doing just that for your audiobook as well. Kobo Writing Life allows you to easily publish your work to their service, with options for promotional pricing, pre-orders, and more, all up to you.
Kobo Writing Life also allows you to self-publish audiobooks as well. You’ll have to handle the actual production yourself, but Kobo will distribute the book on their service for you as part of their Writing Life program.
4. Google Play Books
Next, we have Google Play Books. While Google Play Books does have a huge reach, with over 75 countries and 3 billion users being a part of their service, that isn’t Google Play Books’ biggest appeal.
What makes Google Play Books a great service for self-publishing your audiobook is actually its auto-narrated audiobooks feature. This lets Google Play Books automatically convert ebooks directly into audiobooks.
The quality is obviously less than what you would get with a trained narrator, but it is surprisingly good considering that it’s automated. It’s noticeably cheaper, too.
5. Apple Books
If you’re looking to reach Apple users, then Apple Books is, naturally, the platform to publish on. While you will get access to Apple Books if you work with ACX, it’s worth noting that you can publish your audiobook to Apple Books directly, instead.
There is a list of approved audiobook partners that Apple Books approves of, but this gives you greater control than going through ACX. Perfect for if you’re looking for alternatives to Audible.
6. Author’s Republic
Author’s Republic is a great service to help you not just distribute, but also produce audiobooks. It features an accessible marketplace for finding the perfect narrator for you, including auditions with professional narrators.
Distribution with Author’s Republic is handled as well, with a huge range of options to distribute to. You can reach just about any service that you might want to with Author’s Republic, regardless of how new or old it is.
7. PublishDrive
Next, we have PublishDrive. PublishDrive is a distribution network that allows you to easily reach a wide variety of different distribution channels.
The cheapest plan on PublishDrive gives you access to 35 distribution channels, with more expensive plans allowing you to reach over 50.
If you’re looking for a huge variety of distribution options, then PublishDrive might just be what you need.
8. Soundwise
If you want something that feels a little more professional and high-end, then Soundwise might be the best fit for you.
Soundwise is a software-as-a-service solution to audiobook distribution, with the aim to allow creators the means to securely host and deliver their audiobooks.
Soundwise lets you control your own pricing, and gives you a wide range of methods for distribution that you get to choose from.
9. Lantern Audio
Lantern Audio is a trusted audiobook production partner and has worked with some of the largest publishers in the world. With this in mind, Lantern Audio is designed to allow independent creators to get their audiobooks into the hands of major audiobook market leaders.
Lantern Audio can be used to both produce and distribute audiobooks. You’ll be able to select your narrator, and once your work is created, Lantern Audio will provide full distribution services.
10. Scribe
Finally, we have Scribe. Scribe is an all-in-one audiobook service that aims to give everyone the production studio experience.
You will either be paired with a professional narrator or coached on how to speak your work yourself. From there, your audiobook will go through post-production and distribution, which Scribe handles in-house.
Publishing Your Audiobook Doesn’t Have to Be Hard
As you can see, there is a huge variety of different options out there for you to choose from when it comes to publishing your audiobook. Depending on how much you’re willing to spend, how much you control you want, and how much you’re willing to work, there’s an option for you out there.