Writing a novel is hard, but it’s only the first part of your journey to becoming an author. Once you’ve created your story, you need to produce and distribute your work, and that’s just the beginning.
More than a quarter of Americans listen to audiobooks, which is a very important market to simply ignore. The production, publication and distribution of audiobooks can be difficult tasks. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of different services available that can handle parts of the process for you.
Here are some of the best audiobook publishing platforms you can consider.
First on this list is the Audiobook Creation Exchange, or ACX. ACX is Amazon’s audiobook marketplace for professional storytellers, authors, and more. If you’re looking to publish your audiobook, then ACX is one of the most popular websites out there for doing just that, and it comes with quite a variety in what it offers.
If you’re looking for 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 in their entirety to audio publishers. You can also choose to narrate your own audiobook if you wish, allowing you more control over the end result.
Audiobooks will end up on Audible, Amazon.com, and Apple Books, and the choice of exclusive or non-exclusive distribution is up to you.
Next, we have Findaway Voices. If you’re looking for professional-grade audiobook production, 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 a detailed process that will ensure you get the perfect audiobook. There is an extended sample phase, where the storytellers will send out samples of about 15 minutes for you to listen to and make sure you’re getting the best of it before production.
Findaway Voices gives you a lot of control over the stores you distribute to and the prices of your audiobook, making it perfect for anyone who prefers a more hands-on approach.
If you’re already planning to self-publish your eBook, then Kobo Writing Life is a great way to self-publish for your audiobook as well. Kobo Writing Life makes it easy for you to publish your work on their service, with options for promotional pricing, pre-orders, and more, it’s all up to you.
Kobo Writing Life also allows you to self-publish audiobooks. You’ll have to handle the actual production yourself, but Kobo will distribute the book on its service as part of its Writing Life program.
Next, we have Google Play Books. While Google Play Books has a huge reach, with more than 75 countries and 3 billion users as part of its service, that’s not the biggest draw of Google Play Books.
What makes Google Play Books a great service for self-publishing your audiobook is actually its audiobooks feature with automatic narration. This allows Google Play Books to automatically convert eBooks directly to audiobooks.
The quality is obviously lower than what you’d get with a trained storyteller, but it’s surprisingly good considering it’s automated. It’s noticeably cheaper, too.
If you’re looking to reach Apple users, then Apple Books is naturally the platform to publish on. While you’ll get access to Apple Books if you work with ACX, it’s worth noting that you can publish your audiobook directly to Apple Books instead.
There is a list of approved audiobook partners that Apple Books approves, but this gives you more control than going through ACX. Perfect for if you are looking for alternatives to Audible.
Author’s Republic is a great service to help you not only distribute, but also produce audiobooks. It has an accessible marketplace to find the perfect storyteller for you, including auditions with professional storytellers.
Distribution is also handled by Author’s Republic, with a wide range of distribution options. You can access almost any service you want with Author’s Republic, regardless of how old or new it is.
Next, we have PublishDrive. PublishDrive is a distribution network that allows you to easily reach a wide variety of different distribution channels.
PublishDrive’s cheapest plan gives you access to 35 distribution channels, while the most expensive plans allow you to reach more than 50.
If you’re looking for a wide variety of distribution options, then PublishDrive might be just what you need.
If you want something that feels a bit more professional and high-end, then the Soundwise might be the best option for you.
Soundwise is a software-as-a-service solution for audiobook distribution, with the goal of giving creators the means to securely host and deliver their audiobooks.
Soundwise allows you to control your own pricing and gives you a wide range of distribution methods to choose from.
Lantern Audio is a trusted audiobook production partner and has worked with some of the world’s largest publishers. With this in mind, Lantern Audio is designed to enable independent creators to put their audiobooks in the hands of the top leaders in the audiobook market.
Lantern Audio can be used to both produce and distribute audiobooks. You will be able to select your narrator and once your work has been created, Lantern Audio will provide full distribution services.
Finally, we have Scribe. Scribe is an all-in-one audiobook service that aims to give everyone the experience of a production studio.
You’ll be paired with a professional storyteller or taught to talk about 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 difficult
As you can see, there are a wide variety of different options for you to choose from when it comes to publishing your audiobook. Depending on how much you’re willing to spend, how much control you want, and how much you’re willing to work, there’s an option for you.