Audiobooks are becoming increasingly popular as a means of reading and learning. This has led to the emergence of many Audiobook Services, all trying to capture a piece of the market. There are several options, including Speechify Audio books, Audible, Librivox, OverDrive, Libby, Apple Books, Downpour, and Google Play Books.
But with so many options available, it can be not easy to pick the right tool for your needs. This will go over nine of the top Audiobook Services currently available, along with information about how they work and what distinguishes them from their competitors.
The best audiobook services
Audible
Audible is one of the most popular audiobook services available. It provides unrestricted access to over 100,000 titles for a fixed monthly cost. The site offers a diverse selection of audio books, including bestsellers, classics, and unique creations (Audible originals), ensuring a satisfying listening experience.
Audible offers two subscription plans: Audible Plus and Audible Premium Plus. Both provide access to the complete collection, but the premium plan includes a monthly credit that may be used to purchase bestsellers or new releases. Gift cards are an option for obtaining more credits.
Furthermore, this streaming service offers innovative capabilities to enhance your listening experience. Audible makes it simple to find exactly what you want to read, with tailored suggestions based on previous listens and connectivity with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomePod. All of these connections are accessible in the Audible app.
Speechify
Speechify is quickly becoming one of the best sources of unlimited Audiobook Publishing, and for good reason. The portal offers a wide choice of public-domain literature and high-quality audio books, ensuring a diverse reading experience. Every purchase you make is kept in your local library even after your subscription ends.
With Speechify, you receive your first premium audio book for free, allowing you to sample different stories and writers before subscribing to the service. There are plenty of books to appreciate, thanks to an extensive audio book library that includes both classic and popular titles.
But that is not all. Speechify has one of the greatest audio book applications, allowing you to enjoy stories on the move without having to set up digital devices to listen.
Scribd
Scribd, sometimes known as the Netflix of audio books, is a premier Audiobook Publishing. Scribd offers over 220,000 titles in numerous languages, including bestsellers, fiction, non-fiction, classics, and unique Scribd originals. What distinguishes Scribd is its interaction with other services, such as Amazon Kindle Unlimited, which allows customers to access audio books, e-books, and periodicals.
Scribd also offers a large selection of educational content, such as online courses and textbooks, for subscribers seeking more than simply pleasure. Personalization options like bookmarks and speed controls allow you to customize your listening experience to your liking.
Audiobooks com
Audio books.com has quietly excelled in providing audiobook services. Because of its subscription-based strategy, customers do not have to worry about paying expensive amounts for individual books—they are given monthly credits that may be used to purchase an audio book of their choosing. To sweeten the bargain, they have just added another appealing option called the VIP selection, which grants you access to 150 books from various genres each month.
Audio books.com offers more than 70,000 podcasts. Even if your membership expires, you own the products you purchased. Finally, the service offers an advantageous return policy, which allows you to receive a refund if a file contains incorrect material.
Libro. FM
Libro. FM is another popular audio book subscription service that provides access to thousands of DRM-free titles from major Audio Book Publishers houses such as HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster. If you're not satisfied with what you hear, Libro offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Libro. FM differs from Audio books in that it allows users to buy audio books directly from independent bookshops rather than through Libro. Fm. When you use audio book credits to buy certain titles, the service splits the profits with the local bookshop. This means you may listen to music as often as you like while also supporting local companies.
Blinkist
Blinkist provides over 5,000 professionally narrated summaries of popular titles at a very low cost. The site offers limitless access to audio books, with members receiving a free synopsis each day. Blinkist is available on a variety of platforms, including Android, iOS, and Amazon Alexa, making it one of the most accessible solutions available. Blinkist charges a monthly membership fee; however, there is a seven-day trial period if you wish to try the product before committing.
Hoopla Digital
Hoopla Digital is an excellent subscription audio book service for library card members, providing access to a vast digital collection. Hoopla enables consumers to watch or download audio books, e-books, sheet music, movies, TV shows, and magazines on their smartphones or tablets. You may also sync material between devices so that they can always access their favorite titles. Perhaps best of all, all titles are free, courtesy of your public library.
Libby
OverDrive's Libby app is a top option for library readers worldwide. The software allows you to listen to audio books in your car using your iPhone's CarPlay or Android Auto, as well as having library books sent straight to your Kindle device. Libby provides a large collection of e-books, periodicals, and audio books that may be borrowed for free at any library. Whether you're a voracious reader or simply seeking new books to read, Libby might be the perfect subscription service.
Kobo
Kobo offers affordable e-books and a carefully managed audio book assortment. With over five million titles in its catalog, it provides the ease of purchasing titles that you may retain even if you decide to quit your subscription. Their audio book subscription options provide readers with preorders and credits at competitive costs.
However, the availability of memberships varies depending on your area. Currently, Kobo is only accessible in Canada, not the United States.
Try Speechify Audiobooks today.
Speechify Audio books are changing the way people read and hear tales. Speechify Audio books provides over 60,000 audio books in various genres, ensuring you never run out of choices. You may search for titles by author name or book title to locate what you're searching for, regardless of your hobbies or preferences. Its AI-powered platform uses technology to provide a customized experience. Furthermore, the service is compatible with all devices and includes over 130 voices.
Speechify Audio books now includes a free Chrome plugin for enhanced reading enjoyment. Why not join the hundreds of readers who have already embraced Speechify Audio books? There is something for everyone, thanks to its advanced AI capabilities, easy user interface, and vast title collection.
How to Audiobook Self Publishing
Audiobook Self Publishing is positively exploding in popularity. In 2018, they reported approximately $1 billion in sales, continuing a seven-year trend of double-digit growth. And you may be shocked at how simple it is to get an audio book out there! It’s totally possible to Audiobook Self Publishing and reach readers in this fast-growing format. My approach to writing a novel is now available as an audio book.
In this post, I’ll cover the following:
The numerous ways you may self-publish an audio book.
How to choose whether to narrate yourself or hire a narrator?
Recording tips
How to find a narrator
How to Distribute your Audio book.
Understand the paths to self-publishing an audiobook.
Two main questions will help determine the path to take when Audiobook Self Publishing:
Do you want to narrate yourself, or do you want to hire a narrator?
Do you want your book to be offered solely through ACX (which distributes to Amazon, Apple, and Audible), or do you want wider distribution?
The answers to these questions will help you decide how to produce the files, where to sell them, and how much royalty you will earn.
For example, ACX provides multiple tiers of royalties based on whether you generate your files, hire an audio book producer on their platform with an up-front cost, or hire an audio book producer on the platform via a royalty share:
DIY (you produce your files): 40% royalty exclusive; 25% nonexclusive (less your expenditures)
Pay one of their narrators: 40% royalties exclusive; 25% nonexclusive (less the amount you arrange with the narrator).
Royalty share: 20% royalties, exclusive only (no upfront costs)
ACX exclusively distributes to Amazon, Audible, and Apple. Findaway and other audio book distributors may expand your audio book's reach to include Google Play, Nook Audio, Overdrive, and other popular platforms.
Findaway retains 80% of the net revenue from a la carte sales. For a $10 transaction, the distributor receives $5, Findaway receives $1, and you receive $4.
If you choose non-exclusivity, you may make your audio book accessible on both ACX and Findaway.
It’s tricky to make the economics of Audio Book Publishers work, so before you begin, get a feel of the costs & determine how many copies you'd need to sell to break even based on the option you choose, and then do a gut check to confirm it makes sense for you.
I choose to distribute my guide on writing a novel through both ACX and Findaway since I believe in making my work accessible to a wider audience.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the landscape of audio book subscription services offers a diverse array of options catering to every listener’s preferences and needs. Whether you prefer the expansive library and exclusive productions of Audible, the educational breadth of Scribd, or the community-oriented approach of Libro.fm, there’s a service tailored to enhance your listening experience. For those looking to delve into Audiobook Self Publishing, the opportunities are equally promising.
With platforms like ACX and Findaway offering various distribution models and royalty structures, authors can navigate the audiobook market with flexibility and reach diverse audiences globally.
Embracing audiobook self-publishing under 'Book Publishing Pros' ensures your literary works find their voice in this dynamic medium.
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