How to Publish and Market Audiobooks in 2025: A Guide for Authors

Audiobooks are exploding in popularity. While eBook and print sales fluctuate, the audiobook market continues to grow, with platforms like Audible, Spotify, and YouTube giving authors new ways to reach readers. But how do you actually publish and market an audiobook? And with the rise of AI narration, is it even worth hiring a professional voice actor anymore?

If you’re an author looking to turn your book into an audiobook (or wondering if you should), this guide will walk you through the process—from hiring narrators to using AI-generated voices, and even how to market your audiobook effectively.

Should You Publish an Audiobook?

Audiobooks aren’t just a nice bonus anymore—they’re a key part of the publishing industry. Many readers prefer listening over reading, whether it’s during their commute, workouts, or while doing chores.

Some stats to consider:

The global audiobook market is projected to hit $35 billion by 2030.
Audiobook listeners buy more books than the average reader.
Many bestselling indie authors report 30–50% of their revenue coming from audiobooks.

So, should you publish an audiobook? If your book is already selling well in eBook and print, it’s worth expanding into audio. However, audiobooks require an upfront investment, so if you’re just starting out and struggling to make sales, it may not be your top priority yet.

How to Publish an Audiobook

Option 1: Hiring a Narrator

If you want a high-quality, human-narrated audiobook, you’ll need to hire a voice actor. Here’s how the process works:

1. Find a Narrator

There are several platforms where you can find professional narrators:

ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) – Amazon’s official platform for finding narrators and publishing to Audible, Amazon, and Apple Books.
Findaway Voices – An alternative to ACX that lets you distribute to more platforms, including Spotify, Kobo, Google Play Books, and Chirp.
Voices.com / Voice123 – Great for finding freelance narrators with specific voice styles.

2. Choose Your Payment Model

When hiring a narrator, you’ll typically have two payment options:

Pay-per-finished-hour (PFH) – Narrators charge between $100–$500 per finished hour, depending on their experience. A 10-hour audiobook can cost anywhere from $1,000–$5,000.
Royalty Share – You split royalties with the narrator instead of paying upfront. This can be a good option if you’re on a budget, but you’ll earn less in the long run.

3. Recording & Production

Once you’ve selected a narrator, they will record the book, edit the audio, and master the files. You’ll need to approve the final version before publishing.

4. Distribute Your Audiobook

ACX (Audible, Amazon, Apple Books) – The biggest marketplace, but if you choose exclusive distribution, you can’t sell your book elsewhere for seven years.
Findaway Voices – Distributes to Spotify, Apple, Kobo, Chirp, Google Play Books, and more. (Best for wide distribution.)
Google Play Books – Google now allows instant AI-narrated audiobooks for free (more on this later).

Option 2: AI Narration—The Future of Audiobooks?

AI-generated narration has improved dramatically in the past few years. Companies like 11Labs, Spoken, and Google Play Books are offering near-human voices for a fraction of the cost of hiring a narrator.

Benefits of AI Narration

Cost-Effective – No need to pay a human narrator thousands of dollars.
Fast – AI can generate a complete audiobook in hours, not weeks.
Flexible – Easily update or edit sections of your audiobook without re-recording everything.

Popular AI Narration Services

1. 11Labs

Arguably the best AI audiobook narration tool on the market.
Voices sound extremely natural, with inflection and emotional range.
Pricing varies, but you can create audiobooks for a few hundred dollars instead of thousands.

2. Spoken

A new player in the AI audiobook space.
Allows custom voice cloning, meaning you could theoretically narrate your book using your own AI voice.

3. Google Play Books AI Narration

Google offers free AI-generated audiobooks for books published through Google Play Books.
Limited to certain genres (nonfiction, business, self-help, etc.), but not yet available for fiction.

Where to Publish AI-Narrated Audiobooks

Google Play Books – Allows instant AI narration for free (ideal if your book is nonfiction).
KDP’s Instant Audiobook Program – Amazon is currently testing AI narration for KDP authors. It’s not widely available yet, but they’re pushing hard into the AI audiobook space.
Your Own Website – Some authors are bypassing Audible entirely and selling AI-narrated audiobooks direct-to-reader via Shopify or Payhip.

Will Readers Accept AI Narrated Books?

Some audiobook listeners prefer human narration, but AI voices have reached the point where many people can’t tell the difference. If you’re on a tight budget, AI narration is a game-changing option that allows you to publish an audiobook without spending thousands.

Marketing Your Audiobook

Once your audiobook is live, you need to get it in front of the right audience. Here are some of the best ways to market an audiobook in 2025.

1. Get on Spotify & YouTube

Spotify is now a major audiobook retailer – You can distribute through Findaway Voices or sell directly.
YouTube Audiobooks – Some authors upload their entire audiobook for free on YouTube, using ad revenue to monetize it. Others post sample chapters with a link to buy the full version.

2. Use Chirp Audiobook Deals

Chirp (owned by BookBub) is one of the best platforms for discounted audiobook promotions.
You can run a free or $0.99 deal and reach thousands of audiobook listeners.

3. Advertise on Facebook & Amazon

Facebook Ads – Target readers who love audiobooks in your genre.
Amazon Ads – Run ads directly to your Audible or Amazon audiobook page.

4. Email Your List

If you already have an email list, offer a free or discounted audiobook to early listeners in exchange for reviews.
Some authors bundle the eBook and audiobook together at a discount to increase sales.

5. Use Giveaway & Review Services

Audiobook Boom – A service that helps authors get audiobook reviews.
StoryOrigin & BookFunnel – Lets you distribute review copies to your audience.

Which Audiobook Strategy Is Best for You?

If you want the highest-quality product and have a budget, hire a human narrator through ACX or Findaway Voices. If you’re on a tight budget, AI narration from 11Labs, Spoken, or Google Play Books is a powerful alternative.

For wide distribution, use Findaway Voices or Google Play Books. If you want the best royalties, consider selling directly via your own website or through YouTube and Spotify.

Final Thoughts: The Future of Audiobooks

Audiobook publishing is evolving fast. AI narration is becoming indistinguishable from human voices, and platforms like Spotify and YouTube are reshaping the market.

If you’ve been hesitant about audiobooks because of cost, now is the best time to jump in. Whether you hire a narrator or use AI, expanding into audiobooks is one of the smartest ways to grow your author business in 2025.

So, are you planning to release an audiobook? Are you considering AI narration? Let me know your thoughts!