For authors
Your book, read by a real person.
Post your book free. Real narrators audition for it. You listen and choose the voice that fits.
- Free to post. No card needed.
- Hear auditions before you pay anything.
- You own your audiobook.
4.5 on Trustpilot · 20 reviews 5.0 on Google · 14 reviews Read our reviews
- 829audiobooks since 2023
- 361narrators
- ~50stores, libraries and apps
- $0to post your book
Meet the voices
Real people who could read your book.
Every Academy Voices narrator is a real, vetted person. Tap a face to hear them. When you post your book, narrators like these audition for it, and you choose.
How it works
From manuscript to audiobook
- 1
Post your book
Create a free account and tell us about your book. Signing up and posting cost nothing.
- 2
Hear auditions
Real narrators record a short audition from your book. Listen and pick the voice you love.
- 3
Approve and publish
Approve a sample first, then the full book. Not sold on the sample? Switch narrators at no cost.
The $350
What the production fee covers
For royalty share and pay-per-finished-hour books. It's due only after your narrator signs, never before.
- Casting. We post your book, narrators audition with your pages, and you choose.
- The contract and payments between you and your narrator.
- Quality. We check every chapter against the stores' audio standards and master it.
- Publishing to nearly 50 stores, libraries and streaming services.
- Our store. Your audiobook is listed in the Academy Voices store too.
Timeline
From posting to the stores
- AuditionsAbout 1 week
- Your narrator records the first 15 minutes, you approveAbout 1 week
- Recording4 to 6 weeks for books under 50,000 words. Longer books get a date agreed up front.
- Our checks and masteringAbout 1 week
- Stores go live2 to 4 weeks after we publish. Some stores are faster than others.
Usually 2 to 3 months in all.
Compare
Academy Voices vs ACX royalty share
| Academy Voices | ACX royalty share | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it's sold | Nearly 50 stores, libraries and streaming services, plus our store | Audible, Amazon and Apple only. No libraries, Spotify, Kobo or Google |
| Term | 10 years, then the narrator's share goes to you | 7 years, exclusive |
| Finding a narrator | Real narrators audition, and we manage casting | You post and hope for auditions |
| Checks and publishing | We check, master and publish | You check files and fix rejections |
| Narration | Every book read by a real person | Audible also makes computer-voiced audiobooks |
| Up front | $350, after your narrator signs | $0 |
ACX terms as of October 2026. See all our fees.
Listen
Books by authors like you
Real books from our authors, read by our narrators. 829 audiobooks since 2023, every one read by a real person. Press play on any of these.
18+
In their words
What authors say
“Academy Voices made creating the audiobook easy. The website was easy to understand. Anthony Pica was available to answer questions. He clearly told potential narrators what we were looking for, and we had several candidates to listen to and choose from. The narrator we chose was Judd Bonham, and he was entirely professional and the right fit for this project. I highly recommend Academy Voices!”
“Working with Academy Voices has been an incredibly fun and easy experience. In fact, I enjoyed working with them on The Coven so much that I came right back to have them bring Gravemoor Radio to life! Academy Voices made the entire audiobook production process seamless from start to finish, allowing me to focus on the creative side without the usual headaches of production. I especially appreciated the opportunity to work closely with the voice actors and be hands-on throughout the creative process. Their professionalism, dedication, and genuine enthusiasm for their craft made both productions an absolute pleasure. Hearing my characters come alive through such talented voices has been incredibly rewarding and I couldn't be happier with the results. I highly recommend Academy Voices to any author looking for a talented, dedicated, professional team that truly cares about bringing stories to life.”
“Academy Voices got back to me quick about the audiobook process and made it so easy. They held my hand through the whole experience.”
“My experience with Academy Voices was as smooth as it could be. I firstly met my male narrator that presented me to the lady that would become the female narrator by his side. It's actually my male narrator that suggested to me to try Academy Voices. I gave it a try, and the process was really well explained and I could always communicate with them for more information.”
What it costs
Three ways to pay. You own your audiobook with all three.
Option 1
Pay per finished hour
$350 + from $50/hourOne-time production fee, plus the narrator's rate, which you set.
Example: a 60,000-word book is about 6.5 finished hours. At $100 an hour, that's about $650 to your narrator, plus $350.
When we distribute it, you keep 80% of royalties and 20% goes to Academy Voices.
Pay your narrator all at once, over time with Klarna or Affirm, or in 2 to 5 parts.
Option 2
Share royalties
$350 onlyOne-time production fee. No narrator bill.
You 40%Narrator 40%AV 20%
For 10 years, then the narrator's share comes to you: 80% yours.
Option 3
Royalty Share Plus
$350 + from $50One-time production fee, plus one payment to your narrator for the whole book. You set it.
You 40%Narrator 40%AV 20%
The same split as sharing royalties, for 10 years. The payment brings more experienced narrators to audition.
You pay it after you approve the finished audiobook, or over time with Klarna or Affirm. All of it goes to your narrator.
✓ Nothing is due until your narrator signs
✓ Pay your narrator over time: Klarna, Affirm, or in parts
✓ Posting and auditions are free
✓ We make your cover square for audiobook stores, free
Recording a series? Later books with the same narrator: $250
Already have a finished audiobook? List it in our store free, or have us publish it everywhere for $150.
Publishing it yourself or through your publisher? Narration only: we make it, you keep every file.
Everywhere people listen
Your audiobook, on nearly 50 retailers, libraries and streaming services.
Stores, subscription apps, library platforms and music services around the world.
Academy Voices Store Listeners buy direct on our own website and app.
Audible 
Amazon 
Apple Books 
Spotify 
Google Play 
Kobo 
YouTube Music 
Deezer 
Napster Plus 35 more, including OverDrive, Storytel, Everand, Libro.fm and Bibliotheca.See every partner
Stores
Libro.fm · Audiobooks.com · Downpour · The Audiobook Store · Audiobooks Now · Books-A-Million · Rahva RaamatSubscription apps
Storytel · Everand · BookBeat · Nextory · BookMate · Audioteka · 24Symbols · UBook · YouScribe · Anyplay · Speechify · Instaread · Kids.Radio · Behear · Bookwalker · Globook · Cliq DigitalLibraries
OverDrive · Bibliotheca · Follett · Mackin · Odilo · Wheelers · 3 Leaf Group · Ulverscroft · LibraryOne · DivibibMusic services
Calm RadioNot every title qualifies for every platform; some have content, genre or age requirements.
Questions
Before you start
The things authors ask us most.
You do. Whether you pay per finished hour or share royalties, the audiobook is yours.
You approve a short sample before the full book is recorded. If it isn't right, you can switch narrators at no cost before you approve.
We distribute to nearly 50 stores, libraries and streaming services, including Audible, Apple Books, Spotify and Libby.
Nothing. Signing up, posting your book and hearing auditions are free. You pay once your narrator signs.
No. Audiobook stores need a square cover, and most book covers aren't. Upload the one you have and we reformat it for you, free. You approve it before we use it.
About 4 to 6 weeks after you approve the sample, for books under 50,000 words. Longer books get a timeline agreed up front.
Yes. Every Academy Voices audiobook is performed by a real, vetted narrator. Certified Human Voice™.
Ready to hear your book?
Post it free and start hearing auditions from real narrators.
Post your book free
Free to post. You choose the narrator.
Post your book free