ACX gets you onto Audible with the option of royalty-share; Findaway Voices (now part of Spotify) distributes wide to dozens of platforms. Here's an honest comparison, and the simplest way to choose.
Key Takeaways
- ACX is Amazon/Audible's platform, it gets you onto Audible, Amazon, and Apple, and uniquely offers royalty-share (no upfront narration cost).
- Findaway Voices (now part of Spotify) distributes your audiobook wide, to Spotify, libraries, and dozens of retailers beyond Audible.
- ACX's higher exclusive royalty requires Audible exclusivity; going wide trades a lower per-unit rate for far broader reach.
- Many authors use ACX non-exclusive plus a wide distributor, or have a full-service partner handle production and distribution together.
- Want audio production and distribution handled for you? Call Spines Publishing USA at (708) 575-4611 or email info@spinespublishingusa.com.
Once you've decided to produce an audiobook (see is an audiobook worth it), the next question is how to get it made and distributed. The two names you'll hear most are ACX and Findaway Voices. They're not quite the same kind of service, ACX is both a production marketplace and Audible's distribution arm, while Findaway Voices is a wide distributor, and the right choice depends on your priorities. Here's the honest comparison.
What Each Platform Actually Is
- ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange): Amazon's platform for producing and distributing audiobooks to Audible, Amazon, and Apple Books. It also hosts a marketplace where you can hire narrators, including via royalty-share.
- Findaway Voices (now part of Spotify): A wide audiobook distributor that pushes your finished audiobook to dozens of retailers and library platforms, including Spotify, Apple, Kobo, Google Play, libraries, and more.
The simplest mental model: ACX is the gateway to Audible (the biggest audiobook store) and offers royalty-share production. Findaway/Spotify is the gateway to everywhere else.
Exclusivity Requirements Compared
This is the pivotal difference. ACX offers two paths: exclusive (your audiobook is sold only through Audible/Amazon/Apple) in exchange for a higher royalty rate, or non-exclusive at a lower rate but with freedom to distribute elsewhere. Findaway Voices is non-exclusive by nature, it's built for wide distribution. If you want your audiobook on Spotify, in libraries, and across many stores, you cannot be ACX-exclusive.
Royalty Rates Compared
| Factor | ACX Exclusive | ACX Non-Exclusive | Findaway Voices (Spotify) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audible royalty | Higher (exclusive tier) | Lower (non-exclusive tier) | Set by retailer; you set list price |
| Reach | Audible/Amazon/Apple only | Audible/Amazon/Apple | Spotify + dozens of stores & libraries |
| Royalty-share narration | Available | Available | Not the model (you supply finished audio) |
| Library distribution | No | No | Yes |
| Pricing control | Limited | Limited | You set the list price |
The headline trade-off: ACX-exclusive pays the highest per-unit rate but locks you to Audible's ecosystem; wide distribution via Findaway/Spotify pays a different rate but multiplies the number of places your book can sell, including the fast-growing Spotify audiobook market and lucrative library channel.
Distribution Reach: Audible vs. Wide
Audible is the single largest audiobook retailer, so ACX (even non-exclusive) is effectively non-negotiable for reaching the biggest store. But "Audible is biggest" doesn't mean "Audible is everything." Spotify has moved aggressively into audiobooks, libraries represent significant sales and discovery, and many listeners use Apple, Kobo, or Google Play. Wide distribution captures all of that. The strongest reach combines both: Audible via ACX (non-exclusive) plus everywhere else via a wide distributor.
The Royalty-Share Factor
One thing ACX offers that pure distributors don't is royalty-share production: you can partner with a narrator who's paid from royalties instead of an upfront fee, removing the biggest barrier to making an audiobook at all. The trade-off is that royalty-share deals typically require a period of Audible exclusivity and split your royalties long-term. It's a powerful on-ramp for authors who can't fund production upfront, just understand the commitment.
Which Platform Fits Which Author?
- Want maximum Audible royalty and don't mind exclusivity? ACX exclusive.
- Can't afford upfront narration? ACX royalty-share (accepts the exclusivity trade-off).
- Want the widest reach, Spotify, libraries, all stores? Go non-exclusive and distribute wide via Findaway/Spotify (plus ACX non-exclusive for Audible).
- Want it all handled without juggling platforms? A full-service partner produces your audiobook and distributes it across the right mix for you.
For many authors the best answer isn't either/or, it's ACX non-exclusive for Audible plus a wide distributor for everywhere else, capturing the biggest store and the whole long tail.
Skip the platform juggling
Spines Publishing USA produces your audiobook and distributes it across the right platforms, Audible, Spotify, libraries, and more, while you keep up to 70% royalties. Call (708) 575-4611, email info@spinespublishingusa.com, or explore audiobook production.
Explore Audiobook ProductionACX vs. Findaway Voices isn't really a fight, ACX owns the path to Audible (and offers royalty-share), while Findaway/Spotify owns wide distribution to everywhere else. Decide based on how much you value exclusivity's higher rate versus the reach of Spotify and libraries, and remember you can combine non-exclusive ACX with wide distribution. Whichever route you pick, get the narration right, our narrator guide shows you how.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between ACX and Findaway Voices?
ACX is Amazon's platform for producing and distributing audiobooks to Audible, Amazon, and Apple Books, and it offers royalty-share narration deals. Findaway Voices (now part of Spotify) is a wide distributor that pushes your finished audiobook to dozens of retailers and library platforms, including Spotify, Apple, Kobo, and Google Play.
Should I make my audiobook exclusive to Audible?
ACX exclusivity pays a higher per-unit royalty but limits you to Audible, Amazon, and Apple. If you want your audiobook on Spotify, in libraries, and across many stores, you must go non-exclusive. Many authors choose non-exclusive ACX plus wide distribution to capture both Audible and everywhere else.
What is audiobook royalty-share?
Royalty-share, offered through ACX, lets you partner with a narrator who's paid from ongoing royalties instead of an upfront fee, removing the biggest cost barrier to producing an audiobook. The trade-offs are that it typically requires a period of Audible exclusivity and splits your royalties with the narrator long-term.
Can I distribute my audiobook to both Audible and Spotify?
Yes, but not while ACX-exclusive. Use ACX non-exclusive to reach Audible, Amazon, and Apple, and a wide distributor like Findaway Voices (Spotify) to reach Spotify, libraries, and other retailers. This combination gives you the largest store plus the broader market.
Which audiobook platform pays the most?
ACX exclusive pays the highest per-unit Audible royalty, but only on Audible/Amazon/Apple. Going wide pays a different rate per sale but across far more retailers and libraries. The platform that earns you the most depends on where your listeners actually buy, which is why many authors combine non-exclusive ACX with wide distribution.
