Google Play Books Auto-narrated Audiobooks helps publishers turn eligible ebooks into digitally narrated audio. The listed input languages include English, Spanish, French, German, Hindi, and Brazilian Portuguese, and publishers can choose from more than 50 narrator options with different language, accent, and gender combinations. An audio editor provides controls for pronunciation, narrator voice and speed, character voices, and pauses. Publishers can publish audiobooks on Google Play Books or download audio files for distribution elsewhere. Google says converting an existing ebook can take under two hours and publishers receive a 52% revenue share on auto-narrated audiobook sales on Google Play. Creation, publishing, and downloads are listed at no charge for a limited time. The title must be an EPUB ebook offered on Google Play, and the publisher must own audio rights for the language and countries selected. Google says the approach works best for books with limited dialogue and emotional content; image-heavy and data-heavy titles are less suitable. If sold through another retail platform, the audiobook must also be offered on Google Play in each country where it is sold elsewhere, and the Google Play list price cannot be higher.
Who it is for
This suits publishers with EPUB titles on Google Play who own the required audio rights and want to create, edit, and distribute narrated versions. It is a less suitable fit for image-heavy or data-heavy books.
What is good
- More than 50 narrator options
- Audio editor controls voice, speed, and pauses
- Downloadable audio files for other platforms
- Google Play sales carry a 52% revenue share
What to know first
- Requires an EPUB ebook offered on Google Play
- Publisher must own audio rights
- Other-platform sales require Google Play availability in each country
- Google Play price cannot exceed other retail prices
Verdict
The service provides narration and editing tools with both Google Play publishing and audio export. Confirm rights and retail restrictions, and consider whether the title’s content fits the stated strengths of auto-narration.
Google Play Books Auto-narrated Audiobooks plans and pricing
All plansCompared on reading apps
- Chapter handling
- Yes
- Audiobook export
- Yes
- Commercial rights
- restricted
- Voice languages
- 7 languages
