Finishing an audiobook is a real milestone. The recording is done, the files sound right, and the whole project finally feels complete. Then comes the question most production guides skip: where exactly should your audiobook live, and what do you need to do to get it there?
Distribution decisions affect how many listeners can find your book, how much of each sale comes back to you, and how much flexibility you keep if you want to change anything later. Understanding the main options before you upload saves you from locking yourself into terms that do not fit your goals.
Why distribution choices matter before you finish production
The format and metadata you prepare for your audiobook depend on where you plan to sell it. Different platforms have different file format requirements, cover image dimensions, chapter marking rules, and metadata fields. If you know your distribution plan in advance, you can prepare everything once rather than converting and reformatting after the fact.
The exclusivity question is equally important to settle early. Some platforms offer higher royalty rates in exchange for exclusive distribution rights. Others let you list everywhere simultaneously. That single choice shapes every upload decision that follows.
The main distribution paths at a glance
Independent authors generally have four practical routes, and many use a combination of them.
- ACX (Audible, Amazon, and Apple Books). The most widely known entry point for audiobook authors. You upload directly and choose between exclusive distribution at a higher royalty rate or non-exclusive at a lower rate. Exclusive means your audiobook can only be sold on Audible and Amazon for a set term, typically seven years.
- Findaway Voices. A distribution aggregator that sends your audiobook to dozens of retailers and library platforms in one submission, including Spotify, Barnes & Noble, Chirp, Hoopla, and OverDrive. You keep control and can combine it with a non-exclusive ACX listing.
- Authors Republic. Another wide-distribution aggregator with strong library channel access. Useful if reaching library borrowers is a priority, since library discovery can drive meaningful long-term sales for backlist titles.
- Direct sales on your own site. Selling directly through your website using a tool like Payhip, Gumroad, or BookFunnel gives you the highest per-unit margin and a direct relationship with buyers. Best as a complement to retail distribution rather than a replacement.
Exclusive versus wide: what the tradeoff actually means
The exclusive route through ACX is appealing because Audible is the dominant audiobook platform and the royalty rate for exclusive titles is noticeably higher than the non-exclusive rate. For a first audiobook with no existing audience, being on the biggest platform can help with discoverability.
The cost is flexibility. A seven-year exclusive term is a long commitment for an independent author. If Audible's role in the market shifts, or if you want to reach library listeners or international buyers through platforms Audible does not serve, you cannot adjust until the term ends.
Wide distribution keeps your options open and lets you meet listeners on the platforms they already use. The tradeoff is more complexity in managing multiple storefronts and somewhat lower royalty rates on any individual platform. Many authors with an established readership or a series find that wide distribution produces better results over time.
What to prepare before you upload
Every platform has a technical checklist. Addressing it before you submit avoids upload rejections and delays. While requirements vary, most platforms share the same core needs.
- Audio files: MP3 format, usually 192 kbps or higher, with one file per chapter or section.
- Cover image: Square format, typically 2400 × 2400 pixels minimum, RGB color, JPEG or PNG.
- Retail sample: A short clip of roughly five minutes from the opening of the book, used by platforms to generate a preview for shoppers.
- Metadata: Title, subtitle if applicable, author name, narrator name, series information, category, and keywords. Consistent metadata across platforms reduces confusion and helps with search ranking.
- Copyright and rights declaration: You will need to confirm you hold the rights to distribute the audiobook content, including any third-party excerpts or music if applicable.
A practical starting point for first-time audiobook authors
If you are distributing an audiobook for the first time and your audience is still growing, a reasonable starting approach is to list non-exclusively on ACX to get Audible and Amazon presence, and then use a wide aggregator like Findaway Voices for everything else. That keeps you on the largest platform while staying reachable through libraries and smaller retailers.
If you already have a strong direct audience and want maximum control, skipping ACX exclusivity from the start gives you the most flexibility. You can always narrow your distribution later, but reversing an exclusive term early is usually not possible.
Whatever path you choose, getting your files, cover image, and metadata in order before you submit will save more time than any other single step. A clean upload often goes live in days. A rejected upload can take weeks to sort out.
Connecting production to distribution
The clearest way to approach audiobook distribution is to treat it as the final stage of production rather than a separate project. Once your files are finished and reviewed, your distribution prep should be nearly complete too.
Simply Voiced is built to help authors move from manuscript to finished, reviewer-ready audio without getting lost in logistics. If you want a production path that leaves you ready to upload with confidence, rather than scrambling to reformat files after the fact, that is exactly what a focused audiobook workflow is designed to deliver.