Google Play Books Auto-narrated Audiobooks helps publishers turn eligible ebooks into digitally narrated audiobooks. It requires an EPUB ebook offered on Google Play and audio rights for the title in the selected language and countries. The product page lists English, Spanish, French, German, Hindi, and Brazilian Portuguese inputs. Publishers can choose from more than 50 narrator options with different language, accent, and gender combinations, then edit pronunciations, narrator voice and speed, character voices, and pauses. Finished audiobooks can be published on Google Play Books, and audio files can be downloaded for distribution elsewhere. Google says an existing ebook can be converted in under two hours and that publishers receive a 52% revenue share on sales through Google Play. Creation, publishing, and downloads are listed at no cost for a limited time. Google says narration suits books with limited dialogue and emotional content better than image-heavy or data-heavy titles. Other-platform sales require availability on Google Play in the same countries, and its list price cannot exceed the other platform’s price.
Who it is for
This suits publishers who own the relevant audio rights and want to create audiobooks from eligible EPUB titles. It may be a better fit for books with limited dialogue and emotional content than image-heavy or data-heavy titles.
What is good
- More than 50 narrator options are listed
- Editors can adjust pronunciation, voices, speed, and pauses
- Publishers can download audio files
- Creation is listed at no charge for a limited time
What to know first
- Requires an EPUB ebook offered on Google Play
- Publisher must own audio rights for selected territories
- Other-platform sales require matching Google Play availability
- Google Play list price cannot exceed other retail prices
Verdict
The service provides narration and editing controls for publishers with eligible ebooks and rights. Its distribution and pricing rules for sales elsewhere are important constraints to check.
Get started with Google Play Books Auto-narrated Audiobooks
- Open the Google Play Books Auto-narrated Audiobooks website.
- Offer an EPUB ebook on Google Play and confirm ownership of its audiobook rights for the selected language and countries.
- Choose a narrator and adjust the narration using the audio editor.
- Publish the audiobook on Google Play Books or download the audio files.
What the free plan stops at
Creation, publishing, and downloads are listed at no cost with no charge for a limited time. Eligibility requires an EPUB ebook offered on Google Play and ownership of the audio rights. If sold on another retail platform, the audiobook must also be offered on Google Play in each country where it is sold elsewhere, and Google Play's list price must not be higher.
Questions about Google Play Books Auto-narrated Audiobooks
What does Google Play Books Auto-narrated Audiobooks cost?
The creation plan is listed at no cost, with no charge for a limited time.
What does a publisher need to use it?
The publisher needs an EPUB ebook offered on Google Play and must own its audio rights for the selected language and countries.
Which input languages are listed?
The product page lists English, Spanish, French, German, Hindi, and Brazilian Portuguese titles as supported inputs.
Can publishers distribute the audiobook outside Google Play?
They can download audio files for distribution on other platforms. If sold elsewhere, the audiobook must also be for sale on Google Play in every country where it is sold elsewhere.
What narration controls are available?
Publishers can choose among more than 50 narrator options and adjust pronunciation, narrator voice and speed, character voices, and pauses.
How does Google Play pricing compare with other retail platforms?
Google Play's list price must not be higher than the audiobook's price on other retail platforms.
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
