Sell Audiobooks: Audible ACX vs Soundwise

Audible ACX is an audiobook publisher while Soundwise provides the technology for authors to sell and deliver audiobooks on their own.

When determining where to publish audiobooks, most new authors unknowingly think that Audible ACX is the only choice to sell their audiobooks, without really understanding what they are doing to themselves. Authors should seriously consider the cost and benefit of an audiobook publisher like Audible versus using Soundwise, which provides the technological tools to sell self-published audiobooks.

Audible is the world’s largest producer of spoken word entertainment and audiobooks. It has amassed a gigantic following which includes a subscription-based model for its followers. Customers also have the option to purchase audiobooks without a subscription, but at much steeper prices. ACX is the self-publishing branch of Audible, which allows authors to submit their own audiobooks and get listed on Audible and Amazon.

Soundwise is a software-as-a-service solution for authors, podcasters, and educators to sell audio products directly to consumers. It provides independent creators the means to host and deliver their audiobooks securely, build their audience, control their own pricing, and allow listeners to listen on both mobile devices and desktop computers.

What differentiates Soundwise from a traditional audiobook publisher like Audible ACX? What are each platform’s selling points and business models? Let’s dive into the weeds and explore what makes each unique.

How Does Each Company Make Money?

Audible makes money purely through their royalty model, i.e., they take a large share of the audiobook sales revenues. If the author doesn’t sell any books, then ACX doesn’t make any money. There are no upfront fees for authors to be a part of their platform.

Soundwise charges authors and content creators through a subscription model. Authors can pay a monthly or annual fee for using Soundwise to sell and deliver their audiobooks. On all the publishing tiers, authors can publish unlimited numbers of audiobooks.

How Much Does Each Platform Cost (Royalty vs Platform Use Fee)?

Audible takes a hefty share of audiobook sales. It has three options for audiobook creation. Depending on which option the author chooses, it determines how much Audible takes from each sale. In the best-case scenario, which involves an exclusivity contract that prevents authors from selling their books elsewhere, Audible lets authors keep 40% of their royalties. In the worst case scenario, authors only keep 20% of their royalties.

Under the Plus publisher plan, Soundwise charges 5% of the audiobook sales price as a transaction fee. This is compared with 60% of royalties being charged by Audible. In other words, authors keep 95% of their earnings per sale.

Under the Pro and Platinum membership plans, Soundwise doesn’t charge any fees. Authors keep 100% of their earnings per sale.

Who Controls the Audiobook Price on Each Platform?

Audible ACX

Audible sets the price of an author’s audiobooks depending on the length of the book. Authors have no control over the price of their audiobooks.

Soundwise

With Soundwise, authors can set their own price for their audiobooks and modify it at any time through discounts or change the base price entirely.

What Kinds of Marketing Campaigns Does Each Platform Allow?

Audible ACX

Audible grants a limited number of free promo codes for authors to use when marketing their audiobooks. For example, they provide 50 for the United States audience and 50 for the United Kingdom audience. However, Audible doesn’t allow authors to create price promotions or discounts for their audiobooks.

Soundwise

Under any subscription plan, authors can give unlimited free access to members of their review team or whoever else they want. This comes as a part of the subscription to Soundwise. Authors can also create as many price promotion discounts as they desire at whatever percentage or amount.

How Do Authors Know Who Buys Their Audiobooks?

Audible ACX

With Audible, authors don’t know who bought their audiobooks. The dashboard only shows that a sale has been made within a certain time frame, usually a few business days.

Soundwise

Authors can see the sales on the Soundwise dashboard immediately. Authors receive the name and email address of every person who bought their audiobooks or signed up to get their free audiobooks, if the author has any available. This allows authors to build their own listener base and reach out to their audience later to collect reviews for their audiobooks or when they have new releases available.

Which Platform Should You Choose?

Authors sign up for Audible ACX mainly to gain so-called “exposure”-- they hope that their audiobook will be easily discovered by new listeners once they’re listed on a big marketplace. The reality is a lot more complicated.

There are definitely a large number of listeners who subscribe to Audible. However, the competition is just as fierce. And your Audible product page will also list an abundance of titles from other authors, ready to catch the eye of a potential buyer. In contrast, Soundwise gives authors plenty of freedom and the tools to be fully in control of their audiobook’s destiny.

Why Choose Soundwise over Audible ACX to publish audiobooks?

  • Audible ACX

  • Soundwise

  • How much authors get per sale

    • Audible ACX: 20% - 40%

    • Soundwise: 95% - 100%

  • Listen on mobile app?

  • Listen in web browser?

  • Offline listening?

  • Ratings and reviews from listeners

  • Do authors decide price?

  • Information about listeners

    • Audible ACX: None
    • Soundwise: Name, email address, detailed listening analytics

  • Sell audiobooks as subscription or rental

  • Price promotions allowed?

  • Community building

    • Can authors reach out to listeners?
    • Can listeners interact with one another?