Spotify Expands Audiobook Service to Over 180 Countries, Including Israel
Translated & summarized from 0404 by baba
Spotify is expanding its audiobook service to over 180 countries, including Israel, by the end of 2026. The service, previously limited to 22 countries, will offer over 350,000 titles in more than 120 languages. Premium subscribers in some regions will get 12 listening hours monthly, with options for additional hours or individual purchases. This move intensifies competition with Amazon's Audible.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Spotify's audiobook service is expanding to over 180 countries, including Israel, by the end of 2026.
- Over 350,000 audiobook titles in more than 120 languages will be available globally.
- Premium subscribers in some countries will receive 12 monthly listening hours as part of their subscription.
- Spotify is enhancing its Page Match feature to allow seamless transitions between print and audiobooks.
- The company reported a nearly 40% increase in monthly audiobook listeners in the past year.
- This expansion places Spotify in direct competition with Amazon's Audible service.
Spotify announced on Wednesday a significant expansion of its audiobook service, which will become available in over 180 countries, including Israel, by the end of 2026. Previously, the service was limited to 22 primarily English-speaking nations like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The announcement was made at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the world's largest book industry gathering.
With this global rollout, more than 750 million Spotify users worldwide will gain the ability to listen to or purchase audiobooks directly within the app, alongside music and podcasts. The service will offer over 350,000 titles in more than 120 languages, with new catalogs in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Polish. Spotify partners with over 300 publishers on non-exclusive agreements.
The rollout will be gradual, commencing immediately and continuing through the end of the year. Premium subscribers in some countries will receive 12 hours of listening time per month as part of their existing subscription. Additional listening hours can be accessed through an optional Audiobooks+ subscription, or individual books can be purchased. Pricing and plans will vary by country, with specific offerings for Israel yet to be announced.
Spotify is also enhancing its Page Match feature, which allows users to seamlessly transition from a print or digital book to its audiobook version, resuming playback from the exact same point. Users can now scan a book's barcode to find the corresponding audiobook chapter based on page number. According to the company, over one million readers have used this tool since its February launch, and it supports more than 30 languages.
"Audiobooks are a way for many people to get back into reading, whether commuting, exercising, or at the end of a long day," said Evan Smith, Spotify's Senior Vice President for Audiobooks. The company reported substantial growth in its audiobook segment over the past year, with a nearly 40% increase in monthly listeners and over 30% rise in listening hours. The Audiobooks+ subscription has attracted over one million subscribers, generating more than $100 million in annual recurring revenue. This global expansion positions Spotify in direct competition with Amazon's Audible service.
