Spotify Launches Global Audiobook Service Expansion Including Israel
Spotify is launching its Spotify Audiobooks service in over 180 countries, including Israel, offering premium users 12 monthly hours and competing directly with Amazon's Audible.
Spotify is expanding its audiobook service, Spotify Audiobooks, to more than 180 countries worldwide, including Israel, challenging Amazon's Audible. The streaming giant announced the global rollout following a 40 percent surge in monthly audiobook listeners and a 30 percent jump in listening hours over the past year.
Premium User Benefits and Pricing
Starting with the launch, Spotify Premium users will receive 12 hours of monthly listening time included in their existing subscription at no extra cost. Users who require more can subscribe to the Audiobook+ plan, which grants an additional 15 hours of listening per month. Additionally, individual audiobooks can be purchased directly on the platform and kept permanently, even if the user cancels their Spotify subscription.
The service features audio charts to highlight popular titles and includes the Page Match tool. This feature allows users to photograph a page of a physical book they are reading with their smartphone and resume listening in the app from the exact same point. According to Spotify, more than one million readers already utilize this synchronization tool.
Open Platform for Authors and Publishers
Content-wise, Spotify has partnered with over 300 publishers, offering a catalog of approximately 350,000 titles in 120 languages. The platform also caters to independent creators by integrating voice AI tools from ElevenLabs, enabling authors to easily convert written works into audiobooks.
"By the end of 2026, listeners in more than 180 markets will be able to find their next great read inside Spotify, right alongside the music and podcasts they already love," the company stated. "Because we believe authors should find the largest audience possible, all our partnerships are non-exclusive, helping unlock new ways for writers to reach readers worldwide."
