Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.
If you can bring a book to life with your enchanting voice, you can get paid to read books aloud.
The audiobook industry has experienced explosive growth over the years. Book readers have become book listeners as more people have gravitated toward audiobooks as their preferred way to consume books. As an avid reader and audiobook listener, I reach for my headphones when I want to dive into a new book.
Whether looking for a low-cost side hustle or a potential new career, you might consider audiobook work using your voice. Here are 20 sites where you can get started as a narrator.
1. Audiobook Creation Exchange (Acx)
The Audiobook Creation Exchange is owned and operated by Amazon. The site helps authors convert their books into audio by connecting them with audiobook experts. Services include matching book authors and freelance writers with narrators, sound engineers, and producers involved in creating audiobooks.
You’ll typically find hundreds of book projects accepting auditions on ACX. From cookbooks to business titles and contemporary romance books, there are probably plenty of opportunities to suit your interests. Projects created through ACX get sold on Amazon, iTunes, and Audible Audiobooks.
You can sign up quickly with your existing Amazon account. Showcase your talent by uploading as many high-quality samples as you can. If you’re interested in a particular niche of non-fiction or fiction books, upload multiple clips in that genre.
Once hired, you can get paid per finished hour or share royalties from the audiobook sales. Start with the Audiobook Creative Exchange if you want to make money reading books aloud.
2. Voices
Voices is a platform for aspiring narrators and voice actors. Brands like Microsoft, Hulu, and the Los Angeles Times have used Voices.com to find talent for their projects. In addition to audiobooks, there are jobs posted for all types of voice work, including:
- Animation
- Documentary films
- Video games
- Corporate training videos
- Translation
Voices.com has free and paid options for signing up as a voice artist. You can create a profile, upload your demos, and get invitations to audition from clients for free. If you go with the paid membership option, they will automatically match you to audiobook work and other jobs you can bid on.
3. Fiverr
Fiverr is a popular gig economy platform and one of the best freelance websites for beginners. It’s an excellent place to take your first step toward making money as an audiobook narrator or voice-over artist as soon as possible.
On most freelance platforms, you create a profile and then start bidding for jobs. On Fiverr, you make an offering, and the work comes to you. That’s what makes it one of the best options for beginners. If you offer great audio samples and charge a fair price, you can get hired with limited experience.
Joining Fiverr is free. You are not limited to charging $5 for recording audiobooks, but you might want to start cheap and then raise your prices a little at a time as you rack up good feedback. There is a 20% commission on any work you sell, so for every $5 you charge, you take home $4.
4. Upwork
Upwork is one of the biggest online platforms for freelancers. It’s also a decent source of audiobook narration jobs and other job opportunities for voice artists. The pay varies widely, with many potential clients offering flat job rates.
Don’t wait for jobs to come to you. Start bidding on opportunities that interest you. Consider building your reputation by bidding on lower-paying projects or jobs you can complete quickly.
The funds go into escrow once a client selects you for a project. The client has 14 days to review your work. A client can release the payment as soon as they’re satisfied with your work, but after 14 days, the money is released to you automatically.
Upwork’s fee structure starts at 20% and can go down to 5%, depending on how much work you do for a single client. If you do a good job and land repeat business, your fees will be lower.
5. Freelancer
Freelancer.com is a general freelancing platform with thousands of jobs spanning most fields. Once you create your profile highlighting your talents, you can create a job search for audiobook narrator jobs, save it, and have alerts sent to you when a relevant project comes up.
For projects that pay a fixed price, the fee is 10% or $5, whichever is greater. The cost is a flat 10% of your earnings for hourly projects. Most voice work and book narration gigs are posted with a fixed rate attached.
6. People per Hour
PeoplePerHour is a platform that matches clients with freelancers. The site features all types of freelance work, but audiobook narration jobs do pop up on the site from time to time. Most of them pay a flat rate set by the job poster rather than an hourly rate despite the site’s name.
Make sure your profile is complete and thorough. People Per Hour uses artificial intelligence to match clients with service providers. Clearly define your skills and detail the type of work you provide, as an excellent profile could be the difference between being hired and not showing up in searches.
7. Bunny Studio
Bunny Studio is an online platform where customers can hire vetted voice artists, writers, translators, transcribers, or producers for their creative projects.
They expect high-quality voice-overs recorded on professional audio equipment and fast turnaround times. There are no fees to apply or join, and you can set your rates.
The application process involves submitting a profile and completing an application project. The application project tests your skills and gets reviewed by the quality control team at Bunny Studio.
8. VOICE123
Voice123 is one of the largest marketplaces for professional voice actors. Independent authors, as well as some of the most recognizable companies in the world, have used Voice123 to find voice talent, such as The New York Times, Coca-Cola, and Airbnb. You can find projects in narration, commercial voice-overs, cartoons, video games, and more.
Voice 123 offers several tiered membership options for vocal talent. Along with a free standard membership, they offer several paid membership options that range in price from $49 a year up to $4,950 annually. The main differences between the memberships are the number of audition invitations, the number of times you appear in search results, how competitive your jobs are, and the level of customer support you receive.
9. Findaway Voices
Findaway Voices is an audiobook producer and distribution service. They help self-published authors connect with narrators, manage audio production, and reach a wider audience.
Unlike being a freelancer on platforms such as Upwork or Freelancer.com, you do not search for work on Findaway Voices. They recommend narrators for projects based on fit. You get paid based on the rate you set, as there is no option for royalty share agreements.
There are no signup fees or annual membership charges. Start by creating an account here, completing your portfolio, and then responding to their survey questions.
10. Bodalgo
Bodalgo is a German company that supplies voice talent for audiobook narration, commercials, explainer videos, and more. They’ve worked with some of the most recognizable brands in the world, including Apple, Amazon, and BMW. Bodalgo showcases voice actors in over 80 languages. If English is not your first language, you can book jobs through them.
If you intend to make a career out of voice acting and invest in your training, you might have a future with Bodalgo. Bodalgo wants professionally trained, experienced voice actors. If your profile clearly shows you’re a beginner, they will delete your account without notifying you.
11. Voice Crafters
Voice Crafters is a voice-over agency founded in 2008. They supply voice actors in over 80 languages. They also offer other post-production services, including transcription, subtitling, translation, audio editing, and video editing.
Voice Crafters thoroughly screens potential talent and works only with professional voice actors. They provide clients with talent for audiobook narrator gigs, promos, online courses, and more.
They seek full-time voice actors with at least 5 years of commercial experience. It would be best if you had your professional recording studio with the ability to produce broadcast-quality audio with no background noise, echoes, or background hiss.
They’re not adding more U.S. English-speaking voice professionals to their roster. Keep an eye out, as that could change in the future.
12. The Voice Realm
The Voice Realm is an online directory of voice-over talent and freelance translators. They have a global client base, and all sorts of recordings are sought, including audiobooks, radio ads, voicemail greetings, video narrations, and more.
They have a set rate card, so you don’t bid against others. You’ll need a demo recording and a credible profile to sign up. They select new talent based on experience, the quality of your audio, and your ability to follow instructions.
13. Vo Planet
VO Planet is a voice-over casting site that provides voice talent for audiobook narration and almost any other type of project requiring voice talent. They only accept voice actors with previous experience, outstanding skills, and professional-level demos.
All applicants are vetted, but there is no specific experience requirement for job access. You might be accepted if you’re an exceptional talent with only one year of experience and impeccable references. Once you get some experience, you might consider applying here.
You can register for VOPlanet here, then fill out a voice actor application once your account is created. There is an annual membership fee of $199, but voice actors get 100% of the fee posted for every job.
14. Mandy Voices
If you want to get paid to read books aloud and expand into other forms of voice work, Mandy Voices might be for you. You won’t find freelance audiobook projects, but if you can read a script with enthusiasm and emotion, Mandy Voices has voice-over opportunities for radio spots, corporate training videos, animated shorts, documentaries, and more.
Mandy offers a tiered membership. You can sign up for free to create a profile and see job postings. You’ll have to upgrade to see the full details of their job postings and apply.
15. Voice Jungle
Voice Jungle is another platform that doesn’t focus specifically on freelance audiobook narrator jobs. Suppose you’re willing to look for jobs beyond recording audiobooks. In that case, you might consider applying your talents to other forms of voice-over work, such as e-learning, explainer videos, or podcasts. VoiceJungle offers those types of gigs and more.
With VoiceJungle, there is no fee to join, and you don’t have to audition for gigs. It would be best to have a home studio capable of producing quality audio and turning projects around in 24 hours upon request. You must also upload a voice sample in MP3 format when you sign up.
16. Brilliance Publishing
Brilliance Publishing is a book publisher and subsidiary of Amazon. They produce, distribute, and market audiobooks through their Brilliance Audio imprint.
They maintain a roster of audiobook voice talent as a full-service publishing and audiobook company. Email them through their contact page if you want to work with them.
17. Internet Jock
Internetjock.com wants to hire experienced voice talent who can work during the day and do fast turnaround times during business hours. They require a one-minute demo attached to their application form.
They charge clients between $25 and $65 a minute for narration. They take a 40 percent commission and pay monthly.
18. Spoken Realms
Spoken Realms is an audiobook producer, packager, and distributor that describes itself as a community of storytellers. Spoken Realms connects authors with experienced narrators and actors for audiobooks.
They’re looking for experienced professionals to join their circle. The application is thorough and requires verifiable completed projects.
19. Voquent
Voquent is a voice-over services provider that maintains audiobook job listings for narrators and other voice talents.
The site is free to join, but they are very particular about who they work with. Once you gain a high level of experience and can call yourself a professional voice-over artist, you can sign up here.
20. The Audiofile Audiobook Talent & Industry Guide
AudioFile is a magazine for audiobook fans. The magazine is written by book lovers and book reviewers who cover all genres of audiobooks. Each book review focuses on the audiobook listening experience and narrator quality.
While the staff is not involved in audiobook production and are not creators, they maintain the Audiobook Talent & Industry Guide. A listing like this can get you in front of people casting or creating audiobooks. A listing costs $160 and includes a subscription to the magazine.
18 Ways to Save Without Sacrificing Life and Happiness
Do you want a new perspective on saving money? If you think this is another article telling you to skip your morning coffee or give up dining out, then let us tell you—it’s not! This blog post discusses 18 innovative and painless ways to save cash without sacrificing the things that make you happy. We believe that a good life isn’t about cutting back on everything you love but about making smarter decisions with what you have. So, if you’re ready to start saving without compromising your lifestyle or happiness, dive right in!
18 Ways to Save Without Sacrificing Life and Happiness
15 Jobs Employers Are Actively Seeking Candidates For
Image Credit: Shutterstock.[/caption]Finding capable people to fill open roles is a persistent problem for many businesses. Talent shortages and challenges in recruiting occur when the demand for competent experts in a sector exceeds the supply of such individuals. In an online forum, people identify these jobs that have become almost impossible to fill.
