acx.com

January 22, 2026

What ACX.com Is and What It Does

ACX stands for Audiobook Creation Exchange. It’s a digital platform owned by Audible, which itself is part of the Amazon family. The core idea behind ACX is simple: it’s a marketplace where people who own the rights to books (authors, publishers, agents) connect with people who can turn those books into audiobooks (narrators, producers, studios). Once an audiobook is created there, it gets distributed to major retailers like Audible, Amazon, and Apple Books (iTunes).

In practical terms, ACX is both a production hub and a distribution channel. Authors and rights holders use it to find narrators and producers who will record and prepare their audiobook. Narrators and producers use it to find audiobook projects they can work on and get paid. Narrators don’t just read — on ACX they’re usually expected to produce a “retail ready” audiobook, meaning they manage both the performance and the technical elements like editing and mastering.

You don’t pay anything just to join the platform. It’s free to sign up. Both sides agree on terms — such as how and how much the narrator gets paid — then work together through ACX’s tools to complete the audiobook. Once done, ACX’s quality assurance checks the files, and if everything passes, the audiobook goes live in stores.

How ACX Works for Authors and Rights Holders

For authors or rights holders, ACX is basically a one-stop engine for turning a written book into an audiobook and distributing it globally.

  1. Claim Your Title:
    You start by creating an account and claiming the title you want to turn into an audiobook, provided you own the audio rights. Often the book must already be available as an ebook on Amazon.

  2. Create a Project Listing:
    You set up a listing that includes details like genre, length, a short script for the narrator to audition with, and your expectations for narration style. This is your “audition brief.”

  3. Find a Narrator or Produce It Yourself:
    You can choose to narrate the book yourself if you have the skills and the equipment. More commonly, though, you’ll review auditions from professional narrators and producers on ACX.

  4. Negotiate Terms:
    Once you pick a narrator, you agree on payment terms. There are a few models available: paying a fixed rate per finished hour, doing a royalty share deal, or a hybrid structure. The narrator’s payment can be upfront, shared through royalties, or a mix.

  5. Production and Quality Checks:
    The narrator records and produces the audiobook. There are checkpoints where you can give feedback. When the final product is ready, ACX runs a quality assurance review before letting it go live.

  6. Distribution and Earnings:
    Once it passes the QA check, your audiobook appears on Audible, Amazon, and Apple Books. You earn royalties — ACX lets you earn up to 40% if you choose exclusive distribution on those channels. Non-exclusive options reduce that to 25%, but let you distribute elsewhere too.

How ACX Works for Narrators and Producers

For narrators, voice actors, and production studios, ACX is both a job marketplace and career platform.

  1. Create Your Profile:
    You set up a profile that showcases your skills, experience, and audio samples.

  2. Search Projects and Audition:
    You can browse open audiobook projects posted by rights holders and submit auditions. Audiobook narration is competitive, and quality audio demos are essential.

  3. Negotiate Terms:
    When an author selects you, you agree on how you’ll be paid. You might get paid per finished hour (PFH), work for a share of royalties, or do a hybrid deal. ACX doesn’t take a fee from the narrator; its revenue comes from the publisher/author’s end.

  4. Produce the Audiobook:
    As a narrator on ACX, you often function as your own producer too. You record the audio, handle editing and mastering, and deliver a retail-ready product. ACX hosts tools to help and offers resources for gear and techniques.

  5. Submit and Get Paid:
    After quality assurance and distribution, if you chose a royalty structure, you’ll get monthly royalty payments. If you opted for per-finished-hour pay, you’re usually paid once the final files are approved.

Payment Structures and Royalties

ACX offers flexibility in how narrators and authors get paid:

  • Royalty Share: The narrator and author split the royalties from sales. This is attractive if neither party wants high upfront costs, but it means the narrator earns over time as the book sells.
  • Pay Per Finished Hour (PFH): The author pays the narrator a fixed rate based on the final length of the audiobook. That’s immediate payment for the narrator, and the author keeps more royalties later.
  • Hybrid Options: Some contracts mix small upfront fees with shared royalties.

The royalty rate for exclusive distribution across Audible, Amazon, and Apple Books is higher (up to 40%), while non-exclusive deals drop it to 25%. These rates determine how much the rights holder earns per sale, and ultimately how much the narrator earns under shared arrangements.

Pros of Using ACX

  • Massive Reach: Audiobooks produced via ACX appear on the biggest audiobook retailers in the world.
  • No Sign-Up Fees: There’s no cost just to join ACX.
  • Marketplace of Talent: Authors have a huge pool of narrators to audition. Narrators have many projects to choose from.
  • Flexible Payment Options: You can tailor deals to what makes sense financially for both sides.

Considerations and Limitations

  • Eligibility Restrictions: ACX is only open to residents of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Ireland who have local tax and banking details.
  • Competitive for Narrators: There are many narrators on the platform, so landing projects can take effort.
  • Quality Standards: ACX expects professional-level audio. Poorly recorded submissions are rejected.
  • Royalty Nuances: Navigating royalty share versus upfront payments requires careful thought, especially for authors trying to maximize long-term revenue.

Key Takeaways

  • ACX is a marketplace connecting audiobook creators with narrators and producers.
  • You can produce and distribute audiobooks to Audible, Amazon, and Apple Books via the platform.
  • Authors and narrators agree on payment terms, including royalty share or per finished hour rates.
  • Narrators need professional recording skills and equipment to be competitive.
  • ACX is free to use but eligibility is limited to certain countries with valid tax and banking info.

FAQ

Is ACX free to use?
Yes, joining ACX and listing a project is free. The costs come from production deals you make with narrators.

Can I narrate my own audiobook on ACX?
Yes — you can narrate and produce it yourself if you have the skill and tools.

Where will my audiobook be sold?
Audiobooks published through ACX are distributed to Audible, Amazon, and Apple Books (iTunes).

How do narrators get paid?
Narrators can be paid per finished hour or through shared royalties agreed with the author.

Is ACX legit?
Yes, it’s a legitimate platform backed by Audible/Amazon and widely used by authors and narrators.