ACX vs Findaway Voices
- ACX: Amazon-exclusive option (40% royalty) or non-exclusive (25%).
- Findaway Voices: 40+ retailers, 50-60% royalty share.
- ACX exclusive contract: 7 years; non-exclusive: no lock-in.
- Findaway reaches Apple, Spotify, Kobo, library systems (Hoopla, Overdrive).
- Most indies pick one path per book and stick with it.
ACX is Amazon’s audiobook publishing platform — distributes exclusively to Audible, Amazon, and iTunes with 40% royalty for 7-year exclusive contracts (25% non-exclusive). Findaway Voices distributes to 40+ retailers including Apple, Spotify, Kobo, and library systems with 50-60% royalty share. ACX is best for Amazon-first audiences; Findaway for wide distribution.
Chapter i·Why it matters
ACX vs Findaway is the audiobook equivalent of the KDP Select decision. Authors with non-Audible readers (especially library and Apple users) leave money on the table with ACX exclusive; authors with Audible-heavy audiences prefer ACX’s higher per-sale royalty.
Chapter ii·What to include
- ACX: 40% exclusive (7-year lock) or 25% non-exclusive.
- Findaway: 50-60% royalty share, 40+ retailers, no lock-in.
- Library systems (Hoopla, Overdrive) reached only via Findaway.
- ACX exclusive math beats Findaway only when Audible exceeds 75% of sales.
- A contract review: 7 years is a long lock for unknown future preferences.
- Per-book decision: you can switch platforms by book.
Chapter iii·Example
A working sci-fi author has 30% of her readers on non-Audible platforms. She publishes through Findaway despite lower per-sale Audible royalty. Year-one: ACX-exclusive projection $4,200, Findaway actual $5,100. The 30% non-Audible audience made the difference.
Chapter iv·Related questions
WriteLoom holds your distribution decisions per book — ACX vs Findaway, KDP vs IngramSpark — in one project.
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