Get Paid to Read Books Aloud: Top 12 Websites For Beginners & Pros

Are you a bookworm looking for a career or a side hustle? You’re in luck! What if we told you that you could turn your hobby into a money-making opportunity? Do you know that you can get paid to read books aloud? 

Yes, you heard it right! You can make a career by reading books aloud and making good money from it. You may be surprised to hear that there are people all over the world who get paid to read books aloud.

Did you know that experienced audiobook narrators can earn anywhere from $120 to $500 per hour? Even if you are a beginner in the field, you can make $50 to $300 per hour. 

However, reading aloud as a job or career takes more than a good voice and a love for books. You need to know the right places or platforms to utilize your skill. 

Do you have what it takes to be a successful audiobook narrator? Let’s find out! 

12 Sites Where You Get Paid to Read Books Aloud 

While there are specific sites where you can read books aloud and get paid, you can also work as a freelancer on various platforms like Fiverr, FlexJobs, Upwork, People per Hour, etc. 

If you’re interested in working on dedicated platforms, here are 12 sites where you can get paid to read books aloud. 

1. ACX (Audio Creative Exchange) 

One of the most popular platforms, ACX offers numerous audiobook narration opportunities. ACX provides narration for audiobooks on platforms like Amazon, Audible, iTunes, etc. 

You can get really good gigs that pay handsomely. In fact, for many audiobook narrators, it is the first place where they start their careers.

If you want to start with ACX, register to the site with your Amazon account. Find the books that interest you and see if you can apply for narration. 

2. Findaway Voices 

Findaway Voices connects audiobook makers with individuals who want to narrate audiobooks.

To find work on Findaway Voices, you first need to create a profile on the site. The profile is forwarded to the casting teams at Orange Sky and Audioworks, who will offer you a job if your profile matches one of the job requirements. 

Findaway Voices is quite popular with narrators and a great place to start, as you will find plenty of opportunities. 

3. Bunny Studio 

Bunny Studio provides interesting opportunities for voiceover gigs. It is a good start if you want to work as a freelance narrator. 

Previously known as the Voice Bunny, the Bunny Studio offers different kinds of reading jobs, including audiobooks, reading scripts for ads, and voiceovers for different projects. 

4. Spoken Realms 

A great place to start if you want to read books aloud as a career, Spoken Realms is a platform dedicated to audiobook narration only.

Over time the site has established a strong position in the market with its forte in the audiobook narration category. It’s one of the largest providers of classic literature for platforms like Amazon, Audible, iTunes, etc. 

With an impressive number of titles to its credit, Spoken Realms is a site to watch out for if you are considering pursuing a career in reading books aloud. 

5. Brilliance Audio 

Another site we can recommend is Brilliance Audio. A strong contender for the position of market leader, Brilliance Audio has new projects regularly, providing plenty of opportunities to beginners and seasoned narrators. 

Brilliance Audio is also famous in the industry for paying its narrators and voiceover artists handsomely. However, the hiring criteria are stringent, and they closely assess aspects like voice quality, voice acting, and sound modulation abilities. 

If you want to apply to Brilliance Audio, keep a lookout for any new projects they post, and once they do, send a voiceover demo that is good enough to win them over. If you have the right skill set, there is no reason why they wouldn’t hire you. 

6. Mandy 

Previously known as Voices Pro, Mandy is regarded as one of the best sites for reading books aloud and other voiceover work. It is a great place for beginners looking for work having little experience in the area. 

More than 6,000 jobs are posted on the platform monthly, and the right one may just be waiting for you. 

7. Outschool 

If you are interested in reading books to kids and have the skill to turn kids’ book reading into a fun activity, Outschool is the right platform. You can find a topic that you like or suits your experience and interests. 

While you do not need to provide formal teaching qualifications to get work with Outschool, you will be required to provide a criminal background check before you start work. You also must reside in Canada, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, and the United States. 

8. Voice 123 

If you are a beginner in voiceover work or audiobook narration and want to work with a platform that does not charge for the jobs you get booked for, consider joining Voice 123. 

The site is not only a great platform for beginners, but it is also very popular with seasoned artists who are professionals in voiceover work. Have a look at its clients, and you will know for yourself. 

9. Internet Jock 

If you have a home studio but have just begun to explore the field, consider the Internet Jock. However, the site requires a turnaround time of 1 to 2 hours during business hours. So, if you feel you are up to the task and can cater to the tight schedules, you will find no shortage of work, even if you are new. 

The site pays well for work. For instance, if you do a voiceover for a commercial or voicemail, you can get paid up to $65 for a minute of the work. But, remember, Internet Jock takes a 40% cut from the amount earned. 

10. Backstage 

Do you want to work for television? Backstage is the site to join. The platform hires TV shows, documentaries, movies, ads, multimedia, audiobooks, and video games. Even if you are hesitant to apply in a prominent medium, such as TV, other options exist. 

The great thing about Backstage is that it is constantly on the lookout for new talent and regularly posts voiceover jobs on its site, offering numerous opportunities for beginners. 

11. Voice Jungle 

Another site that does not charge a fee for a job booking is Voice Jungle. You are also not required to make any payment in exchange for a membership with the site. 

You can find numerous opportunities for voiceover acting gigs, including reading scripts for various projects. However, there are a few requirements for working with Voice Jungle and working from home. The turnaround time for a booked job is usually 24 hours, so make sure you can make that kind of commitment. 

Moreover, Voice Jungle is particular about voice quality and has specific requirements, so you must have a home studio to cater accordingly.

To apply to the platform, you must register at its website by filling out a form and sending your voice demo in MP3 form. 

12. Voice Realm 

If you are confident in your audio narration or voiceover acting skills, the Voice Realm is a great platform with plenty of lucrative opportunities. The platform is huge but has stringent criteria, so be sure to work on your audio narration skills and online presence if you are interested in voiceover acting. 

How to Become a Book Reader?

If book reading was previously just a hobby for you and you want to turn it into a career, you may have to assess your portfolio and improve your skillset. 

Since many companies are looking for audiobook narrators or voiceover actors, you can easily find the job of your dreams, provided you have the right skill set to match their requirements. 

Here are a few things you can do to get noticed, build your profile, and refine your skills:

• Practice as much as you can. Pick a random book and read it aloud, even if you do not find it interesting. It will help you assess more clearly if the narration is something you can do professionally. 
• Find opportunities to display your skills. You can even work as a volunteer initially and read to the blind. It will help hone your skills and let you see how people respond to you. 
• You need to market yourself to get noticed. Create samples that bring out the best of your talent and showcase it on a platform. You can even make a website for that purpose. Make sure you craft a smashing resume to list your qualifications for those audio narration job openings. 
• Join online communities to network with other people in the market. You can get useful tips and advice and learn from others to improve your skills. You may also be able to connect with the right people who can provide you with work. 

What Kind of Skills Do I Need?

You need to be organized and work out how you can manage your work routine and meet deadlines to make it a career. This point is particularly important if you have a full-time job as well. 

To be an expert audio narrator, you must possess the skill to bring the book to life. Your reading should be such that the listener is immersed in the tale you weave through your words. So, you must pour empathy and expressions into your voice, while the tone of your narration must complement the book’s theme. 

It would help if you have a background in voice acting and can do different voices. 

More Side Hustle Ideas 

Meanwhile, other job opportunities exist if you want to make extra money. You will be more financially stable and secure down the line if you have multiple income streams.

Check out the links below. 

• Surveys are among the easiest ways to make money on the side. Check out these best survey platforms:
  • InboxDollars. Sign up ($5 new member bonus), start doing the online tasks, and earn rewards and extra cash with InboxDollars. Do surveys, join focus groups, redeem coupons, play games online, watch videos, search the web, and more. Read our full InboxDollars review here.
  • Survey Junkie. You can make money online through Survey Junkie by completing surveys or sharing your data. Get paid with gift cards or cash via Paypal. Read our full Survey Junkie review for more information.
  • Swagbucks. This rewards program lets you earn free gift cards or cash-backs by browsing the web, shopping online, and taking surveys. Read our full Swagbucks review here.
• Doordash. Drive, deliver food, and earn with Doordash. Make as much as $500 a week with this app. Read our DoorDash review for more details.
• Instacart. Using your own car, bike, or quick feet, make extra bucks by delivering groceries for this delivery platform. 
• Mistplay. Play online games to your heart’s content with platforms like Mistplay or Gamehag and get paid for it. You can earn points exchangeable for cash or gift cards. 
• Magic Ears. You can earn money by being an online English teacher on platforms such as FlexJobs and Magic Ears or tutoring students in different subjects through sites like tutor.com. 
• Rover. Walk dogs, get paid with Rover, and earn over $1,000 monthly. The working hours are flexible, which will allow you to incorporate your pet-sitting jobs into your part-time schedule.
• Bluehost. Start blogging and start earning money. Check this guide on how to start a blog, and then head on to this reliable web host, BlueHost, that provides various feature-packed web hosting options to help you build your own website easily.
• FlexJobs. Find gigs with online job platforms like FlexJobs, Fiverr, and Upwork. If you have marketable skills like freelance writing, software development, marketing, proofreading, graphic design, etc., you should try creating an impressive resume and listing your profile on these job sites. You may also read our full Flexjobs review for more details.

Frequently Asked Questions – Get Paid to Read Books Aloud 

Can I Get Paid to Narrate Audiobooks? 

Yes, you can get paid to narrate audiobooks. The amount you can earn from this varies and depends on your experience and qualifications, the associated platform, or the publisher you work for. 

How Much Do Audiobook Narrators Make? 

Professional audiobook narrators can make anywhere from $120 to $500 per hour. Individuals who are new in the field can also earn up to $50-$300 per hour. You will earn cash either way.

Where Can I Read and Get Paid? 

If you want to work as a freelancer, you can find such gigs on sites like Upwork or Fiverr. You can also find work on specific sites, such as Bunny Studio, ACX, Mandy, Voice Realm, Brilliance Audio, etc. 

You can get paid on any of these sites you sign up for. That’s a lot of money you can earn online.

Conclusion – Get Paid to Read Books Aloud 

Armed with this useful information on how to get paid to read books aloud, the choice is up to you.

Try to find the most suitable gig based on your skillset and experience. Don’t be deterred if you do not have any past work experience of a similar nature: we all need to start somewhere; be diligent in honing the required skills using every trick in the book. 

There’s an opportunity to turn your enjoyable hobby into a money-making venture. Your part-time job or side hustle can turn into a career or even your own business! Just take that first step toward simultaneously monetizing your hobby. 

May this become a profitable venture for you! 

You could also try out other ways of earning money with these side hustles:

• How To Make Money Online For Free: 28 Excellent Options To Consider 
• 19 Legit Data Entry Jobs From Home
• 18 Best Survey Sites To Make Money Online