Get Paid to Read Books Aloud [20 Top-Paying Sites]

Love books? Got a pretty voice?

Then you may be curious about how to get paid to read books aloud.

Turns out, it’s not actually that hard — assuming you got skills.

In today’s media-driven world, there is a HUGE demand for talented voice actors. 

If you want in on a piece of the pie, here are the 20 best places to find work.

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How to get paid to read books aloud (20 sites that pay)

If you want to get paid to read books out loud, here are 20 awesome ways to do it.

These are mainly all freelancing gigs. Rates vary from platform to platform, and you may need to negotiate.

1. Bunny Studio

Bunny Studio offers a freelance-to-client platform that specializes in audiobook production, graphic design, and a bunch of other cool creative projects. You can also find work here if you’re a producer looking to fine-tune someone else’s audio.

How to get started:
▶ Choose a category.
▶ Fill out and submit the application.
▶ Wait for feedback from Bunny Studio.
▶ Start getting paid.

Clients choose freelancers in one of three ways — they can use AI to find a freelancer for them, hand-pick the freelancer of their choice, or select multiple freelancers and have them audition.

2. Voice 123

Voice 123 is one of the OGs of this space. They’ve been around since 2003 and claim that thousands of projects are posted on their platform every day.

The best part is that they do not charge the freelancer any fees. Everything is absorbed by the clients. However, this does come with a catch. You have to do everything yourself, including negotiating the terms of the arrangements with your clients.

How to get started:
▶ A client invites you to participate in a project.
▶ You audition.
▶ If chosen, you negotiate terms, complete the project, and then paid.

3. Backstage

Backstage runs how a lot of freelance sites currently operate — requiring the voice actor to pay a monthly fee. The cheapest plan is $8.25 per month and the most expensive is $19.95 per month. 

This can often be cheaper than having the platform take a cut of your earnings, but the key is you actually have to land at least one job per month to make it worth it.

This website focuses on casting for voice-over work for screenplays, TV, and documentaries. But they also have quite a few offerings for audiobooks and fiction podcasts.

How to get started:
▶ Create a profile.
▶ Apply for jobs.
▶ Audition, get the job, get paid.

4. ACX

ACX stands for Audio Creative Exchange and is owned by Amazon. If you’re looking to get paid to read books for Audible, then this is it.

Your work will be featured on Amazon, Audible, as well as iTunes, which is pretty neat. 

One of the coolest things about this platform is that independent authors come to find you. You have the option of negotiating a rate with them or being paid via royalty sharing.

How to get started:
▶ Create your profile.
▶ Upload samples.
▶ Set your rate or select an option for royalty sharing.
▶ Select posted jobs and record a few minutes of the manuscript.
▶ Accept an offer from the owner of the property.
▶ Record, complete, get paid, rinse, repeat.

5. Voices

Voices claims to be the top marketplace for voice-over and audio production work in the world. If you want to get paid to read aloud, this is a good place to start.

They have clients like Hulu, Shopify, and The History Channel. So they’re a big deal in this space. 

It’s a great way to get paid to read books in English. However, they have work that is sourced in dozens of countries, and they need readers in hundreds of languages. If English isn’t your first language, then Voices has you covered.

How to get started:
▶ Create a profile.
▶ Upload samples of your work.
▶ Audition for work, get hired, and get paid.

6. Spoken Realms

If you want to read books aloud for money, but you don’t want to deal with Amazon for one reason or another, Spoken Realms may be the best alternative.

Everything works much the same as it does with ACV. However, there is a lot of graphic novel and podcast audio work on this website. But just like with ACV, your work will be featured on websites like Audible and iTunes.

Unlike other platforms on our list, Spoken Realms only wants to work with experienced voiceover artists, so beef up your portfolio before applying.

How to get started:
▶ Fill out the form on their website and provide links to previously published work. If they like you, they’ll come knockin’. If they don’t, move on to the next spot on our list.

7. Findaway Voices

Findaway Voices works similar to a few other platforms on today’s list. They pride themselves on being able to match the right narrator with the right story.

This website is not 100% ready to go yet. The marketplace, which will help connect authors and people who want to read and get paid, is still under construction. 

Right now, the best thing to do is to make a baller profile, then wait for everything to go live. Don’t worry, there are plenty of other sites you can work with until this one is finished.

How to get started:
▶ Make a profile, and wait for the marketplace to go live.

8. Voice Jungle

Voice Jungle is a great site for anyone who’s already a professional voice-over artist. They specialize in eLearning, ads, explainer videos, and podcasts. 

So if you want to help kiddos and get paid to read children’s books aloud, their eLearning specialization is the way to go.

If you want to work with these guys, you must work in a studio that meets their standards, and you need to be able to provide a 24-hour turnaround when it’s requested of you. Still interested?

How to get started:
▶ Upload your demo and fill out the application.
▶ They’ll contact you if they find you a job — there are no auditions.

9. Internet Jock

Internet Jock is an interesting choice if you want to get paid to read aloud. Their game plan is to provide the quickest turnaround times for clients.

If you can drop everything and knock out a project in a couple of hours, then this website might be a good place to start.

They charge their buyers $65 per minute of work and keep 40%. It’s not perfect, but if you need to build a resume, it’s a fine place to start.

How to get started:
▶ Fill out the application exactly the way they ask.
▶ Wait for them to get back to you.

10. Bodalgo

Bodalgo is a German company that boasts some crazy stats. They have more than 10k voice actors on their roster — covering 80 languages — and some of their clients are pretty big names.

While they don’t cover many audiobooks, if you just want to read and get paid, they can make it happen. Most of their clients are looking for ad work and explainer videos, but they have also done films in the past.

How to get started:
▶ Sign up and create a profile.
▶ Send offers to job postings.
▶ Audition, get the job, get paid.

11. Mandy

This website used to be called Voices Pro, but it has changed its name to Mandy when it expanded into offering more than voice work. 

Mandy doesn’t have the most attractive UI in the world, but you asked for all ways to make money reading books aloud, right?

Ugly as it is, they do provide a good chunk of voice-over work for several different fields. 

For the best chance of finding work on Mandy, you’ll want to sign up for a premium membership. 

How to get started:
▶ Sign up for a free profile.
▶ Follow all the steps and create a premium membership.
▶ Mandy helps to link the right clients up with the right artists.

12. Voice Crafters

Voice Crafters supplies talent for ads, audiobooks, eLearning, and more. This is a platform that stays pretty busy. They’re also picky. Currently, they are not looking for U.S. or U.K. English talent.

They want professionals with a minimum of five years of experience, their own studio, and the ability for fast turnaround times. 

How to get started:
▶ Sign up on their website and make sure to provide a demo.
▶ They will contact you if interested.

13. Vo Planet

Want to read books aloud for money? Vo Planet wants you to as well. They need voice actors for audiobooks, video games, animations, and eLearning.

Vo Planet has worked with brands like Mcdonald’s, Honda, and Pizza Hut — in other words, they’re legit.

How to get started:
▶ Sign up and create an account.
▶ Reply to job listings.
▶ Audition, get hired, get paid.

14. Fiverr

Pretty much everyone knows about Fiverr at this point. You can find a ton of freelance voice-over work here. However, it’s also going to be one of the most competitive platforms.

There was a time when you could only charge $5 for services on Fiverr, but that has since changed. Nowadays, you can charge pretty much whatever you want. In my experience though, the people who are looking for freelancers on Fiverr are looking for people who are willing to work for dirt cheap.

How to get started:
▶ Create an account.
▶ Build out your profile.
▶ Attract clients, negotiate terms, work, get paid, give Fiverr their cut.

15. Upwork

Upwork is similar to Fiverr, but Upwork also lets you bid on jobs. Like Fiverr, Upwork takes a sizable cut of anything you make. Most people who are looking for talent and willing to pay a bit more for it will go to Upwork instead of Fiverr.

There is nothing wrong with having accounts on both of these websites. The more fishing lines you have in the water, the better.

How to get started:
▶ Create an account.
▶ Build out your profile.
▶ Attract clients, negotiate terms, work, get paid, give Upwork their cut.

Before setting up an account, you may want to read this update on if Upwork is still worth it.

How to make money reading books with other strategies (5 bonus ways)

Most of the ways to get paid to read books online are all pretty much the same. You sign up, provide some samples, and then battle with other artists to find clients.

But there are some other ways you can build a resume, have fun, and diversify your income streams to help boost your career.

16. YouTube

No matter what niche you’re in, what your passion is, or what kind of weirdo hobbies you’ve got, you can find an audience on Youtube.

Now, there are going to be legal issues if you try to read best sellers online and collect AdSense revenue. But there are plenty of successful channels that summarize books into short, digestible videos. 

That’s not all. If you want a career in voice acting, YouTube is a great place to practice your skills. You can also discuss how you got into the business and the ups and downs you deal with regularly.

Who knows, you may inspire the up-and-coming voice actor generation.

17. Blogging

The possibilities and income potential are practically limitless with blogging. You can make money by reading books aloud by adding audio clips to your blog posts. 

This is a great platform for doing book reviews or starting your own book club — with a blog as your business hub, you’re only limited by your imagination.

An even bigger upside is your blog doesn’t have to be just about reading books aloud. With just a few adjustments, you can create a multi-niche lifestyle blog. (To get your juices flowing on how blogging works, check out these travel blogs that make it rain. 

On top of that, you can create courses to help people get started with voice-over work and host them on your own website.

If you’re interested in building a money-making blog, grab this free mini-course.

18. Podcasting

Podcasting is one of the newest and most innovative ways to build a career in voice acting.

Create your own show, either fiction or nonfiction. Not only can you make money from advertising and sponsored content, but you can also use it to build a voice-over resume.

Podcasts are found on iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, and others. On top of posting your content on your own website, you should also use a variety of platforms to help get the word out about your content.

19. Outschool

Do you enjoy teaching? Is helping children one of your passions? 

Then check out Outschool. You can get paid to read children’s books aloud, teach classes, and help kids with their studies.

To get Outschool, you’ll need to pass a background check and live in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, or New Zealand. 

20. Social media

If you think no one will ever notice the funny voices you post on Twitter and other social sites, then you’re wrong. 

Just by adding the right hashtags, you can be discovered as potential voice talent at any time. Granted, this is a bit of a long shot.

However, if you’re talented with voices and you want to have fun, what’s the harm in putting yourself out there and spending a few extra seconds to be more visible?

How much can you get paid to read aloud?

The data available online doesn’t do a very good job of answering this question. I’ve seen figures ranging from $50 per hour to over $400. So what gives?

Realistically, starting a blog or YouTube channel is going to cost you a bit of money. And in the beginning, you won’t bring in much revenue. Fiverr and Upwork are likely only going to pay between $5 and $15 an hour as a beginner.

Once you start to get some experience and make a name for yourself, you can easily charge $50 per hour. If you become an expert in audio production, you can double that figure. However, these numbers of $400 and $500 an hour, at least in my opinion, are pure BS.

How to start to make money reading books aloud with no experience

People who want to get paid to read books aloud with no experience have to start at the bottom and work their way up. It’s unfortunate, but this is a tough industry to break into and find success.

That doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

The first step is to get the right equipment. Voice actors audition for all of their roles, which means that your first impression is going to be the deciding factor on whether or not you’re hired. 

You’ll need a high-end microphone, software, and headphones. Eventually, you’ll have to build out your own studio.

Next, practice, practice, practice. Record yourself over and over again until you’re happy with the content you create. Start building out profiles on the variety of websites listed above and upload your samples.

Now comes the hard part — dealing with clients and negotiating contracts. These are skills in and of themselves. No one is born with them, and it takes time to develop and hone these talents. 

But once you master these skills, you’ll be able to get the highest possible pay for your services.

Frequently asked questions