Spotify launches physical book sales in the US and UK
Spotify users in the UK and US can start purchasing physical books through its Bookshop.org partnership.
Spotify has bridged the gap between audiobooks and physical books on its platform with the launch of its new feature. The streaming platform’s partnership with Bookshop.org offers a streamlined connection between digital discovery and physical book sales.
Following its initial announcement earlier this year, the feature is now live in the US and UK., allowing users to purchase printed books directly through the Spotify app. Currently available on Android, with iOS support arriving next week, the feature introduces a “Get a copy for your bookshelf” option on audiobook pages. This takes users to Bookshop.org, where purchases are completed, with pricing, stock, and delivery handled externally.
This move not only connects listeners with physical copies of the stories they enjoy but also supports independent bookshops through Bookshop.org’s model.
This latest launch builds on the groundwork laid earlier this year, when Spotify introduced other features designed to connect audiobooks and physical reading. Alongside the rollout of physical book sales, Spotify has also expanded and refined several of its audiobook features. One of the most notable updates is the continued expansion of Page Match, which now supports more than 30 additional languages, including French, German, and Swedish. The feature allows users to switch between reading a physical or digital book and listening to the audiobook version without losing their place.
Early data suggests that Page Match is already having a strong impact on engagement. Spotify reports that users who use the feature listen to 55% more audiobook hours each week on average. It also found that 62% of Page Match titles are books users had not previously streamed, showing that the feature is helping drive discovery as well as retention.
Spotify has also expanded its Audiobook Recaps feature to Android devices, bringing it in line with iOS. These short audio summaries are tailored to a listener’s last stopping point, making it easier to jump back into a story without feeling lost.
In addition, Audiobook Charts are continuing to roll out across more regions. The charts, which update weekly, are now available in Germany, joining the US and UK, and rank titles based on listening behaviour and engagement. Genres include sci-fi and fantasy, mystery and thriller, self-help, and more. A new dedicated Kids and Family chart has also launched in the US and UK.
All of these updates come as Spotify’s audiobook catalogue continues to grow rapidly. The platform now offers more than 700,000 titles across 22 markets, and reports that it pays “hundreds of millions of dollars annually to authors and publishers”.
Speaking on the wider update, Owen Smith, Spotify’s Global Head of Audiobooks, said: “These updates demonstrate our continued ambition to make reading fit into modern life.”
He added, “Whether it’s discovering a book the same way you’d find a song or podcast on Spotify, picking up the audiobook on your commute, using Page Match to switch to a physical copy at home, or jumping back in with a Recap, we’re making it easier for people to engage with books while supporting growth for authors and publishers along the way.”