Spotify launches audiobooks in South Africa

The audiobook catalogue includes a range of bestsellers, new releases and genre titles. Available works include Shining Girls by South African author Lauren Beukes, as well as international titles such as Heated Rivalry, Fourth Wing and You and Me on Vacation. The launch adds a new format for audiences to access written content through audio.

The service is aimed at listeners who want to integrate reading into daily routines such as commuting, exercising or relaxing. Audiobooks are accessible through Spotify’s Audiobooks hub or via the app’s search function, and the platform automatically saves listening progress to allow users to resume from where they last stopped.

Spotify’s audiobook offering also introduces features designed to support flexible consumption across formats. Page Match enables users to switch between reading and listening by matching audiobook playback to the corresponding point in a physical book or e-book after scanning a page in the app.

For creators and rights holders, audiobooks on Spotify provide an additional distribution channel. Publishers are able to reach audiences already using the platform, while authors may gain increased visibility through integration into Spotify’s recommendation and discovery systems.

In South Africa, audiobook access is included for users on the Premium Platinum subscription tier, which provides 12 hours of audiobook listening per month. Subscribers who require additional time can purchase a top-up of 10 extra listening hours. Titles can be saved to a personal library for online or offline listening.

The rollout reflects Spotify’s continued expansion beyond music and podcasts, positioning audiobooks as part of a broader audio ecosystem. With the service now available locally, South African users can access long-form storytelling in audio format without leaving the platform.