Audiobook Platform Upload Spec Sheet: Google Play, Apple Books, and Kobo

Audiobook Platform Upload Spec Sheet

Technical requirements for Google Play Books, Apple Books, and Kobo Writing Life

This document covers the technical and metadata requirements for uploading audiobooks to the three major self-publishing platforms. It is written for independent authors uploading finished audio files directly — no distributor required. Platform specs change without notice; links to verify current requirements are included throughout.

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Google Play Books

Account setup: play.google.com/books/publish/

Audio Format

– Required format: MP3
– Bitrate: 192 kbps (minimum recommended; 320 kbps accepted)
– Sample rate: 44.1 kHz
– Channels: Stereo or mono (stereo preferred)

File Structure

– Chapter-separated files accepted and recommended
– Each chapter uploaded as a separate MP3 file
– One file per chapter; intro and outro count as separate tracks

File Naming Convention

– Use sequential numbering: `01-chapter-title.mp3`, `02-chapter-title.mp3`
– No special characters, spaces, or uppercase in filenames
– Keep filenames short and consistent — Google’s upload system is sensitive to inconsistencies

Cover Image

– Dimensions: 2500 x 2500 px minimum; 3000 x 3000 px recommended
– Format: JPG or PNG
– Aspect ratio: 1:1 (square — required, not optional)
– Color mode: RGB
– Verify current specs at: play.google.com/books/publish/ > Help

Required Metadata at Upload

– Title (must match exactly what appears on the audio files)
– Author name
– Narrator name (list “AI Narration” if applicable — disclosure required)
– Book description
– Categories (Google’s own taxonomy — select the most specific available)
– Language
– ISBN (optional but recommended for discoverability)
– Publication date

Pricing

– Minimum price: $0.00 (free allowed)
– Maximum price: No hard maximum for audiobooks (set by author)
– Price in USD; Google converts for international storefronts

Royalty Rate

– 70% royalty on list price (Google keeps 30%)
– No minimum sales threshold to receive payment

Review / Approval Timeline

– Typically 1-3 business days after upload
– Can take up to 7 days during high-volume periods

Platform-Specific Notes

– Google Play’s search algorithm weights keyword-matched metadata heavily — put your most important keywords in the title field and first 200 characters of the description
– AI narration disclosure is required in the product description (see The Author’s Disclosure Guide)
– Google does not require an ISBN but books with ISBNs index better across external search
– Upload through the Partner Center, not through Google Books itself
– You retain all rights; Google does not take exclusivity
– Verify at: play.google.com/books/publish/

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Apple Books

Account setup: authors.apple.com (individual authors) or itunesconnect.apple.com (publishers with aggregator access)

> Note: Apple Books requires audiobooks to be delivered through an approved aggregator unless you have direct publisher access. As of 2026, most independent authors use Findaway Voices, Draft2Digital, or Authors Republic to distribute to Apple Books. Verify current direct-upload availability at: authors.apple.com

Audio Format

– Required format: MP3 or M4A/M4B
– Bitrate: 192 kbps minimum; 256 kbps recommended
– Sample rate: 44.1 kHz
– Channels: Stereo

File Structure

– Individual chapter files required — Apple does not accept a single combined audiobook file
– Each chapter, introduction, author note, and appendix must be a separate file
– Files must be delivered in the correct playback order

File Naming Convention

– Apple’s aggregators typically handle final naming, but your source files should follow:
`[Book_Title]_[01]_[Chapter_Title].mp3`
– Pad chapter numbers with leading zeros (01, 02 … 10, 11)
– No special characters or spaces

Cover Image

– Dimensions: 3000 x 3000 px minimum
– Format: JPG or PNG
– Aspect ratio: 1:1 (square — required)
– Color mode: RGB
– Resolution: 72 dpi minimum (300 dpi preferred for print-quality future use)
– Verify at: apple.com/apple-books/ or through your aggregator’s upload guide

Required Metadata at Upload

– Title
– Subtitle (if applicable)
– Author name
– Narrator name
– Publisher name
– Description (supports basic HTML formatting through aggregators)
– Categories — Apple uses its own specific category taxonomy; mismatched categories can delay approval or reduce discoverability
– Language
– ISBN-13 (strongly recommended; some aggregators require it)
– Copyright year
– Explicit content flag (yes/no)

Pricing

– Minimum price: $0.00 (free allowed)
– Apple recommends pricing between $14.99–$24.99 for audiobooks to match store norms
– No hard maximum

Royalty Rate

– 70% royalty on list price through direct publisher access
– Through aggregators, Apple pays 70% to the aggregator, who then pays you their rate (typically 60–80% of the 70%)

Review / Approval Timeline

– 1-5 business days through aggregators
– Apple can take up to 2 weeks during peak periods (October–November)

Platform-Specific Notes

– Apple uses its own category system — do not assume your category from another platform maps directly. Selecting an incorrect Apple category is one of the most common causes of delayed approval
– AI narration disclosure is required (Apple Books content policy as of 2026) — place it in the product description, not the metadata fields
– Apple Books has editorial curation opportunities (Featured, New & Noteworthy) — these are invitation-only and not affected by AI narration disclosure
– If uploading through an aggregator, the aggregator handles DRM; you cannot opt out
– Verify current specs at: authors.apple.com or your chosen aggregator’s help documentation

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Kobo Writing Life

Account setup: kobowritinglife.com

Audio Format

– Required format: MP3
– Bitrate: 192 kbps minimum
– Sample rate: 44.1 kHz
– Channels: Stereo or mono

File Structure

– Chapter-separated files accepted and recommended
– Kobo also accepts a single combined file, but chapter-separated files provide a better reader/listener experience and enable chapter navigation in the Kobo app
– Each chapter as a separate MP3; intro and outro as separate files

File Naming Convention

– Sequential numbering recommended: `01_introduction.mp3`, `02_chapter_one.mp3`
– Use underscores, not spaces
– Keep consistent naming throughout — Kobo’s system is order-sensitive

Cover Image

– Dimensions: 1600 x 2400 px minimum (note: Kobo uses a portrait/rectangular cover unlike the square required by Google and Apple)
– Format: JPG or PNG
– Aspect ratio: 2:3 (portrait — not square; this differs from other platforms)
– Color mode: RGB
– Verify at: kobowritinglife.com > Help Center

Required Metadata at Upload

– Title
– Author name
– Narrator name
– Short description and long description (both fields available)
– Categories (Kobo uses BISAC codes — use the most specific BISAC code available)
– Language
– ISBN (optional but improves discoverability)
– DRM preference (Kobo offers DRM-free option — authors choose)
– Territory rights (select the markets where you hold distribution rights)

Pricing

– Minimum price: $1.99 (free not available for audiobooks on Kobo Writing Life as of 2026 — verify at kobowritinglife.com)
– Maximum price: No hard maximum
– Price in USD; Kobo converts for international storefronts (Kobo operates in 190+ countries)

Royalty Rate

– 70% royalty on list prices $2.99 and above
– 45% royalty on list prices below $2.99
– Kobo Plus (subscription) participation: optional, pays per-minute-listened rate

Review / Approval Timeline

– Typically 24-72 hours
– Kobo has one of the faster review cycles among the major platforms

Platform-Specific Notes

– Kobo’s cover requirement is portrait (2:3 ratio), not square — the same cover file you use for Google and Apple will not meet Kobo’s spec without resizing
– Kobo Writing Life allows DRM-free publishing — the only major audiobook platform to give authors this choice
– Territory rights matter on Kobo: if you also distribute through another platform, make sure you’re not granting overlapping worldwide rights
– Kobo Plus subscription revenue is modest but consistent; opt-in is worth considering for backlist titles
– Verify current specs at: kobowritinglife.com > Help > Audiobooks

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Quick Reference

| | Google Play Books | Apple Books | Kobo Writing Life |
|—|—|—|—|
| Format | MP3 | MP3 or M4A | MP3 |
| Bitrate | 192 kbps min | 192 kbps min | 192 kbps min |
| Files | Chapter-separated | Chapter-separated (required) | Chapter-separated or single |
| Cover ratio | 1:1 square | 1:1 square | 2:3 portrait |
| Cover min size | 2500×2500 px | 3000×3000 px | 1600×2400 px |
| Royalty | 70% | 70% (direct) | 70% (at $2.99+) |
| AI disclosure | Required | Required | Required |
| Exclusivity | No | No | No |
| Direct upload | Yes | Aggregator typically required | Yes |

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A Note on Specs

Specs change. Always verify at the platform’s official publisher portal before uploading. These requirements were verified in 2026 but may have been updated since.

– Google Play Books: play.google.com/books/publish/
– Apple Books: authors.apple.com
– Kobo Writing Life: kobowritinglife.com

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