YouTube PremiumThe addition of audiobooks to the audio-focused features of ‘s audio-focused features has come to the fore. According to The Wall Street Journal, YouTube has been in talks with publishers for this feature in recent months. However, the company has not yet announced a release date or subscription terms.
Android Authority, which reported the news, states that Google is considering the option of offering audiobooks as part of YouTube Premium. However, this possibility does not confirm that all books can be listened to without additional fees and unlimitedly. The catalogue, country coverage and possible listening time limits are also unclear for now.
On the other hand, YouTube’s interest in long-form audio content is not just beginning. In its announcement in May, the company announced that podcasts on the platform reached more than one billion monthly viewers. Additionally, Premium users, including trial memberships, watched more than 800 million hours of podcasts in April 2026 alone. This data is based on YouTube’s own global metrics.
However, podcast access and licensed audiobook catalog do not define the same service. The new news is about the negotiations with the publishers. Therefore, an existing Premium membership does not grant access to the audiobooks discussed in these talks today. The scope of the product that YouTube will announce remains unclear until the official announcement.
YouTube previously expanded listening tools in Premium
In its May 28 announcement, YouTube introduced listening controls and autoplay speed for use on the go. In addition, it offered subscribers in certain countries the option to request podcast recommendations within YouTube Music. The company explained these tools as features that improve the existing podcast experience.
On the audiobook side, Spotify announced a separate expansion plan on October 7. The company aims to expand reach from 22 markets to more than 180 markets by the end of the year. Türkiye is also included in the list of countries in the announcement. However, Spotify states that the price and access model will vary by country.
Spotify’s options in new markets include monthly listening time, additional time packages and ways to purchase individual books on eligible Premium plans. The new catalog includes more than 350 thousand works and more than 120 languages. In addition, Spotify adds support for finding the remaining point in the book with the ISBN barcode and page number to its Page Match feature. However, these conditions announced by Spotify do not constitute any price or duration measure for YouTube’s possible service.