Spotify is expanding its role in the book world with a new feature that lets users buy physical books directly through its app in the U.S. and the U.K.
The company has partnered with Bookshop.org, an online marketplace that supports independent local bookstores, to make it happen. On audiobook pages, users will now see a “Get a copy for your bookshelf” button, which takes them to Bookshop’s website to handle pricing, inventory, and shipping.
For now, the feature is only available on Android, but iPhone users are expected to get access next week. The launch marks a notable step for Spotify as it pushes beyond audio streaming and positions itself as a broader destination for book lovers. It also fits into the company’s wider push toward profitability, which has included subscription price increases in both the U.S. and Europe. Spotify recently said it has reached 751 million monthly active users.
Alongside physical book sales, Spotify has also expanded several audiobook features it first introduced in February. One of them is Page Match, which now works in more than 30 additional languages, including French, German, and Swedish. The feature allows users to scan a page from a physical book or e-book with their phone camera, then jump straight to the matching point in the audiobook. Since launching in English earlier this year, Spotify says users who try Page Match listen to 55 percent more audiobook hours each week than other users. It also found that 62 percent of Page Matched titles were books listeners had never streamed before.
Spotify has also officially rolled out Audiobook Recaps on Android. This feature gives listeners short audio summaries based on where they last stopped in a story, making it easier to return to a book without feeling lost. Another update is the expansion of Audiobook Charts to Germany, after earlier launches in the U.S. and the U.K. Similar to Spotify’s charts for music and podcasts, the feature is designed to help listeners discover popular and trending audiobook titles on the platform.
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