Get Paid to Read Books: 9 Websites that Pay Well

For those of us who love reading, books can be an escape, a comfort or an adventure. Tragically, every visit to the bookstore — or every one-click e-book purchase — can quickly drain your monthly fun money budget. If you need help funding your habit, look no further than freelance websites. You can get paid to read books, believe it or not.

There are multiple ways to get paid to read — and to read for free — if you’re over 18 years old and have an internet connection. You can become a beta reader, a freelance reviewer, an audiobook narrator, a proofreader or a content creator. Learning more about each option can help you decide if it’s right for your schedule and reading speed. 

1. Audiobook Creation Exchange

Audiobook Creation Exchange is Amazon’s marketplace for creators to meet voice talent. As an audiobook narrator, you can negotiate your work, timeline and pay with literary agents, publishers or self-published authors.

Know that voice work can be tricky — you have to have dialect skills, differentiate voices between characters and read out loud for long periods without making mistakes. Plus, you need decent recording equipment to produce a solid audio file. 

2. Reedsy Discovery 

Reedsy Discovery is different from most freelance book review websites because it has you work for tips — they can send you $1, $3 or $5. It’s not much, but you do get access to hundreds of free books before they’re published, which balances it out. 

To apply to get paid to read books, you create an account, introduce yourself and fill out various professional details. Reedsy Discovery wants to know how often you read, which genres you prefer, where you publish reviews and which reviews you’re most proud of. 

3. Youtube

On YouTube, you can post video reviews, read chapters out loud or make reading list recommendations based on your recently finished titles. You can monetize your videos with YouTube AdSense, donations or channel memberships to receive revenue. 

As your account grows, sponsors may reach out to partner with you. Since the average YouTuber earns $0.018 per view, having a sponsor would help you tremendously. These third parties pay you anywhere from a few bucks to four figures, depending on your account’s size.

4. Voice 123

Voice 123 is one of the leading websites for voice actors. Once you create an account, list your skills, post audio samples and select your preferred payment method, you can begin narrating books in exchange for money. 

When you and an author agree on a timeline and price, Voice 123 holds on to the payment until they accept the final audio recording. This way, you can be sure you’ll get paid for the work you do. It’s somewhat involved but is a good way to get paid to read books.

5. UpWork

UpWork is one of the biggest freelancing platforms. Creating an account enables you to become a freelance book reviewer or beta reader, meaning you can pick up work whenever you want. Simply search for review roles, browse the options and select the one that’s right for you.

Every job will be different — and a steady stream of work isn’t guaranteed — but it’s still a good way to get paid to read books. Expect to provide feedback on the characters, double-check the facts’ accuracy, suggest formatting improvements or provide unique insights. 

6. Fiverr

Fiverr is similar to UpWork, except you post looking for work instead of browsing job ads. Here, you can become a reviewer or beta reader, negotiating your work, turnaround time and pay. Since you’re basically your own boss, you can pick up work whenever you feel like it.

Showcasing your portfolio, experience and skills will land you more jobs — and get you work faster — so consider filling out your profile to make yourself look impressive. It might seem like a lot of work, but it’s worth it to be able to get paid to read books in your spare time.

7. Online Book Club 

OnlineBookClub.org is legit, despite how outdated — and low-key sketchy — its appearance might make it seem. It has millions of members, plenty of whom it has paid for honest reviews. Apparently, you can earn anywhere from $5 to $100 for a single one. 

This website announces free or greatly discounted books every day through email. Also, they give away about $1,000 per month via their daily sweepstakes. Basically, it provides a ton of different ways to make money while reading. 

8. TikTok

Although the federal government may be banning TikTok in the United States soon, it’s still a great platform for discovering and reviewing books for now. Of course, we probably don’t need to tell you about the wonders of “BookTok” if you already have the app. 

TikTok’s creator fund pays you when your posts receive engagement. Building a social media following may not seem worth it for a little extra spending money, but it’s a great way to connect with like-minded readers — and it gives you an excuse to rant about your latest read.

9. Booklist

Booklist is an American Library Association publication. In other words, while it’s legit, it’s the strictest money-making option on this list. Once you apply, you get a few months of training and handholding. Then, you review around two to three books a month at $15 per review.

Booklist’s pre-set pay rate makes it one of the best methods to get paid to read books. If you have time to read two books every four weeks, you know you’ll get $30 monthly — while reading for free. Plus, it’s a great option if you need help deciding what to read.

Get Paid to Read Books in Your Spare Time

Most of these options are low-commitment, so you can get paid to read books whenever you have time. Being able to work around your day job, chores, family and friends to earn money while reading is one of the biggest benefits of using freelance websites like these.