ACX Royalty Share vs Stipend Calculator

Compare royalty share deals against upfront stipend arrangements. Find your break-even point and calculate your long-term Audible income.

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🎙️ Royalty Share Inputs

Audiobook retail price ($)

ACX distribution type

Royalty share split

Expected monthly sales (units)

Projection period (months)

💰 Royalty Share Results

Your royalty rate—

Per-sale royalty (your share)—

Monthly income—

Annual income—

Income over projection period—

💵 Stipend Deal Inputs

Audiobook retail price ($)

ACX distribution type

Narrator stipend paid ($) Typical range: $200–$400 per finished hour

Expected monthly sales (units)

Projection period (months)

💰 Stipend Deal Results

Full royalty per sale—

Monthly income—

Break-even sales (to cover stipend)—

Break-even months—

Net income after stipend (period)—

⚖️ Side-by-Side Comparison Inputs

Retail price ($)

Monthly sales

Narrator stipend ($)

Metric	Royalty Share (50/50)	Stipend Deal

Frequently Asked Questions

What royalty rate does ACX pay?

ACX pays 25% royalty for exclusive titles sold on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. Non-exclusive titles earn 20%. If you used a royalty-share deal with a narrator, the 25% is split equally, giving each party 12.5%.

Is ACX royalty share or upfront stipend better?

It depends on your expected sales volume. If your audiobook will sell fewer than the break-even point, an upfront stipend is better. If you expect strong long-term sales, royalty share pays more over time. Use the Compare tab above to find your personal break-even.

How does ACX calculate my royalty payment?

ACX pays based on the retail price of the audiobook. For a $19.95 audiobook at 25% exclusive royalty, you'd earn approximately $4.99 per full-price sale. Whispersync sales, member credits, and returns affect your actual per-unit earnings.

Can I leave ACX after signing an exclusive contract?

ACX exclusive contracts run for 7 years. You cannot leave during this period. After 7 years, you can switch to non-exclusive distribution. For royalty-share deals, the contract cannot be cancelled early by either party.

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