Spotify is deepening its push into the world of books, moving beyond streaming audio to facilitate physical ownership and hybrid reading experiences. On February 5, 2026, the company announced a partnership with Bookshop.org that will let U.S. and U.K. users purchase physical books directly through the Spotify app later this spring. At the same time, it rolled out Page Match, a new feature designed to let readers fluidly switch between physical books (or e-books) and their audiobook counterparts.
The moves mark a notable expansion for Spotify’s audiobooks business, which launched in the U.S. in 2022 and has since grown into a meaningful revenue driver. With hundreds of thousands of titles available and features like monthly listening credits for Premium subscribers, the company has positioned itself as a serious contender to Audible. Now it’s bridging the digital-audio gap to print, recognizing that many people still prefer, or mix, multiple formats.
Page Match stands out as the more immediate and technically ambitious addition. Described by Spotify as a “first-of-its-kind” tool, it uses a smartphone camera to scan a page in a physical book or e-book, then jumps the audiobook to the exact corresponding spot. The reverse works too: listeners can sync back to a printed page. This eliminates the frustration of losing your place when switching mediums mid-story, whether commuting with headphones one day and curling up with a hardcover the next.
The feature is rolling out now on iOS and Android for most English-language titles, with full availability expected by the end of February 2026. It builds on earlier experiments like the 2025 beta of Audiobook Recaps (short audio summaries of where you left off) and aims to keep engagement high by making reading feel more personalized and flexible.
Owen Smith, Spotify’s Global Head of Audiobooks, framed the updates in terms of user behavior: “We believe the future of reading or listening needs to be flexible and fit more seamlessly into people’s lives… Now we’re extending Spotify’s discovery and engagement strengths across both audio and physical formats, so authors can build deeper connections with their audiences and books can follow readers wherever they go.”
The physical sales piece arrives a bit later targeted for spring 2026 in the U.S. and U.K., and routes purchases through Bookshop.org, an online platform that funnels proceed to independent bookstores rather than big chains. When users browse an audiobook in the app, they’ll see prompts like “get a copy for your bookshelf,” leading them to Bookshop.org for checkout. Spotify handles discovery and promotion; Bookshop.org manages pricing, inventory, fulfillment, and direct support for indie shops.
Andy Hunter, founder and CEO of Bookshop.org, highlighted the mutual benefit: “We are excited to see the impact Spotify’s scale will have for local bookstores… By meeting readers where they are and linking to Bookshop.org, Spotify is financially supporting indie booksellers with each purchase.”
The partnership taps into a persistent reality in publishing: physical books still dominate trade revenue, accounting for nearly 73% last year. By connecting Spotify’s massive user base, many already discovering titles via podcasts, playlists, or audiobook recommendations, to print sales, the company aims to act as a broader growth engine for authors and publishers.
Author Harlan Coben called it “the most exciting development in reading technology I’ve heard about in years because it will get more people reading and listening to books.”
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Spotify isn’t becoming a full-fledged bookseller overnight. It won’t stock or ship titles itself, and the initiative starts in just two markets. But the strategy aligns with its long-term play to become the go-to destination for all audio, and now adjacent media consumption. Features like Page Match could give it an edge over rivals by solving real friction points in multi-format reading, especially as hybrid habits grow.
Challenges remain. Page Match is English-first and limited to most (not all) titles initially, so global and multilingual rollout will take time. Physical sales depend on Bookshop.org’s ecosystem, which prioritizes indie support but may not match the selection or speed of Amazon. And while the announcements signal ambition, execution, smooth scanning accuracy, broad title coverage, seamless app integration, will determine whether these become sticky features or nice-to-haves.
For now, Spotify is betting that making books feel more accessible and interconnected will deepen user loyalty and open new monetization paths in a category that’s proven resilient even in the streaming era. If Page Match delivers on its promise and physical purchases convert discovery into ownership, it could quietly reshape how millions engage with stories across formats.
