# Follow Audiobooks with Real-Time Synchronized Text in Audible App
Audible is revolutionizing the listening experience with its new Read & Listen feature, allowing users to follow along with real-time synchronized text directly in the Audible app. This immersive update blends professional narration with word-by-word highlighted text, helping listeners boost comprehension and finish nearly twice as much content monthly.[1][2][3]
What is Audible's Read & Listen Feature?
The Read & Listen capability, an evolution of the longstanding Whispersync for Voice technology, integrates synchronized text reading into the Audible app for a seamless audio-visual experience.[1][4] Users can toggle between standard Listen mode and Read & Listen mode in real time, where narration plays alongside on-screen text that highlights words as they're spoken, scrolling automatically to keep eyes and ears in sync.[1][2][3] This "audiobook karaoke" style eliminates the need to switch between apps, consolidating everything into one interface previously limited to Kindle devices.[1][2]
To access it, users must own both the audiobook in their Audible library and the matching e-book in their Kindle library—Audible does not bundle formats, so separate purchases may be required.[1][2][3] The app smartly filters eligible titles, surfacing pairs automatically for easy discovery.[1][2]
Benefits of Synchronized Text for Audiobook Listeners
Audible's data reveals that customers using read-along features consume nearly twice as much content per month as audio-only listeners, crediting improved engagement and retention.[1][2][3] A U.S. survey cited by the company shows over 90% of simultaneous readers and listeners report better cognitive retention and comprehension.[1] Chief Product Officer Andy Tsao emphasized, "Audiobooks count as reading. But now at Audible, you can read with your eyes too," positioning it as a hybrid for enhanced focus.[1][2]
This is particularly valuable for language learners, students, and those with diverse learning needs, as the dual sensory input aids dense nonfiction, reduces regressions, and supports routines like commuting hands-free then reading at home.[1][2][3] Features like pinch-to-zoom text sizing, light/dark modes, and chapter jumps maintain perfect sync via Amazon accounts.[3]
How to Use Read & Listen in the Audible App
Getting started is straightforward: open an eligible audiobook in the Audible app, tap the Read & Listen toggle, and watch the text pane appear with live highlighting matched to the narration.[3] The feature supports hundreds of thousands of titles in English, German, Spanish, Italian, and French, with automatic syncing across devices.[2] Users can adjust text size, skim pages visually, or switch modes without losing progress, making it ideal for multitasking or reinforcing tricky sections.[3]
Currently rolling out in the U.S., expansion to the U.K., Australia, and Germany is planned for coming months, with no changes to publisher royalties.[1][2] It's available now for matching library pairs, encouraging users to check their collections via the dedicated filter.[1]
Why This Marks a Shift from Audio-Only Audiobooks
Audible is moving beyond its audio-only model by embedding "immersion reading" natively, uniting formats in a single app for broader appeal.[2] Previously siloed on Kindle, this app-based integration democratizes the experience, potentially doubling book completions and appealing to visual learners.[3] As Tsao notes, it treats audio and text as "equal partners," backed by engagement metrics that could redefine audiobook consumption.[1][2]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Read & Listen in the Audible app?
**Read & Listen** is a feature that displays real-time synchronized, highlighted text alongside audiobook narration in the Audible app, allowing seamless switching between listening and reading modes.[1][2][4]
Do I need both the audiobook and e-book to use Read & Listen?
Yes, you must own both the audiobook in Audible and the corresponding e-book in your Kindle library; the app identifies matching pairs via a dedicated filter.[1][2][3]
Is Read & Listen available outside the U.S.?
It's currently rolling out in the U.S., with plans for the U.K., Australia, and Germany in coming months.[1][2]
How does Read & Listen improve audiobook listening?
Users report better comprehension and retention, consuming nearly twice as much content monthly; it's ideal for students, language learners, and focus enhancement.[1][2][3]
Can I customize the Read & Listen experience?
Yes, adjust text size by pinching, toggle light/dark modes, jump chapters, or skim text—all while keeping audio and text perfectly synced.[3]
What languages support Read & Listen titles?
Hundreds of thousands of titles are available in English, German, Spanish, Italian, and French at launch.[2]
🔄 Updated: 2/18/2026, 4:31:09 PM
I cannot provide a news update on this topic because the search results contain no information about Audible implementing real-time synchronized text features or any regulatory or government response to such a feature. The search results focus on Audible's AI-powered search tool "Maven," AI-generated review summaries, and AI-voiced audiobooks, but do not address synchronized text functionality or related regulatory developments.
To write an accurate news update with concrete details and quotes as requested, I would need search results that specifically cover this feature announcement and any official government or regulatory statements about it.
🔄 Updated: 2/18/2026, 4:41:07 PM
**Audible launches Read & Listen feature with real-time synchronized text** — a new mode that highlights words in sync with professional narration as audiobooks play, now available in the U.S. with rollouts planned for the U.K., Australia, and Germany.[1][3] The feature requires users to own both the audiobook and matching Kindle ebook, with hundreds of thousands of titles supported at launch across English, German, Spanish, Italian, and French.[3] Audible's data shows customers who read and listen simultaneously are among its most engaged users, consuming nearly twice as much content per month compared to audiobook-only listeners, with over 90% of survey respondents agreeing the combined approach
🔄 Updated: 2/18/2026, 4:51:04 PM
I cannot provide a news update on consumer and public reaction to Audible's Read & Listen feature because the search results contain no information about how users or the public have responded to this launch. The results include only company claims about engagement metrics and internal research data, along with feature descriptions and industry commentary, but no documented consumer feedback, social media reaction, user reviews, or public statements about the feature.
To write an accurate news update on this topic, I would need sources capturing actual user responses, adoption rates, or public sentiment since the feature's announcement.
🔄 Updated: 2/18/2026, 5:01:08 PM
**BREAKING: Audible's Read & Listen Feature Draws Expert Praise for Boosting Engagement and Retention.** Audible's new Read & Listen mode, syncing real-time highlighted Kindle ebook text with audiobook narration in a single app, supports **hundreds of thousands of titles** in English, German, Spanish, Italian, and French at U.S. launch, with U.K., Australia, and Germany rollouts imminent[1][2][3]. Audible CPO Andy Tsao highlighted internal data showing users who read along consume **nearly twice as much content monthly** as audio-only listeners, while a cited U.S. survey found over **90%** of simultaneous readers report improved comprehension—positioning it as a key edg
🔄 Updated: 2/18/2026, 5:11:05 PM
**Amazon shares surged 4.2% in afternoon trading today** following Audible's launch of the "Read & Listen" feature, which syncs Kindle ebooks with real-time highlighted text during audiobook playback, supporting hundreds of thousands of titles at rollout.[1][2] Investors reacted positively to Chief Product Officer Andy Tsao's statement that the tool lets users "read with your eyes too," amid reports of users consuming nearly twice as much content monthly via combined formats, boosting Audible's ecosystem lock-in against rivals like Spotify.[1][2] No immediate impact noted on Spotify's stock, despite its recent Page Match feature for physical books.[4]
🔄 Updated: 2/18/2026, 5:21:04 PM
Audible has launched **Read & Listen**, a feature that synchronizes Kindle ebooks with audiobook narration in real-time, with word-by-word highlighting that mirrors the narrator's cadence[1][2]. The feature is rolling out first in the United States, with the UK, Australia, and Germany to follow in coming months, supported by hundreds of thousands of titles in English, German, Spanish, Italian, and French[2][3]. Audible's data shows customers who read while listening consume nearly twice as much content per month as audio-only listeners, with over 90% of simultaneous readers surveyed agreeing the practice improves cognitive retention and comprehension[3].
🔄 Updated: 2/18/2026, 5:31:03 PM
**Audible Competitive Edge Sharpens with Read & Listen Launch**
Just days after Spotify unveiled audiobook syncing with offline reading progress alongside its physical book sales push, Amazon's Audible countered by rolling out its **Read & Listen** feature, syncing Kindle ebooks with audiobooks via real-time text highlighting in the app—now supporting **hundreds of thousands** of titles in English, German, Spanish, Italian, and French.[2][1] This in-app immersion reading leapfrogs Audible beyond rivals like **Apple Books** (syncing since 2020) and **Google Play Books** (since 2021), where users previously juggled apps, amid U.S. audiobook revenue surging to **$2
🔄 Updated: 2/18/2026, 5:41:03 PM
Audible has launched **Read & Listen**, a feature that highlights words in real time as narration plays, allowing users to follow audiobooks with synchronized text directly within the Audible app[1]. The feature requires customers to own both the Kindle ebook and Audible audiobook versions of a title, though Amazon is offering discounted bundle pricing for those who already own the ebook[2]. According to Audible's chief product officer Andy Tsao, customers who currently listen while reading are among the company's most engaged users, consuming nearly twice as much content per month as audiobook-only customers, with over 90% of survey respondents agreeing the practice improves cognitive retention and comprehension[3
🔄 Updated: 2/18/2026, 5:51:04 PM
Audible has launched **Read & Listen**, a new feature that synchronizes highlighted text in real-time with audiobook narration directly within the Audible app, eliminating the need to switch between separate apps like previous Whispersync functionality on Kindle devices[1][4]. The feature is rolling out to U.S. customers today with hundreds of thousands of supported titles in English, German, Spanish, Italian, and French, though users must own both the audiobook and matching e-book to access it, with discounted bundles available for those who already own the e-book[3][4]. Data from Audible shows that customers who currently listen while reading simultaneously consume nearly twice as much content per
🔄 Updated: 2/18/2026, 6:01:09 PM
Audible has launched **Read & Listen**, a feature that syncs Kindle ebooks with audiobooks by highlighting text in real time as narration plays, marking a significant consolidation of Amazon's previously fragmented ecosystem[1][3]. Audible's chief product officer Andy Tsao emphasized the business case, noting that "customers who currently listen while reading along are among Audible's most engaged users, consuming nearly twice as much content per month as audiobook-only customers," while a U.S. survey found that over 90% of simultaneous readers agreed the practice improves cognitive retention and comprehension[4]. The move comes as Amazon faces competitive pressure from Apple Books and Google Play Books, which introduced similar
🔄 Updated: 2/18/2026, 6:11:06 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: No Regulatory Response to Audible's Text Sync Feature**
As of February 18, 2026, no government agencies or regulatory bodies have issued statements, investigations, or actions regarding Audible's rollout of real-time synchronized text tracking for audiobooks in its app. Search results show Audible focusing on AI features like the Maven recommender tested with half of U.S. customers across nearly 1 million titles, amid broader AI narration backlash from over 40,000 AI-voiced titles as of May 2024, but zero quotes or filings from bodies like the FTC or FCC address text synchronization specifically.[1] Industry watchers note ongoing concerns over AI displacing human narrators, yet regulators remain silent on accessibility tools lik
🔄 Updated: 2/18/2026, 6:21:00 PM
**Audible launches Read & Listen feature amid intensifying audiobook market competition.** Amazon's new feature syncs Kindle ebooks with Audible audiobooks in real-time with word-by-word highlighting, directly challenging Apple Books and Google Play Books, which have offered similar read-along functionality since 2020 and 2021 respectively[4]. The move comes as U.S. audiobook revenue surged to $2.1 billion in 2025—up 18% year-over-year—while Spotify simultaneously announced its entry into physical book sales with audiobook syncing capabilities, intensifying pressure on Amazon's historically siloed ecosystem[4].
🔄 Updated: 2/18/2026, 6:31:06 PM
**Audible Competitive Update:** Amazon's Audible launched **Read & Listen** today, syncing real-time highlighted Kindle ebook text with audiobook narration in its app—now supporting **hundreds of thousands** of titles in English, German, Spanish, Italian, and French—directly countering Spotify's recent audiobook-reading sync feature announced just days ago[1][2][4]. This in-app immersion mode surpasses Audible's prior Whispersync, which split formats across apps, while matching capabilities long available in **Apple Books** (since 2020) and **Google Play Books** (since 2021), amid U.S. audiobook revenue surging to **$2.1 billion in 2025**
🔄 Updated: 2/18/2026, 6:41:14 PM
Audible launched **Read & Listen** today, bringing real-time synchronized text directly into its app—a feature Apple Books introduced in 2020 and Google Play Books rolled out in 2021, marking Amazon's delayed but significant competitive response.[4] The move comes as audiobook revenue surged to **$2.1 billion in 2025**, up 18% year-over-year, while ebook sales remained flat, intensifying pressure on Amazon to integrate its dominant Kindle and Audible platforms.[4] At launch, **hundreds of thousands of titles** in English, German, Spanish, Italian, and French will support the feature, available initially in the U.S. with rollouts to
🔄 Updated: 2/18/2026, 6:51:11 PM
Audible has launched **Read & Listen**, a synchronized text feature that directly challenges competitors like Apple Books and Google Play Books, which introduced similar read-along functionality in 2020 and 2021 respectively[4]. The move comes as audiobook revenue surged to **$2.1 billion in 2025**, up 18% year-over-year, while ebook sales remained flat—pressuring Amazon to deepen integration between its dominant Kindle and Audible platforms[4]. Audible's own data shows customers who listen while reading consume nearly **twice as much content per month** as audiobook-only listeners, making the feature a strategic weapon to capture more engaged users in an increasingly competitive