What is an ARC reader?
An ARC reader is someone who receives a free copy of a book before it is published and posts an honest review of it, usually around release day. ARC stands for advance reader copy. You will also see advance review copy and advanced reader copy; they all mean the same thing.
That is the whole idea. The rest of this page covers what ARC readers actually do, the rules they and authors have to follow, how they differ from beta readers, and - if you are an author - how to find ARC readers and keep the good ones.
What an ARC reader does
- Signs up or is invited. Through an author's newsletter or sign-up form, or by requesting a book on an ARC platform.
- Gets the book early. Usually an ebook, a few weeks before release.
- Reads it by a date. Authors give a deadline, normally release week.
- Posts an honest review. On Goodreads before release, and on Amazon and other stores once the book is live.
Authors do this so the book has reviews when it goes on sale, and readers do it because they get books they want to read early and for free.
Do ARC readers get paid?
No. The free copy is the only thing an ARC reader gets, and the rules are the reason:
- Amazon allows reviews of free advance copies, as long as the author doesn't require a review in exchange for the book or try to influence what it says.Amazon
- In the US, the FTC prohibits incentives that are conditioned on a review expressing a particular opinion.FTC rule No payment for five stars, and no bonus for a good review.
- A reviewer who got the book free should say so in the review.FTC FAQ "I received a free advance copy" is enough.
Two smaller rules catch people out. To review on Amazon at all, an account needs to have spent $50 there in the past 12 months.Amazon And Goodreads now asks reviewers of unpublished books to confirm they have read the book and to say how they got their copy.Goodreads The details for both sites are in ARC reviews on Goodreads vs Amazon.
Does an ARC reader have to leave a review?
A review is what the author is hoping for, but it can't be a condition of getting the book - that is exactly what Amazon's rule above forbids. So an ARC is an invitation, not a contract. In practice the arrangement polices itself: authors keep inviting the readers who review, and quietly stop sending copies to the ones who never do.
ARC reader vs beta reader
| Beta reader | ARC reader | |
|---|---|---|
| Reads | A draft that can still change | The finished or nearly finished book |
| When | Months before release, during editing | Weeks before release |
| Gives | Private feedback to the author | A public review for other readers |
| Purpose | Make the book better | Help the book get found |
The same person can be both for the same author, at different stages. The jobs are different, though, and a beta reader's comments on a draft should not turn up as a public review of the final book.
How to become an ARC reader
The simplest route is an author you already read. Many have an ARC team and a sign-up form linked from their newsletter or website. The other route is a platform: BookSirens, Booksprout and NetGalley are all free for readersBookSirens pricingBooksproutNetGalley, and you request books in the genres you like. Either way, the thing that gets you invited back is simple - review the books you take.
If you are an author: finding ARC readers
Your best ARC readers are people who have already finished one of your books. In one documented campaign, readers the author invited from her own list reviewed at 93%, against 72% for strangers who found the book on the same platform.Illene So start with your newsletter and your followers before you pay for discovery. Our guide to building an ARC team from zero covers each source in order.
How many you need depends on how many reviews you want. In that same campaign about half of the readers who downloaded the book had reviewed it twelve days laterIllene, so for 25 reviews you would invite around 55 people. The formula and a ready-made table are in how many ARC readers do I need?
To collect them, you need one place for readers to raise their hand. A free ARC reader sign-up form gives you a single link to share; readers confirm their email and you approve who joins.
Keeping the ones who review
Every ARC list contains two kinds of reader: the ones who review, and the ones who collect free books. You can't tell them apart on the first launch. By the second you can, if you kept a record of who downloaded and who posted. That record is what turns a list into a team - there's more on reading it in how to tell which ARC readers actually review.
ArcRoster keeps that record for you. Each reader gets their own copy, you see who downloaded and who reviewed, reminders go out before the deadline, and every reader builds a reliability score across your launches, so you know who to invite first next time. The free plan covers one campaign and 50 readers.
Quick answers
What is an ARC reader?
An ARC reader is someone who receives a free copy of a book before it is published and posts an honest review of it, usually around release day. ARC stands for advance reader copy (also written advance review copy or advanced reader copy).
What does ARC stand for in books?
ARC stands for advance reader copy: a pre-release version of a book sent to readers and reviewers before publication. Advance review copy and advanced reader copy mean the same thing.
Do ARC readers get paid?
No. The free book is the only thing an ARC reader receives. Amazon allows reviews of free advance copies as long as the author does not require a review in exchange or try to influence it, and in the US the FTC prohibits incentives tied to a review being positive.
What is the difference between an ARC reader and a beta reader?
A beta reader reads a draft and gives the author private feedback so the book can still change. An ARC reader reads the finished, or nearly finished, book and reviews it publicly for other readers.
Do ARC readers have to leave a review?
A review is what the author hopes for, but it cannot be a condition of getting the book. Amazon's rules do not allow authors to require a review in exchange for a free copy. In practice, authors keep inviting the readers who do review and stop sending copies to the ones who never do.
How do I become an ARC reader?
Join the ARC team of an author you already read, usually through a sign-up form in their newsletter or on their site, or create a free reviewer account on a platform such as BookSirens, Booksprout or NetGalley and request books in the genres you read.
Sources
- Community Guidelines - Amazon, Checked October 2026.Policy
Allows reviews of free advance reader copies from authors or publishers, provided they don't require a review in exchange or try to influence the reviewer's opinion. Reviewing requires $50 of Amazon.com spend in the past 12 months.
- 16 CFR 465.4 - Buying positive or negative consumer reviews - US Federal Trade Commission (eCFR), In force since October 2024.Policy
Prohibits giving incentives conditioned, expressly or by implication, on a review expressing a particular sentiment.
- FTC's Endorsement Guides: What People Are Asking - US Federal Trade Commission, Checked October 2026.Policy
Reviewers who got a product free should generally disclose it; incentives can't be conditioned on a positive review.
- Improving Ratings and Reviews on Goodreads: Updated Guidelines for Pre-Publication Books and More - Goodreads Blog, 15 December 2025.Policy
Reviewers must confirm they've read a pre-publication book before rating it, and advance-copy readers are asked how they got their copy.
- Pricing Plans - BookSirens, Checked November 2026.Vendor-reported
Promote plan: $10 per ARC plus $2 per reader BookSirens finds, promoted for 3 months; readers you invite are not billed. Author plan: $100/year for unlimited ARCs across 2 pen names. Books must be accepted. Site-wide, about 75% of downloads result in a review.
- Pricing - Booksprout, Checked November 2026.Vendor-reported
Four monthly tiers - Growing Author $9 (1 active campaign, 25 copies each), Pro Author $19 (3 campaigns, 50 copies), Bestselling Author $29 (10 campaigns, unlimited copies), Publisher and Review Service $59 - with 17% off billed yearly. A free account exists for setup, but running a review campaign needs a paid plan. No free trial; 30-day money-back guarantee. Booksprout says authors can expect about 8 reviews for every 10 participants.
- How It Works - NetGalley, Checked November 2026.Vendor-reported
- Brutally Honest ARC Campaign Results - Susan Illene, September 2025.Field report
One romantasy launch (Oaths & Vengeance), six-week window, 622 requests across five platforms plus a direct list. A single campaign, not an industry average.