Google is celebrating the 15th anniversary of its e-book marketplace in splashy fashion for readers. For a short time, all Play Points members can earn 15x points on Google Play Books purchases, meaning that for each dollar spent on eligible e-books and audiobooks, you are earning a substantial stack of rewards. It’s available to all members, regardless of their membership tier; that’s a highly generous payout for book lovers.
The move incentivizes users who rely on it as an e-reader—millions and millions of Android owners—but also encourages those with lighter digital book collections to buy more, thereby making them less willing to switch over wholesale if another competitor strives for the former threshold that is 1 million titles strong.
How the Google Play Points 15x bonus on Books works
Play Points is Google’s rewards program, which gives points for purchases in the Play Store. The base rate of earning is often 1 point per dollar, though the higher tiers, like Diamond, may earn you up to 1.6 points per dollar. For the duration of this new promotion, all levels, on the other hand, earn 15 Play Points per dollar spent on Play Books purchases, removing any potential disparity and making for a significant increase in reward to readers.
To put that in perspective: a $10 e-book would usually earn 10 points at the base tier or about 16 points at Diamond. That same purchase earns 150 points under the 15x offer. $20 and you’re looking at 300 points. That adds up quickly for voracious readers who regularly buy new releases or load up during sales.
The points can then be used to redeem for Play credit, in-app purchase items, and other goodies inside of Google’s ecosystem. If you’re a Play Points member, you should automatically see the bonus applied on eligible Play Books purchases. You should open the Play Store’s Play Points hub and check to see if there is a banner for the promotion in your area.
Why Is Google Sweetening Play Books Now?
This 15x multiplier represents the platform’s age: it’s now 15 years since this storefront began life as Google eBooks, before being rebranded Play Books. Google has phased out some old storefronts over the years, but Play Books has quietly grown into a resilient service, with cross-device sync and a capable mobile reading experience, all while supporting both e-books and à la carte audiobooks that don’t demand a subscription.
Anniversary promotions like this typically boost engagement and reactivation. In the wider reading ecosystem, organizations like the Pew Research Center have pointed out that digital reading is an enduring part of consumer behavior—even as print continues to thrive. For Google, which is powering the extra rewards on books through a technique called shallow linking, the push to increase engagement around books offers an opportunity to deepen loyalty to its content ecosystem—and spotlight curated lists and seasonal discounts.
How to get the 15x Play Points offer on Play Books
Make sure you’re signed up for Play Points through the Play Store first. Then check out Play Books’ editorial picks, such as the best books of the year and limited-time deals on titles under $5. Combining a sale purchase with the 15x earn rate is definitely the fastest way to drive home points.
Don’t overlook audiobooks. Since Play Books sells audiobooks à la carte (not via subscription), big releases and publisher promos can offer especially good value when combined with the bonus. If you share a Family Library, look for options that anyone in the house can enjoy.
And for all the usual T&Cs, check out the fine print at your Play Points hub—eligibility may differ by region and type of content.
The 15x rate only works on Play Books purchases; other types of purchases in the Play Store are not subject to that multiplier for the duration of the promo window.
Google Play Books in context against rival platforms
Play Books competes with heavyweight readers such as Kindle and Apple Books, and its differentiator has hinged on platform-spanning tie-ins.
Highlights:
- Strong Android support
- Ability to read on the web
- Features such as family sharing, device syncing, and exporting notes
Google has also tested AI-narrated audiobooks for a few titles, expanding the catalog without any subscription friction.
And, concurrently, the Play Points program itself—which is now live in dozens of countries and being used by millions of users every day—has turned into a key piece of leverage for Google’s content business. A 15x event on books is a pretty emphatic way of suggesting reading is still a strategic pillar alongside apps and gaming.
Bottom line: whether you’ve been interested in starting a new series or just refreshing your audiobook queue—and especially if you’ve wanted to share an audiobook with a friend—this limited-time 15x promotion is the most opportune moment to expand your library while growing your Play Points tally.