How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- Amazon KDP (free, up to 70% royalties) is essential for Amazon sales, with 60% on print.
- IngramSpark is the route into bookstores and libraries with global print and ebook distribution.
- Draft2Digital ($20 activation, ~10% of retail per sale) and PublishDrive (from $13.99/month, 0% commission) are the top wide-distribution aggregators.
- Smashwords, Lulu, and Barnes & Noble Press each fill specific niches: direct sales, print variety, and the NOOK audience.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Kindle Direct Publishing | Amazon sales and Kindle Unlimited | Free | Yes |
 IngramSpark | bookstores and library distribution | Free (title setup) | Yes |
 Draft2Digital | easy wide ebook distribution | $20 one-time activation; ~10% of retail per sale | Yes |
 Smashwords | direct ebook sales with coupons | Free | Yes |
 Lulu | print variety and direct printing | Free (print costs per book) | Yes |
 Barnes & Noble Press | reaching NOOK and B&N readers | Free | Yes |
 PublishDrive | subscription-based wide distribution | $13.99/month (Starter, billed annually) | Yes (1 book, 3 channels) |
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Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing is where most self-published authors start, because Amazon sells most of the ebooks in the US. Publishing is free: upload your manuscript and cover, set your price, and earn up to 70% royalties on ebooks priced $2.99 to $12.99 (the 70% band expanded in July 2026) or 35% outside that band, and up to 60% on print books minus printing costs.
KDP Select is the strategic choice: enroll your ebook exclusively with Amazon for 90-day periods and it earns from the Kindle Unlimited global fund based on pages read, plus promotional tools like free book days and countdown deals. For genre fiction, KU income often exceeds direct sales.
The catch is the exclusivity trade: KDP Select means your ebook cannot be sold anywhere else during enrollment. Authors who go wide skip Select and distribute everywhere. Either way, skipping KDP entirely means skipping Amazon, which few authors can afford.
What we like- Up to 70% ebook royalties
- Enormous built-in audience
- KDP Select adds Kindle Unlimited income
Watch out for- Exclusivity required for KDP Select
- Amazon-only reach
- Delivery fees on the 70% tier
Starting priceFree (title setup)
Free planYes
IngramSpark is the professional's distribution channel: print and ebook distribution to over 45,000 retailers and libraries worldwide, including independent bookstores that will not stock KDP-only titles. Title setup, historically $49 per title, is currently free, and distribution covers hardcover and paperback in many trim sizes plus ebooks.
The wholesale discount system is the key detail: you set the discount retailers receive, typically 40 to 55 percent, and your print royalty is the list price minus discount minus printing cost. A 55% discount maximizes bookstore orders. Print quality matches traditional publishers, which matters for getting shelved.
The catches: printing costs run higher than KDP, customer support gets mixed reviews, and the platform assumes you know what you are doing with files and discounts. For authors serious about bookstores and libraries, IngramSpark is non-negotiable.
What we like- Distribution to 45,000+ retailers and libraries
- Print quality bookstores accept
- Hardcover options
Watch out for- Print costs higher than KDP
- Interface less beginner-friendly
- Discount settings need care
Starting price$20 one-time activation; ~10% of retail per sale
Free planYes
Draft2Digital is the favorite aggregator of wide-distribution indie authors: upload once and it distributes your ebook to Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, libraries, and more, with automatic formatting, a free ISBN, and Universal Book Links that send readers to their preferred store. It has operated since 2012 and merged with Smashwords.
The pricing model is commission-based: a $20 one-time account activation fee (added to combat spam and AI content farms), then approximately 10% of the retail price on each sale, which leaves authors around 60% of list price on a typical $4.99 ebook. Accounts earning under $100 a year pay a $12 annual maintenance fee. Print-on-demand paperbacks are available too.
The catch is the permanent commission: high-volume authors earn more going direct to each retailer. But the time saved managing a dozen retailer accounts is worth 10% for most authors.
What we like- One dashboard for a dozen-plus retailers
- Free formatting and ISBN
- Universal Book Links included
Watch out for- 10% commission on every sale
- $12/year maintenance fee under $100 in earnings
- No editing or design services
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Smashwords, operating since 2008, is the original indie ebook platform, now part of the Draft2Digital family: new publishing runs through D2D accounts while the Smashwords Store remains a leading retailer of indie ebooks. Direct sales on the store pay 75% of list on books priced $2.99 and up, with no delivery fees.
The marketing tools set it apart: unlimited custom coupons for price promotions, preorder support, the famous Smashwords sales events, and author alerts that notify readers of new releases. Ebooks are DRM-free and convert from Word into multiple formats automatically.
The catches: there is no print option, so paperback authors need another platform, and the store's audience is a fraction of Amazon's. For authors with their own readership who want maximum royalty and promotional flexibility, the Smashwords store remains valuable.
What we like- 75% list royalties on the Smashwords store
- Coupon and presale marketing tools
- DRM-free ebooks
Watch out for- No print books
- Distribution now runs through Draft2Digital
- Smaller audience than Amazon
Starting priceFree (print costs per book)
Free planYes
Lulu, in business since 2002, is the print-on-demand generalist: beyond standard paperbacks and hardcovers it produces photo books, cookbooks, yearbooks, magazines, calendars, and notebooks, all printed on demand through a global network. Publishing is free; you pay printing costs per book when copies sell or when you order author copies.
The platform shines for nonstandard projects: a photographer selling a premium photo book, a company printing branded notebooks, or a creator selling directly through Shopify with Lulu handling fulfillment to over 200 countries. Authors keep 80% on print and 90% on ebooks sold through Lulu's bookstore.
The catches: per-book print costs run higher than KDP and IngramSpark (a 150-page paperback costs roughly twice KDP's), and retail distribution is weaker. For direct sales and specialty print products, Lulu is excellent; for bookstore distribution, pair it with IngramSpark.
What we like- Huge range of print formats including photo books and calendars
- Global print network
- Shopify and API integrations
Watch out for- Print costs higher than KDP or IngramSpark
- $4.99 ebook distribution fee
- Weaker retail distribution
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Barnes & Noble Press is the bookseller's own self-publishing platform: free to use from start to finish, with ebooks sold on NOOK devices and apps and print books available as print-on-demand on BN.com and orderable from any of Barnes & Noble's 600-plus stores. It relaunched from NOOK Press in 2018 with unified ebook and print publishing.
The royalty terms are strong: high ebook royalties with a flat 65% on ebooks priced $2.99 to $199.99 and 40% below that, and 55% of list minus printing costs on print. Publishing takes about 20 minutes and books go live within 72 hours, with preorders up to 12 months out and fast monthly payments.
The catch is reach: this gets you Barnes & Noble and NOOK readers, not Amazon or Kobo. As part of a wide strategy alongside KDP and an aggregator, B&N Press captures an audience the others miss.
What we like- Free to use start to finish
- High ebook royalties
- Books orderable in 600+ B&N stores
Watch out for- B&N-only reach
- NOOK audience smaller than Kindle
- No audiobooks
Starting price$13.99/month (Starter, billed annually)
Free planYes (1 book, 3 channels)
PublishDrive flips the aggregator model: instead of a commission on every sale, you pay a flat subscription and keep 100% of net royalties. Plans run from a free tier (1 book, 3 channels) through Starter at $13.99 a month billed annually (3 books), Standard at $20.99 (6 books), Plus at $41.99 (18 books), and Pro at $83.99 (48 books), distributing to 400-plus stores and 240,000 libraries.
The math favors volume: an author earning $2,000 a month keeps the full amount minus a fixed subscription, where a 10% commission aggregator would take $200. Included marketing tools like Amazon ad management, an AI publishing assistant, and review copies add value beyond distribution.
The catch is the fixed cost: new authors with slow sales pay more in subscriptions than they would in commissions. For prolific authors and small presses with steady income, PublishDrive's subscription model wins on pure economics.
What we like- 0% commission, keep 100% of net royalties
- 400+ stores and 240,000 libraries
- Marketing and ad tools included
Watch out for- Subscription costs money before you sell
- Overkill for one-book authors
- Fixed fee hurts slow sellers
How we chose
We compared self-publishing platforms using vendor pricing pages, help centers, and official documentation, plus author community discussions and reviews on Reedsy, Kindlepreneur, and Top Consumer Reviews. We evaluated royalty rates, distribution reach, upfront costs, print options, and fit for exclusive versus wide strategies. We did not publish test books or verify royalty payments.
Exclusive or wide: the core decision
KDP Select exclusivity trades reach for Amazon's promotional machinery: Kindle Unlimited page-read income, countdown deals, and free promotion days. It works best for genre fiction series where KU readers binge. Going wide means publishing everywhere through aggregators, reaching Apple, Kobo, library, and international readers Amazon under-serves.
Many authors start exclusive to build momentum, then go wide once they have a backlist. There is no permanent answer: test one strategy per book, measure for six months, and follow the royalties.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best self-publishing platform for beginners?
Amazon KDP is the simplest start: free, fast, and the biggest audience. Add Draft2Digital when you want to expand beyond Amazon without managing a dozen retailer accounts.
How much does it cost to self-publish a book?
Publishing itself is free on every platform here. Real costs are optional: editing, cover design, formatting, ISBNs, and marketing. Expect $0 to a few thousand dollars depending on how much you DIY.
What royalties do self-published authors earn?
KDP pays up to 70% on ebooks and 60% on print. Aggregators like Draft2Digital leave authors around 60% of list after retailer and commission cuts. Traditional publishers typically pay 8 to 15%.
Should I use IngramSpark or KDP for print books?
Use both: KDP for Amazon print sales at the lowest print cost, IngramSpark for bookstore and library distribution that KDP cannot reach. They serve different channels.
Do I need my own ISBN?
Not necessarily: KDP, Draft2Digital, and B&N Press offer free ISBNs, but those ISBNs tie the edition to that platform. Buy your own ISBN if you want full control and wide print distribution under one identifier.
Can I publish the same book on multiple platforms?
Yes, with one exception: KDP Select requires Amazon exclusivity for ebooks during each 90-day enrollment. Print books and non-Select ebooks can be everywhere simultaneously.
Sources we checked (9)
- https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/earn
- https://goodereader.com/blog/digital-publishing/amazon-increases-the-royalty-rate-for-kindle-direct-publishing
- https://www.ingramspark.com/how-to-self-publish-a-book
- https://toptenpublishers.com/publishing-with-ingramspark/
- https://draft2digital.com/faq/
- https://www.smashwords.com/about/publishing
- https://blog.lulu.com/print-on-demand-costs-for-authors/
- https://www.topconsumerreviews.com/best-self-publishing-services/reviews/barnes-and-noble-press
- https://help.publishdrive.com/how-much-publishdrives-distribution-pricing-plans
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.