“Life is too short to wait for someone else’s publishing schedule.”
For every writer, publishing their stories is the ultimate dream. To go about achieving this dream, there are two options: traditional publishing or self-publishing. Both of these models have their benefits and drawbacks. Traditional publishing gives authors more support and security with a publisher doing a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of sales and promotions, but this can often come at a heavy price. If you’re keen to keep a hold of all the spoils from your stories, self-publishing might be the route for you. But, there are plenty of pitfalls and traps involved with this approach, starting with the platforms you sign up with to get your book into print, which is why we here at What We Reading thought we would compile a list of some of the most legitimate and accessible self-publishing platforms for authors to make use of in 2024!
1. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
- Pricing: Free to upload
- Royalties: 70% on ebooks priced between $2.99 and $9.99. 35% for ebooks below $2.99.
Amazon accounts for over 91% of all self-published books in the US and is the most popular marketplace for selling books. With these figures in mind, it’s no wonder it’s the first company most authors consider using for publishing their work.
Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is Amazon’s self-publishing platform. Any author can self-publish using KDP, provided they are willing to upload their book files personally.
However, it’s important to note that KDP is not the same thing as Amazon KDP Select. KDP is Amazon’s exclusivity platform – writers who choose to publish with KDP Select cannot publish their work with any other self-publishing company. Enrolment comes through a 90-day participation period where, in exchange for exclusivity, Amazon grants authors:
- Kindle Unlimited access: With over four million digital books available, Kindle Unlimited allows users to read as many as they want.
- Kindle Countdown deals and book promotions: Writers can host book promotions, and discounts or even make their work available to read for free on Amazon Kindle.
When it comes to the best self-publishing platforms, there’s no matching Amazon for market share and sales. If you decide to enrol in KDP Select, there’s no need to read any further in this article. That said, there’s more competition on Amazon than anywhere else, so if you’re looking to stand out from the crowd, here are some viable alternatives.
2. Apple Books
- Pricing: Free to upload
- Royalties: 70% on all ebooks.
Another one of the biggest companies in the digital publishing space, Apple Books has been hosting self-published authors since 2010. Behind Amazon Kindle, Apple Books is the next biggest player in the industry, with over 400 million books being downloaded through the company annually.
The amount of eyeballs for an author makes Apple Books one of the best self-publishing platforms, however, working out a way of monetising these eyeballs is where many authors run into issues with that heavy 70% royalties on any ebook, regardless of its price. Despite this, getting a book published is very easy on Apple Books with no upfront fees for authors once they have an iTunes Connect account.
3. Kobo Writing Life
- Pricing: Free to upload
- Royalties: 70% on ebooks between $2.99 and over. 45% for ebooks under $2.99.
Owned by Canadian company Rakuten Kobo, Kobo Writing Life is one of the most popular self-publishing platforms for those authors who want to move away from big names like Amazon and Apple. This platform allows authors to publish their books to Kobo customers in over 190 countries, making it a great option for those looking for a strong international reach.
Other perks of opting for Kobo Writing Life include other perks such as exclusive promotion opportunities for those who choose to distribute via Kobo and not an aggregator.
For those who are wondering what an aggregator is, an aggregator is a company that pushes a book to multiple retailers and feedback in one central report. An aggregator allows authors to track their sales, monthly royalty checks as well as other key information regarding locations, demographics etc. In exchange for this information, aggregators will take additional royalties, making it great for authors who don’t mind paying extra for added efficiency.
4. Barnes & Noble (B&N) Press
- Pricing: Free to upload
- Royalties: 70% on ebooks above $0.99.
Barnes & Noble is one of the most recognisable book publishers in the world. And whilst their self-publishing service might not have the same amount of traffic as Amazon, it more than makes up for this by being one of the easiest platforms available for use.
It is also completely free to use, and B&N Press does not require exclusivity to publish with. There is also the option of completely listing your books for free with Barnes & Noble.
6. Draft2Digital (D2D)
- Pricing: 10% of the retail price per copy sold.
- Distribution: Amazon, Apple Books, OverDrive, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Everand and others.
For those authors looking to publish without an aggregator, Draft2Digital comes in as one of the most popular self-publishing platforms. Their user-friendly interface is accessible, their customer support is available 24/7 and their sleek website handles all the formatting for their users. Alongside these advantages, Draft2Digital also offers:
- Universal links: These links help make books discoverable by allowing authors to generate a link to their works on a customer’s favourite retailer.
- Automatic back matter tool: This handy function adds your newly published ebooks to the ‘also by this author’ section on any other books you’ve distributed using D2D.
Draft2Digital distributes to all major ebook retailers, making it one of the most well-rounded and complete self-publishing platforms available.
7. StreetLib
- Pricing: 10% of the retail price per copy sold.
- Distribution: Amazon, Apple Books, OverDrive, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Everand and others.
StreetLib is another international distributor that gives authors plenty of assistance if they’re looking to ship their books to a global audience. With its website available in a multitude of different languages, it offers author and publisher portals in over 21 countries currently ranging from the United States to the Philippines to Nigeria!
8. PublishDrive
- Pricing: Subscription service starting at $16.99 per month.
- Distribution: Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Everand, Bookmate and others.
PublishDrive was founded in 2015 and can boast the capability of distributing your work to over 400 shops and 240,000 libraries. Like many of the other best aggregators, it possesses a sleek interface and consistent sales reports, allowing users to keep track of their earnings and profits. Where PublishDrive differs from other self-publishing companies on this list is in the following:
- Subscription-based service: Authors keep 100% of their royalties with PublishDrive, unlike other platforms. Instead, the company charges a flat fee every month depending on the amount of books they want to publish.
- Distribution options: Writers can distribute internationally, allowing independent authors to gain access to foreign markets they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to break.
Print-on-Demand Services For Self-Publishing Writers
So far in our list of the best self-publishing companies, we’ve pretty much been focusing on the ebook market. While many upcoming and independent authors choose to stick within the world of ebooks, there’s no beating the feeling of having a book and its pages in your hands. This is why print-on-demand services have remained so in demand for aspiring authors who want a paperback edition of their books published without having to bankrupt themselves.
With that in mind, here are some of the best POD services available for self-publishing writers.
9. KDP Print
- Pricing: Dependant on book specifications.
- Distribution: Amazon and other retailers.
The biggest advantage of Amazon’s print-on-demand service is its crossover with KDP. Authors who are already selling their ebooks on KDP can launch their own printed edition by simply uploading a PDF format and a cover design with a spine and back. KDP Print’s expanded distribution avenues allow writers to ship their works to libraries and retailers worldwide.
10. BookBaby
- Pricing: Varies.
- Distribution: Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Everand, Bookshop, Baker & Taylor among others.
With flexible pricing plans, an accessible interface and helpful customer service, BookBaby has become one of the most popular print-on-demand platforms for many authors self-publishing for the first time.
11. IngramSpark
- Pricing: Varies.
- Distribution: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones, Indigo among others.
With over 40,000 outlets, Ingram is the world’s largest book wholesale distributor. Their print-on-demand platform, IngramSpark, is therefore one of the most popular self-publishing platforms and a favourite for those looking to hit the brick-and-mortar retailers.
12. Blurb
- Pricing: Varies.
- Distribution: Amazon, Blurb bookstore, 39,000+ Ingram retailers
Another one of the most trusted POD services available to authors, Blurb has become renowned for its speciality for visual books such as magazines, children’s books and illustrated works.
Marketing Companies For Self-Publishing Authors
Whether it be on a digital platform or physically printed, any successful author will tell you that getting your book published is only half the battle. Now that you’ve conjured up the perfect story and distributed it with your ideal self-publishing platform, how do you go about getting people to buy it? Luckily, there are several different companies dedicated to helping authors promote their books:
13. Reedsy Discovery
- Pricing: $50 per book.
Reedsy Discovery is one of the most popular marketing plans for self-publishing authors. After submitting their book, they are given an editorial review in time for their release date, as well as a chance to be featured in their monthly newsletter that goes out to over 200,000 readers worldwide. Reedsy’s marketplace also houses veteran marketers who can assist with optimising a book’s product page, plan and manage an ad campaign and devise an effective email marketing strategy.
14. Written Word Media
- Pricing: Varies.
Written Word Media offers self-published authors another great platform for connecting with thousands of readers worldwide. With a range of platforms hosting free and discounted books ranging from passionate romances to epic fantasies, it is one of the best options for those on the cheaper end of the market.
15. BookBub
- Pricing: Varies (depending on genre).
BookBub is potentially the most significant and well-known promotional platform in publishing. Through BookBub’s self-serve ads and Featured Deals, it offers a powerful tool for publicising deals and promotions across any genre.
Wrap Up
Self-publishing your books has several advantages over traditional routes. The creative control and higher royalties are naturally what most authors are drawn to, however, there are several unique benefits to getting your book to market that are strictly reserved for doing things on your own.
Self-publishing can be a cheaper and more efficient way of hitting the market, and the ability to take advantage of marketing platforms and promote your deals can be a great way of attracting the attention of readers.
With that being said, choosing the right self-publishing platform to partner up with is crucial to getting your book on the shelves in the first place. Whilst KDP is undoubtedly the easiest way to market, it’s always worth shopping around and seeing what some of the other players in the industry can offer you before committing.
Check Out Our Guide To Writing Book Proposals
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
