Comparison of Self-Publishing Sources
Amazon
Types of Publication – Print books, POD books, E-books, Audio books
Amazon – CreateSpace – https://www.createspace.com/
Types of Publication – POD print books, E-books
Cost of Publishing – $0; free ISBN
Distribution – Amazon.com, Amazon Europe, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Baker & Taylor, Ingram
Royalties Paid – 80% sold on CreateSpace.com; 60% US/EU standard; 40% expanded distribution
Amazon – Kindle Publishing
Cost of Publishing – $0
KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) – https://kdp.amazon.com/ –
- Royalties Paid – 70% for books priced $2.99 to $9.99
KDP Select – https://kdp.amazon.com/select
- Royalties Paid – 70% for books priced $2.99 to $9.99; every time your book is borrowed, you earn a share of a monthly fund; 35% for books priced $0 to $2.98 or $10 +
- Details – All KDP Select books are included in the Kindle Owner’s Lending Library; book cannot be listed with any other distributor for the period of exclusivity.
Barnes & Noble – Nook Press – https://www.nookpress.com/
Types of Publication – Print books, Nook E-books, Audible books
Cost of Publishing – $0
Distribution – Barnes & Noble
Royalties Paid – 40% books at $0 to $2.98 or $10+; 65% books at $2.99-$9.99
Decadent Publishing – www.decadentpublishing.com
Types of Publications – Some print books, E-books, audio books (all books mainly in romance)
Cost of Publishing – $0
Distribution – Amazon, Nook, Kobo, iBooks, Smashwords, Ingram
Royalties Paid – 40%
Google Books – https://play.google.com/books/publish/ – NOT accepting new sign-ups at the current time
Types of Publications –
Cost of Publishing –
Distribution –
Royalties Paid – 55%
IBooks – www.ibookstore.com
Types of Publications – Audiobooks, Kindle E-books
Cost of Publishing – $0
Distribution – iBooks Store
Royalties Paid – 70%
Ingram Spark – www.ingramspark.com
Types of Publications –Print books, E-books
Cost of Publishing – $49 package for print books and E-books; free ISBN
Distribution – Baker & Taylor, Amazon, Nook, Kobo, iBooks, Ingram
Royalties Paid – 40% E-books
Kobo – www.kobo.com – https://www.kobo.com/writinglife
Types of Publications – E-books
Cost of Publishing – $0
Distribution – Kobo site, booksellers around the globe
Royalties Paid – 70% for books $2.99+; 45% books under $2.99
Lulu – www.lulu.com
Types of Publications – POD print books, E-books
Cost of Publishing – $0, but there are also various packages for money
Distribution – Amazon, Nook, Kobo, iBooks, Lulu, Ingram, Bowker
Royalties Paid – 80% sold on Lulu.com, 20% sold elsewhere
OverDrive – www.overdrive.com
Types of Publications – E-books, audiobooks, Kindle Book
Cost of Publishing – ?
Distribution – Thousands of retailers, libraries, schools & colleges; OverDrive apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, Window, Nook, Kindle, Kobo
Royalties Paid –
Smashwords – www.smashwords.com
Types of Publications – E-books
Cost of Publishing – $0; free ISBN
Distributes to – iBooks, Smashwords, Kobo, Barnes & Nobe, Scribd, OverDrive, WHSmith, tolino (Germany), Odilo, Gardiners, Yuzu, inktera, Askews & Holts, Baker & Taylor, livrariaculture, hive.co.uk, blio
Royalties Paid – $80 sold on Smashwords; 65% Smashwords affiliates
Scribd – www.scribd.com – https://www.bookbaby.com/ebook-publishing/publish-on-scribd/
Types of Publications – E-books, audiobooks
Bookbaby – www.bookbaby.com
Types of Publication – Print book, E-book
Cost of Publishing – Packages start at $99; pay $29 for ISBN
Distribution – Baker & Taylor, Amazon, Nook, Kobo, iBooks, Ingram
Royalties Paid – 85% for free and stand packages; 100% for premium package ($249)