- Self-publishing platforms at a glance
- Eleven self-publishing platforms to consider
- A publisher's job you might not know about
- Store platform, wide distributor or print on demand?
- Questions to ask before you upload
- What a good platform takes off your plate
- When to get professional help
- My plain advice on choosing a self-publishing platform
- Frequently asked questions
The best self-publishing platform depends on where your readers buy: a store's own platform suits authors selling mainly there, a wide distributor suits authors who want many stores at once, and print on demand suits authors who sell direct. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
Self-publishing means you're the author and the publisher. That's freeing, but it also means every choice about formats, stores and rights lands on your desk.
The eleven platforms below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from big store platforms to small print-on-demand services. Every description comes from the platform's own site, read this week. If you need help getting words on the page first, my daily writing prompts are a good warm-up.
Self-publishing platforms at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site names a free plan, a free version, a free app or an open source edition. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Books for Authors | Ebook self-publishing on Apple Books | Ebooks for Apple readers | Not stated |
| B&N Press | Self-publishing for books and ebooks from Barnes & Noble | Barnes & Noble readers | Yes |
| BookBaby | Self-publishing, printing and marketing services | Done-for-you publishing help | Not stated |
| Bookvault | Print on demand and selling worldwide | Selling direct from your own store | Not stated |
| Draft2Digital | Ebook and print distribution for authors | Reaching many stores at once | Not stated |
| IngramSpark | Self-publishing book company: print and distribute | Bookshops and libraries | Not stated |
| Kindle Direct Publishing | Amazon's self-publishing platform | Selling on Amazon | Yes |
| Kobo Writing Life | Self-publishing for ebooks and audiobooks on Kobo | Ebooks and audiobooks without exclusivity | Yes |
| Lulu | Book printing, publishing and technology company | Print on demand and direct sales | Yes |
| PublishDrive | Online self-publishing and distribution platform | Ebook, print and audio together | Not stated |
| StreetLib | Global distribution for ebooks, audiobooks and print | Wide global retail reach | Not stated |
Eleven self-publishing platforms to consider
Apple Books for Authors
Best for: Writers who want their ebooks on Apple Books with no file delivery fees and freedom to offer some titles free.
B&N Press
Best for: Novelists who want print books and ebooks in front of Barnes & Noble and NOOK readers using a free self-publishing service.
BookBaby
Best for: First-time authors who want self-publishing, printing and marketing services from one team instead of doing it all themselves.
Bookvault
Best for: Creators who sell books from their own Shopify, WooCommerce or Kickstarter page and want print on demand behind it.
Draft2Digital
Best for: Wide-publishing indies who want one dashboard to send books to many stores, with tools for scheduled promotions and universal book links.
IngramSpark
Best for: Authors who want their print books and ebooks printed and distributed by a major book company beyond a single store.
Kindle Direct Publishing
Best for: Anyone who wants ebooks and paperbacks on Amazon using free, simple publishing tools from the store itself.
Kobo Writing Life
Best for: Authors who want ebooks and audiobooks on Kobo with no exclusivity demands, so they can publish everywhere else too.
Lulu
Best for: Brands, teachers and writers that want print-on-demand books plus free EPUB or PDF ebooks they can sell on Lulu or elsewhere.
PublishDrive
Best for: Indie publishers who want ebook, print-on-demand and audiobook distribution plus metadata tools managed in one place.
StreetLib
Best for: Global-minded authors who want ebooks and audiobooks sent to a wide spread of retailers around the world.
A publisher's job you might not know about
The U.S. Copyright Office says the law requires two copies of each work published in the United States to be deposited with it within three months of publication. Those copies are for the use of the Library of Congress.
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When you self-publish, jobs like this become yours rather than a publisher's. Check the deposit rules where you live and publish, and keep a simple log of every edition you release.
Store platform, wide distributor or print on demand?
Store platforms put your book on one big retailer with tools built by that store. Wide distributors send your ebook, print book or audiobook to many stores and libraries from one dashboard. Print-on-demand services print copies as they're ordered, which suits authors selling from their own website or at events.
Many authors use a mix: one store directly, a distributor for the rest, and print on demand for their own shop.
Questions to ask before you upload
- Which stores and library services does it reach?
- Does it ask for exclusivity, and for how long?
- Can you publish ebook, print and audio from one account?
- Who owns the ISBN if the platform supplies one?
- How easy is it to update the file after launch?
- Can you run promotions or set a book free for a time?
What a good platform takes off your plate
- File conversion. Your manuscript becomes a clean ebook.
- Store delivery. One upload reaches many retailers.
- Print on demand. No boxes of unsold books in the garage.
- Clear reports. You see which stores and formats sell.
When to get professional help
If cover design, editing or formatting isn't your strength, those are the places to bring in help. A strong cover and a clean interior do more for sales than any platform choice.
Do you make a self-publishing platform? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a self-publishing platform
Decide whether you're going exclusive or wide before you pick a platform. Exclusive can be simpler, but it ties you to one store. Wide takes more admin, but no single retailer can sink your sales.
Then publish one short piece first, even a novella or a guide, to learn the process before your main book goes out. My authority content plan helps you turn one book into a steady stream of content that sells it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a self-publishing platform?
It's a service that lets authors publish and sell ebooks, print books or audiobooks without a traditional publisher.
Is self-publishing free?
Several platforms on this list describe their publishing tools or service as free on the pages I read. Check the table for each one.
Should I publish on one store or go wide?
One store is simpler. Going wide reaches more readers. Many authors start in one place and widen later.
Do I need an ISBN to self-publish?
It depends on the platform and format. Check whether the platform supplies one and who it's registered to.
Can I sell print books from my own website?
Yes. Print-on-demand services can connect to your own shop and print copies as orders come in.
Do self-published authors need to deposit copies?
In the US, the Copyright Office says two copies of each published work must be deposited within three months of publication.
