10 Best Self-Publishing Platforms: No Scams, all Legit

When you’re ready to put your book out in the world, these companies will move you forward

How do you pick a self-publishing platform? Self-publishing has become increasingly popular, and many websites are now available for authors who want to take control of the publishing process. More than 1.5 million books are self-published annually. If you follow each site’s rules and protocols, you can have a significant side hustle going with your book. Here are ten of the best self-publishing websites and a brief overview of their features.

Our 10 best self-publishing platforms

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing: Amazon is the largest online retailer in the world, and their self-publishing platform allows authors to easily distribute their books on the Kindle store. This is the place to start if you’ve never published a book. They offer tools for formatting, cover design, and marketing, and authors can earn up to 70% royalties. We have used KDP many times with great success. No fees. Read our step-by-step guide to KDP.
IngramSpark is a popular self-publishing platform for print books and e-books. They offer a wide range of services, including distribution, printing, and marketing, and authors can set their own prices and earn up to 80% royalties, but there are fees to publish. We have no experience here.
Smashwords is a self-publishing platform that specializes in e-books. They offer a simple upload process and distribution to major retailers such as Apple iBooks, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. Authors can earn up to 80% in royalties. We used Smashwords often in the past, but since we’ve paused ebook production, we haven’t used it lately. Their formatting process can be challenging. Free to publish.
Draft2Digital is another e-book self-publishing platform with distribution to major retailers. They also offer formatting tools, cover design, and marketing services, and authors can earn up to 90% royalties. Free
Kobo Writing Life specializes in e-books with distribution to over 190 countries, as well as marketing tools and promotional opportunities. Up to 70% in royalties. No fee, and you can opt-in to promotions and marketing ideas.
Lulu is for print books and e-books. They have services including formatting, cover design, and distribution. Competitive royalty plans. They have templates, marketing tips, and a pricing calculator. Publishing is free, services are fee-based.
Blurb specializes in print books. They offer a variety of printing options, including hardcover, softcover, and magazine-style, and authors can set their own prices and earn up to 60% in royalties. Complicated fee structure.
BookBaby self-publishing offers common services, including formatting, cover design, AI audiobook file, and distribution. They also offer marketing tools and promotional opportunities, and authors earn up to 100% royalties. Upscale and can be quite pricey.
Barnes & Noble Press: Barnes & Noble Press is a kind of self-publishing/vanity combination. There can be fees. specializes in e-books and print books. They offer a simple upload process and distribution to the Barnes & Noble store, as well as marketing tools and promotional opportunities. Authors can earn up to 65% royalties.
Booktango offers both e-books and print books. They have formatting tools, cover design, and distribution to major retailers. Up to 100% royalties.

When you’re ready to choose a self-publishing platform

These are just ten of the best legitimate self-publishing platforms available, and there are many more to choose from. We have to throw in a word for 48-Hour Books, a company that does an exemplary job of printing small and large batches of high-quality copies of your books. We used them exclusively in our ghost-writing business, and they never disappointed. They don’t do on-demand as most of the list above does. If you need an inventory, this is the vendor. They are totally professional, offer any service you need to succeed, and turn out beautiful books.

When deciding which platform to use, consider your goals, your budget, and your target audience, and choose the platform that best fits your needs. With self-publishing, the possibilities are endless, and you have the power to take control of your publishing journey. Never forget for a moment that once your book is published, the real work begins. Marketing and promoting make or break any book.

If you have questions about self-publishing, post in the comments, and we’ll find answers.