Platform fees

Compare book publishing earnings: Amazon KDP, Kobo and more

Compare author royalties for ebooks and print books separately. Printing costs, delivery charges and other per-copy deductions change what you receive from the listed royalty.

16 platforms

US / USD unless labelled

Last checked

Sources and dates

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing

Checked

Formats
Ebooks, paperback, and hardcover Source
Author royalty
Ebooks: 35% or eligible 70%. Print: 50% or 60% of list price, less printing; Expanded paperback distribution pays 40% less printing. Source
Per-copy deductions
Eligible 70% ebook royalties deduct delivery costs; paperback and hardcover royalties deduct printing costs. Source
Publishing cost
No upload or title setup fee. Proof and author copies cost extra; optional services may also cost extra. Source
Key condition
On Amazon.com, 70% ebooks must be $2.99–$12.99 and meet territory rules. Brazil, India, Japan, and Mexico also require KDP Select, which makes ebook rights exclusive while enrolled. Source

Apple Books for Authors

Checked

Formats
Ebooks published directly to Apple Books Source
Author royalty
70% royalty on direct ebook sales at any list price. Source
Per-copy deductions
No file delivery fee. Source
Publishing cost
Apple charges no hidden fees. Listed bank thresholds vary; all other bank territories and currencies require more than US$40. Source
Key condition
No ebook price bands or exclusivity requirement. Source

Kobo Writing Life

Checked

Formats
Ebooks and audiobooks Source
Author royalty
Ebooks: 70% under qualifying IPP terms, 45% standard, 20% public domain. Audiobooks: 45% a la carte at floor, 35% below, 32% subscription token. Source
Per-copy deductions
Ebook royalty is based on list price excluding tax. Source
Publishing cost
Ebook distribution and ePub conversion are free; audiobook publishing costs are not specified in the public FAQ. Source
Key condition
Current FAQ lists a C$50 payout threshold. The service agreement, last updated in 2012, also lists price ceilings, price-matching rules, and withholding until $100; current applicability is unconfirmed. Source

Google Play Books Partner Center

Checked

Formats
Ebooks are non-exclusive and can also sell through other retailers; audiobook sales are available only to select partners. Source
Author royalty
Ebooks: 70% in 60+ eligible countries after updated terms; default split is 52%, while 11 countries retain their current split. Source
Per-copy deductions
Google charges no fee for the 70% ebook revenue split. Source
Publishing cost
No cost to sell ebooks on Google Play. Source
Key condition
The 70% ebook share has no price band; updated terms and eligible-country rules apply. Source

Barnes & Noble Press

Checked

Formats
Ebooks, paperback, and hardcover; no audiobook sales through B&N Press Source
Author royalty
Ebooks: 70% at $0.99+. Print: 55% of list price minus per-book printing cost. Source
Per-copy deductions
Print production cost is deducted from the 55% print royalty. Source
Publishing cost
No cost to use B&N Press. Source
Key condition
Non-exclusive. Print books sell on bn.com and the app, not in physical B&N stores. Source

Draft2Digital

Checked

Formats
Ebooks, audiobooks, and print-on-demand paperbacks Source
Author royalty
Ebooks and audiobooks: D2D takes 15% of store payments. Print: author gets 45% of list less unit cost. Smashwords.com pays 75% or 40% of list. Source
Per-copy deductions
Print unit cost is deducted; ebook and audio proceeds reflect store terms, taxes, and any surcharges. Source
Publishing cost
New accounts pay a $20 activation fee including year one. After that, the annual maintenance fee is $12 when titles are active and the waiver threshold is not met. Source
Key condition
No active titles waives the annual fee. For active titles, the FAQ says the $100 waiver threshold is book sales in the prior 12 months; the current agreement says it is royalties. Source

PublishDrive

Checked

Formats
Ebooks, print books, and audiobooks Source
Author royalty
Plans charge 0% distribution commission; publishers keep 100% of the store royalties received. Source
Per-copy deductions
Retailer share and print production costs still apply; payout transaction and conversion fees depend on payment method. Source
Publishing cost
Free: 1 ebook title / 3 ebook channels. Starter: 3 titles at $16.99/month or $13.99/month when billed yearly. Source
Key condition
New free signups after Feb. 24, 2026 get 3 ebook channels; print and audio require a paid plan. Source

StreetLib

Checked

Formats
Ebooks and audiobooks; print publishing is limited by region. Source
Author royalty
New international Subscription and Lifetime plans pay 85% of digital net revenue. Source
Per-copy deductions
Retail/VAT costs come first; print channels deduct 45–51%, StreetLib from 10%, and printing cost. Source
Publishing cost
New international plans: $99/year or $299 lifetime, up to 100 ebook/audio titles. Source
Key condition
New plans apply outside Italy/DACH from Mar. 17, 2026. Print service is unavailable in the US and Canada. Source

IngramSpark

Checked

Formats
Print books and ebooks Source
Author royalty
Ebooks earn 85% of net revenue received. Print compensation is list price less wholesale discount, printing, and market access fee. Source
Per-copy deductions
Print sales deduct production cost, publisher-set wholesale discount, and a 1.875% market access fee on local list price. Source
Publishing cost
No account or title setup fee. Source
Key condition
Optional print-to-ebook conversion costs $0.60 per page; print cost varies by book specifications. Source

Lulu

Checked

Formats
Print books and ebooks; Global Distribution sends eligible titles to retailer channels. Source
Author royalty
Print: 80% of gross profit. Ebooks: 90% of revenue after retailer fees and markups. Source
Per-copy deductions
For print, production and any distributor share are deducted before the 80/20 split. Lulu Bookstore print sales have no distribution fee. Source
Publishing cost
Publishing is free. First Global Distribution review costs $4.99 per new print book or ebook; revisions are not charged again. A print proof copy is also required. Source
Key condition
Global Distribution uses retailer-specific channels and rules; creators receive the channel-level revenue shown in Lulu pricing. Source

Blurb

Checked

Formats
Print books, magazines, journals, notebooks, and Instant PDFs. No new ebooks; existing titles remain for sale in the Blurb Bookstore and Apple Books. Source
Author royalty
Blurb Bookstore: creator keeps 100% of chosen markup after base print cost. External channels deduct their channel costs and discounts first. Source
Per-copy deductions
Printing is deducted from Bookstore sales. External retailer base prices include distributor charges, shipping, and retailer discounts. Source
Publishing cost
No Bookstore listing fee. External channel program fees, if any, appear at checkout. Source
Key condition
Monthly payouts. USD PayPal threshold $25 with $1 fee; USD check threshold $25 with $5 fee. Other currencies differ. Source

BookBaby

Checked

Formats
Ebooks, print-on-demand books, and global retailer distribution. Source
Author royalty
eBook retailers: author receives 100% of net wholesale receipts after retailer fees. BookShop eBook direct sales: BookBaby retains 15%, so author receives 85% of sale price. Source
Per-copy deductions
Print BookShop sales pay 50% of retail. Amazon POD royalties are 10–15% of retail, depending on title and specifications. Source
Publishing cost
Global ebook distribution is $299. Print POD packages are $199 for BookShop or $399 for BookShop plus Amazon POD. Source
Key condition
The online distribution agreement grants exclusive distribution representation while active, except for author direct sales; either party may terminate with 24 hours’ notice. Copyright stays with the author. Source

XinXii

Checked

Formats
The 2021 Apple listing describes ebook and audiobook distribution; current service status is unverified. Source
Author royalty
Current author royalty terms could not be verified from accessible official pages. Source
Per-copy deductions
Current per-copy deductions could not be verified from accessible official pages. Source
Publishing cost
Current distribution fees could not be verified from accessible official pages. Source
Key condition
Current exclusivity, payout, and rights terms could not be verified from accessible official pages. Source

Bookvault

Checked

Formats
Print-on-demand books sold through connected stores, the Great British Bookshop, and retailer distribution. Source
Author royalty
Direct sales have no Bookvault commission; retailer earnings equal retail price less retailer discount and print cost. Source
Per-copy deductions
Direct orders incur production and shipping costs. Retailer orders deduct their trade discount and then print cost. Source
Publishing cost
Free plan: £19.95 per title setup. Indie: £24.95/month plus £4.95 per title. Pro: £89.95/month with no title setup fee. Source
Key condition
For connected-store orders, customers pay the author’s store; Bookvault bills the author for production and shipping. Retailer distribution does not require print prepayment. Source

Notion Press

Checked

Formats
Paperback, hardcover, and ebooks; India and international distribution plans are available. Source
Author royalty
Basic Distribution: 60% of net profit. India/Global: 80%. Outpublish: 100% of net profit. Costs are deducted first. Source
Per-copy deductions
Printing, retailer distribution, shipping, taxes, technology fees, and returns may be deducted before the author share. Source
Publishing cost
Publishing services are paid packages; price depends on the selected plan, format, and services. Source
Key condition
Payout threshold: ₹1,500 domestic or ₹10,000 international. Monthly earnings enter the wallet within 40 days of month-end; bank deposit takes 3 days. Source

Pothi

Checked

Formats
Print books and ebooks. Current ebook sales are through Pothi.com; extended distribution applies to print books. Source
Author royalty
Ebooks: 75% of MRP on Pothi; 25% for other stores, though Pothi does not currently sell ebooks there. Source
Per-copy deductions
Print: 50% of Pothi-store profit; 80% of profit after partner costs. Free-shipping domestic orders use the partner-distribution rate. Source
Publishing cost
Publishing is free with ready files. Extended print distribution starts with a ₹1,500 setup fee; annual renewal and bulk-print charges depend on plan. Source
Key condition
Standard distribution’s ₹1,000 annual renewal is currently waived; Premium plans require yearly renewal and upfront purchase of 200 or 600 copies. Source

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing

Ebooks and print books

30%Eligible ebooks
65%Standard ebooks

You keep 70% before other fees

Start
Free
70% ebooks
$2.99 to $12.99
Print
Printing cost taken
+ 3 more rates
All Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing rates
RateWhen
Ebooks
30%Eligible ebooksYou keep 70%, less delivery
65%Standard ebooksYou keep 35%
Print
50%US print under $9.99You keep 50%, less printing
40%US print $9.99 and upYou keep 60%, less printing
60%Expanded DistributionYou keep 40%, less printing

US prices shown. Some countries need KDP Select, which makes the ebook exclusive to Amazon.

Checked

Sources

Kobo Writing Life

Ebooks and audiobooks

30%Qualifying ebooks
55%Standard ebooks

You keep 70% before other fees

Start
Free
Charged on
Price before tax
Minimum payout
C$50
+ 4 more rates
All Kobo Writing Life rates
RateWhen
Ebooks
30%Qualifying ebooksYou keep 70%
55%Standard ebooksYou keep 45%
80%Public domainYou keep 20%
Audiobooks
55%At or above floor priceYou keep 45%
65%Below floor priceYou keep 35%
68%Subscription tokenYou keep 32%

Kobo’s service agreement dates from 2012, so some of its rules may be out of date.

Checked

Sources

Google Play Books Partner Center

Ebooks

30%Eligible countries
48%Default split

You keep 70% before other fees

Start
Free
Price limits
None
Exclusive
No
All rates and sources
All Google Play Books Partner Center rates
RateWhen
Ebooks
30%Eligible countriesYou keep 70%, after new terms
48%Default splitYou keep 52%

The 70% share needs the updated terms and applies in over 60 countries.

Checked

Sources

Barnes & Noble Press

Ebooks and print books

30%Ebooks, $0.99 and up
45%Print

You keep 70% before other fees

Start
Free
Print cost
Taken from your share
Exclusive
No
All rates and sources
All Barnes & Noble Press rates
RateWhen
B&N Press
30%Ebooks, $0.99 and upYou keep 70%
45%PrintYou keep 55%, less printing

Print books sell on bn.com and the app, not in B&N stores.

Checked

Sources

Draft2Digital

Book distribution

15%Ebooks and audiobooks
55%Print

You keep 85% before other fees

Start
$20, covers year one
Yearly fee
$12 after year one
Formats
Ebook, audio, print
+ 1 more rate
All Draft2Digital rates
RateWhen
Draft2Digital
15%Ebooks and audiobooksOf what stores pay
55%PrintYou keep 45%, less printing
Smashwords store
25%Direct salesYou keep 75% or 40%

The yearly fee is waived above $100 in 12 months. The FAQ and agreement differ on how that is counted.

Checked

Sources

PublishDrive

Book distribution

0%Distribution commission

You keep 100% before other fees

Starter
$13.99 a month, yearly
Free plan
1 ebook
Store fees
Still apply
All rates and sources
All PublishDrive rates
RateWhen
PublishDrive
0%Distribution commissionYou keep 100% of store royalties

Print and audio need a paid plan.

Checked

Sources

StreetLib

Book distribution

15%Digital net revenue

You keep 85% before other fees

Plans
$99 a year or $299 once
Titles
Up to 100
Print
Not in US or Canada
All rates and sources
All StreetLib rates
RateWhen
StreetLib
15%Digital net revenueYou keep 85%

These plans apply outside Italy and German-speaking countries from March 2026.

Checked

Sources

IngramSpark

Print and ebook distribution

15%Ebook net revenue

You keep 85% before other fees

Start
Free
Print fee
1.875% of list price
Conversion
60¢ a page
+ 1 more rate
All IngramSpark rates
RateWhen
Ebooks
15%Ebook net revenueYou keep 85%
Print
1.875%Market access feePlus your discount and printing

Print pay is list price minus your wholesale discount, printing, and the market access fee.

Checked

Sources

Lulu

Print books and ebooks

20%Print profit
10%Ebooks

You keep 80% before other fees

Start
Free
Distribution
$4.99 review per book
Lulu store
No distribution fee
All rates and sources
All Lulu rates
RateWhen
Lulu
20%Print profitYou keep 80% after printing
10%EbooksYou keep 90% after store fees

Retail channels take their share before Lulu’s split.

Checked

Sources

Blurb

Print on demand

0%Your markup

You keep 100% before other fees

Listing
Free
Ebooks
No new ones
PayPal payout
$1 fee
All rates and sources
All Blurb rates
RateWhen
Blurb Bookstore
0%Your markupYou keep 100% above print cost

Other stores take their costs and discounts first.

Checked

Sources

BookBaby

Ebooks and print

0%Ebook stores
15%Direct ebook sales

You keep 100% before other fees

Ebooks
$299 to distribute
Print
$199 or $399
Exclusive
While active
+ 2 more rates
All BookBaby rates
RateWhen
Ebooks
0%Ebook storesYou keep 100% of net
15%Direct ebook salesYou keep 85%
Print
50%BookShop printYou keep 50% of retail
85–90%Amazon print on demandYou keep 10–15% of retail

BookBaby represents your book exclusively while the deal is active. Either side can end it with 24 hours’ notice.

Checked

Sources

XinXii

Ebooks and audiobooks

Royalty unconfirmedOfficial terms inaccessible
Site
Returned an error
FAQ
Could not load
Last listing
App, 2021
Sources

XinXii’s official pages could not be reached, so current terms are unknown.

Checked

Sources

Bookvault

Print on demand

0%Direct sales

You keep 100% before other fees

Free plan
£19.95 per title
Indie plan
£24.95 a month
Retail pay
Price minus discount
All rates and sources
All Bookvault rates
RateWhen
Bookvault
0%Direct salesYou pay printing and shipping

For retail sales you get the price minus the retailer’s discount and print cost.

Checked

Sources

Notion Press

Publishing services, India

40%Basic plan
0%Outpublish

You keep 60% before other fees

Packages
Paid, by plan
Minimum payout
₹1,500 in India
Payouts
Monthly
+ 1 more rate
All Notion Press rates
RateWhen
Share of net profit
40%Basic planYou keep 60%
20%India and GlobalYou keep 80%
0%OutpublishYou keep 100%

Printing, shipping, store fees, taxes, and returns come off before your share.

Checked

Sources

Pothi

Print books and ebooks, India

25%Ebooks on Pothi
50%Print, Pothi store

You keep 75% before other fees

Start
Free
Print stores
₹1,500 setup
Ebooks
Pothi store only
+ 1 more rate
All Pothi rates
RateWhen
Ebooks
25%Ebooks on PothiYou keep 75% of MRP
Print
50%Print, Pothi storeOf profit
20%Print, partner storesYou keep 80% of profit

Premium print plans need an upfront order of 200 or 600 copies.

Checked

Sources

Audiobooks

9 platformsHeadline fees: 0% to 55%

Comics and serialized fiction

11 platformsHeadline fees: 0% to 50% (6 percentage rates)

Newsletters and paid writing

11 platformsHeadline fees: 0% to 10% (7 percentage rates)