2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING BEST ONLINE BOOK PUBLISHERS
Guide to the Top Online Publishing Companies
Online book publishing has become a far more commonplace approach to releasing a novel into the world in recent years.
Traditional publishing takes away some of the control that an author maintains over the finished piece, as well as cutting deeply into any royalties. Online publishing works to put control back into the hands of authors.
According to some sources, 40% of all revenue earned from e-book sales can be attributed to online book publishing versus those from a more traditional source. Even among Amazon’s bestselling e-books, 25% of all the titles are released via online publishing.
Award Emblem: Top 6 Best Online Publishing Companies
With statistics like those, it’s no wonder that many people are starting to pay attention to the growing trend of publishing a book online. Online book publishing allows them to maintain complete control over the final format and the pricing of their project.
Sales indicate that there is still a great chance of success when you utilize online publishing over traditional methods as well.
AdvisoryHQ has noted all of the consumer interest swirling around online book publishing. In order to help you evaluate the top choices on the market, we assembled this ranking of online book publishers to make your dreams of becoming a published author come true.
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AdvisoryHQ’s List of the Top 6 Best Online Book Publishers
List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the publishing companies below to go directly to the detailed review section for that publisher online):
Top 6 Best Online Book Publishers | Brief Comparison & Ranking
Online Publishing Companies | Services | Pricing |
| AuthorHouse | – General writing and research guidance – Manuscript preparation including editing and cover design – Marketing (social media, arranging book signings, etc.) | $899 to $11,899 |
| Blurb | – Interior and exterior design or art direction and curation – Book coaching, including editing and ghostwriting – Illustrations for children, general images, or photography – Sell final product through Blurb or through Amazon | $14.99 to $86.99 per copy |
| Book Baby | – Editing services – Cover design – Ecommerce options – Book promotions – ISBN barcodes | Single copies from $19 each |
| CreateSpace | – Design, editing, and marketing – Self-service tools | Books from $2.15 per copy for 100 pages |
| Kindle Direct Publishing | – Fast online publishing with formatting done in 5 minutes – E-books for sale in less than 48 hours | Free |
| Lulu | – Full service editing (copy polish, line editing, content or developmental editing) – Cover design or illustrations | Books from $3.25 per copy for 100 pages |
Table: Top 6 Best Online Publishing Companies | Above list is sorted alphabetically
What Should I Look for in Online Book Publishers?
Finding a publisher online is half of the battle when it comes to publishing a book online through some of these independent companies. Many options pop up with a quick search for online publishing companies, but how do you know which ones deserve a second glance?
You first need to evaluate exactly what you need from any potential online publishing companies. Manuscripts dictate what you will need the most, so prioritize what size and format you would like to publish online.
Image Source: Online Publishing Companies
Some online publishing companies will only print books that feature heavy imagery (think cookbooks or photography books) while others specialize in black and white printing. If you are interested only in book publishing online through a specific e-book format, you may not need all of the bells and whistles offered by online book publishers who specialize in print copies.
Publishing books online is a completely unique experience dependent upon the type of novel you intend to release.
From here, you may want to evaluate any additional services that online book publishers can offer. Unless you are highly trained or experienced in the field, you may want to opt for professional editing, cover design, or marketing for your new release. Not all online book publishers will include these choices.
The final consideration when deciding on online publishing companies is to look at the pricing structure available. This can include the cost of a la carte services or publishing packages available through a particular vendor when you are looking to publish online.
Depending on your budget, you may be able to afford to purchase a larger quantity than some individuals. In situations such as these, you may want to look for online publishing companies that offer volume discounts.
Ultimately, your experience will be one-of-a-kind when you publish online. Because of this reason, you will want to make sure that your online publishing companies can handle your needs and desires to make your project as successful as possible.
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AdvisoryHQ’s Selection Methodology
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Please click here “AdvisoryHQ’s Ranking Methodologies” for a detailed review of AdvisoryHQ’s selection methodologies for ranking top rated credit cards, financial accounts, firms, products, and services.
Detailed Review – Top Ranking Best Online Book Publishers
Below, please find the detailed review of each company on our list of online publishing companies. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these online book publishing companies to score so highly in our selection ranking.
AuthorHouse Review
Among online book publishers, AuthorHouse is widely recognized as one of the largest self-publishing options. To date, they have helped authors publishing books online to release more than 70,000 titles across the entire spectrum of print choices.
Online publishing through AuthorHouse allows you to finish your manuscript and take a step back if you need to. You can be as involved as you would like to be when you publish online, or you can opt for a few additional services.
Their online book publishing gives authors a chance to let professionals take a manuscript into their own hands with the option to pay for:
- General writing and research guidance
- Manuscript preparation including editing and cover design
- Marketing (social media, arranging book signings, etc.)
Publishing Options
Like most online publishing companies, AuthorHouse provides a variety of plans to choose from according to what suits your book’s primary needs. This publisher online allows authors to select packages starting at $899 and ranging all the way up to $11,899.
Some of the options included when you use AuthorHouse’s online book publishing are:
- Hardcover, paperback, or ebook distribution
- Image insertion
- U.S. copyright and Library of Congress control number
- Promotional materials
- Online interviews, videos, or Hollywood coverage
Depending on what you are hoping to achieve when you publish online, you can find the perfect package for your manuscript. AuthorHouse has plans to help with publishing books online in any format that you really need to consider.
Blurb Review
Blurb is one of many online book publishers that takes a slightly different approach to publishing online. While many of the online publishing companies will focus on taking manuscripts from black and white into a bound and professional copy, Blurb focuses on books featuring heavy imagery.
When you publish a book online through Blurb, it is most likely to fall into one of their four primary categories: photo books, trade books, magazines, or e-books. To that end, this online book publisher offers a spectrum of unique services to assist you with creating a perfect and print-ready final product:
- Interior and exterior design or art direction and curation
- Book coaching, including editing and ghostwriting
- Illustrations for children, general images, or photography
- Sell final product through Blurb or through Amazon
Publishing Options
Pricing through Blurb is very competitive, given the many online book publishers that specialize in image insertion. You can select different grades of paper as well as sizes for the finished product when you publish a book online through their company.
Image Source: Blurb
At the least expensive end, a softcover book with standard paper in the smallest size (7×7 inches) will cost $14.99. The most expensive version when you are book publishing online will run $86.99 per copy, with additional costs for upgrades. For example, you can opt to remove the Blurb logo, upgrade the cover to linen, or add an end sheet upgrade.
Bear in mind that authors who choose to use Blurb as their online book publishing companies will also receive volume discounts. When you order ten or more copies, you receive a 10% discount. Fifty copies and up will qualify you for a 25% discount on the final total.
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BookBaby Review
When it comes to finding top online publishing companies, BookBaby has seen a lot of growth over the past few years since its inception. They opened their doors to be one of the new online book publishers just a few years ago in 2011. Since then, they have worked to help writers and artists with book publishing online by taking items from manuscript to market.
Like several of the best online book publishing companies, BookBaby offers services to help you polish your manuscript until it shines. They include a unique array of solutions to help you gain successful marketing experience after you’re finished publishing online. Popular add-on items for authors include:
- Editing services
- Cover design
- Ecommerce options
- Book promotions
- ISBN barcodes
Publishing Packages
Online book publishers like AuthorHouse provide a package that features several copies of your new novel all at once. The unique advantage to a service like BookBaby is the ability to purchase only what you need.
If you were hoping to publish a book online just for a personal project or close friend, you can buy a single copy starting at just $19. However, you can also make your own custom print package to cover all genres, including children’s books, cookbooks, photography books, magazines, and yearbooks.
Online book publishers such as BookBaby will allow you to print a U.S. trade copy in batches as small as 25. Depending on the number of pages, the type of cover you wanted, and your desired production time, prices will vary significantly. For example, 25 copies of a 100-page novel in softcover will cost roughly $181.25.
CreateSpace Review
CreateSpace is a subsidiary of Amazon designed to help you find online book publishers that can create higher margins and royalties with your sales. Online publishing typically extends only to novels and other print forms, as well as ebooks. CreateSpace designed a company that could take online publishing even further, with the addition of DVDs and CDs to their repertoire of services.
As a large publisher online, their online book publishing allows you to get creative with the types of services you may need. Customer service is always available to make recommendations and answer questions about publishing a book online. They can offer common services found with other online publishing companies, but they also have a lot of self-service tools.
Professionals can assist with design, editing, and marketing. Self-service tools available to help your online books publishing process include items such as an interior reviewer, image gallery, cover creator, preview, and more.
Publishing Packages
Pricing is incredibly competitive when using CreateSpace as your online book publisher. It is completely customized based on the number of books you wish to purchase, the size of the book, and the page count. Opting to publish a book online in color versus black and white will also have a direct impact on the overall cost to print.
To give you an example of the pricing available, a 6×9 inch paperback novel published in black and white with 100 pages would cost approximately $53.75 when you purchase 25 copies at a time. Shipping costs extra with an estimated cost in the continental U.S. of just $15.50.
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Kindle Direct Publishing Review
For authors who are hoping to take the digital world by storm, Kindle Direct Publishing offers a solution to make publishing online even easier. This is one of the fastest and most cost-effective routes to online book publishing for those who have a story that needs to be heard relatively quickly.
Online book publishing through Kindle Direct Publishing is one of the fastest routes to becoming a published author. Uploading your story or research onto the platform should take less than five minutes. Most titles that are publishing online are available for sale in less than 48 hours from the time of final approval.
You reserve the right to make changes to your novel at any time. When you’re publishing a book online through Kindle Direct Publishing, you also have the right to set your own pricing and control your royalties.
Publishing Packages
One of the major perks to online publishing companies such as Kindle Direct Publishing is the ability to convert the files for free. Publishing a book online is completely cost-effective when you are not being charged to format your novel, track sales, and categorize your title with other Amazon choices.
An enhanced option for more serious authors would be to enroll in KDP Select. This program means that you can only publish your novel’s digital version exclusively through their program (paperback copies may still be sold elsewhere). Perks include being able to maximize your sales potential with promotional tools, earn higher royalties, and reach new audiences in other countries.
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Lulu Review
With more than a decade of experience with online book publishing, Lulu has reached a total of more than 2 million publications. Their flexibility and knowledge of the online publishing industry allows them to offer professional services that surpass the quality of some others.
Image Source: Lulu
Authors who still need a little assistance before publishing books online can look to Lulu for help. Available as a la-carte options or in full-service packages, you can choose from items such as:
- Full-service editing (copy polish, line editing, content or developmental editing)
- Cover design or illustrations
Their full-service packages can vary depending on your individual needs and whether your book will be in color. Online book publishers such as Lulu understand that many authors need to create some flexibility within the available choices. Pricing for the additional professional services will range from $999 all the way to $3,199 for artful color books.
Publishing Packages
Book publishing online through Lulu has just as many creative choices as you would expect from top online book publishers. Select different sizes, covers, page counts, and more to come up with a custom arrangement and pricing. As an example, we kept with the 25-copy order of a 6×9 inch paperback novel with 100 pages, which brought us to a total of $3.15 per copy.
Volume discounts are available when book publishing online with this company. Discounts begin at 15 copies and are offered at the following intervals: 30, 60, 120, 300, 600, and 1200 copies. At the far end, the same book will cost just $2.60 per copy.
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Conclusion—Top 6 Best Online Book Publishers
Finding a publisher online isn’t a difficult task, but you want to be sure that you find online publishing companies that offer the best value. Book publishing online is becoming an incredibly popular option for authors who desire to see their name in print.
With the extra control afforded by online publishing, it really is no wonder that online book publishers are becoming increasingly commonplace.
The right online book publishers will help you to feel right at home as your manuscript makes it onto the market and into the world. When you publish online, you can choose any number of options from straight digital publications to paperback copies. Many online publishing companies will even give you the option to pay for some professional polishing of your manuscript prior to sales.
Online publishing is a unique process that can be difficult to decide on. You’ll need to determine a budget for your book as well as make key decisions regarding your printing preferences.
Which of the top online publishing companies will be able to assist you in bringing your next book into the world successfully?
AdvisoryHQ (AHQ) Disclaimer: Reasonable efforts have been made by AdvisoryHQ to present accurate information, however all info is presented without warranty. Review AdvisoryHQ’s Terms for details. Also review each firm’s site for the most updated data, rates and info. Note: Firms and products, including the one(s) reviewed above, may be AdvisoryHQ's affiliates. Click to view AdvisoryHQ's advertiser disclosures.
