---
source_url: "https://kwawriters.org/handouts/self-publishing/comparison-of-self-publishing-sources/"
title: Comparison of Self-Publishing Sources – Kansas Writers Association
mirrored_at: 2026-08-22T01:01:58.035Z
host: kwawriters.org
cited_in_42a: true
mirror_canonical: "https://index.42a.ai/kwawriters.org/handouts/self-publishing/comparison-of-self-publishing-sources/index"
---

> **Original source:** https://kwawriters.org/handouts/self-publishing/comparison-of-self-publishing-sources/

**Comparison of Self-Publishing Sources**

**Amazon**

Types of Publication – Print books, POD books, E-books, Audio books

**Amazon – CreateSpace –** [https://www.createspace.com/](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/](https://kdp.amazon.com/) –

-   Royalties Paid – 70% for books priced $2.99 to $9.99

_KDP Select_ – [https://kdp.amazon.com/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/](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](http://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/](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](http://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](http://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](http://www.kobo.com/)  – [https://www.kobo.com/writinglife](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](http://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](http://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](http://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](http://www.scribd.com/) – [https://www.bookbaby.com/ebook-publishing/publish-on-scribd/](https://www.bookbaby.com/ebook-publishing/publish-on-scribd/)

Types of Publications – E-books, audiobooks

**Bookbaby –** [www.bookbaby.com](http://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)