Best Self Publishing Companies in 2026

Amazon KDP is where most new authors should start, simply because that is where most ebook buyers already shop. Setup is free, you keep control of pricing and cover, and books can appear on Amazon within a few days. Ebook royalties are 35 percent or 70 percent, with the higher rate tied to price range and other terms, while paperbacks pay a share of list price minus printing cost.

The limit is reach beyond Amazon. KDP Expanded Distribution exists, but it does not match IngramSpark for bookstore placement, and KDP Select locks your ebook to Amazon for its term. Many authors use KDP for Amazon and a second platform for everywhere else.

IngramSpark is the best partner to KDP, not a replacement for it. Its print network reaches bookstores and libraries that Amazon does not serve in the same way, and its format options include hardcovers and dust jackets that KDP does not match. For authors who want a book to be orderable in a local shop, IngramSpark is the practical route.

The catch is complexity and cost detail. Setup and revision terms have changed over time, and a distribution fee applies on some sales, so read the current pricing page and print cost calculator before you publish. Order a proof copy too, since print quality can vary between print locations.

Draft2Digital is the easiest way to go wide without managing a dozen separate accounts. You upload once, format with its free tools, and it distributes to major ebook stores outside Amazon. There is no exclusivity, so you can still use KDP for Amazon at the same time.

The cost is a share of each sale, which adds up on high-volume titles, and authors who want deep print control will still need IngramSpark or Lulu. For a first book, though, Draft2Digital removes the most tedious part of wide publishing.

Lulu suits authors who care about the physical book itself: photo books, cookbooks, art books, and special editions where paper and binding matter. Selling direct through a Lulu storefront can also give better margins than a retailer sale, since you reach readers you already know.

For wide bookstore placement, Lulu is not a substitute for IngramSpark, and its ebook distribution is less central than KDP or Draft2Digital. Use it when print quality and direct sales are the priority, and pair it with KDP or IngramSpark for broader reach.

Apple Books is a strong second store for ebook authors, with a 70 percent royalty rate that is easy to understand. Readers on Apple devices get a polished reading experience, and Apple sometimes features indie titles in ways that help discovery. Publishing direct is free, though many authors reach Apple through Draft2Digital to save time.

The limit is scope. There is no print option, and the audience is Apple users only, so Apple Books works best as part of a wide strategy rather than a sole platform. If you already use Draft2Digital, Apple distribution may already be covered.

Kobo Writing Life is worth a look for authors with international readers, especially in Canada, where Kobo devices are common. Royalties range from 45 percent to 70 percent depending on price and terms, and there is no exclusivity requirement. Kobo also runs promotions that can help a new title find readers.

In the US, Kobo is smaller than Amazon and Apple, so it should not be your only store. As part of a wide plan, either direct or through Draft2Digital, it adds reach at no upfront cost.

Barnes and Noble Press gives authors a direct route to Nook readers and to the Barnes and Noble website, with print on demand included. For US authors with readers who shop at Barnes and Noble, that presence matters, and setup is free. Ebook royalties vary by price and format, so check the current terms before you set a price.

It is not a wide distribution platform on its own. Pair it with KDP for Amazon and IngramSpark for bookstores, or use Draft2Digital to cover Barnes and Noble along with other stores, and treat direct Press publishing as a way to keep control of that one store.

BookBaby is for authors who want help rather than a do-it-yourself dashboard. Packages can cover ebook distribution, cover design, formatting, and print, with a single team to contact. That support helps authors who do not want to learn formatting, cover specs, and distribution details themselves.

The cost is the key question. Paid packages run into thousands of dollars in many cases, while KDP, IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital are free to start. Before you sign, get the full package list in writing, confirm who owns the rights and ISBN, and compare the total against hiring a freelance editor and designer directly.