Digital publishing has allowed more authors to launch their books. In today’s article, we talk about 10 online publishing platforms that can help you get started on your authorship journey. We will discuss:

• What is a platform in book publishing?
• Which publishing platforms are most popular
• How to publish on a platform

Let’s get started.

What are Publishing Platforms?

When you are looking for the best eBook platform, you will come across several types of companies. Some, like Crossroad Publisher, help you with the publishing process. Others help you distribute your books on dedicated marketplaces, such as Amazon or Google Books.

Still others are aggregators, which let you distribute your book across various marketplaces. The companies we review in this article are distributors, aggregators, or a mixture of both.

Let’s get started!

Top 10 Publishing Platforms for Authors and Readers in 2024

Amazon KDP

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is hands down the king of online publication platforms. It enables authors to publish and sell their books to readers across the globe. It has a market share of more than 300 million customers (accounting for almost 92% of all self-published books in 2018). It is also rated highly for its user-friendly interface.

KDP also offers royalties on ebooks, up to 70% of the sales price. And should you choose to go that route, KDP offers a print-on-demand service for paperbacks. That means you don’t have to pay anything upfront or worry about maintaining inventory. It is a flexible option for both published and first-time authors. But that’s not all!

Amazon KDP provides marketing tools for your book. Authors can also sign up for KDP Select. That way they can offer their books for free or at discounted prices for a 90-day promotional period.

Authors can easily keep track of their book sales with analytics and tailor their marketing strategies likewise. For all these reasons, Amazon KDP is one of the best options authors turn to publish and market their books.

Kobo

Kobo Writing Life (or just Kobo) is owned by the Canadian corporation Rakuten Kobo. It is one of the top self-publishing and distribution platforms for eBooks in 2024. Like Amazon KDP, Kobo also offers authors an uncluttered and straightforward UI. Simply log in, upload your manuscript, format it, and add a cover. The best part is that Kobo supports a variety of file formats.

In terms of royalties, authors can earn up to 70%. But that’s not all, for Kobo exposes you to readers across the world in countries like Australia, Canada, and England. Moreover, it does not require exclusivity, which means you can distribute your book that’s published on Kobo across multiple channels.

Kobo Writing Life also provides marketing options. For instance, authors can optimize their listings and engage with readers. Regular promotions and campaigns also boost visibility and sales for authors published on the platform. So, if you’re thinking about self-publishing this year, Kobo is a great place to begin.

Apple Books

Third on our list of publishing platforms is Apple Books. It allows easy access to new authors who want to get published. And it also promises a large audience through the Apple ecosystem. Ebooks and audiobooks published on Apple Books are available on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. This amounts to exposure to a wide user base.

Apple is known for its sleek user experience, and its publishing platform is no different. It offers a clean interface and a high-quality reading experience. Authors can publish directly through Apple Books using the iTunes Connect platform. The self-publishing process is streamlined with clear formatting guidelines.

Royalties offered on the platform are industry standard, usually around 70%, regardless of the book price. That makes Apple Books different from the platforms discussed so far.

However, monetizing your work on Apple Books is not that straightforward (but not impossible either). For one thing, Apple Books has exclusivity. Moreover, it offers only electronic publishing, not print. Long story short, Apple Books may not be the best option when it comes to making money with self-publishing.

However, it offers an easy path to publishing and makes your books(s) available to the worldwide community of Apple users.

Google Books

#4 on our list is Google Books. It connects you with other Google services like Google Play so you can distribute your work to millions of users worldwide in over 50 countries.

Authors can also join the Google Play Books Partner Center. Here they can upload books, manage pricing, and track sales and performance. This makes self-publishing easier for new and published authors (provided that you a tech-savvy and have ready-to-publish manuscripts). Not to mention, you can also utilize Google’s signature search capabilities to improve visibility for your books and author profile.

What else? Google Books also provides a preview option, which helps readers check out a book before purchasing it.

However, just like #3, Google Books is only for ebooks, not print books. Moreover, titles published on Google Books are exclusive to the platform. This sort of restricts the lifetime sales you can expect for your book. That said, Google Books is a growing platform. In any case, it is a good first step towards self-publishing.

Do remember though that you need to complete your design, editing, and formatting before you can upload your manuscript on Google Books.

Barnes & Noble (B&N Press)

Barnes & Noble is one of the Big Five booksellers in the U.S. It is also one of the best publishing platforms for eBooks. Publishing with Barnes & Noble brings prestige and also exposes you to the publisher’s wide and loyal audience of readers.

Getting published on B&N Press (formerly Nook Press) brings brand recognition. You can also earn up to 65% in royalties, whether your book costs $0.99 or $199. Not to mention, you also get to leverage Barnes & Noble’s marketing network which includes the official website and newsletters (old-school but highly effective ways of marketing books).

B&N Press offers a full suite of self-publishing and marketing options that allow you to upload manuscripts (free of charge), promote your book, and manage sales.

Smashwords

Founded in 2008, Smashwords is one of the leading publishing platforms. Smashwords offers accessibility and simplicity to indie authors, which has made it a name to be reckoned with. They can help you sell books on Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and even library systems through OverDrive.

They also offer a flexible royalty structure where authors can net up to 80% of their sales revenue. This depends on the distribution channel. Not to mention, Smashwords also helps authors promote their books with everything from coupons to sales events.

Wattpad

Founded in 2006, Wattpad is now a lively community where writers can publish their stories chapter by chapter, receive immediate feedback, and build a following. The platform is particularly popular among younger audiences. It offers a space for all kinds of genres and formats. The benefit of getting published on Wattpad is that you can develop an audience and keep them engaged. It also gives you real-time feedback that you can use to improve the quality of your work.

How can you earn money through this platform? You can do so with the Wattpad Stars program. Authors who participate in this program can earn money through reader contributions, ad revenue, and licensing deals.

Draft2Digital (D2D)

Founded in 2012, D2D empowers indie authors by giving them access to a wide range of retailers and libraries. D2D offers competitive royalty rates, typically around 60% of the retail price. This platform lives up to its name, helping you change your manuscript to a digital book.

Draft2Digital features a straightforward publishing process that includes an intuitive dashboard for managing titles. Authors can upload their manuscripts, set pricing, and track sales all in one place. The platform also offers a free formatting tool that automatically converts manuscripts into multiple eBook formats.

Blurb

On #9 is Blurb, a dynamic publishing platform known for its focus on high-quality print books. Founded in 2005, Blurb helps authors and creatives to design, publish, and sell their work, especially to those looking to produce visually appealing projects.

The Blurb BookWright app allows authors to design and format their books with a drag-and-drop interface, making it accessible even for those with limited design experience. Authors can also use Adobe InDesign for more advanced projects. Blurb’s Print on Demand service means authors can order copies of their books without a large upfront investment, which makes it a cost-effective option.

Overall, Blurb is an excellent option for self-publishing authors looking to create high-quality print books and visually driven projects. With its user-friendly design tools and flexible selling options, it caters to creatives seeking to showcase their work.

PublishDrive

Founded in 2015, PublishDrive focuses on offering a range of distribution channels and innovative marketing solutions to help authors reach a broader audience. It simplifies the publishing process while (claims to) maximize authors' revenue potential.

One of the primary advantages of PublishDrive is its extensive distribution network, which includes major retailers like Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play Books, and more than 400 other outlets. PublishDrive also offers competitive royalty rates, with authors typically earning 70% on each sale. Additionally, the platform provides various marketing tools, including promotional campaigns and data analytics, helping authors optimize their marketing strategies.

That’s about it! These are the 10 best publishing platforms for 2024. The list is by no means exhaustive, but this is just to give you an idea of the options available.

Where should you publish and distribute? Ideally, the platform or marketplace should not matter as long as you have a good book. However, to really make it big as an author, you must have the market know-how.

That’s where we come in.

Begin your publishing journey today!

Have you finished writing your manuscript? Let Crossroad Publisher take it from there! We will guide you through each step of publishing, including editing, formatting, design, and licensing.

But that’s not all! We also offer marketing services to maximize your readership. Contact us today to learn more about getting your writing published.