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Best 10 Platforms to Sell eBooks Online
Selling eBooks has become one of the most lucrative ways for authors and content creators to generate revenue. Whether you are a seasoned writer or a first-time publisher, choosing the right platform can make a significant difference in your reach and earnings. In this blog, we shall explore the best websites to sell eBooks online, helping you find the ideal platform to maximize your success. Let's dive into the best choices available.
List of Websites where you can Sell eBooks Online
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Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing
Amazon KDP is the most popular eBook publishing platform, offering unparalleled access to a global audience. With KDP, authors can sell eBooks on Amazon and earn up to 70% royalties on sales. The platform supports multiple formats, including Kindle and print-on-demand paperbacks, making it an excellent choice for self-published authors. Additionally, Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program allows readers to access eBooks on a subscription basis, increasing your chances of generating more sales.
Key Features:
- Global distribution across Amazon stores.
- Kindle Unlimited and Kindle Owners’ Lending Library integration.
- Royalty options of 35% or 70%, depending on pricing.
- Promotional tools like KDP Select for exclusive benefits.
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Apple Books
If you're looking to sell eBooks on Apple Books, Apple’s iBooks platform is an excellent choice for reaching Apple users. Apple Books is available in over 50 countries, making it a great option to sell eBooks internationally. The platform provides authors with complete pricing control, promotional features, and an intuitive publishing process through Apple’s iTunes Connect.
Key Features:
- Access to millions of Apple device users.
- High royalty rates of up to 70%.
- No exclusivity requirements, allowing authors to distribute their books elsewhere
- Apple Books for Authors, a free resource for formatting and publishing assistance.
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Barnes & Noble Press
Barnes & Noble Press is a self-publishing platform that allows authors to publish and distribute their eBooks to Nook readers. This platform is a good choice for authors looking to expand beyond Amazon and Apple, especially within the U.S. market.
Key Features:
- Competitive royalty rates for self-published authors
- Zero upfront costs for publishing and distribution
- Print and eBook distribution across multiple channels
- Targeted reach to dedicated Nook readers in the U.S. market
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Kobo Writing Life
Kobo Writing Life is a fantastic platform for authors aiming to reach a global audience. Kobo, owned by Rakuten, allows you to distribute books in over 190 countries, making it a powerful tool to sell eBooks globally.
Key Features:
- Earn 70% royalty on eBooks priced above $2.99, ensuring higher profits for authors.
- Enjoy complete freedom with no exclusivity requirements, allowing you to publish on multiple platforms.
- Benefit from automatic distribution to partner bookstores and libraries, expanding your book's reach
- Access promotional opportunities like Kobo Plus to enhance visibility and boost sales.
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Google Play Books
For authors interested in selling to Android users, selling eBooks on Google Play is a great strategy. Google Play Books allows direct sales through the Google Play Store, giving authors access to millions of potential buyers.
Key Features:
- Gain global exposure by leveraging Google's vast user base and extensive digital ecosystem.
- Enjoy full control over pricing, allowing you to set competitive rates and offer custom discounts.
- Sell your eBooks without exclusivity restrictions, giving you the freedom to distribute on multiple platforms.
- Benefit from seamless integration with Google’s search engine, enhancing discoverability and organic reach.
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Gumroad
Gumroad is a direct-to-customer platform, ideal for authors who want to sell eBooks directly without relying on major retailers. This platform enables creators to set their own pricing, create discount codes, and build an email subscriber list for future sales.
Key Features:
- Sell both digital and physical products with ease, allowing creators to offer a variety of items to their audience.
- Retain 90% of your earnings after minimal processing fees, ensuring maximum profit from every sale.
- Offer subscription and membership options to generate recurring revenue and build a loyal customer base.
- Engage in direct interaction with customers, enabling personalized communication and stronger relationships.
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Payhip
Payhip is another excellent platform that can directly deliver ebooks to the customers. customers. It provides a simple and secure checkout process, allowing authors to sell eBooks worldwide without any restrictions.
Key Features:
- Payhip processes payments instantly via PayPal and Stripe, providing quick access to funds.
- There are no setup fees, and authors only pay a small transaction fee per sale.
- Payhip includes marketing features like coupons, affiliate programs, and email automation to boost sales.
- Payhip automatically handles EU VAT for international sales, ensuring compliance with tax regulations.
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Smashwords
Smashwords is one of the largest eBook distribution platforms, offering authors a way to publish and distribute their books to multiple online retailers, including Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.
Key Features:
- Free ISBN allocation.
- Access to major online retailers and libraries.
- Royalty rates of up to 85% on direct sales.
- Formatting tools to convert manuscripts into various eBook formats.
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Leanpub
Leanpub is a unique publishing platform tailored for tech authors, educators, and business professionals. It allows authors to publish in-progress books and receive feedback from early readers.
Key Features:
- Pay-what-you-want pricing model.
- Ideal for authors creating educational and technical content.
- Integration with GitHub for easy updates.
- High royalty rates (up to 80%).
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MAPSystems
For full control over pricing, branding, and customer data, nothing beats selling eBooks from your own website. With platforms like WordPress, Shopify, or Squarespace, you can set up an online store and leverage email marketing to build long-term relationships with your audience.
Key Features:
- No revenue sharing with third-party platforms.
- Full control over pricing and discounts.
- Ability to bundle products with exclusive content.
- Direct interaction with customers for better engagement.
Conclusion
Choosing the right platform depends on your goals as an author. If you want a global audience, Amazon KDP, Google Play Books, and Kobo Writing Life are great options. For Apple device users, Apple Books is an ideal choice. If you prefer selling eBooks directly to customers, platforms like Gumroad, Payhip, and your own website offer more control over sales and pricing.
Regardless of your approach, each of these platforms has its unique advantages for maximizing your eBook sales. For authors seeking expert guidance, MAPSystems offers professional ePublishing services, helping you format, publish, and distribute your eBooks efficiently. Get started today and turn your writing into a thriving digital business!
Frequently Asked Questions
To choose the best website, evaluate platforms based on royalty rates, distribution reach, pricing control, and promotional tools. For a global audience, Amazon KDP and Kobo Writing Life are ideal, while platforms like Gumroad and Payhip offer direct sales with more control over earnings and customer engagement.
Yes, most eBook publishing platforms allow distribution across multiple sites. Platforms like Amazon KDP, Apple Books, and Kobo Writing Life enable simultaneous sales. However, be mindful that some platforms, such as Kindle Unlimited, may require exclusivity, limiting your ability to sell on other websites for certain benefits.
Your earnings depend on your eBook’s pricing, sales volume, and platform royalties. On Amazon KDP, authors earn up to 70% royalties, while platforms like Gumroad allow creators to keep up to 90% of their earnings after processing fees. Your marketing efforts also play a significant role in maximizing revenue.
No, publishing eBooks is relatively straightforward with most platforms offering easy-to-follow steps. Websites like Amazon KDP and Apple Books provide intuitive interfaces and resources to help you upload, format, and publish your eBook. With the right preparation, you can have your eBook live on multiple platforms in a short time.
Selling eBooks directly allows full control over pricing, marketing strategies, and customer data. Platforms like Gumroad and Payhip help authors retain more earnings, provide tools for discounting, and enable direct communication with buyers. This control fosters stronger customer relationships and reduces reliance on third-party platforms for sales.
