Selling ebooks online can be simple if you choose the right platform. Whether you’re a new author or an experienced seller, here’s a quick guide to help you decide:
Key Platforms to Sell Ebooks:
Quick Comparison Table:
Platform | Transaction Fees | Monthly Cost | Key Features |
---|---|---|---|
Crevio | 0% | $29-$89 | Custom branding, mobile-ready store |
Amazon KDP | 35%-70% royalty | Free | Global reach, promotional tools |
Payhip | 0-5% | Free-$99 | PDF stamping, affiliate system |
Gumroad | 10% + $0.50 per sale | Free-$10 | Lightweight DRM, email marketing |
Sellfy | 0% | $29-$159 | Store customization, email marketing tools |
How to Choose the Best Platform:
Each platform offers unique benefits depending on your goals. Start by identifying your priorities – whether it’s reach, control, or affordability – and pick the platform that aligns with your needs.
Crevio helps authors sell ebooks and earn income while maintaining complete control over their digital publishing business. Check out the plans below to see which one fits your needs.
Basic Plan ($29/month):
Growth Plan ($89/month):
Crevio works for both one-time purchases and subscription models, giving you flexibility in how you sell your products.
Beyond selling ebooks, Crevio enables you to manage additional materials, memberships, and other digital products – all from one easy-to-use dashboard.
Founded by Axel Grubba, Crevio focuses on giving creators ownership and control while offering a simple drag-and-drop store builder.
Feature Category | Basic Plan ($29/mo) | Growth Plan ($89/mo) |
---|---|---|
Transaction Fees | 0% | 0% |
Product Limits | 5 products | Unlimited |
Admin Seats | 5 seats | Unlimited |
Branding | Crevio branding | Custom branding |
Domain Options | Subdomain | Custom domain |
Support Level | Standard | Priority |
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is a leader in digital publishing, connecting authors to a massive audience of 197 million users worldwide. Here’s a closer look at how KDP works, including its pricing and royalty options.
Publishing on KDP is completely free, and authors retain full control over their book’s price, which can range from $0.99 to $200.00. KDP offers two royalty options:
Royalty Rate | Requirements | Perks |
---|---|---|
70% | Books priced between $2.99 and $9.99 | Access to promotional tools |
35% | All other price points | No restrictions on pricing |
KDP’s reach and royalty options create strong earning opportunities for authors. For example:
"I’ve sold over 2 million copies of my book, The Miracle Morning, since publishing with KDP in 2012. It is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, as it has enabled me to impact millions of lives while providing financial security for my family." – Hal Elrod, USA / Business & Money
To improve sales and visibility on KDP, consider these tips:
KDP’s influence is clear, with the number of available titles growing by 264% over the past five years. Authors also have the option to join Kindle Unlimited, earning royalties based on page reads. This platform provides tools and opportunities for authors to expand their reach and boost their earnings.
Payhip is a platform that enables authors to sell ebooks directly to readers. It supports over 130,000 creators and combines essential tools for selling with a user-friendly interface, making it suitable for authors with varying levels of technical expertise.
Payhip offers a range of tools designed to simplify ebook sales:
These features provide authors with a straightforward way to manage and grow their ebook sales.
Payhip’s pricing model is straightforward and designed with new authors in mind. The free plan charges a 5% fee on each sale, in addition to PayPal or Stripe processing fees.
For example, if you sell an ebook for $15:
This clear cost breakdown makes it easier for authors to understand their earnings.
"When I first started selling online, I had no idea where to start. Instead of having to set up multiple platforms, designing a sales page and setting up multiple payment integrations, Payhip has it all for you in one place. I was easily able to set up an ebook for sale in one day and start receiving revenue in my business right away."
This testimonial highlights how Payhip simplifies the process of selling ebooks, especially for those new to online sales.
"I started using Payhip to sell my digital sheet music a few years ago because the previous platform I was using was difficult for customers to use, and I had to spend a lot of time helping customers with their downloads. Since switching to Payhip I haven’t had this problem at all, as the download process is really intuitive."
This example shows how Payhip improves the customer experience while reducing the seller’s workload.
Payhip’s technical capabilities make it even more appealing for authors:
These technical features ensure that authors can focus on their content without worrying about platform limitations.
Gumroad is a straightforward platform that makes it easy for authors to sell ebooks directly to their audience. It gives authors control over pricing and distribution, so you can focus on creating content without unnecessary complications.
Gumroad provides a range of tools to help authors sell and distribute their ebooks:
Gumroad charges fees on a per-transaction basis, with no monthly subscription costs. Here’s how the fees break down:
Sales Channel | Transaction Fee | Processing Fee (US) |
---|---|---|
Direct Links | 10% + $0.50 | 3.49% + $0.49 |
Discover Platform | 30% | 3.49% + $0.49 |
For example, if you sell a $20 ebook through a direct link, you’ll take home about $16.31 after fees.
"Gumroad empowers creators. It handles payments, affiliates, discounts, etc., so that you can stick to what you know best."
– Steph Smith
"I love Gumroad because it can’t be any simpler. I upload a file, set a price, and I can start selling on the internet. Sales earnings deposit directly each Friday."
– Daniel Vassallo
Here are a couple of things to keep in mind:
Sellfy offers a solid platform specifically designed for selling ebooks. It’s an all-in-one e-commerce solution that provides secure hosting and automated delivery, making it a convenient choice for creators.
Sellfy comes with a range of tools, including:
Sellfy uses a subscription model with no additional platform fees (standard payment processing fees via PayPal or Stripe apply).
Plan | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | Payment Processing Fees |
---|---|---|---|
Starter | $29 | $264 | 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction |
Business | $79 | $708 | 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction |
Premium | $159 | $1,428 | 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction |
"Sellfy is an excellent and full-featured e-commerce platform. Their customer support is fast, exceptional and always friendly…Sellfy continues to take my business to the next level."
- Al Riesenbeck
"I think Sellfy does a really great job with making the purchasing process straightforward. The user experience is so effortless that it’s easy to get a high conversion rate."
- EfikZara, Composer & Content Creator
To get the most out of Sellfy:
When choosing a platform to sell ebooks, several factors come into play. Here’s a breakdown of the most important aspects:
Platform | Transaction Fees | Monthly Cost | Payment Processing |
---|---|---|---|
Crevio | 0% | $29 – $89 | Standard Stripe fees |
Amazon KDP | 35%-70% royalty | Free | Included |
Payhip | 0-5% | Free – $99 | 2.9% + $0.30 |
Gumroad | 2.9% + $0.30 | Free – $10 | Included |
Sellfy | 0% | $29 – $159 | 2.9% + $0.30 |
Features play a crucial role in helping authors achieve their goals. Here’s what each platform offers:
Analytics can make a big difference when evaluating platform performance:
Each platform offers different levels of support:
When selecting a platform, think about your priorities – pricing, features, or control – and choose the one that aligns with your ebook sales strategy.
After a thorough review, Crevio emerges as a strong option for authors who want full control over their ebook business and aim to boost their earnings. With no platform fees and pricing starting at $29 per month, it offers an affordable solution for dedicated authors.
Consider Crevio if: