Distribution & Publishing

Apple Books vs Draft2Digital

Apple Books offers direct access to the Apple bookstore with a 70% royalty but no distribution to other retailers. Draft2Digital aggregates to multiple platforms including Apple, Amazon, and others, charging a 10% cut, and includes free formatting tools. Draft2Digital also provides print-on-demand via partnerships, while Apple Books focuses solely on ebooks and audiobooks. The choice hinges on whether you prioritize higher per-sale royalties or wider reach and additional services.

Pick Apple Books

Pick Apple Books if you want the highest royalty per sale (70%) and prefer direct control over your Apple channel without needing an aggregator.

Pick Draft2Digital

Pick Draft2Digital if you want broader distribution across multiple retailers and libraries, plus free formatting and print options, at the cost of a 10% service fee.

At a glance

Apple BooksDraft2Digital
PricingFree; 70%10% of retail
Pricing modelFreemiumPaid
Free optionYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb
Best forDistribution & PublishingDistribution & Publishing
AI featuresNoNo
Open sourceNoNo

Apple Books

authors.apple.com

Direct ebook/audiobook publishing to Apple.

Visit Apple Books

Draft2Digital

draft2digital.com

User-friendly ebook/print aggregator (acquired Smashwords); free formatting.

Visit Draft2Digital

See more options: Apple Books alternatives · Draft2Digital alternatives