Blurb vs Lulu / Lulu Direct
Blurb focuses on high-quality photo and visual books with per-unit pricing, making it ideal for authors prioritizing print quality. Lulu offers print-on-demand plus direct selling via Shopify/API integration, allowing authors to keep 100% profit after paying per print. Blurb is better for photo-centric projects, while Lulu provides more flexibility for authors who want to sell directly to customers. Pricing structures differ: Blurb uses a straightforward per-unit cost, whereas Lulu charges per print but has no upfront connection fee.
Pick Blurb
Pick Blurb if you need exceptional photo and art reproduction quality for visual-heavy books like photography portfolios or art books.
Pick Lulu / Lulu Direct
Pick Lulu / Lulu Direct if you want to sell directly through your own Shopify store or custom integration and keep all profits beyond printing costs.
At a glance
| Blurb | Lulu / Lulu Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Per-unit | Free to connect; pay per print |
| Pricing model | Paid | Freemium |
| Free option | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Best for | Print-on-Demand & Merch | Print-on-Demand & Merch |
| AI features | No | No |
| Open source | No | No |
Lulu / Lulu Direct
lulu.com
POD + Shopify/API integration to sell direct (keep 100% profit).
Visit Lulu / Lulu Direct ↗See more options: Blurb alternatives · Lulu / Lulu Direct alternatives