8 Best Self Publishing Companies in 2025 (Retailers & Aggregators)

Why should you know which self-publishing companies are worth your time? Picture this:

You’re done. No more late nights or plot hole panic. The writing is finished. Now it’s time to publish (and maybe toast with a well-earned beverage).

Easy enough, right?

Not quite. Publishing (especially self-publishing) can be overwhelming. There are a lot of moving parts, and a single misstep can make for a rocky debut.

The good news? There are several reliable companies that can help give your book the strong start it deserves.

But before you can decide which one is right for you, it’s important to understand the key differences between retailers and aggregators, and what each type brings to the table.

Book Retailers vs Book Aggregators vs Full Service

Before we dive into the list of self-publishing companies, it’s helpful to understand the three main types: retailers, aggregators, and full-service companies.

Book retailers are platforms where you can publish and sell your book directly. You create an account, upload your files, and your book becomes available on that store. Examples include Amazon, Barnes & Noble Press, Apple Books, Kobo, and others.

Book aggregators act as distributors. Instead of uploading your book to multiple retailers one by one, you submit it to an aggregator, and they send it out to dozens of stores on your behalf. This saves time and streamlines the publishing process. Popular aggregators include Draft2Digital, PublishDrive, and StreetLib.

Full-service companies take a more hands-on approach. These offer editing, formatting, cover design, publishing, and sometimes marketing support, all in one place. They’re a better fit for authors who want help with the entire publishing process, not just distribution.

So, Should You Choose a Retailer or an Aggregator or Full Service?

It really comes down to how you plan to market your book and how much control you want over the process.

Retailers let you publish directly, which usually means you keep a higher royalty percentage. Aggregators simplify the process by distributing to multiple stores at once, potentially expanding your reach but taking a small cut in return.

As the graphic shows, Amazon dominates the market with more than 85% of ebook sales. Still, the remaining 15% shouldn’t be ignored. Readers do buy from Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo — and those sales can add up.

So how do I publish my own books? Which platforms and aggregators do I personally use? I’ll share that at the end of the article.

For now, let’s explore the best self-publishing companies available and break down what type of service each one offers.

The 8 Best Self Publishing Book Companies (in No Particular Order)

1. Kindle Direct Publishing (Retailer)

Owned by Amazon, KDP is the leading self-publishing platform in the world.

The number of sales generated through Amazon far exceeds all other retailers combined, thanks to its massive customer base and competitive royalty structure. KDP offers 35% or 70% royalties, depending on the price and region settings you choose.

KDP also runs an optional program called KDP Select. When you enroll in Select, you give Amazon exclusive digital rights to your book for 90 days. In return, you gain access to promotional tools like free days, countdown deals, and inclusion in Kindle Unlimited and the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library. In those programs, royalties are based on how many pages subscribers read. You can re-enroll in Select every 90 days, which many authors do if they’re seeing success with the platform.

When publishing with KDP, be sure to format your ebook using a file Amazon accepts. As of 2022, KDP fully supports EPUB files, along with DOCX and KPF (Kindle’s own format). If your manuscript is in another format, tools like Calibre can help with conversion.

KDP is the best way to reach the largest pool of readers, but that also means it’s a crowded marketplace. To stand out, you’ll need a strong launch plan, well-chosen categories and keywords, and effective ads. Tools like Publisher Rocket can help you optimize your listings and get the most out of your Amazon presence.

Extra Resources for Kindle Direct Publishing

• KDP Tools and Resources
• Digital Pricing and Royalty Rates
• Is KDP Select right for you?
• Pros and Cons of KDP Exclusivity

2. Apple Books (Retailer)

Apple Books is Apple’s dedicated ebook platform and a solid alternative to Amazon KDP. While it doesn’t match Amazon’s market share, it does have a strong advantage: direct access to millions of loyal Apple users.

That loyalty matters more than you might think. Apple users often stick within the ecosystem — reading on iPhones, iPads, and Macs using the Apple Books app. Many discover ebooks through the app and never feel the need to look elsewhere.

One catch: if you want to publish directly to Apple Books, you’ll need a Mac. The publishing interface is only available through Apple’s proprietary software. If you don’t have a Mac, you’ll need to go through a book aggregator like Draft2Digital or PublishDrive to make your title available there.

Apple accepts both EPUB and PDF files, though EPUB is the standard for reflowable ebook content and provides the best reading experience.

Royalty-wise, Apple offers a flat 70% (regardless of price) with no exclusivity requirements or tiered payouts.

If you’re looking to reach readers in the Apple ecosystem, especially outside the Amazon bubble, Apple Books is worth considering, either directly or through an aggregator.

Extra Resources for Apple Books

• How to publish your eBooks on Apple Books
• Best things to know about Apple’s iBook store

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3. Kobo (Retailer)

Kobo’s market share in the U.S. is small, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook it.

In Canada, Kobo is a major player. It’s estimated to account for around 25% of all Canadian ebook sales, making it a strong competitor to Amazon in that region. Headquartered in Toronto, Kobo has also expanded globally and now operates in dozens of countries through retail partnerships and its parent company, Rakuten.

If your goal is to reach readers beyond the U.S., Kobo can be a valuable piece of your distribution strategy. It’s especially strong in Canada, parts of Europe, and select Asian markets.

Kobo offers up to 70% royalties on ebooks priced above $2.99 and has no exclusivity requirement. You can publish directly through Kobo Writing Life, their self-publishing portal, which is free to use and includes access to promotional opportunities within the Kobo store.

For authors aiming to expand their international presence, Kobo is well worth considering.

Extra Resources for Kobo

• How to publish a book on Kobo
• Selling more books on Kobo with Joanna Penn and Mark Lefebvre
• How to Set the Price on your Kobo
• Kobo Tips and Tricks

4. Barnes & Noble Press (Retailer)

Formerly known as NOOK Press, Barnes & Noble Press is the self-publishing platform for the well-known book retailer. It lets you publish both ebooks and print books directly to Barnes & Noble’s online store — and in some cases, titles may even appear in physical store locations through promotional programs.

One useful feature of Barnes & Noble Press is its built-in print-on-demand service. That means you can offer paperback versions of your book without the need to order large quantities or store unsold inventory.

Royalty rates are competitive. For ebooks priced above $2.99, authors receive 65% of the list price. There's no exclusivity requirement, and the publishing process is straightforward.

If you're targeting readers who still buy from Barnes & Noble (or just want to diversify beyond Amazon), this is a solid platform to include in your strategy.

Extra Resources for Barnes & Noble Press (aka NOOK)

• Barnes and Noble Press Royalty Rates and Calculator
• Self-Publishing Services for Barnes and Noble Press
• Barnes and Noble Print on Demand Services
• Getting your Self-Published eBook Sold in Barnes and Noble as a Physical Copy

5. Draft2Digital (Aggregator)

Draft2Digital (D2D) is widely regarded as the top ebook aggregator for self-published authors. Since acquiring Smashwords in 2022, D2D has become a one-stop solution for distributing ebooks to nearly every major retailer and digital library, including Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and more.

What makes D2D stand out is how author-friendly the platform is. Beyond distribution, it offers a range of helpful features:

• Free ebook formatting tools
• Universal Book Links (a single link that points readers to multiple stores)
• Print-on-demand services
• Integration with Findaway Voices for audiobook distribution

Their formatting tools aren’t required, but they’re easy to use and save time, especially if you’re new to publishing. As for royalties, D2D takes a 10% commission based on the retail price of each sale, regardless of the store.

If you want broad distribution without the hassle of managing multiple retailer accounts, D2D is one of the best options available.

Extra Resources for Draft2Digital

• Draft2Digital vs Publish Drive

Aggregator Schmeggregator...which is best and why authors might need them for your books.Click To Tweet

6. BookBaby (Full Service / Aggregator Hybrid)

If there’s a company that comes close to offering everything in one place, it’s BookBaby.

BookBaby positions itself as a full-service self-publishing solution. They handle nearly every step of the process, from formatting and editing to distribution, cover design, and even promotional tools. Their goal is to simplify publishing for authors who want support at each stage.

They distribute to both ebook and print platforms, including major retailers like Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. Print-on-demand is included, and they also offer design services if you need help creating a professional-looking book.

One of BookBaby’s more helpful features is its pricing calculator, which lets you estimate costs upfront. They also offer bundled packages for authors who want everything handled in one place.

For authors who want a hands-on team and a streamlined process (and are willing to pay for convenience), BookBaby is worth exploring.

Extra Resources for BookBaby

• Quote and Pricing Calculator for BookBaby
• Deep Dive into BookBaby

7. PublishDrive (Aggregator)

Founded in 2015 by Kinga Jentetics, PublishDrive is a relatively new player in the self-publishing space but has quickly grown into a global platform. What began as a way to publish a thesis has expanded into a full-scale distribution network operating in more than 75 countries and supporting over 75 languages.

PublishDrive distributes to all major retailers, including Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble, along with many international stores and library systems.

What sets PublishDrive apart is its pricing model. While most aggregators take a cut of your royalties, PublishDrive offers an optional subscription model. With this plan, you keep 100% of your royalties and pay a flat monthly fee instead. At the time of writing, their Standard plan starts at $100 per month, making it a strong option for high-volume authors who want to maximize their earnings.

For newer authors, they also offer a royalty-share model where PublishDrive takes 10% of the book’s retail price, similar to other aggregators.

Whether you prefer flat-rate pricing or a more traditional revenue split, PublishDrive gives you the flexibility to choose the option that best fits your publishing goals.

Extra Resources for PublishDrive

• Global Publishing with Kinga Jentetics from Publish Drive
• Publish Drive FAQs

8. IngramSpark (Aggregator)

With over 15 years of experience in self-publishing and print-on-demand, IngramSpark is a heavyweight in the industry. It’s part of the Ingram Content Group, which boasts the largest book distribution network available to indie authors — reaching over 39,000 retailers, libraries, and institutions across 195 countries.

If you're aiming for wide reach, IngramSpark gives you tools to go far beyond Amazon and other major retailers.

One of IngramSpark’s standout strengths is its print quality. They offer a wide variety of trim sizes, binding options, and paper types, making it a popular choice for authors who want polished, professional-looking print editions. Whether you’re publishing a picture book, a novel, or something in full color, IngramSpark delivers consistently sharp results.

That quality comes at a price. IngramSpark isn’t the cheapest print-on-demand option, and they don’t try to be. But for authors who value presentation, it’s often worth the investment.

In terms of royalties, the math works a bit differently. IngramSpark uses a wholesale discount model. You set the list price and discount (typically 55% for full distribution). Your royalty is what’s left after subtracting the discount and print costs. If you reduce the discount (for example, to 40%), your royalty goes up, but your book may become less attractive to retailers.

IngramSpark also offers ebook distribution, though most authors use it primarily for print. If your priority is bookstore-quality print and global availability, it’s one of the strongest platforms out there.

Extra Resources for IngramSpark

• IngramSpark Print and Ship Calculator
• Why you need both KDP and IngramSpark

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Which of These Self-Publishing Companies Should You Use?

If you’re looking for a single, clear-cut winner, there isn’t one. Each platform has its own strengths and you don’t have to choose just one. In fact, many authors use a combination to get the best results.

For example, if you’re publishing for a U.S. audience, Amazon KDP is an obvious choice. It’s the largest book retailer in the world. And if you choose not to enroll in KDP Select, you can also distribute your ebook through Draft2Digital to reach additional stores.

Now let’s say your target audience is based in Canada or South Africa. In that case, Amazon might not be the most effective starting point. Kobo would likely get more traction in those regions. Pairing Kobo with an aggregator could expand your reach even further.

Or maybe this is your first book, and you’re not interested in managing the entire process yourself. If you’d prefer a more guided experience — with editing, design, and distribution handled for you — then a full-service provider like BookBaby might be the better fit.

It all depends on your goals, your audience, and how hands-on you want to be. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer and that’s actually a good thing.

Self-publishing doesn't mean you have to do it all alone...but you do need the services that are right for YOU. Click To Tweet

What Do I Personally Do?

I've made the most of my sales through Amazon, but I've had a significant amount of sales thanks to aggregators as well. Here is my current layout of the self publishing companies I use for my books:

I personally upload to the following retailers:

• Kindle Direct Publishing
• Barnes & Noble
• iTunes
• Kobo

Then for the rest of the retailers (there's over 40 others) I use the following aggregator:

• Draft2Digital

Why D2D? Well, I spell that out here. However, I've been in contact with PublishDrive and I'm REALLY impressed with what I've heard.

Choosing one of the best self publishing companies is not about selecting the company with the biggest reach for the most niche sales. It is about finding out what is best for your book and your situation.