Quick answer
For print on demand books, Amazon KDP has the lowest print cost in our example, $3.40 a copy, against $4.17 at IngramSpark, $6.99 at Lulu and $13.03 at Blurb. KDP paperbacks sell mainly on Amazon, while IngramSpark and Lulu also list your book with Ingram, which bookstores order from. To publish the same paperback on KDP and elsewhere, use your own ISBN, because a free KDP ISBN can only be used on KDP.
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. It is pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai, so it is not in the list or the cost example. See where Nation fits.
How we compared
Every service was checked against the same five questions, using only its own pricing pages, calculators and help pages.
- Print cost per copy What one copy of the same sample paperback costs to print. It sets your minimum price and the price of author copies.
- Setup and revision fees One-time fees to publish, distribute or change files. Paid publishing packages are flagged.
- Your share of a sale Royalty rules, wholesale discounts and the platform's cut, read from each royalty page.
- Distribution Whether the book reaches Amazon only, or also bookstores and libraries through Ingram.
- ISBN rules Whether a free ISBN is offered, and whether it can be used anywhere else.
Self-publishing companies at a glance
Print costs come from each service's own calculator or price list for the same sample book. Barnes & Noble Press and BookBaby are covered in the text and FAQs but not in the chart: we found no print cost for the sample book on B&N Press's public pages, and BookBaby sells publishing packages and pays a share of the retail price instead of quoting a print cost per copy.
What one copy of the sample book costs to print
Print on demand services do not charge a fee on each sale in the usual sense. They charge the printing cost, then the store keeps its share of the list price. Example: a 6 x 9 inch black-and-white paperback with 200 pages and a $15 list price. The chart shows each service's own quote to print one copy.
- Amazon KDP Print baseline $3.40 no setup fee Printing cost, KDP calculator $3.40
- IngramSpark $4.17 no setup fee Print cost per book, small orders $4.17
- Lulu $6.99 distribution fee a one-time fee of $4.99 (4.99 USD), plus buying and approving a proof copy Print cost, Lulu calculator $6.99
- Blurb $13.03 no setup fee Price per copy, Blurb calculator $13.03
Assumes a 6 x 9 inch paperback, black-and-white interior on white paper, 200 pages, one copy, US marketplace, before shipping and tax. KDP, Lulu and Blurb figures come from their calculators on 3 Oct 2026. IngramSpark's figure is its print cost for small orders under its print discounts. Blurb's price is its catalog price per copy for the Classic 6x9 Standard B&W paperback: US $5.99 plus US $0.04 per page.
Each print on demand service in detail
Every service gets the same lines: price, your share of a sale, what it is strong at, who it is best for and its main limit. Barnes & Noble Press and BookBaby are covered in the FAQs, for the reasons given under the chart.
Amazon's own self-publishing service. There are no upfront printing costs and no inventory, and paperbacks are listed on Amazon.
- Price
- No setup fee. Ordering a proof is optional: Ordering a proof is not mandatory. Author copies cost the print cost for your book multiplied by the number of copies ordered, plus shipping.
- Fees per sale
- Royalty is (royalty rate x list price) minus printing costs, with a rate of 50% at list prices up to 9.98 USD, 60% from 9.99 USD on Amazon.com. The sample book at $15 earns an estimated $5.60. Expanded Distribution pays 40% of the list price, minus printing costs.
- Strong at
- The lowest print cost in this example and direct access to Amazon's book buyers.
- Best for
- Authors who expect most sales on Amazon.
- Limit
- A free KDP ISBN can only be used on KDP. Expanded Distribution doesn't guarantee it will be accepted by distributors or ordered by a particular bookseller or library, and Hardcover books are not eligible.
Ingram's self-publishing service. With wholesale distribution turned on, your book is offered to bookstores, libraries, online retailers in Ingram's network.
- Price
- FREE to sign up and upload. There is no cost to set up a new book, and before you approve the eproof at no cost.
- Fees per sale
- You set a wholesale discount between 40% and 55% for the US and Canada; your share is the list price minus that discount and the print cost. IngramSpark says 53% to 55% with returnable status gives the widest availability.
- Strong at
- Reach into bookstores and libraries as well as online retailers.
- Best for
- Authors who want bookstores, libraries and other retailers to be able to order the book.
- Limit
- A higher wholesale discount and accepting returns cut your share of each sale. A free ISBN is free ISBN; an owned one is $85.
A print on demand service with its own bookstore, retail distribution and a way to sell from your own website.
- Price
- No fees or charges to make and sell your book in the Lulu Bookstore. Retail distribution needs a one-time fee of $4.99 (4.99 USD), plus buying and approving a proof copy.
- Fees per sale
- You earn 80% on every sale after printing costs; Lulu keeps 20%. Selling through Lulu Direct from your own store, you keep 100% of your revenue and pay Lulu for printing and shipping.
- Strong at
- One account for Amazon, Ingram and direct sales from your own store.
- Best for
- Authors who want retail distribution and also want to sell copies from their own website.
- Limit
- The highest print cost of the three retail services in this example, and Global Distribution takes at least 12 weeks to go live.
A book-making service whose formats include photo books, magazines and paperbacks, sold in its own bookstore.
- Price
- No setup fee and no listing fees. The Classic 6x9 Standard B&W paperback starts at US $5.99, plus US $0.04 per page.
- Fees per sale
- In the Blurb Bookstore, No fees, no commission: your list price is cost to print your book with Blurb plus your desired profit. On Amazon, Blurb lists $1.35 per book + 15% of your list price.
- Strong at
- Photo books, magazines and other image-heavy formats.
- Best for
- Photographers and authors of image-heavy books who sell to their own audience.
- Limit
- At $13.03 a copy, the sample text paperback costs several times KDP's $3.40, which pushes the list price up.
Which one fits you
You expect most sales on Amazon and want the lowest print cost.
Amazon KDP
The sample book costs $3.40 to print and earns an estimated $5.60 at $15.
You want bookstores and libraries to be able to order the book.
IngramSpark
Wholesale distribution offers the book to bookstores, libraries, online retailers; you set a wholesale discount between 40% and 55%.
You want Amazon, Ingram and sales from your own website in one account.
Lulu
Global Distribution covers Amazon and other online retailers, plus an Ingram listing that bookstores can order from, and Lulu Direct lets you keep 100% of your revenue.
Your book is mostly photos or images.
Blurb
It is built for image-heavy formats and charges no listing fees in its bookstore.
You mainly want to sell through Barnes & Noble's website.
Barnes & Noble Press
It is no cost and pays 55% of the List Price, minus the per book printing cost.
You want one company to handle printing, a storefront and fulfillment, and will pay upfront.
BookBaby
Packages cost $199 or $399; its Bookshop pays 50% of retail price.
Where Nation fits
Nation
Category: an AI store builder
Nation says one description of what you make builds the store, then agents handle orders, customers and delivery and run ads, content and social posts, with you approving the work. Nation does not print books, and its pricing is not announced yet, so it is not compared here.
Limits today
- Status: pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai.
- Pricing and fees: not announced yet.
- Shopper marketplace: no shopper marketplace has been announced.
- Track record: no independent reviews or public stores yet.
Nation publishes this page. Nation is not ranked here and is not part of the print cost example.
Describe what you makeDisclosure and method
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. Nation does not print books, is not ranked here and is not in the print cost example.
The list covers six print on demand and self-publishing services a US author can use for paperbacks. No service paid to be included, and none of the links are affiliate links.
Every price was read on the service's own pricing page, calculator or help page on 3 Oct 2026. Each service's section names its source, and the full list is below.
Questions about print on demand books and self-publishing companies
What is the best print on demand service for books?
The best print on demand service for books depends on where your readers buy. Amazon KDP prints our sample paperback for $3.40 and sells it on Amazon. IngramSpark, at $4.17, offers the book to bookstores, libraries, online retailers. Lulu, at $6.99, adds sales from your own website. With your own ISBN you can use KDP for Amazon and IngramSpark or Lulu for other retailers.
IngramSpark vs KDP: which should I use?
IngramSpark vs KDP comes down to reach against cost. KDP prints the sample book for $3.40 and pays 50% or 60% of list price minus printing on Amazon. IngramSpark charges $4.17 and offers the book to bookstores, libraries, online retailers, but you give a wholesale discount between 40% and 55%. To use both, supply your own ISBN, because a free KDP ISBN can only be used on KDP.
Lulu vs IngramSpark: what is the difference?
Lulu vs IngramSpark: both reach bookstores through Ingram, but they price differently. IngramSpark prints the sample book for $4.17 and lets you set the wholesale discount. Lulu charges $6.99, a one-time fee of $4.99 (4.99 USD), plus buying and approving a proof copy for retail distribution, and keeps 20% of your revenue. Lulu also has its own bookstore and lets you sell from your own website.
Lulu vs KDP: which costs less?
Lulu vs KDP on cost: KDP prints the sample paperback for $3.40 against Lulu's $6.99, with no setup fee. Lulu charges a one-time fee of $4.99 (4.99 USD), plus buying and approving a proof copy for retail distribution but reaches Amazon, Ingram and your own website from one account. A free KDP ISBN can only be used on KDP; Lulu's free ISBN covers its retail distribution.
Do self-publishing companies charge upfront fees?
Four of the six self-publishing companies on this page charge no upfront fee. KDP has no upfront printing costs and no inventory, IngramSpark has no cost for a new book, and B&N Press is no cost. The exceptions are Lulu's a one-time fee of $4.99 (4.99 USD), plus buying and approving a proof copy for retail distribution and BookBaby's paid packages of $199 or $399.
Is Barnes & Noble Press good for print books?
Barnes & Noble Press is no cost and pays 55% of the List Price, minus the per book printing cost. Since April 2026, print books must be listed at $14.99 or more. B&N Press offers a free ISBN and prices author copies slightly above printing costs. We found no print cost for the sample book on its public pages, so it is not in the chart.
How does BookBaby print on demand work?
BookBaby print on demand is a paid package: $199 for its own Bookshop, or $399 to add Amazon. The Bookshop pays 50% of the retail price, for example $7.50 on a $14.99 retail price, while Amazon sales pay 10-15% after retail. These two packages cover the BookBaby Bookshop and Amazon only.
Can I sell print on demand books from my own store?
You can sell print on demand books from your own store with some services. Lulu Direct lets you keep 100% of your revenue, and Blurb's bookstore takes No fees, no commission. On KDP, author copies cost the print cost for your book multiplied by the number of copies ordered, plus shipping, so you can buy stock at print cost and sell it yourself at events or online.