Self-publish and print-on-demand with no hidden fees or minimum orders.

Comparing Lulu Press & BookBaby

Comparing Lulu Press
& Bookbaby

BookBaby is a hybrid or assisted publishing service. Authors pay them a flat rate to publish and print, with added costs to use their distribution services. A single printed book with no editing or design costs nearly ten times as much as using Lulu would.

If you need editing, cover design, or interior layout, BookBaby offers those services as well as their bookstore to sell your book. Adding services and design work quickly leads to increased costs.

Print Book Distribution

Distribution

Yes
Yes

Royalties for Print Books in Distribution

Fixed revenue set by author
(varies by retailer)

Fixed revenue set by author
(varies by retailer)

Royalties: Print

80% of profits

10% - 30% royalties

Unit Price:
 6 x 9 in, B&W, 100 pages

$2.45

$39 for a single book, $1,899 for complete self-publishing package

Unit Price:
 6 x 9 in, Color, 100 pages

$5.75

$39 for a single book, $1,899 for complete self-publishing package

Lulu

Bookbaby

Lulu

Yes

Bookbaby

Yes

Distribution

Royalties for Print Books in Distribution

Lulu

Lulu

Fixed revenue set by author (varies by retailer)

Bookbaby

Fixed revenue set by author (varies by retailer)

Royalties: Print

80% of profits

Lulu

Bookbaby

10% - 30% royalties

Unit Price:
 6 x 9 in, B&W, 100 pages

Lulu

$2.45

Bookbaby

$39 for a single book, $1,899 for complete self-publishing package

Unit Price:
 6 x 9 in, Color, 100 pages

Lulu

$5.75

Bookbaby

$39 for a single book, $1,899 for complete self-publishing package

Book Selling Options

Retail site

Yes
Yes

Ecommerce Plugins

Yes
No

Volume Discounts

Yes
Yes

API Printing/Direct Sales

Yes
No

Lulu

Bookbaby

Lulu

Yes

Bookbaby

Yes

Retail Site

Ecommerce Plugins

Lulu

Yes

Bookbaby

No

Volume Discounts

Lulu

Yes

Bookbaby

Yes

API Printing/Direct Sales

Lulu

Yes

Bookbaby

No

Publishing on Lulu is completely free! Buy the print-on-demand books you need, when you need them with Lulu.

Discover
Self-Publishing
With Lulu

Discover Self-Publishing With Lulu

Book Printing Options

Black & White / Color

Yes
Yes

Paperback

Yes
Yes

Hardcover

Yes
Yes

Calendar

Yes
No

Photo Book

Yes
Yes

Lulu

Bookbaby

Cover Builder

Yes

Paid Service

Coil Bound
Yes
No

Lulu

Yes

Bookbaby

Yes

Black & White / Color

Paperback

Lulu

Yes

Bookbaby

Yes

Hardcover

Lulu

Yes

Bookbaby

Yes
Lulu
Yes

Bookbaby

No

Coil Bound

Calendar

Lulu

Yes

Bookbaby

No

Photo Book

Lulu

Yes

Bookbaby

Yes

Cover Builder

Lulu

Yes

Bookbaby

Paid Service

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