Top Self-Publishing Firms of 2025 (Including Retailers and Aggregators)
In the world of self-publishing, authors have a variety of platforms to choose from to bring their books to the masses. One such platform is Barnes & Noble Press, the self-publishing arm of the well-known book retailer. This service allows authors to publish both ebooks and print books directly to Barnes & Noble's online store.
Self-publishing companies can be categorised into three main types: retailers, aggregators, and full-service companies. The key difference between retailers and aggregators lies in their approach to publishing and selling books. Retailers, such as Amazon Kindle Store, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble Press, Kobo, and others, let authors publish and sell their books directly on their platform, usually offering higher royalties. Aggregators, on the other hand, act as distributors that submit books to multiple retailers at once, expanding an author's reach but taking a small cut or charging fees in return. Examples of aggregators include Draft2Digital, PublishDrive, and StreetLib.
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is the dominant retailer in the ebook market, responsible for over 85% of ebook sales. It offers direct publishing with high royalties primarily for ebooks priced between $2.99 and $9.99. Aggregators like PublishDrive provide subscription-based services with worldwide distribution and allow authors to keep 100% of sales if subscribed, making them powerful for global reach and operational support.
Other prominent aggregators include Draft2Digital and StreetLib, which streamline distribution to multiple retailers from a single dashboard. Full-service companies, not detailed in the search results, offer additional support like editing, formatting, cover design, and marketing, suitable for authors wanting help beyond distribution.
Choosing between these options depends on how much control an author wants versus distribution breadth and how involved they want to be in publication and marketing. Retailers give more control and royalties, while aggregators offer convenience and wider reach but with some fees or cuts. Many authors use a combination approach to maximise reach and revenue.
Kobo is a major player in Canada and parts of Europe, with a strong presence in select Asian markets. IngramSpark, an aggregator, offers 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. Apple Books is a solid alternative to Amazon KDP, with direct access to millions of loyal Apple users.
BookBaby, a full-service/aggregator hybrid, offers editing, formatting, cover design, publishing, and marketing support, and distributes to both ebook and print platforms, including major retailers like Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble.
Self-publishing can be overwhelming due to the many moving parts involved. However, with a clear understanding of the different types of self-publishing companies, authors can make informed decisions to best suit their needs and goals.
References: 1. Self-Publishing Advice Center 2. The Write Life 3. PublishDrive
- An indie author might find value in platforms like BookBaby, which acts as both an aggregator and a full-service company, offering assistance with formatting, cover design, and marketing for ebooks and print books.
- Aggregators like PublishDrive and Draft2Digital, in addition to distributing to multiple retailers, can also offer ebook formatting services, helping indie authors to concentrate more on their creative work.
- While Barnes & Noble Press is a popular retailer for self-publishing, choosing a publisher like Rocket can provide full-service support, including editing, formatting, cover design, and marketing, in addition to direct publishing to Barnes & Noble and other retailers.
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