Self-publishing with BookBaby vs. Blurb

Your words, your way.

Blurb is a niche self-publisher specializing in full-color photo books. While they focus on premium photo books, their expertise in general book layout and text placement is limited compared to BookBaby. BookBaby does print full-color photo books, trade books, notebooks, and magazines, but we also provide comprehensive services including eBook conversion, interior formatting, and quality book printing. Thousands of BookBaby reviews highlight the satisfaction of authors who’ve successfully published their first books with us.

Comprehensive Publishing Services All in One Place

Blurb offers a free design tool, but they don’t have an in-house design team. With BookBaby, you get access to professional designers, cover artists, and page layout experts. Our team ensures your book quality is professional and polished. When comparing BookBaby vs. Blurb, the all-in-one range of publishing services is a major advantage for authors.

More control, higher payouts for authors

Blurb's partners only pays 45-70% of printed book sales and 40% for eBooks.

BookBaby offers Bookshop, a free online storefront for authors to sell both eBooks and printed books via Print On Demand. You earn up to 85% on eBook sales, and printed books can earn up to 3X more than competing retailers. Authors retain total control over their bookstore, orders, and sales process.

Are you SURE you changed that typo?

Blurb’s partner uses a fully automated system that directly uploads your files to their printing press. Sounds cool, right? But what if there are errors that need to be addressed before going to print? That can lead to printed books with errors, forcing you to pay double what you expected when you have to re-run them.

All BookBaby book designers are experienced in prepress, printing, and book quality. They get it right the first time, personally inspecting each and every one of your files to make sure they meet the technical requirements for premium paper books and error-free book printing. Your book will not only look polished and professional, but it will also be absolutely perfect and free from unexpected errors.

BookBaby authors are eligible for brick-and-mortar retail shelf placement

Here’s a cold, hard publishing fact: Bookstore owners won’t take the risk of stocking self-published books if they go unsold. At BookBaby, we look out for the indie author and their unique needs. That’s why BookBaby offers a Print On Demand returns program to booksellers, making it possible for our authors’ books to find their way into hundreds of retail stores worldwide.

Blurb doesn’t offer this program. Neither does Lulu or CreateSpace for that matter. Plus, when we distribute your book, we allow for it to be sold in the world’s biggest bookstores and on Amazon through our print-on-demand print-on-demand service.

Helpful and friendly customer support

Being an independent author doesn't mean you have to do everything on your own. Some Blurb reviews reflect upon a poor customer support experience. In contrast, BookBaby's customer support team is dedicated to answering your questions and helping you with any challenges along the way. Based right here in the U.S.A., our Self-publishing Specialists are standing by to answer any and all of your questions by phone (1-877-961-6878), emails, and live chats, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.