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Choosing BookBaby vs. Selfpublishing.com: The Best Choice for Your Self-Publishing Journey

Which publishing company should you choose for your next project?

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Which self-publishing company is better: BookBaby or Selfpublishing.com?

It’s a tough question when you’re an author who is choosing a self-publishing company for the first time. Selfpublishing.com reviews show that the company specializes in self-publishing workshops and one-on-one coaching. While these are useful assets to have access to, they don’t actually provide the most important part: book production and printing.

That’s where BookBaby comes in. Publishing with us is easy, and everything you need is right here. BookBaby offers all of the essential services that an author needs to successfully self-publish on many scales, including high-quality book printing, industry-leading distribution, eBook conversion, audiobook production, cover design, book formatting, and more. We frequently get asked which company — BookBaby or Selfpublishing.com — is best for independent authors. If you’re an aspiring author who takes self-publishing seriously, then take a look at how BookBaby differs from Selfpublishing.com and decide for yourself.

Professional editing you can trust

When it comes to editing your manuscript, there are hundreds—dare we say, thousands—of freelancers out there who would do a great job. However, many of these freelancers’ market through sites like Upwork and Fiverr. The problem with this is that these sites don’t exactly monitor the work these folks are producing. So, you might be taking a gamble on the quality and efficiency of your edited work.

It's often best to go right to a self-publishing company when you need top-tier editing. However, Selfpublishing.com doesn’t offer any editing services, leaving their authors to fend for themselves. That means real authors may end up publishing books with typographical and grammatical errors.

BookBaby, on the other hand, works with an exclusive network of trusted editors from around the world. The comprehensive book editing services at BookBaby include proofreading, copy editing, and line editing. BookBaby’s premier editors have worked with authors in every genre, including memoirs and New York Times Bestsellers, so you can be sure that your work is being reviewed with the right lens. Our vetted, seasoned, professional editors will never let you down.

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 author goals. That’s why BookBaby offers a returns program to booksellers, making it possible for our authors’ books to find their way into hundreds of retail stores worldwide.

Selfpublishing.com doesn’t offer this program, nor do Lulu or Blurb. Plus, when we distribute your book, we allow for it to be sold in the world’s biggest bookstores through our print-on-demand service, giving authors a clear next step toward success.

Make an impact through book distribution

It's time to start selling! Where you book will actually sell. Your book doesn't need to be "everywhere." It needs to be where readers actually buy.

With BookBaby, that means three powerful channels working together:

  • Amazon for print — Where the majority of printed books are discovered and purchased
  • Wide ebook distribution — Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Vearsa, and more
  • BookBaby Bookshop — Your own direct-to-reader store where you keep the most money

Amazon gives you reach for print:

  • eBook retailers give you global digital access
  • BookBaby Bookshop gives you ownership, customer data, and higher margins
  • You're not chasing every store — you're focused on the ones that actually move indie books

Learn more about Print On Demand

Earn more money in the world’s most author-friendly bookstore

We have negotiated the best eBook royalty rates for authors selling through websites like Amazon, where the bulk of self-published author income comes from. Selfpublishing.com doesn’t actually provide tools to make money through self-publishing—they lack the environment where authors can manage their own storefronts.

With the BookBaby Bookshop, authors can set their own prices, track sales data, and earn higher royalties. In addition to earning high royalty payments through eBook sales, BookBaby authors earn 75% royalty rates by selling audiobooks through the BookBaby Bookshop. Our AI-narrated audiobook creation process is both affordable and easy. This unique author advantage ensures you maximize your earnings, unlike with Selfpublishing.com.

Your book can be read anytime, anywhere

Your book can be read anytime, anywhere

Selfpublishing.com doesn’t provide opportunities for audiobook production, but BookBaby makes it easy to turn your book into an audiobook.

Offering over 60 different voices in 75 languages, BookBaby helps authors reach a global audience.

Traditional publishing industry methods require human narrators, which are expensive and slow. Our AI-powered audiobooks let authors produce professional narrations quickly, retaining full creative control over their manuscript. This makes BookBaby the clear choice for authors looking to make their book accessible anywhere.

Any book can easily become an audiobook. With just a few clicks, indie authors can upload their digital manuscript and select a voice in one of the 75 languages offered by BookBaby. You'll receive audio files to review and approve within just a few days. Plus, you retain creative control through every step of the process.

Let’s take a look at a side-by-side comparison:

Service BookBaby Selfpublishing.com
Cover design Yes Yes
Advertising services Yes Yes
Book formatting Yes Yes
Editing services Yes No
Book printing Yes No
eBook creation Yes No
Audiobook creation Yes No
Book distribution Yes No
Personalized sales page Yes Yes
One-on-one help from a publishing expert Free consultation Available for a fee

Helpful and friendly customer support

Self-publishing doesn’t mean you’re on your own. Selfpublishing.com lacks dedicated support, but BookBaby provides a team of U.S.-based customer service specialists who guide you through the publishing process, from start to finish. 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) and email. Our experts are available Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

BookBaby reviews reflect the success and satisfaction of real authors. Common themes include praise for our knowledgeable Publishing Specialists, quality products, and quick turnaround. Selfpublishing.com reviews focus mostly on workshops, not results.

If you're not thrilled with our work—whether it's book production, cover design, or audiobook production—we'll work with you until you are. That's the BookBaby promise and part of our author advantage accelerator, giving authors the confidence to complete their first book and beyond.

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