Top 10 Print-on-Demand Book Services for Self-Publishing

You don’t need a publishing contract or professional writing experience to become an author. Whether you have an existing readership or are making your debut, print-on-demand books are a practical way to self-publish your work quickly and affordably. 

This guide covers 10 popular on-demand book services. You’ll learn about their production times, publishing options, and additional services to help you choose the right one for your needs.

Why choose print-on-demand book publishing?

Print on demand works well for both new and experienced writers because it’s straightforward to use. With your manuscript and some basic design software skills, you can produce professional paperbacks or beautiful hardcover editions.

The main advantage of print on demand is avoiding large inventory investments that often come with self-publishing. Rather than buying boxes of books and hoping they sell, books are printed only when orders come in and ship directly to the customer’s door.

If you already have an audience, you can use print on demand to sell books online, directly to your followers on Instagram, or through your email list.

Learn more: What Is Print on Demand and How To Start a Business

Top 10 print-on-demand services compared

Explore the following print-on-demand publishing services to find the best option for creating your own books, magazines, or pamphlets.

This list was curated with insights from content writer Braveen Kumar. 

1. Lulu Direct
2. BookBaby
3. IngramSpark
4. Blurb
5. Acutrack
6. Kindle Direct Publishing
7. Barnes & Noble Press
8. Contrado
9. Gelato
10. Printify

Lulu Direct

• Production time: 3–5 days
• Minimum order: None
• Available formats: Hardcovers, paperbacks, comic books, magazines, ebooks

Lulu Direct specializes in print-on-demand self-publishing. You can print and sell books in your own store and keep all the revenue.

The service offers multiple book formats, including hardcover and paperback, black-and-white and color prints, and various paper types. Binding options include perfect bound, coil, saddle stitch, hardcover case wrap, and hardcover linen with dust jacket.

Braveen chose Lulu Direct to self-publish his poetry for its high profit margins. His book cost $3 to print and $6 to $9 to ship, selling for $20.

Lulu Direct also let Braveen sell through his Shopify store, supporting his goal of building a brand and selling other products. By connecting his store to Instagram, he could tag his book in posts and give customers the option to buy while browsing social media.

BookBaby

• Production time: 3–5 days for orders under 500 books
• Minimum order: 25 books
• Available formats: Perfect bound, paperback, hardback, ebooks, audiobooks

BookBaby offers black-and-white and full-color printing for both paperback and hardcover books, plus digital publication options. It also produces audiobooks using AI voices, with 60 narrators and 96 languages and dialects available.

You can publish your print-on-demand book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and various wholesale distributors. BookBaby also provides editing services, including line editing, proofreading, and synopsis writing.

IngramSpark

• Production time: Custom quote required
• Minimum order: None
• Available formats: Paperback, hardcover (with dust jacket), ebooks

IngramSpark offers many options for self-publishing a book. You can specify book size, paper type, finish (matte versus glossy), paper color, paper weight, and cover. It even offers a special textured hardcover cloth.

IngramSpark’s standout feature is its distribution network. It connects with more than 40,000 independent bookstores, chain stores, and libraries to help get your titles in front of readers.

While most users are satisfied with the paper quality of books printed by IngramSpark, some reviewers note that costs can be higher compared to other services.

Blurb

• Production time: 4–5 business days for printing and binding
• Minimum order: None
• Available formats: Trade books, magazines, notebooks, photo books, ebooks

Blurb provides a dedicated print-on-demand service. It offers a wide selection of paper types and its own design software to help you lay out your product to meet bookseller standards.

If you plan to sell your book to the mass market, you might benefit from Blurb’s integrated bookstore and network of thousands of retailers. Retailers can order and stock your books directly through Blurb.

Blurb integrates with Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, and InDesign, making it easier to format and submit your designs. While there’s no dedicated Shopify app, you can direct customers from your Shopify store to Blurb to place an order.

Acutrack

• Production time: Most orders ship within one business day (books are pre-produced and warehoused)
• Minimum order: 50 books
• Available formats: Paperback, hardcover, spiral bound, journals, coloring books

Acutrack is a book printing and fulfillment service that prints and stores your books for immediate fulfillment. It offers various book types and sizes, accommodating everything from coffee-table books to children's books.

With a dedicated Shopify app and integration with more than 100 ecommerce platforms, Acutrack provides real-time shipping and tracking information. Online reviews highlight its responsive customer support and rapid fulfillment times.

Kindle Direct Publishing

• Production time: 1–3 days
• Minimum order: None
• Available formats: Paperback, hardcover, ebook, ebook series

If you plan to sell primarily through Amazon, you can use their service to print and ship your titles. Kindle Direct Publishing provides digital and print publishing with direct access to Amazon’s Kindle store.

Listing products is free, with a commission charged on each sale. While the service doesn’t support magazines, periodicals, or spiral-bound notebooks, you can convert your existing books into Amazon ebooks or paperbacks for additional visibility.

Barnes & Noble Press

• Production time: 5–10 business days, depending on book type
• Minimum order: None
• Available formats: Paperback, hardcover (with dust jacket)

Barnes & Noble Press lets you create, publish, and track sales in various formats. Your book becomes available to readers on BN.com and through NOOK devices.

The platform works well for different publishing needs, from single books to full print-on-demand paperback runs.

Contrado

• Production time: 1–3 business days
• Minimum order: None
• Available formats: Scrapbooks, portfolios, notebooks, guest books, photo albums

Contrado’s Shopify app offers more than 470 print-on-demand products, including paper and stationery items.

Though it doesn’t print traditional hardcover books, you can create notebooks, address books, and photo books with your own design. The platform also supports selling your artwork.

Orders ship domestically and internationally within three to five business days, with rates varying by location. Students can also access special discounts.

Gelato

• Production time: 3-4 days
• Minimum order: None
• Available formats: Photo books, notebooks

Gelato partners with over 50 manufacturers across more than 70 global locations. The service offers fast, flat-rate shipping with discounts for multiple items per order.

While traditional book printing isn’t available, you can create photo books, notebooks, and calendars. Gelato also produces print-on-demand shirts, apparel, mugs, and other branded merchandise, helping you build a broader product line for your readers.

Printify

• Production time: 2– 7 business days
• Minimum order: None
• Available formats: Notebooks, custom journals

Printify’s Shopify app specializes in print-on-demand notebooks and journals. Its broad product catalog and established fulfillment network support growing brands. The platform syncs with your Shopify store to provide real-time sales and order data.

Benefits of print on demand

Easy to start

Print-on-demand services use a just-in-time approach to manufacturing. Most providers print books only when orders come in. This removes the risk and cost of buying books upfront before knowing how many will sell.

Automated fulfillment

Print-on-demand services handle the entire order fulfillment process—receiving orders, packaging books, and organizing delivery. This saves you time and money, especially when you're just starting out.

Retail access

Services like Blurb and IngramSpark work directly with wholesalers and booksellers, making it easier to get your books into retail stores. These connections help you reach more readers through traditional retail channels.

Cost-effective pricing

Print-on-demand works well for small print runs, whether for your local community or a specific purpose. Most services offer competitive rates and quality control options like ordering proofs, copyediting, and proofreading.

Flexibility to adapt

You can update your book design quickly based on reader feedback, from changing covers to adjusting page layouts. Start with a small run and increase production as your readership grows.

How to choose a print-on-demand service

If you can’t decide between print-on-demand book publishers, here’s a quick guide to choosing the right one. 

1. Review their processes

You want your books to arrive with readers quickly, so look for services that can print and deliver efficiently. Pay attention to their packing and shipping times, and whether they have partnerships with shipping companies. If you’re thinking global, make sure the service can handle international orders at reasonable rates.

These other aspects of the self publishing process might be worth looking into as well: 

• What binding and cover options does the service offer? 
• Do they provide proofs or samples before you commit to larger print runs? 
• Read the fine print about exclusivity—can you distribute your book through multiple channels at once? 

2. Check how much they cost

Print-on-demand services often have different payment policies. Some are free upfront but take a cut of your sales, while others might ask for money upfront but let you keep more later. Think about your budget and what works best for your wallet in the long run. 

3. Determine if they can grow with you

All authors hope their books will take off, but you need a print-on-demand service that can keep up with sales. Look for services that give you real-time sales information so you can track peaks and troughs in your bottom line. 

It’s also good to think beyond print. If you’re considering other print-on-demand products like ebooks or audiobooks, it might be worth choosing a service that offers these too. 

4. Check their reputation and connections 

If you want to sell your book in bookstores, pick a service with strong retailer networks. See what other self published authors are saying—read reviews, testimonials, and case studies to understand the service quality and customer satisfaction. 

Print on demand vs. traditional publishing

Skip the gatekeepers

With print on demand, there’s no publishing house controlling what makes it to print. While this gives you creative freedom, it means your work won’t be reviewed by professional editors. 

You can hire a freelance editor or use editing services from providers like BookBaby to maintain quality.

Control your pricing

Self-publishing lets you set your own prices. While print-on-demand services may take a commission, you choose the retail price and your profit margin.

If you sell through your own online store, you control your customer pricing. When selling to retailers, you’ll need to offer wholesale discounts (typically 40% to 60%) so bookstores can make their standard markup.

Choose your sales channels

Print on demand gives you freedom over distribution. Instead of a publisher deciding where to sell your book, you can sell directly to readers through your online store or work with retailers and wholesalers. Many print-on-demand services have distribution networks to help reach more readers.

Marketing strategies for print-on-demand books

Marketing matters just as much as your book’s content when you self-publish. Without a traditional publisher’s support, you’re responsible for reaching readers. Here are key strategies to get you started.

Building your author platform

Your author platform is your marketing foundation—where readers learn about you and your books. You don’t need advanced tech skills to build an effective platform. Here’s what you need:

• Website: A simple, clean website with key information about your books and yourself. Include an About page to introduce yourself, a blog to share updates or behind-the-scenes content, and most importantly, a way for readers to buy your book directly or through retailer links.
• Email list: Attract visitors to your email list by offering something valuable, like a free chapter or a helpful resource related to your book’s topic. 
• Author branding: Define what makes you unique as an author. Whether it’s your writing style, your expertise in a genre, or your personal story, keep it consistent across your platform. 

Utilizing social media for promotion

Social media helps authors connect with readers directly while reaching potential buyers. Choose platforms based on your audience—are they on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook? Many authors have had success on TikTok lately, making it worth exploring if you want to reach younger readers. 

Here’s how to make the most of your chosen platform: 

• Be authentic and consistent: Share more than just book promotions. Post about your personality, writing process, or book inspiration. Show up regularly to build audience expectations.
• Engage with your audience: Reply to comments, ask questions, and join conversations within your genre. More interaction helps readers feel connected to you, making them more likely to support your work.
• Promotional campaigns: Run targeted ads or host giveaways to reach more readers. Even a small budget for Facebook or Instagram ads can help find people interested in your book.

Share your words with the world

You don’t need a traditional publisher to reach readers. Print-on-demand books offer a cost-effective way to share your writing and build a profitable business. With a Shopify store, you get tools and apps to help you sell books and grow your audience.

Connect print-on-demand services like Lulu Direct to your store to print and ship books automatically when orders come in. Handle everything from one dashboard and offer multiple formats—paperback, hardcover, or digital.