Question 1

Are there any hidden fees or upfront costs?

Accepted Answer

We do not charge a listing, publishing or setup fee. For eBooks, your earnings are calculated directly from the sale price. For example, if your eBook sells for $9.99 on the Free plan ( 80% rate), you earn $7.99. For paperback and hardcover we deduct the print cost from the sale price first, then your plan rate applies to what is left. Your exact print cost is shown before you set your price. For example, if your paperback sells for $12.99 and the print cost is $7.55, your earnings on the Free plan are 80% of $5.44, which is $4.35. Extra ISBNs are charged at the price shown before you confirm. When you withdraw through Stripe, it deducts 1% of the amount. We do not charge a withdrawal fee, and there is no minimum payout. See how payouts work. Some platforms charge hundreds upfront per book or make you pay the print cost directly. We take our share only when a book sells.

Question 2

Do I need an ISBN, and how much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Only paperback and hardcover editions require an ISBN; eBooks do not. An ISBN identifies your physical book for distribution to retailers and libraries. ISBN prices vary by country and registrar. You can bring your own or use one included with your plan. Paid plans include ISBNs: 1 per month on Author Plus (extras at $10), 3 per month on Authorpreneur (extras at $5). On the Free plan, ISBNs are $15 each. If your plan includes one, it is assigned automatically when you submit a print edition, so you don't need to buy or enter anything. ISBNs provided by PubliWrite list PubliWrite as the publisher of record. If you already own an ISBN, or prefer to be listed as the publisher yourself, you can enter your own in the print flow instead of buying one. We will ask you to confirm in writing that the ISBN is yours before the printer can use it.

Question 3

What happens to my books if I cancel my subscription?

Accepted Answer

Your published books stay live and continue earning for you; they revert to the Free plan rate ( 80% ). You don't lose your work, your readers, or your sales history. The Free-plan publishing limit reapplies: one published format every three months. Formats are counted separately, so an eBook, a PDF, a paperback and a hardcover of the same book are four, not one. Everything already published stays on sale. You keep ownership of your work and can resubscribe at any time to restore your plan's benefits.

Question 4

Does PubliWrite require exclusivity?

Accepted Answer

No. You can list your book on PubliRead and sell it through your own website, other retailers or distribution services at the same time. Some platforms require exclusive enrolment periods to access higher rates or subscription reading programmes. We never restrict where you sell. We list digital editions on PubliRead, our reader-facing marketplace, and ship print orders to 150+ countries. We do not list your book on other retailers, and you can do that yourself.

Question 5

Why should I pay for PubliWrite when some platforms are free?

Accepted Answer

The Free plan includes one published format every three months and a 80% earnings rate. Paid plans raise the rate to 90% – 95%, include ISBNs and remove the publishing limit. Whether upgrading is worth it depends on your volume: if you only publish one format every three months, Free may be enough. If you publish more, or want the same book out as an eBook and a paperback in the same quarter, compare your expected sales in the calculator. It shows whether the higher rate would cover the subscription at those numbers.

Question 6

How do your earnings compare with other platforms?

Accepted Answer

On digital sales, you keep 80% on the Free plan, 90% on Author Plus, and 95% on Authorpreneur, with no price restrictions or exclusivity requirements. For paperback and hardcover, the same plan rate applies after print cost. Most self-publishing platforms offer between 35% and 70% on eBooks, often with conditions like exclusivity agreements or price caps to qualify for the higher rate. For print editions, many platforms use a wholesale discount model where retailers take 40–55% off the list price before calculating what you earn. The same plan rate applies to every format; the only deduction on print editions is the print cost. Earnings unlock 45 days after each sale, once the buyer refund window closes.

Choose a plan for how you write and publish.

Free plan

Author Plus

Authorpreneur

The same tools on every plan.

Compare plans and features

Free plan

Author Plus

Authorpreneur

What you'd keep on each plan.

Compare what changes between plans.

How it works

Full royalty calculator

Write or upload

Print on demand

Global distribution

Earnings and payouts

PubliRead marketplace

Anything we haven't covered?

Start on the free plan.