Our reviewers evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.

Smashwords vs Xlibris

Wednesday, January 15th

2025 Self Publishing Service Reviews

Smashwords Review 3.5 Star Rating

Smashwords

3.5 Star Rating
  • Free
  • Global distribution options
  • Authors keep 45-85% of net sales proceeds
  • Marketing tutorials
  • "A-” rating from the BBB

Smashwords is an eBook distributor that has been helping authors for over a decade. While their website may not have the sleek design of some of their competitors, Smashwords offers a variety of free services to authors, including author profile pages, marketing tools, and access to their extensive distribution network. It's worth noting, however, that authors are responsible for their own marketing efforts and it may not be the most user-friendly option.

Xlibris Review 2 Star Rating

Xlibris

2 Star Rating
  • Publishing packages range from $999 to $16,999
  • 50%-90% paid to Xlibris before author gets anything
  • Distribute with Ingram
  • Accredited by the BBB and "A+” rating

Xlibris is a self-publishing service that has been operating for over 20 years. It allows authors to retain complete control over their books, from design to distribution. However, the pricing is expensive, and the most basic package may not provide authors with enough options. Furthermore, the distribution network is limited, and authors should not expect to make much money through Xlibris. Compared to other self-publishing services, Xlibris falls short in terms of what it offers and how much it costs.

What's the Best Place to Self Publish?

Congratulations! You're an author, and now you want to share your writing genius with the world. But working with a traditional publisher can be hard. With the extra step of finding an agent and the back-and-forth with editors, there's a lot going on in the publishing industry just to get your book on the publisher's desk. Lucky for you, there's a host of self-publishing options out there to support brand-new and established authors.

Self-publishing has become an increasingly popular option for writers who want to get their work out into the world without the assistance of traditional publishing companies. One of the biggest advantages of self-publishing is the control it gives the author over their work. Instead of having to conform to the demands of a publisher, authors can use self-publishing to retain complete creative control over their work.

The Best Self Publishing Services Compare Self Publishing Services Compare Self Publishing Service Reviews What are the best Self Publishing Services Best Self Publishing Service Reviews

Self Publishing Service FAQ

Absolutely! There's no need to wait for an acceptance letter from a big publishing house to get your work out into the world.
You can do either one. There are lots of self-publishing services that can help you with the entire process, including illustrations, editing, and even marketing, regardless of whether you're trying to get your book printed or made available as an eBook.
You definitely can take the steps to get your book published without using a service, but you may waste a lot of time (and money!) making mistakes that could easily be avoided. Self-publishing services already know all of the ins and outs of the process and can help you focus just on what you need to accomplish your particular goals.
That depends. The more bells and whistles you want, the more you'll usually spend. There are platforms that let you print out a single standard paperback for under $2, and comprehensive service packages upwards of $15,000! There are also options that are free for the publishing side, but you'll pay a certain percentage of any royalties your book sales generate. That's a great choice if you've got a shoestring budget and just want to get started right away.
Most self-publishing in the print world is print-on-demand, so no! In other words, when someone orders your book, the publishing service you're using will print off a copy and send it directly to your customer.
The sky's the limit! Some popular add-ons include cover design, author ads on social media platforms, internal images and graphics, and online distribution.
Some self-publishing platforms offer more "hand-holding" than others. If you think you might want a provider that has more of a team feel, choose a service that offers email and phone support with a designated representative, so that you'll always be working with the same individual.
While it's true that there are fly-by-night, "Get Published Fast!" companies out there, it's easy to find services that have a long history of providing reputable service to aspiring and experienced authors alike. Be sure to see what other clients say about the service you're considering, before you make a commitment. You can also look up the company's listing with the Better Business Bureau for more reassurance that you've picked a good one.
Compare the Best Reviews

Continued from above...

There are several advantages to self-publishing a book. For example, an author can make decisions about everything from the book cover to the formatting of the text. This control can lead to a more authentic representation of the author's vision, which can be appealing to readers.

Another advantage of self-publishing is that it allows authors to reach a broader audience. Traditional publishers are often selective about the types of books they choose to publish, and many authors may struggle to find a publisher who is willing to take a chance on their work. Self-publishing, on the other hand, allows authors to bypass the traditional gatekeepers and get their work in front of readers who may be interested in their particular niche.

And the best part? Self-publishing can be more lucrative for authors than traditional publishing. Traditional publishing deals often involve the publisher taking a significant percentage of the book's profits, leaving the author with a smaller cut. With self-publishing, authors keep a larger share of their book's profits, which can add up over time. Additionally, self-publishing often allows authors to set their own prices, which can help them maximize their revenue.

Writing is a lot of work, but publishing doesn't have to be. To make sure you have the easiest path to getting your bestseller out to the public, we've researched the most popular self-publishing options so you don't have to.

If you're not sure where to start, here are several factors to keep in mind to find the best fit for you and your writing:

  • Cost. What is the cost to work with this publisher and how much will you make as the author? Costs include fees and royalties, so it's important to check both.
  • Specialty. Are you a poet or a playwright? Or maybe you prefer to write short stories or long sci-fi trilogies? You want to make sure the publisher you choose specializes in the kind of writing that's important to you. You want to be able to reach your ideal audience.
  • User-friendly tools. Are you looking for complete control over the final publication, or do you want a publisher that helps you along the way with technology tools?
  • Sales. Where does this self-publishing platform promote your work? Are sales integrated into the process or do you have to do all of the marketing yourself?

To help you make the jump from writer to published author smoother than ever, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the best self-publishing companies out there today. We hope this information helps you get the book of your dreams in print and in the reader's hands ASAP!

Compare Self Publishing Services

Select any 2 Self Publishing Services to compare them head to head

best-self-publishing-services
  • Outskirts Press
  • Book Baby
  • Publish Drive
  • Barnes & Noble Press
  • Draft 2 Digital
  • Virtual Bookworm
  • Smashwords
  • Kindle Direct Publishing
  • IngramSpark
  • Lulu
  • Xlibris
  • iUniverse
Outskirts Press vs Book Baby Outskirts Press vs Publish Drive Outskirts Press vs Barnes & Noble Press Outskirts Press vs Draft 2 Digital Outskirts Press vs Virtual Bookworm Outskirts Press vs Smashwords Outskirts Press vs Kindle Direct Publishing Outskirts Press vs IngramSpark Outskirts Press vs Lulu Outskirts Press vs Xlibris Outskirts Press vs iUniverse Book Baby vs Publish Drive Book Baby vs Barnes & Noble Press Book Baby vs Draft 2 Digital Book Baby vs Virtual Bookworm Book Baby vs Smashwords Book Baby vs Kindle Direct Publishing Book Baby vs IngramSpark Book Baby vs Lulu Book Baby vs Xlibris Book Baby vs iUniverse Publish Drive vs Barnes & Noble Press Publish Drive vs Draft 2 Digital Publish Drive vs Virtual Bookworm Publish Drive vs Smashwords Publish Drive vs Kindle Direct Publishing Publish Drive vs IngramSpark Publish Drive vs Lulu Publish Drive vs Xlibris Publish Drive vs iUniverse Barnes & Noble Press vs Draft 2 Digital Barnes & Noble Press vs Virtual Bookworm Barnes & Noble Press vs Smashwords Barnes & Noble Press vs Kindle Direct Publishing Barnes & Noble Press vs IngramSpark Barnes & Noble Press vs Lulu Barnes & Noble Press vs Xlibris Barnes & Noble Press vs iUniverse Draft 2 Digital vs Virtual Bookworm Draft 2 Digital vs Smashwords Draft 2 Digital vs Kindle Direct Publishing Draft 2 Digital vs IngramSpark Draft 2 Digital vs Lulu Draft 2 Digital vs Xlibris Draft 2 Digital vs iUniverse Virtual Bookworm vs Smashwords Virtual Bookworm vs Kindle Direct Publishing Virtual Bookworm vs IngramSpark Virtual Bookworm vs Lulu Virtual Bookworm vs Xlibris Virtual Bookworm vs iUniverse Smashwords vs Kindle Direct Publishing Smashwords vs IngramSpark Smashwords vs Lulu Smashwords vs Xlibris Smashwords vs iUniverse Kindle Direct Publishing vs IngramSpark Kindle Direct Publishing vs Lulu Kindle Direct Publishing vs Xlibris Kindle Direct Publishing vs iUniverse IngramSpark vs Lulu IngramSpark vs Xlibris IngramSpark vs iUniverse Lulu vs Xlibris Lulu vs iUniverse Xlibris vs iUniverse
Compare the Best Self Publishing Services
- VS -
Review the Best Self Publishing Services
See the Best Self Publishing Service
The Best Reviews of Self Publishing Services