Publishing with Apple Books for Authors: An In-Depth Review

Self-publishing has reshaped the book industry, giving authors direct access to global audiences without relying on traditional publishers. Among the major platforms, Apple Books for Authors stands out as Apple’s official self-publishing gateway, allowing writers to publish their eBooks directly to the Apple Books store. With millions of iPhone, iPad, and Mac users around the world, Apple offers a sleek and integrated marketplace that puts books directly in front of a tech-savvy and engaged readership.

Unlike some all-in-one platforms that bundle editing, printing, or audiobook services, Apple Books focuses exclusively on digital eBooks. This laser focus means fewer frills, but it also comes with advantages: competitive royalties, global distribution across more than 50 countries, and promotional tools like preorders and free book campaigns. For authors who want control over their publishing and a reliable way to reach Apple’s ecosystem, Apple Books for Authors provides a professional, streamlined option.

This review takes an in-depth look at Apple Books’ pros and cons, its publishing process, and how it compares to other platforms. We’ll explore whether it’s the right fit for your publishing strategy, or better used alongside platforms like Amazon KDP and Draft2Digital for maximum reach.

✅ Pros of Apple Books for Authors

High Royalties: Apple Books offers one of the most consistent royalty structures in self-publishing: 70% royalties on most eBook sales, regardless of price point or territory. Unlike Amazon KDP, which drops royalties to 35% under certain pricing conditions, Apple maintains its rate across the board, making it highly attractive for authors.

Global Reach: With availability in over 50 countries, Apple Books provides authors with a wide international audience. Its presence is especially strong in North America and Europe, but it also reaches readers in emerging markets where Apple products dominate.

Direct Publishing, No Aggregator Fees: By publishing directly with Apple, authors avoid the 10–15% commission charged by aggregators like Draft2Digital or Smashwords. This means more royalties in the author’s pocket.

Promotional Tools: Apple Books provides useful marketing features, including free pricing options, preorders (even without a final manuscript), and the ability to run price promotions. Apple also occasionally features select titles on its storefront, which can significantly boost visibility and sales.

Author Dashboard and Analytics: The Apple Books for Authors dashboard is modern and easy to use, offering real-time sales data broken down by country, territory, and title. This transparency helps authors make informed pricing and marketing decisions.

⛔ Cons of Apple Books for Authors

eBook Only: Apple Books supports only digital eBooks, with no options for print-on-demand or audiobooks. Authors looking for multi-format publishing will need to combine Apple Books with platforms like KDP (for print) or ACX (for audio).

Limited Discoverability: While Apple’s bookstore is clean and professional, it doesn’t offer the same level of organic discovery or customer base as Amazon. Authors often need to drive their own traffic or rely on promotions to gain traction.

Apple-Only Ecosystem: Books published through Apple Books can only be read on Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac). Readers using Kindles or non-Apple eReaders won’t have access, limiting audience reach.

Tech Requirements: Publishing directly requires a Mac or iOS device with Apple’s iTunes Producer software. For authors on Windows, this creates a barrier, often forcing them to use an aggregator (and lose some royalties).

No Built-in Author Services: Apple Books does not provide editing, formatting, or cover design services. Authors must prepare a professional EPUB file before uploading, which may require hiring external help.

Quick Overview of Apple Books’ Services

Apple Books for Authors is a streamlined platform built for digital eBook publishing only. It doesn’t include editing or design services, but it offers a clean system for distribution, pricing, and promotions within the Apple ecosystem.

• Manuscript Preparation: Requires a properly formatted EPUB file. Authors must handle editing and formatting externally before submission.
  
• Publishing Software: Uploads are managed through iTunes Producer, Apple’s free publishing tool for Mac and iOS users. Windows users must rely on an aggregator like Draft2Digital or PublishDrive.
  
• Promotional Tools: Preorders can be set up even before the final manuscript is complete. Free pricing allows authors to permanently or temporarily make a book free. Price promotions; temporary sales to boost discoverability.
  
• Analytics: Real-time sales data through the Apple Books for Authors dashboard, with breakdowns by country and store.
  
• Distribution Scope: Available in 50+ countries through the Apple Books app, which is preinstalled on all Apple devices.

Apple’s service is minimalistic, but for authors who can provide polished EPUB files, it offers direct access to one of the largest digital reading markets in the world.

Pricing and Revenue Model

Apple Books for Authors operates on a simple and transparent royalty system that is often considered one of the most author-friendly in the industry. 

Royalties with Apple Books: Authors earn 70% of the list price on most sales, regardless of pricing tier. Unlike Amazon KDP, which drops to 35% royalties outside its $2.99–$9.99 range, Apple maintains 70% even on lower-priced books. There are no delivery fees (Amazon charges for large file sizes), making Apple especially appealing for image-heavy eBooks.

Royalties are paid out monthly, approximately 30–45 days after the end of the sales month. Authors can set up direct deposit in supported regions. Minimum payout thresholds typically apply (around $10 depending on currency).

Pricing Control: Authors can set global pricing or customize by territory. Apple supports free pricing, giving authors flexibility for promotions and long-term strategy (e.g., offering a series starter for free).

Comparison to Competitors

• More consistent than Amazon KDP: Apple offers 70% royalties across the board.
• Higher than Smashwords/D2D (via Apple): Aggregators take a cut, so direct is better.
• Less versatile than Kobo or PublishDrive: Apple is limited to its own store ecosystem.

Apple’s model works best for authors who want transparent royalties, global pricing control, and predictable payouts, particularly for eBooks with large file sizes that would otherwise incur Amazon’s delivery fees.

Publishing Timeline

Publishing with Apple Books is generally fast and efficient, provided authors have a properly formatted EPUB file ready to go. Once uploaded through iTunes Producer, most eBooks are reviewed and approved within 24–48 hours. In some cases, especially with new accounts or complex files, approval can take a few extra days.

For preorders, Apple allows authors to upload a manuscript months in advance—even before the final file is complete. This flexibility makes it easy to build anticipation and marketing campaigns ahead of release. Authors simply need to replace the placeholder file with the finished version before the scheduled launch date.

Price promotions also move quickly, with most updates appearing in the Apple Books store within 24 hours.

Overall, Apple Books offers one of the quickest publishing timelines in the industry, especially for eBooks. Compared to print-heavy platforms like Blurb or BookBaby, where production adds weeks, Apple’s digital-only model means authors can move from upload to live sales in just a couple of days.

Apple Books Storefront and Tools

Apple Books for Authors gives writers access to one of the most polished digital storefronts in publishing. Integrated directly into the Books app on iPhones, iPads, and Macs, it provides a seamless buying experience for readers and a professional sales platform for authors.

Books appear in the Apple Books app, which comes preinstalled on all Apple devices. The storefront is clean and curated, with emphasis on editorial selections and featured titles. Unlike Amazon, which leans heavily on algorithms, Apple Books relies more on human curation, giving authors a chance to stand out through promotions.

Promotional Tools

• Preorders: Apple allows authors to set up preorders months in advance, even without a final file. This is a unique advantage over Amazon and helps build anticipation.
  
• Free Pricing: Authors can permanently set their book to free, making Apple a strong platform for offering series starters or promotional giveaways.
  
• Price Promotions: Temporary discounts can be applied to encourage sales or boost visibility.

The Apple Books for Authors dashboard provides real-time sales data, with breakdowns by country, store, and title. Authors can track performance over time and make pricing or marketing adjustments accordingly. 

While the storefront is sleek, Apple Books does not have the same level of organic discoverability as Amazon, where algorithm-driven recommendations dominate. Authors often need to bring their own traffic or rely on promotions to gain traction.

In short, Apple Books provides a professional storefront and flexible promotional tools, but authors should be prepared to take a proactive role in marketing.

Distribution

Apple Books provides strong international coverage, but its distribution is limited to its own ecosystem. Authors gain access to millions of Apple device users, but the platform doesn’t extend beyond Apple’s digital bookstore.

Available in 50+ countries, Apple Books covers major markets across North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. This makes it one of the largest eBook platforms after Amazon, giving authors significant global exposure.

Books are accessible exclusively through the Apple Books app, which is preinstalled on iOS and macOS devices. Readers using Kindles or non-Apple eReaders cannot purchase Apple Books titles, limiting the audience compared to cross-platform options like Amazon or Kobo.

Aggregator Access

• Authors without a Mac or iOS device can reach Apple Books through aggregators like Draft2Digital, Smashwords, or PublishDrive.
• This widens accessibility for authors but reduces earnings due to the aggregator’s commission cut.

Formats

• Apple Books supports only EPUB files, including reflowable and fixed-layout formats.
• This makes it well-suited for both text-driven novels and image-heavy books like children’s stories or cookbooks.

Overall, Apple Books offers wide international coverage within the Apple ecosystem, but it lacks the multi-retailer distribution reach of aggregators like PublishDrive or Draft2Digital.

Royalties

Apple Books for Authors is widely praised for its transparent and consistent royalty structure, which is among the most favorable in self-publishing.

Authors earn 70% royalties on all eBook sales, regardless of the price point or territory.
Unlike Amazon KDP, which lowers royalties to 35% for books priced under $2.99 or above $9.99, Apple maintains the same 70% rate across the board.

Apple does not charge per-megabyte delivery fees (a cost Amazon applies to large file sizes). This makes Apple especially advantageous for image-heavy books like children’s stories, cookbooks, or graphic novels.

Payouts

• Royalties are paid monthly, approximately 30–45 days after the end of the sales month.
• Authors are paid via direct deposit in supported regions, with a minimum payout threshold (typically around $10).

Aggregator Impact

• Publishing directly ensures authors keep the full 70% royalty.
• Authors who use an aggregator like Draft2Digital or Smashwords will lose 10–15% of royalties to service fees, though this can be a practical tradeoff for PC users who can’t access iTunes Producer.

Overall, Apple Books offers one of the most straightforward and lucrative royalty structures in the eBook market, particularly for authors who publish directly.

Customer Experience and Reviews

Author feedback on Apple Books for Authors is generally positive, though it reflects both the platform’s strengths and its limitations compared to competitors like Amazon or Kobo.

Positive Feedback

• High Royalties & Transparency: Many authors appreciate Apple’s flat 70% royalty rate, calling it one of the fairest and most predictable in self-publishing.
  
• Professional Dashboard: The Apple Books for Authors dashboard receives praise for its clean design and real-time sales data, giving authors clear insights into their performance.
  
• Promotional Flexibility: Authors like the ability to set permanent free books, schedule preorders, and run price promotions—all features that make Apple competitive for building long-term strategies.
  
• Reader Experience: Apple Books integrates seamlessly into the iOS/macOS ecosystem, and readers often comment that the buying and reading experience is smooth and visually appealing.

Criticisms

• Limited Audience Reach: Many authors note that Apple Books does not generate the same organic traffic or visibility as Amazon, making it harder to gain traction without active promotion.
  
• Mac Requirement: The need for a Mac or iOS device to publish directly frustrates Windows users, who must rely on aggregators and lose a portion of royalties.
  
• Lack of Services: Apple Books provides no editing, formatting, or marketing support, which leaves beginners to manage all preparation independently.
  
• Niche Compared to Amazon: Some authors report strong sales, but most agree that Apple Books is best used as a supplement to Amazon KDP, not a replacement.

Overall Sentiment: Authors generally view Apple Books as a professional, author-friendly platform that’s worth including in a broader distribution strategy. It rarely serves as the primary sales channel, but its global reach and royalty structure make it a valuable piece of the publishing puzzle.

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Is Apple Books for You?

Apple Books for Authors is a strong choice for writers who want direct access to Apple’s global eBook marketplace and a simple, transparent royalty structure. With 70% royalties across all price points, built-in promotional tools like preorders and free pricing, and a polished reader experience, Apple Books is a great way to diversify income streams and reach millions of iPhone, iPad, and Mac users worldwide.

That said, Apple Books is best used as part of a wider publishing strategy. Its exclusivity to Apple devices means it can’t replace Amazon or Kobo in terms of reach, and the lack of editing or marketing services makes it less beginner-friendly. Authors also need to navigate the Mac/iOS requirement for direct publishing, or settle for aggregator distribution at the cost of reduced royalties.

Best for:

• Authors who want high, consistent royalties.
  
• Writers already comfortable with formatting EPUBs.
  
• Authors using a wide distribution strategy across multiple platforms.
  
• Creators of image-heavy eBooks (children’s books, cookbooks, graphic novels).

Not ideal for:

• Authors seeking print or audiobook publishing.
  
• Writers relying on organic discoverability (Amazon still dominates here).
  
• PC-only authors who don’t want to use an aggregator.
  

Bottom Line: Apple Books for Authors is best seen as a valuable supplemental platform, not a sole publishing solution. It shines in royalties, promotions, and design, making it a smart way to expand reach and tap into Apple’s loyal reader base.

FAQ: Publishing with Apple Books

Q: Is publishing on Apple Books free?

Yes. Apple does not charge setup or distribution fees.

Q: What royalties do authors earn?

Authors earn a flat 70% royalty on most eBook sales, with no delivery fees.

Q: Do I need a Mac to publish?

Yes, direct publishing requires a Mac or iOS device with iTunes Producer. PC authors must use an aggregator like Draft2Digital.

Q: Can I publish print or audiobooks?

No. Apple Books supports eBooks only.

Q: Can I set my book to free?

Yes. Apple allows permanent free pricing, making it a strong option for promotions and series starters.

Q: How long does it take for a book to go live?

Most books go live within 24–48 hours after upload and approval.

Q: Is Apple Books a replacement for Amazon KDP?

No. While it’s a valuable platform, Apple Books is best used alongside Amazon and other distributors to maximize reach.