Publishing with Blurb: An In-Depth Review

Self-publishing has opened the door for authors and creators of all kinds to bring their projects to life, whether it’s a novel, a memoir, or a beautifully designed coffee table book. Among the many platforms available, Blurb stands out as a publishing service tailored specifically for visual and design-driven books. Founded in 2005, Blurb has become especially popular with photographers, artists, designers, and professionals who want to create high-quality print books that showcase their work.

Unlike many other self-publishing platforms that focus primarily on eBooks or standard print paperbacks, Blurb emphasizes premium printing options and advanced design tools. Its services include hardcover and softcover books, trade books, magazines, and eBooks, with distribution available through Amazon, Ingram, and Apple Books, as well as Blurb’s own online store. For creators who want their books to look and feel like bookstore-quality products, Blurb offers one of the most flexible and professional solutions on the market.

This review takes a closer look at Blurb’s strengths and weaknesses, exploring its services, pricing, and overall effectiveness. We’ll highlight why it’s an excellent option for visual projects like art books, portfolios, and cookbooks, but also where it may fall short for authors of traditional text-heavy works such as fiction or nonfiction.

✅ Pros of Blurb

Excellent for Visual Projects: Blurb is one of the few platforms built specifically for image-heavy books. It’s ideal for photographers, artists, designers, architects, and even cookbook creators who want their projects to look professional and visually striking.

Professional Design Tools: Blurb provides several design pathways:

• BookWright – a free desktop tool with templates and customization.
  
• Adobe InDesign Plugin – integrates directly with InDesign for professionals.
  
• PDF-to-Book – for creators who want to upload a fully designed file.
  These tools give authors full creative control over layouts, fonts, images, and overall book design.

High-Quality Printing: Blurb is known for premium print-on-demand options. Authors can choose from hardcover, softcover, trade books, and even magazines, with different paper types, finishes, and bindings. The results are often bookstore-quality, which appeals to creatives who care about presentation.

Distribution Options: Books created with Blurb can be distributed through Amazon, Ingram, and Apple Books, making them available to a wide readership. Authors can also sell directly through Blurb’s online bookstore.

Bulk Printing Discounts: For authors or businesses needing multiple copies, Blurb offers bulk printing discounts. This makes it a popular choice for professional portfolios, company books, or gifts, where printing hundreds of copies at once is cost-effective.

⛔ Cons of Blurb

Limited Focus on Text-Heavy Books: Blurb shines with visual projects but is less practical for novels, memoirs, or nonfiction books that are mostly text. Platforms like Amazon KDP or Draft2Digital may be better suited for those projects.

Learning Curve: While the design tools are powerful, they can be intimidating for beginners. BookWright is simpler than InDesign, but authors without design experience may still find it challenging to use.

Higher Printing Costs: Blurb’s premium quality comes with a price. Printing costs are higher than many POD competitors, which can shrink profit margins, especially for books sold through distribution channels.

Limited Marketing Support: Unlike BookBaby or PublishDrive, Blurb doesn’t provide marketing packages or advertising support. Authors are responsible for driving their own visibility and sales.

No Editing or Formatting Services: Blurb focuses on printing and design tools only. Authors must arrange editing, proofreading, and professional formatting separately, which can add extra costs.

Quick Overview of Blurb’s Services

Blurb offers a mix of design tools, professional-grade printing, and distribution options, making it especially appealing for visually oriented projects. While it doesn’t provide editing or marketing, its strength lies in creating high-quality books with flexible formats.

Book Design Tools

• BookWright: Free desktop software for layout and customization.
  
• Adobe InDesign Plugin: Professional plugin for those already using InDesign.
  
• PDF-to-Book: Upload option for pre-designed PDFs.

Printing Options

• Formats include hardcover, softcover, trade books, and magazines.
  
• Wide range of paper types, trim sizes, and finishes for premium customization.
  
• Known for bookstore-quality POD with vibrant color reproduction.
  

eBook Creation

• Support for fixed-layout eBooks (ideal for illustrated books like cookbooks and children’s stories).
  
• EPUB format available for Apple Books and other platforms.
  

Distribution

• Sell through Amazon, Ingram, Apple Books, and Blurb’s own online store.
  
• Direct-to-consumer sales supported via Blurb Bookstore links that can be embedded on personal websites.
  

Bulk Printing

• Discounted pricing for authors ordering large quantities, making it suitable for portfolios, corporate books, or personal projects.

Note: Blurb isn’t a full-service publishing provider; it’s a design-and-print specialist. Authors looking for editing, formatting, or marketing services will need to arrange those separately.

Pricing and Revenue Model

Blurb operates on a print-cost plus margin model, meaning authors pay for printing and keep whatever is left after retailer fees. Unlike platforms with fixed packages or subscriptions, Blurb’s costs vary based on book specifications.

Printing Costs: Prices depend on trim size, page count, paper type, and binding. Authors can use Blurb’s online pricing calculator to estimate costs before publishing.
For example, a standard 100-page trade book might cost around $3–$5 per copy, while a premium photo book with glossy paper and hardcover binding could cost $20–$40 per copy.

Distribution Fees

• When selling through Amazon, Ingram, or Apple Books, standard retailer cuts apply (typically 30–55%).
• Authors set their list price, but must account for both print cost and retailer fees, which can leave slimmer margins.

Royalties

• Royalties = List Price – Print Cost – Retailer Fees. 
• Example: If a photo book lists at $40, with a $20 print cost and 40% retailer fee, the author earns about $4 per copy. 
• Authors selling directly via Blurb’s online store keep more of their revenue, since retailer cuts don’t apply.
  

One of Blurb’s strongest advantages is its bulk printing discounts Large orders (100+ copies) qualify for significant discounts, making Blurb attractive for authors, businesses, and creatives who need inventory for direct sales, events, or client use.

Best Fit: Authors producing high-value, premium books that can support a higher retail price. Less ideal for authors of standard novels, where higher printing costs limit pricing flexibility.

Publishing Timeline

Blurb’s publishing process is generally straightforward, though the timeline depends on the type of project and the author’s chosen distribution path.

For print books, once a file is uploaded and approved, Blurb typically produces copies within 5–10 business days. Authors ordering directly through Blurb’s website can expect to receive their books within two weeks, depending on shipping times.

When using Blurb’s distribution channels (Amazon, Ingram, Apple Books), additional processing is required. After approval, books usually take 2–4 weeks to appear in online retailers’ catalogs. This is slightly slower than eBook-only platforms like Draft2Digital but on par with most print-on-demand services.

For eBooks, especially fixed-layout titles like cookbooks or children’s stories, the process is faster. Upload, formatting, and approval typically result in titles being available within a few days on Apple Books or Amazon (via Kindle compatibility).

Authors should keep in mind that while Blurb’s design and print quality are premium, the trade-off is that turnaround times may feel slower compared to simpler text-focused publishing platforms.

Blurb’s Storefront and Tools

Blurb provides several ways for authors and creators to sell and showcase their books, with an emphasis on direct-to-consumer sales and design flexibility. While it lacks advanced marketing features, its storefront and tools are tailored to creatives who want control over presentation.

Blurb Bookstore

• Every book published through Blurb can be listed in its online bookstore, allowing authors to sell directly to readers.
• Authors keep a larger share of royalties compared to third-party retailer sales, since Blurb takes only a small cut beyond print costs.

Direct Sales Integration

• Blurb offers embeddable storefront links that can be placed on an author’s personal website, blog, or social media.
• This makes it easy to direct readers to a purchase page without going through Amazon or other retailers.

Design Flexibility

• Blurb’s strength lies in its creative control. Whether using BookWright, the InDesign plugin, or a PDF-to-Book upload, authors can fine-tune every detail of their layout.
• This is particularly valuable for photo-heavy and design-centric books, where presentation is as important as content.

Promotional Tools

• Blurb does not offer built-in advertising or marketing campaigns.
• Authors must handle promotion themselves, though the direct-to-consumer sales options allow more control over pricing, bundles, or special sales.

In essence, Blurb’s storefront and tools are creator-focused, prioritizing high-quality presentation and direct sales options rather than comprehensive marketing.

Distribution

Blurb provides authors with multiple distribution pathways, balancing direct-to-consumer options with access to major online retailers. While its distribution reach isn’t as vast as platforms like PublishDrive, it covers the most important channels for authors of print and visually focused books.

Blurb Bookstore
Every title published with Blurb can be sold directly through its online bookstore, where authors earn higher royalties since there are no large retailer fees. This option is particularly attractive for photographers, artists, or small businesses selling to a defined audience.

Amazon
Authors can distribute print books to Amazon directly through Blurb, making their titles available in the world’s largest online bookstore. However, printing costs are typically higher than through Amazon KDP, which can reduce royalties if pricing is not managed carefully.

Ingram Global Distribution
Blurb connects to Ingram Content Group, one of the largest global distributors for print books. This enables authors to reach thousands of bookstores and libraries worldwide, though wholesale discounts and returns policies must be factored in.

Apple Books (eBooks)
Blurb supports fixed-layout EPUBs, making it possible to publish richly designed eBooks to Apple Books and other digital stores. This feature is particularly useful for cookbooks, art books, and children’s stories where layout and visuals matter.

Direct-to-Consumer Sales
Beyond third-party retailers, authors can integrate purchase links into their websites or blogs, driving traffic directly to their Blurb listing. This provides more control over the sales experience and better royalty retention.

While Blurb’s distribution network is solid, it’s more limited than aggregators like Draft2Digital or PublishDrive, which cover hundreds of retailers. Still, for authors focused on high-quality print and design-driven books, the channels Blurb offers are often enough.

Royalties

Blurb’s royalty model is straightforward but heavily influenced by its printing costs, which are higher than many POD competitors. Authors keep the difference between their list price, the base print cost, and retailer fees.

How Royalties Work? Authors set their list price. From that, subtract the print cost (varies by page count, paper type, trim size, and binding). If selling through a retailer like Amazon or Ingram, subtract retailer fees/discounts (typically 30–55%). The remaining balance is the author’s royalty.

For example, a premium 120-page photo book set at $50 retail might have a $25 print cost. Selling through Amazon (40% cut) leaves the author with about $5 per copy. Selling directly via the Blurb Bookstore removes the large retailer fee, leaving closer to $20 per copy in royalties.

Direct vs. Retail Sales

• Blurb Bookstore sales are most profitable, since authors bypass hefty retailer margins.
• Amazon and Ingram sales offer wider reach but thinner profit margins due to high print costs.

Authors can bypass royalties entirely by ordering at bulk-discounted print costs and reselling copies independently (e.g., at events, galleries, or direct to clients). This approach can significantly increase profits per book.

Comparison to Other Platforms

• Lower profit margins than KDP for standard novels or paperbacks due to higher base costs.
• Better suited for premium-priced books (art, design, photography, cookbooks) where readers expect to pay more.

Overall, Blurb royalties favor authors who can price their books at a premium or leverage direct sales and bulk orders, rather than relying solely on mass-market distribution.

Customer Experience and Reviews

Blurb has built a strong reputation among photographers, artists, and designers, but experiences vary depending on the type of project an author brings to the platform.

Positive Feedback

• Print Quality: The most consistent praise Blurb receives is for its professional-grade printing. Authors often note that the finished books feel like true bookstore-quality products, especially for photo-heavy and design-focused works.
  
• Creative Control: Many users appreciate the flexibility of Blurb’s tools, from BookWright to the InDesign plugin, which allow full customization of layout and design.
  
• Bulk Printing: Authors who need to order large runs for events, clients, or direct sales highlight Blurb’s bulk discounts as a valuable option.

Criticisms

• High Printing Costs: The biggest complaint is pricing. Because unit costs are higher than competitors like Amazon KDP, royalties can be slim—especially when selling through Amazon or Ingram.
  
• Limited Marketing Support: Authors point out that Blurb does not provide marketing assistance, leaving them to handle promotion on their own.
  
• Steeper Learning Curve: While professionals enjoy the design flexibility, beginners sometimes find Blurb’s tools overwhelming compared to simpler upload-and-go platforms.
  
• Fiction/Nonfiction Limitations: Writers of standard novels or nonfiction often feel that Blurb is not designed for their needs, and that other platforms serve text-driven works more effectively.

Overall Sentiment: Blurb is best received by creatives producing visually stunning, premium books who value high-quality design and print options. Authors seeking affordability, marketing support, or a platform for text-driven books tend to rate it less favorably.

Top rated publishers:

Visit site

9.5

Visit site

8.3

Visit site

8.1

Is Blurb For You?

Blurb is a strong publishing platform for authors and creators who want to produce premium-quality, visually striking books. Its design tools and high-end printing options make it particularly well-suited for photographers, artists, designers, architects, and cookbook creators who need full control over layout and presentation. If your goal is to create a beautiful book that doubles as a piece of art or a professional showcase, Blurb is one of the best choices available.

That said, Blurb is not ideal for everyone. Text-heavy authors, such as novelists or nonfiction writers, may find the platform too expensive and cumbersome, with limited marketing or editorial support. For those projects, Amazon KDP, Draft2Digital, or even BookBaby might be better fits.

Best for:

• Visual and design-heavy books (art, photography, cookbooks, portfolios).
  
• Authors who value print quality and customization above low costs.
  
• Creators who plan to sell directly and take advantage of bulk printing discounts.

Not ideal for:

• Budget-conscious authors focused on affordability and higher royalties.
  
• Writers of novels, memoirs, or nonfiction who don’t need complex layouts.
  
• Authors looking for full-service publishing with editing and marketing support.

Bottom Line: Blurb is a premium publishing solution for creatives. If presentation is your priority and your audience expects a higher-end product, Blurb delivers. But for mainstream fiction or nonfiction, there are more cost-effective alternatives.

FAQ: Publishing with Blurb

Q: Is Blurb free to use?

Yes, Blurb’s design tools are free, but printing and distribution costs apply.

Q: What types of books is Blurb best for?

Blurb is ideal for photo-heavy and design-driven books such as portfolios, cookbooks, art books, and children’s books.

Q: Can Blurb distribute my book on Amazon?

Yes, Blurb integrates with Amazon, Ingram, and Apple Books for wide distribution.

Q: How are royalties calculated?

Royalties = List Price – Print Cost – Retailer Fees. Authors selling through Blurb’s own bookstore keep more revenue.

Q: Does Blurb provide editing or marketing services?

No. Authors must arrange editing, proofreading, and marketing separately.

Q: Who should avoid Blurb?

Authors of text-heavy fiction or nonfiction who want low-cost printing, higher royalties, or built-in marketing support.