Lulu Alternatives: Better Self-Publishing Services with Superior Tools & Features in 2025

Self-publishing has gone from being a “back-up plan” for rejected manuscripts to a first-choice publishing path for thousands of authors around the world. Writers today can publish books that rival traditionally published titles in both quality and reach — all while keeping creative control and a larger share of royalties.

Lulu has been part of that revolution since 2002. Known for its flexible print-on-demand services, Lulu stands out for letting authors create everything from standard novels to cookbooks, calendars, and photo albums. It also offers Lulu Direct, which connects to Shopify and WooCommerce, letting you sell directly to your readers.

But Lulu’s strengths don’t fit every author’s needs. Some writers want faster and simpler distribution. Others want marketing and editing included in the package instead of finding separate providers. And for many, the idea of handling ecommerce setup feels like an extra job.

That’s why so many authors are looking for Lulu alternatives — platforms that can deliver equally high-quality books while offering a smoother, more integrated publishing journey.

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Why Authors Seek Lulu Alternatives

Lulu has long been a go-to name in self-publishing, known for its flexibility and wide range of print options. From hardcovers and paperbacks to calendars, photo books, and even comic books, it gives authors creative freedom to produce almost any kind of printed work. Its print-on-demand model means you can avoid large upfront costs, and its global distribution network places your book on major online retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the Lulu Bookstore. For many, Lulu’s appeal lies in the control it offers — you decide the format, pricing, and distribution.

But this control comes with trade-offs. Lulu is a DIY-first platform, which means it excels at printing and distribution but leaves much of the rest of the publishing journey in your hands. If you want professional editing, cover design, or marketing, you’ll need to source and manage those services yourself. Direct sales through Lulu Direct can be powerful, but require integration with Shopify or WooCommerce — a process that can be daunting if you’re not comfortable with ecommerce setup. And while Lulu helps get your book into stores, it offers little in the way of built-in marketing tools or advertising support, leaving many authors to juggle multiple third-party solutions.

As a result, some authors find themselves looking for a more integrated publishing experience — one that reduces the number of vendors to manage and offers both creative and technical support in one place.

Common reasons authors seek alternatives to Lulu include:

• Lack of built-in editing, design, and marketing services.
• Steeper learning curve for ecommerce integrations like Lulu Direct.
• Minimal native tools for advertising, campaign tracking, or audience growth.
  

In 2025, the most attractive alternatives to Lulu combine the flexibility and control authors love with streamlined, all-in-one systems — helping writers focus more on their book and less on the operational puzzle of getting it into readers’ hands.

Curious about Lulu? Read our in-depth review of Lulu.

Spines — Technology Meets Hands-On Publishing Support

Trustpilot Rating: 4.6/5 (550+ reviews)

Spines is built for authors who want the efficiency of modern AI tools paired with the reassurance of a real person guiding the process from start to finish. It’s an all-in-one publishing platform designed to take the stress out of self-publishing — no juggling multiple freelancers, platforms, or spreadsheets.

When you upload your manuscript, Spines’ AI-powered analysis goes beyond just catching typos. It evaluates your work for genre alignment, tone consistency, audience fit, and pacing, then suggests targeted edits and formatting improvements. This means your book not only reads well but also resonates with the readers you’re trying to reach.

Design-wise, Spines gives you a real-time cover creation tool, so you can instantly see concepts come to life, tweak fonts, colors, and layouts on the spot, and approve the final design without endless back-and-forth. Lulu, in contrast, focuses on printing and distribution, so authors often need to find separate designers or manage that process themselves.

On the marketing front, Spines removes one of the biggest pain points in self-publishing: campaign setup and ad management. You can create, run, and track ads for Amazon, Facebook, and Instagram directly from the Spines dashboard — no external ad accounts or complicated integrations required. Lulu offers no equivalent in-platform marketing, meaning authors must set up and manage their own campaigns elsewhere.

Distribution with Spines is truly global for ebooks, paperbacks, hardcovers, and audiobooks, with automated price adjustments to match each market’s standards. While Lulu also has global distribution, Spines integrates it into a guided publishing flow where your dedicated project manager handles technical essentials like ISBNs, metadata, and compliance checks.

• Standout Feature: AI-assisted editing with hands-on project management — blending technology and personal support for a fully guided publishing process.
• Why Choose Spines Over Lulu: If you appreciate Lulu’s broad reach but want editing, cover design, marketing tools, and expert guidance all in one place, Spines delivers a smoother, faster, and less fragmented publishing experience.

Curious about Spines? Read our in-depth review of Spines.

IngramSpark — The Bookstore Distribution Leader

Trustpilot Rating: 4.0/5 (2,800+ reviews)

IngramSpark is the go-to choice for authors who want their books stocked not just online but also in brick-and-mortar bookstores around the world. Its parent company, Ingram Content Group, is one of the largest book distributors in the industry, which means your title can appear in ordering systems for chains, independent bookstores, schools, and libraries.

Where Lulu shines in flexibility and varied product types, IngramSpark focuses on professional-grade print quality and vast retail reach. Authors can publish in both paperback and hardcover, with a wide range of trim sizes and premium paper options. This makes it a favorite for authors producing high-quality print editions — particularly those in nonfiction, children’s books, or literary fiction who want their books to look and feel like they came straight from a traditional publisher.

That said, IngramSpark is less of an all-in-one service and more of a publishing infrastructure provider. It doesn’t include built-in editing, cover design, or marketing tools, so you’ll need to bring your own production-ready files and handle promotional efforts yourself. Lulu users who already work in a DIY model might find the transition easy, but those looking for a guided process may prefer something more integrated, like Spines or BookBaby.

One of IngramSpark’s standout strengths is wholesale pricing control — you can set bookstore-friendly discounts and decide on returns policies, something Lulu doesn’t offer to the same extent. This flexibility makes your book more attractive to physical retailers, though it also requires a deeper understanding of publishing economics.

• Standout Feature: Unmatched global print distribution with deep bookstore and library access.
• Why Choose IngramSpark Over Lulu: If your goal is to get your book into as many physical bookstores as possible, IngramSpark offers the industry connections and print quality to make it happen — though you’ll need to handle editing, design, and marketing elsewhere.

Curious about IngramSpark? Read our in-depth review of IngramSpark.

PublishDrive — Data-Driven Global Publishing

Trustpilot Rating: Limited data

PublishDrive is built for authors who think like entrepreneurs. This isn’t just about getting your book published—it’s about managing your book as a business. With distribution to over 400 retailers, libraries, and subscription services worldwide, PublishDrive gives you reach on par with the biggest players, but adds a layer of data, analytics, and control that most platforms simply don’t offer.

One of PublishDrive’s standout capabilities is its AI-powered metadata optimization. For many authors, metadata—keywords, categories, descriptions—feels like an afterthought. But in a crowded marketplace, these details can make or break discoverability. PublishDrive helps you fine-tune them to maximize visibility across multiple storefronts, something Scribe’s human-driven approach can’t scale in the same way.

The platform also shines when it comes to granular pricing control. You can set territory-specific prices, run global promotions, and even experiment with different price points in different markets—all from a single dashboard. For authors with large backlists, their bulk catalog management tools are a game-changer, letting you update covers, change pricing, or launch sales across dozens of titles with just a few clicks.

What PublishDrive doesn’t do is provide creative production services like editing or cover design—you’ll need to bring those assets ready to go. But for authors who already have a polished manuscript and want maximum reach plus detailed business insights, it’s one of the most powerful tools available.

• Standout Feature: Strategic publishing tools and analytics that let you run your author career like a business.
• Why Choose Over Scribe: Perfect for scaling multiple titles with precision and control, especially if you’re already equipped with a finished book and want to leverage data to grow sales worldwide.

Amazon KDP — The Original Self-Publishing Powerhouse

Trustpilot Rating: 1.3/5 (446 reviews)

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is still the fastest way to get your book onto the world’s largest online bookstore. With no upfront costs and a setup process that can have your ebook or paperback live within 72 hours, it’s ideal for authors who want speed and maximum visibility on Amazon’s marketplace.

KDP supports both digital and print publishing, with tools like Kindle Create to help format your manuscript and A+ Content to enhance your product pages with images, comparison tables, and promotional text. For marketing, Amazon Advertising allows you to target the platform’s massive reader base directly — though unlike an integrated service like Spines, you’ll need to set up and manage those ads yourself through Amazon’s ad console.

Where Lulu offers more control over pricing for direct sales and partnerships with multiple distributors, KDP is laser-focused on Amazon dominance. The trade-off is that physical bookstore placement is rare, as many retailers avoid stocking Amazon-published titles. Authors who want a balance of online and in-store presence often pair KDP with another distributor like IngramSpark.

KDP’s royalty structure is straightforward: up to 70% for ebooks (depending on price and territory) and 60% minus print costs for paperbacks. However, because it’s primarily self-serve, you’ll need to source your own editing, design, and marketing support.

• Standout Feature: Unbeatable Amazon reach and speed to market.
• Why Choose KDP Over Lulu: If your top priority is selling on Amazon quickly, at no upfront cost, and with direct access to its massive audience, KDP is the clear winner — provided you’re ready to handle production and promotion independently.

Curious about Amazon KDP? Read our in-depth review of Amazon KDP.

BookBaby — The All-in-One Self-Publishing Partner

Trustpilot Rating: 4.6/5 (2,800+ reviews)

BookBaby is one of the most established full-service self-publishing companies on the market, offering everything from editing and cover design to distribution and marketing. Unlike Lulu, which focuses primarily on printing and distribution, BookBaby’s model is built around bundling services so authors can manage their entire publishing journey under one roof.

With BookBaby, you can choose à la carte services or opt for complete publishing packages that include professional editing, custom cover design, formatting, ISBN assignment, and global distribution to retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and more. Authors who don’t want to juggle multiple freelancers or platforms often find this appealing — it’s closer to a “done-for-you” publishing experience.

BookBaby also sets itself apart with its direct-to-reader sales platform, BookShop™, which allows you to sell print and ebooks straight to your audience while keeping a higher percentage of profits. This is similar to Lulu Direct but with less technical setup — you don’t need to integrate it with Shopify or WooCommerce to start selling.

While BookBaby’s distribution network is strong, it’s worth noting that its packages tend to be more expensive than pure DIY options like Lulu or KDP. The trade-off is that you’re paying for professional guidance, quality assurance, and consolidated project management.

• Standout Feature: A true “all-in-one” publishing service with direct sales capabilities built in.
• Why Choose BookBaby Over Lulu: If you love Lulu’s distribution flexibility but want professional editing, design, and marketing support without hunting for separate providers, BookBaby offers a streamlined, guided path to publication.

Curious about BookBaby? Read our in-depth review of BookBaby.

Palmetto Publishing — Concierge-Style Service

Trustpilot Rating: N/A

Palmetto Publishing is built for authors who want publishing without the headaches and quality without compromise. From the moment you sign on, you’re matched with a dedicated publishing team that functions almost like an in-house creative department for your book. This isn’t just one point of contact — you’ll work with a coordinated group that can include editors, designers, and marketing specialists, all working toward the same vision.

They guide you through every stage of the process:

• Editing: From developmental feedback to final proofreading, ensuring your manuscript is ready for market.
• Design: Custom cover and interior layouts that reflect your genre and personal brand.
• Publishing logistics: ISBN registration, copyright, and distribution setup handled in full.
• Marketing: Launch strategies, press releases, promotional materials, and retailer optimization.

Where Lulu focuses on a DIY-first approach — where you’re responsible for sourcing talent, managing timelines, and uploading files — Palmetto takes a service-first, high-touch approach. They manage deadlines, oversee revisions, and keep communication flowing so you can focus on creative decisions instead of technical details.

The biggest draw is the collaborative partnership. You’re not just sending files into a system; you’re having conversations, reviewing proofs, and approving designs alongside professionals who care about your book’s success. It’s a premium experience, and the pricing reflects that — but for many authors, the peace of mind, high production standards, and lack of logistical stress make it a worthwhile investment.

• Standout Feature: Fully guided publishing with a creative partnership that keeps you in control of artistic direction while experts handle execution.
• Why Choose Palmetto Over Lulu: If you want a personal publishing team managing your project from concept to bookstore shelf — with a blend of collaboration and concierge-level service — Palmetto offers a more hands-on, professional experience than Lulu’s self-service setup can provide.

Curious about Palmetto? Read our in-depth review of Palmetto.

Smashwords — The Wide Ebook Distribution Pioneer

Trustpilot Rating: 3.9/5 (200+ reviews)

Smashwords has been a major player in the ebook self-publishing world for over a decade, focusing on wide distribution to dozens of online retailers and library systems. While Lulu offers both print and ebook options, Smashwords is primarily about getting your digital book everywhere it can possibly go — beyond just Amazon, Apple, or Barnes & Noble.

Through Smashwords, your ebook can reach platforms like Kobo, OverDrive (for libraries), Scribd, and many niche retailers you might not access otherwise. This is particularly attractive for authors who want to diversify beyond Amazon and tap into international and non-traditional markets.

One of Smashwords’ biggest selling points is its free publishing option — you pay nothing upfront and simply split royalties. However, its original formatting requirements were notoriously strict, and while they’ve improved over the years, authors still need to handle their own editing and design. There’s no built-in cover creator, ad management, or AI editing like you’d find on Spines, and no print distribution unless you pair it with a service like IngramSpark or KDP Print.

For direct sales, Smashwords offers a storefront where you can sell ebooks directly to readers, set custom discounts, and even run coupon-based promotions — something Lulu doesn’t offer in the same way.

• Standout Feature: Extensive ebook distribution network with deep library reach.
• Why Choose Smashwords Over Lulu: If your goal is maximum ebook visibility across multiple platforms without worrying about print, Smashwords is a top choice — especially for authors looking to reach libraries and niche markets Lulu doesn’t focus on.

Trafford Publishing — Assisted Self-Publishing with a Long Track Record

Trustpilot Rating: Varies (service quality depends on package and team assigned)

Trafford Publishing is one of the pioneers in the self-publishing space, launching in the 1990s as one of the first companies to offer authors a path to print-on-demand and global distribution without going through traditional publishing gatekeepers. Now part of Author Solutions, Trafford continues to focus on a full-service, package-based approach designed for authors who want human support from start to finish.

When you choose Trafford, you’re assigned a publishing consultant who guides you through every stage — from editing and cover design to interior formatting, ISBN registration, distribution, and even marketing campaigns. Unlike Lulu’s DIY-first model, Trafford handles most of the logistics on your behalf. This can be a relief for authors who don’t have the time, interest, or technical skill to manage multiple vendors or platforms.

Packages can include everything from professional copyediting to custom cover art, plus marketing services like press releases, book trailers, and promotional listings. While it lacks the AI tools, real-time dashboards, or self-serve flexibility of platforms like Spines, Trafford’s service-first philosophy appeals to writers who value having a single, experienced team overseeing their book’s journey.

• Standout Feature: Legacy expertise with hands-on, package-based publishing services for authors who prefer a guided path.
• Why Choose Trafford Over Lulu: If you want a more traditional, concierge-style publishing experience with decades of industry history — and you’re willing to trade some flexibility for personal guidance — Trafford’s classic approach offers a level of support that Lulu’s self-directed setup simply doesn’t.

Which Lulu Alternative Has the Best Tools for You?

Choosing the Right Lulu Alternative

The best Lulu alternative for you will depend on your publishing goals, budget, and how much of the process you want to manage yourself. If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution with editing, design, and marketing built in, platforms like Spines or BookBaby can save you time and reduce the hassle of coordinating multiple vendors. If your priority is bookstore placement and professional-grade print quality, IngramSpark stands out. For speed and Amazon reach, KDP is unmatched, while Smashwords is ideal for authors focused purely on wide ebook distribution. Data-driven authors who want deep analytics might find PublishDrive a better fit, and those seeking a premium, concierge-style experience may prefer Palmetto or Trafford.

Ultimately, the right choice is the one that aligns with your publishing vision, gives you the tools you need to succeed, and helps you spend more time doing what you love — creating.