- Eliza Randall
- 0 min read
Reedsy VS Lulu Publishing
Table of Contents
When choosing a self-publishing platform, both Lulu and Reedsy offer distinct advantages. Lulu is ideal for authors seeking an affordable, straightforward way to publish with print-on-demand and global distribution. It’s perfect if you want to retain control while keeping costs low, offering high royalties and no minimum orders.
Reedsy, on the other hand, connects you with vetted freelancers for services like editing, cover design, and marketing. It’s a great choice if you’re looking to polish your book with professional help, though you’ll need to manage printing and distribution separately.
Deciding between these two platforms depends on whether you prioritize affordability and simplicity (Lulu) or professional quality (Reedsy).
Key Differences:
- Publishing Model: Lulu offers a print-on-demand service with global distribution, while Reedsy is a freelancer marketplace, connecting authors with professionals for editing, design, and marketing.
- Costs: Lulu is free to use for basic publishing, with costs only for printed copies or optional services. Reedsy can be more expensive, as authors must hire freelancers for each service they need.
- Distribution: Lulu handles direct distribution to major retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, whereas Reedsy does not offer distribution, requiring authors to find other platforms for sales.
| FEATURE |  |  |
| 💸 Affordability | Varies by Service | Free basic services, transparent pricing, optional paid services |
| 📚 Service Model | Marketplace Offering Publishing Services | Comprehensive self-publishing with a wider range of product options |
| ⏳Production Speed | Varies by services | 6-8 weeks for global distribution approval |
| 🏢 Marketing Services | Freelance Marketing Services | Minimal, author-driven marketing |
| 🌎 POD & Distribution | Does Not Offer – but has partnered with Blurb | Broader, including major retailers and bookstores |
| 🧑💻 Support | Independent Project Managers | Guides, customer support |
| 👍 Ideal For | Authors Looking for Flexibility and Control | Authors needing flexibility and higher royalties |
Overview of Reedsy
Perfect for Professional Quality and Expert Help
Founded in 2014, Reedsy is a unique self-publishing service marketplace designed to connect authors with industry professionals. Reedsy’s mission is to support authors on their self-publishing journey by providing access to a wide range of vetted experts.
Reedsy is an on-demand marketplace where you can hire editors, designers, ghostwriters, marketers, and web designers. Unlike traditional publishing companies, Reedsy provides tools and resources that allow authors to manage their publishing process independently while leveraging professional expertise. The platform ensures that freelancers undergo a vetting process, aiming to offer a selection of qualified and experienced professionals.
Reedsy is highly rated on Trustpilot, with a 4.6-star rating, reflecting the positive experiences of numerous authors. The flexibility and variety of services available on Reedsy make it an attractive option to maintain control over your publishing process.
However, utilizing Reedsy’s services involves costs associated with hiring freelancers, which can add up quickly. Additionally, Reedsy does not offer a comprehensive, all-in-one publishing solution, requiring authors to independently manage certain aspects of the process.
Reedsy – Key Features
Reedsy offers a range of professional services through its marketplace, catering to various stages of the publishing process. Key features include:
- Access to Professional Editors, Designers, and Marketers: Connects authors with skilled professionals for book production and promotion.
- Verified Professionals: Freelancers undergo a vetting process to ensure quality and reliability.
- Variety of Services: Including ghostwriting, marketing, web design, and educational content.
- Free Tools: Offers tools like the Reedsy BookEditor and plot generator.
Does Not Offer
- Costs Can Add Up: While Reedsy offers professional services, hiring multiple freelancers can quickly become expensive, especially for new authors on a budget.
- No Distribution Services: Reedsy doesn’t handle printing or distribution directly, so you’ll need to partner with another platform (like Lulu or Blurb) for that.
- Lack of Centralized Support: Reedsy is great for authors with experience in project management, but for first-time authors, it can feel overwhelming to manage multiple freelancers without a central support system.
Overview of Lulu
Ideal for Affordability and Control
Lulu Publishing is a versatile self-publishing platform that caters to independent authors, small publishers, and creators looking for a range of product options. Founded in 2002, Lulu offers a free-to-use platform for book creation and distribution, allowing authors to publish without any upfront costs. One of its standout features is the high royalty rates, with authors retaining 80% of profits from print book sales and 90% from eBooks. Additionally, Lulu has no minimum order requirement, enabling authors to print as few or as many copies as needed. The platform supports global distribution, making books available through major retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as other online and physical stores. Lulu also provides comprehensive print-on-demand services, ensuring books are printed only when ordered, which helps manage costs and avoid excess inventory.
Lulu – Key Features
- Free to Use: No upfront costs for book creation and distribution.
- High Royalties: Authors retain a significant percentage of profits (80% for print, 90% for eBooks).
- No Minimum Orders: Flexibility to print as few or as many copies as desired.
- Global Distribution: Access to major retailers and online stores, along with print-on-demand options.
Does Not Offer
- Basic Production Tools: Lulu’s production services are limited to basic formatting and cover design tools. You’ll need to handle most of the editing and design work yourself.
- No Marketing Support: Lulu doesn’t offer marketing services, meaning you’ll need to handle promotion on your own.
- Learning Curve: Some users find Lulu’s platform complex to navigate, especially if they’re new to self-publishing.
Affordability
When it comes to affordability, Lulu and Reedsy offer very different pricing structures, making them suitable for different types of budgets.
Lulu is known for being one of the most affordable self-publishing platforms. It’s free to use for creating, printing, and distributing your book, with no upfront costs required. You only pay for printed copies when you order them, and Lulu takes a 20% commission on print book profits and 10% on eBooks. This makes it a budget-friendly option for authors who want to keep costs low while still maintaining access to global distribution. Plus, Lulu’s print-on-demand model means you don’t need to worry about paying for inventory or managing large print runs.
Reedsy, on the other hand, can become more expensive. The platform itself is free to join, but the costs start to add up as you hire freelancers for services such as editing, design, and marketing. Each service comes with its own price, and these fees can vary significantly depending on the professional you choose. While Reedsy allows you to work with top-tier experts, these services might stretch your budget if you’re a new or self-funded author. Additionally, since Reedsy doesn’t offer printing or distribution, you may need to pay for those services separately through other platforms.
In short, Lulu is the better option for authors focused on affordability, while Reedsy provides higher-quality services but at a potentially much higher cost. Your choice depends on whether you’re more focused on minimizing expenses or enhancing the professional quality of your book.
Publishing Timelines
When it comes to publishing timelines, Lulu and Reedsy operate on different schedules based on the services they offer.
Lulu provides a relatively quick turnaround for self-publishers. Once your manuscript is ready and uploaded, the print-on-demand process ensures that your book can be available for global distribution in as little as 6 to 8 weeks. The timeline largely depends on how quickly you finalize your book’s design and formatting.
With Reedsy, timelines are more variable. Since Reedsy connects you with individual freelancers for services like editing, design, or marketing, the speed at which your book is ready depends on the availability and workflow of the professionals you hire. Each stage—editing, design, marketing—adds time, making the process more flexible but potentially longer than Lulu, especially if multiple rounds of revisions are needed.
In summary, Lulu offers a quicker, streamlined path to distribution, while Reedsy provides flexible but potentially lengthier timelines due to the involvement of multiple freelancers.
Marketing Services
When it comes to marketing, Lulu and Reedsy take very different approaches.
Lulu offers minimal marketing support. Authors are largely responsible for promoting their own books. Lulu’s primary marketing tool is its global distribution, making your book available on platforms like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, but any additional marketing efforts, such as social media promotion or building an audience, are up to you. This can make Lulu a better fit for authors with existing marketing plans or those comfortable with self-promotion.
Reedsy, by contrast, connects authors with freelance marketing professionals. You can hire experts to craft a tailored marketing strategy, handle social media, set up email campaigns, or create advertising plans. While these services come at an additional cost, they offer a more personalized and professional approach to marketing, ideal for authors who want hands-on help with book promotion.
In short, Lulu offers basic distribution-focused exposure, while Reedsy allows for a more targeted, professional marketing strategy if you’re willing to invest.
POD & Distribution
Lulu excels in print-on-demand (POD) and distribution. Its POD service allows you to print books only when orders are placed, eliminating the need for large upfront investments in inventory. Lulu also offers global distribution through major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Ingram, ensuring your book can reach readers worldwide in both print and digital formats.
Reedsy, however, does not offer POD or direct distribution services. While you can hire freelancers for design or formatting, you’ll need to use a separate platform, like Blurb or Lulu, for printing and distributing your book. This adds an extra step to the process, making Reedsy more suited for authors focused on professional production rather than seamless distribution.
In short, Lulu is a one-stop solution for POD and distribution, while Reedsy requires you to handle those aspects independently.
Support Services
When it comes to support services, Lulu offers a more guided experience for authors. Lulu provides a range of help articles, video tutorials, and access to a customer support team to assist with the publishing process. For authors who may need guidance through the technical aspects of formatting, uploading, or distribution, Lulu’s support resources can be quite helpful.
Reedsy, on the other hand, offers less centralized support. While the platform connects you with professional freelancers, project management is largely left to the author. You’ll be responsible for coordinating the work of different professionals and ensuring everything stays on track. However, Reedsy does offer educational content and free tools like the Reedsy BookEditor, which can be useful for self-directed authors.
Lulu Publishing vs. Reedsy: Which One Should You Choose?
Deciding between Lulu and Reedsy depends on your goals and how much you’re willing to invest in your self-publishing journey.
If you’re looking for an affordable, straightforward option, Lulu provides a solid all-in-one solution. With print-on-demand and global distribution, it allows you to publish without upfront costs and manage your own process, making it ideal for authors seeking control and flexibility. However, Lulu’s tools are fairly basic, and marketing support is limited, meaning you’ll need to handle much of the promotion yourself.
On the other hand, Reedsy offers a more polished, professional approach. By connecting you with highly-vetted editors, designers, and marketers, Reedsy enables you to create a top-quality book that stands out. While costs can be higher and distribution requires additional steps, the personalized services offered by Reedsy can help you produce a book that looks and feels professional, giving you an edge in the competitive self-publishing market.
In short, Lulu is great for authors who want affordability and simplicity, but Reedsy allows you to take your book to the next level with professional expertise. If quality is a priority, Reedsy might be the better choice.
Learn More About Reedsy
If Reedsy sounds like the right fit for your publishing needs, check out their website to connect with professional publishing experts. Discover how Reedsy’s marketplace can help turn your book into a polished masterpiece with top-notch services from experienced professionals.