- Eliza Randall
- 0 min read
Spines vs Scribe Media
Table of Contents
Self-publishing has revolutionized the literary world, allowing authors to independently publish their work without relying on traditional publishing houses.
In this article, we will compare two prominent self-publishing services: Spines and Scribe. Spines, known for its AI-enhanced platform and affordable pricing, and Scribe, recognized for its comprehensive service packages and extensive distribution channels.
Our goal is to provide a detailed comparison of Spines and Scribe to help you decide which platform best suits your publishing needs and budget. Let’s delve into the details and see how Spines and Scribe Media stack up against each other.
Key Differences
- Affordability: Spines packages start at $99/month, and include essential services.
- Production Speed: Spines produces your book in less than 30 days, while Scribe with their elite publishing packages, takes 9 months.
- Ideal For: Spines is open for all authors, whereas Scribe exclusively publishes non-fiction books.
| FEATURE |  |  |
| ⭐ Customer Experience | 4.6 stars | Highly Rated |
| 💸 Affordability | Packages starting from $99/month | Packages starting from $3,000 per month |
| 💰Royalties | 100% | 100% |
| ⏳Production Speed | Less than 30 days | 9 months |
| 🏢 Marketing Services | Comprehensive Marketing ToolKit | Comprehensive Services |
| 🌎 Distribution | Global Distribution | Extensive Distribution |
| 🧑💻 Support | Personal Production Manager | Dedicated Publishing Managers |
| 📚Formats | All Formats Generated by High-Quality AI | All Formats Offered |
| 👍 Ideal For | All authors looking to publish | Professionals & Authors With a High Budget |
Overview of Spines
Founded in 2022, Spines aims to revolutionize the self-publishing industry with its AI-powered platform, providing authors with a seamless publishing experience. By blending advanced technology with human expertise, Spines offers an efficient solution to combat traditional publishing challenges.
Spines offers a comprehensive range of services, including manuscript preparation, editing, book design, formatting, distribution, and marketing. The innovative platform also provides full transparency, allowing authors to track their progress and make informed decisions throughout the publishing journey and providing all necessary services on a single, user-friendly platform.
Pricing for Spines starts at $99 per month, offering an affordable entry point for authors. This subscription includes access to all necessary publishing tools and services, making it a cost-effective solution for those looking to self-publish their books.
Despite entering the market not too long ago, Spines has quickly distinguished itself with a 4.5-star rating on Trustpilot, demonstrating that authors appreciate its modern solution to the outdated publishing world. Publishing an average of 5 books per day, Spines has become one of the leading publishers in the industry.
Spines – Key Features
One of the main differences is that Spines is a publishing platform, with a transparent and user-friendly dashboard that allows authors to easily track and manage their book’s production. With tailored plans that include essential services like editing, copyright protection, and ISBN assignment, Spines makes self-publishing more accessible and affordable for authors.
- User-Friendly Dashboard
- Advanced AI Technology
- Proofreading & Editing
- 100% Royalties
- Cover Design
- Global Distribution
- Marketing
- All Formats Generated (POD, eBooks, Audiobooks)
- Copyright Protection
- Dedicated Support
Does Not Offer
- Currently, it only supports publishing in English.
- The platform is not yet fully intuitive
Overview of Scribe Media
Founded in 2014 by best-selling author Tucker Max, Scribe Media has quickly established itself as a premier professional book publishing service, particularly popular among entrepreneurs, consultants, executives, and other professionals. Scribe Media’s mission is to provide high-quality publishing services that ensure an author’s book achieves maximum reach and impact.
Scribe Media offers a comprehensive range of services, including writing, editing, design, publishing, and marketing. These services are tailored for authors with completed manuscripts who seek to publish their books professionally. Known for its commitment to quality and professionalism, Scribe Media is a preferred option if you have a high budget and are aiming for a polished and impactful book.
However, this level of service comes at a high cost, with packages starting at $18,000. Additionally, Scribe Media’s services are exclusively available for non-fiction books, catering primarily to professionals and thought leaders. The premium pricing of Scribe Media is largely attributed to the detailed attention and personalized support they provide.
Scribe Media – Key Features
Scribe Media focuses on providing end-to-end publishing services, ensuring every aspect of the publishing process is covered.
- Dedicated Support: Comprehensive support throughout the publishing process, with each package including a publishing manager.
- High Quality: Professional writing, editing, and design services from experienced industry experts.
- Comprehensive Publishing Services: Including ghostwriting, editing, cover design, marketing, and audiobook creation.
- 100% Royalties: Authors retain all royalties from their book sales.
Does Not Offer
- Fiction Publishing: Exclusively publishes non-fiction books.
Comparing Affordability
When choosing a self-publishing platform, understanding the pricing and value offered by each service is crucial.
Spines Pricing
Pricing at Spines starts at $120/month or a $1,500 once-off payment. See the packages below:
Spines offers comprehensive and essential services in each package, the main differences being the formats offered and the word limit.
Scribe Pricing
Scribe Media is known for its premium pricing, reflecting the high-quality, professional services it offers. Here are the main packages:
Scribe offers a range of high-end publishing packages, each designed for professionals rather than the average author.
The Scribe Publishing Package, starting at $18,000, focuses on polishing a completed manuscript with services like cover design, interior layout, proofreading, and distribution to major platforms. While Scribe Media’s services are top-tier, the high costs can be prohibitive for many authors.
Spines stands out for its value for money, providing authors with all the necessary services to publish their books at an affordable price while maintaining high quality. In contrast, Scribe’s publishing packages are tailored for professionals with higher budgets, offering exceptional services.
Publishing Timeline
Spines boasts a significantly expedited timeline of under 30 days, facilitated by their use of cutting-edge technology for tasks such as editing and formatting. This technological advantage enables professionals to perform their duties more efficiently and effectively.
Scribe Media typically takes 6 to 9 months to publish a book, reflecting their meticulous and comprehensive approach to ensure high-quality results. This timeline stands out as much longer than that of other self-publishing companies but still much faster than the traditional publishing route.
Royalties
Both Spines and Scribe offer 100% royalties. With Spines you start earning royalties once your total sales exceed $25. Spines has a simple dashboard where you can easily track your royalties as well as easily withdraw to your account.
However, if you publish with Scribe Media, you will receive your royalties directly from the sales channels used, such as Amazon or other online retailers. Payment schedules and withdrawal options are dictated depending on the specific distributor’s policies. You have to track your sales and royalties through the respective sales channel dashboards.
Marketing Services
Spines provides a comprehensive marketing toolkit, including book marketing courses and a personalized author platform designed to drive sales and enhance book engagement. Authors can tailor their marketing investments to fit their budgets and monitor sales performance through a dedicated dashboard, ensuring effective promotion and reader engagement.
Similarly, Scribe Media offers robust marketing and promotional support. Authors benefit from strategic marketing plans, social media promotions, and targeted advertising campaigns. Scribe also excels in distribution services, facilitating the placement of books in major online and physical bookstores.
While both Spines and Scribe offer excellent marketing services, Scribe’s packages are specifically tailored for professionals, excelling in creating impactful author ad campaigns.
POD & Distribution
Spines offers convenient Print-on-Demand services, allowing you to order directly through your account. You can select the number of copies you want, and they will be delivered straight to your doorstep, making the process seamless and efficient. Spines provides extensive distribution channels, partnering with major retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. With these comprehensive distribution networks, your book can be available in both digital and print formats, catering to a wide range of readers worldwide.
Scribe Media offers extensive print-on-demand (POD) and distribution services. They handle both eBook and print book production, ensuring manuscripts are converted into various formats suitable for different platforms. Their distribution network also includes major online retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books, facilitated through partnerships with IngramSpark, ensuring global availability.
Support Services
Both Spines and Scribe offer dedicated support if you choose to publish with them.
Spines provides comprehensive support throughout the publishing process, assigning each author a personal production manager who offers tailored guidance from manuscript submission to final publication, ensuring a seamless experience.
Similarly, Scribe Media offers extensive support through dedicated publishing managers who guide authors through every stage, from manuscript preparation to final publication. This hands-on approach, provided by a professional team including editors, designers, and marketers, justifies Scribe’s premium pricing.
Spines or Scribe? Who Should You Choose?
When choosing between Spines and Scribe, consider your budget and desired level of involvement.
Spines offers excellent value for money with a transparent, user-friendly platform that allows authors to track their book’s progress, royalties, and marketing journey. Their services include editing, cover design, distribution, and book conversion, starting at just $99 per month. Spines ensures high-quality publishing and 100% royalties, with a global distribution network and comprehensive marketing services, all within a short timeframe.
Scribe Media provides a high-quality, all-inclusive publishing experience with significant upfront costs, ideal for professionals like entrepreneurs, consultants, and executives. Scribe excels in top-tier production, extensive support, and superior marketing plans, making it perfect for those with larger budgets. However, its hands-off approach and high costs may not suit authors who prefer more involvement or have tighter budgets.
Both Spines and Scribe offer comprehensive marketing packages, formatting options, and 100% royalties. The key difference is that Spines is more affordable and efficient, while Scribe caters to those seeking premium services with a higher budget.
Schedule a Free 15 Minute Call With Spines
If Spines seems like a good fit for your needs, schedule a free 15-minute call with their publishing experts to get more details on how to effectively publish your book. Visit their website to discover their innovative publishing platform.