Best Book Publishing Platforms
Apple Books alternatives
7 tools scored in the same category. 3 score higher than Apple Books's 2.8/5.
Ranked by independent composite score, not by payment. Nobody on this page paid to be here.
Before you switch — what Apple Books does well
- Audiobook distribution and digital narration
- Smooth integration with Apple devices
- Marketing and promotional tools
And where it was marked down
- More accommodating formatting and content guidelines could lower rejection rates and approval time
Global print-on-demand platform for direct-to-consumer book publishing and retail distribution
Scores 0.2 higher than Apple Books
A comprehensive distribution and automated formatting platform for independent authors and publishers
Scores 0.2 higher than Apple Books
Global self-publishing platform for distributing ebooks and print books via Amazon
Scores 0.1 higher than Apple Books
The premier storefront for independent e-books, offering authors 75% royalties and global distribution via Draft2Digital. (Now: Acquired by Draft2Digital in March 2022; as of 2026, Smashwords functions primarily as a storefront brand while its publishing and distribution backend is fully integrated into the Draft2Digital platform.)
Scores 0.1 lower than Apple Books
A global digital bookstore providing extensive reach for ebooks and AI-powered audiobook distribution
Scores 0.2 lower than Apple Books
AI-powered publishing platform that streamlines book production from manuscript to distribution in under 30 days. (Now: Rebranded from Boox.ai in early 2024 to better represent its role as the foundational backbone (spine) of the publishing process.)
Scores 0.2 lower than Apple Books
Enterprise cloud platform for creating and distributing secure interactive educational eBooks
Scores 0.3 lower than Apple Books
Common questions
What is the best alternative to Apple Books?
On Benchmark Grid's independent scoring, Lulu is the highest-scoring alternative in Best Book Publishing Platforms at 3.0/5, against Apple Books at 2.8/5. Which is right for you depends on your publication's size, revenue model and vertical.
Why would a publisher move away from Apple Books?
Our editors flagged: More accommodating formatting and content guidelines could lower rejection rates and approval time. Whether those matter depends on your setup — many publishers run Apple Books successfully despite them.
Are these alternatives ranked by paid placement?
No. Every tool here is ranked by a composite score set by SODP's editorial team across 12 criteria. Vendors cannot pay for inclusion, for a score, or for a position on this page.
