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Software for Self-Published Authors

The apps and services authors use to write a book, publish it and sell it, in one list. Each one has a BookBird Author Score built from what its own site says it does for an author, what it costs and how widely it is used. Nobody pays to be listed.

Prices and data checked October 7, 2026 · Author Score computed by a published formula, not paid for

Search Free or free plan One-time price Works offline Platform Sort

87 of 87 shown · How the Author Score works

1
Amazon KDP
Amazon's own self-publishing service for Kindle ebooks and print books
Publishing platforms

9.99/9 author jobs

No upfront feeThe platform takes a share of sales

246K+32%searches a month

web
2
IngramSpark
Ingram's print-on-demand and ebook distribution service for independent publishers
Publishing platforms

9.69/9 author jobs

No upfront feeThe platform takes a share of sales

50K+14%searches a month

web
3
Lulu
Print-on-demand publisher with its own bookstore and retail distribution
Publishing platforms

9.29/9 author jobs

No upfront feeThe platform takes a share of sales

5.4K+7%searches a month

web
4
Draft2Digital
Free web formatter inside the Draft2Digital distribution account
Book formatting

9.07/8 author jobs

Free planFree

9.9K+0%searches a month

web
5
Milanote
Visual boards for notes, images, character profiles and story outlines
Story planning & worldbuilding

9.06/7 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $9.99 a month (billed yearly)Free plan + paid plans

91K−12%searches a month

web · Mac · Windows · iOS · Android · browser extension
6
ACX
Audible's marketplace for producing audiobooks and selling them on Audible, Amazon, Apple
Audiobook production

8.95/6 author jobs

No upfront feeThe platform takes a share of sales

2.9K−6%searches a month

web
7
ProWritingAid
Grammar checker and style editor with fiction and manuscript reports
Editing & grammar

8.87/7 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $120 a yearFree plan + paid plans, one-time option

18K−45%searches a month

web · Windows · Mac · browser extension
8
Novlr
Browser-based writing studio with notes, plot grid and author websites
Book writing software

8.78/8 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $8 a month (billed yearly)Free plan + paid plans, one-time option

3.6K+1%searches a month

web
9
Kindle Create
Amazon's free desktop app for formatting Kindle ebooks and KDP print books
Book formatting

8.67/8 author jobs

FreeFree

5.4K−43%searches a month

Windows · Mac
10
Campfire
Modular writing and worldbuilding app with manuscript, maps and timelines
Story planning & worldbuilding

8.56/7 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $12 a monthFree plan + paid plans

2.9K+6%searches a month

web · Mac · Windows · iOS · Android
11
Canva
General online design app with a free book cover maker and templates
Book cover design

8.55/6 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $20 a monthFree plan + paid plans

2.4K−9%searches a month

web · Windows · Mac · iOS · Android
12
StoryOrigin
Author marketing platform for reader magnets, review copies and newsletter swaps
ARC reviews & reader building

8.46/7 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $50 a yearFree plan + paid plans

1K+20%searches a month

web
13
BookCoverZone
Marketplace of premade book covers customised online, each sold once
Book cover design

8.36/6 author jobs

$99 one-timeOne-time licence

110−31%searches a month

web
14
Google Docs
Free browser word processor with real-time co-editing
Book writing software

8.36/8 author jobs

FreeFree

20.4M−54%searches a month

web · iOS · Android
15
DIY Book Covers
AI cover generator, template editor and 3D mockups by designer Derek Murphy
Book cover design

8.25/6 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $19 one-timeSeveral ways to pay, one-time option

880−23%searches a month

web
16
Aeon Timeline
Timeline and story-structure app that syncs with Scrivener and Ulysses
Story planning & worldbuilding

8.17/7 author jobs

$65 one-timeOne-time licence

1K−4%searches a month

Mac · Windows · iOS
17
Grammarly
AI writing assistant checking grammar, spelling and tone across apps
Editing & grammar

8.15/7 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $144 a yearFree plan + paid plans

2.7M−61%searches a month

Windows · Mac · web · iOS · Android · browser extension
18
Author's Republic
Audiobook production marketplace and wide, non-exclusive distributor
Audiobook production

8.04/6 author jobs

No upfront feeThe platform takes a share of sales

1K+30%searches a month

web
19
AutoCrit
Online manuscript editor with fiction-focused editing reports and story analysis
Editing & grammar

8.06/7 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $180 a yearFree plan + paid plans

4.4K−24%searches a month

web
20
BookSirens
ARC service promoting review copies to 51,000+ reviewers, plus free private ARCs
ARC reviews & reader building

8.05/7 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $10 one-timeSeveral ways to pay, one-time option

4.4K+31%searches a month

web
21
World Anvil
Browser-based worldbuilding platform with wiki articles, maps, timelines and manuscripts
Story planning & worldbuilding

8.05/7 author jobs

Free planFree plan + paid plans

27K−18%searches a month

web
22
Draft2Digital
Ebook and paperback distributor to many stores and libraries, owns Smashwords
Publishing platforms

7.97/9 author jobs

$12 a yearSeveral ways to pay

9.9K+0%searches a month

web
23
Blurb
Print-on-demand platform for photo books, trade books and magazines
Publishing platforms

7.87/9 author jobs

No upfront feeThe platform takes a share of sales

2.9K−29%searches a month

web
24
LegendKeeper
Worldbuilding wiki with interactive maps, timelines and whiteboards in the browser
Story planning & worldbuilding

7.85/7 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $90 a yearSubscription

2.9K+7%searches a month

web
25
LivingWriter
Cloud writing app with planning boards, story templates and optional AI
Book writing software

7.87/8 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $179 a yearFree plan + paid plans

1.3K−29%searches a month

web · Windows · Mac · iOS · Android
26
Prolific Works
Ebook giveaway platform for reader magnets, ARCs and group giveaways
ARC reviews & reader building

7.86/7 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $20 a monthFree plan + paid plans

260−36%searches a month

web
27
Sudowrite
Browser-based AI writing partner built for fiction authors
AI writing tools for fiction

7.87/7 author jobs

$10 a month (billed yearly)Subscription

22K+0%searches a month

web
28
Barnes & Noble Press
Barnes & Noble's self-publishing portal for ebooks and print books
Publishing platforms

7.76/9 author jobs

No upfront feeThe platform takes a share of sales

15K+7%searches a month

web
29
ElevenLabs
AI voice platform that narrates manuscripts and publishes to ElevenReader and partners
Audiobook production

7.74/6 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $6 a monthFree plan + paid plans

260+129%searches a month

web
30
Scrivener
Desktop and iOS app for drafting and structuring long manuscripts
Book writing software

7.77/8 author jobs

$59.99 one-timeOne-time licence

720+0%searches a month

Mac · Windows · iOS
31
Ulysses
Markdown-based writing app for Mac, iPad and iPhone
Book writing software

7.67/8 author jobs

$39.99 a yearSeveral ways to pay

1K−1%searches a month

Mac · iOS
32
PublishDrive
Subscription aggregator for ebook, print-on-demand and audiobook distribution
Publishing platforms

7.57/9 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $16.99 a month (billed yearly)Free plan + paid plans

880−47%searches a month

web
33
Publisher Rocket
Desktop app for Amazon book keyword, category and competitor research
KDP research & sales tracking

7.55/7 author jobs

$199 one-timeOne-time licence

1.9K−24%searches a month

Windows · Mac · Chromebook
34
Storyist
Mac and iOS writing app for novels and screenplays
Book writing software

7.57/8 author jobs

$19 one-timeOne-time licence

260−46%searches a month

Mac · iOS
35
KDSpy
Browser extension for Amazon book category, keyword and competitor research
KDP research & sales tracking

7.45/7 author jobs

$79 one-timeOne-time licence

590−47%searches a month

browser extension
36
LanguageTool
Multilingual grammar, spelling and style checker for 30+ languages
Editing & grammar

7.35/7 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $69.90 a yearFree plan + paid plans

8.1K−42%searches a month

web · browser extension · Windows · Mac · iOS
37
Microsoft Word
General word processor in Microsoft 365, desktop, web and mobile
Book writing software

7.35/8 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $179.99 one-timeSeveral ways to pay, one-time option

1M−44%searches a month

Windows · Mac · iOS · Android · web
38
Book Brush
Browser-based design app for book covers, ads and mockups for authors
Book cover design

7.25/6 author jobs

$149 a yearSubscription

1.6K−16%searches a month

web
39
Plot Factory
Browser-based story planner and manuscript editor with narration and exports
Story planning & worldbuilding

7.25/7 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $90 a yearFree plan + paid plans

390−38%searches a month

web
40
yWriter
Free Windows novel organiser that splits a book into scenes
Book writing software

7.26/8 author jobs

Free planSeveral ways to pay

2.4K−36%searches a month

Windows · Android · iOS
41
bibisco
Desktop novel planner and editor focused on characters and structure
Book writing software

7.16/8 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $69 one-timeSeveral ways to pay, one-time option

720−40%searches a month

Windows · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
42
Booksprout
ARC platform sending review copies to its reviewer community, with review tracking
ARC reviews & reader building

7.14/7 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $9 a monthSubscription

4.4K+0%searches a month

web
43
Plottr
Visual book outlining and series bible app for desktop and browser
Story planning & worldbuilding

7.17/7 author jobs

$150 one-timeSeveral ways to pay, one-time option

2.9K−17%searches a month

Windows · Mac · web
44
Vellum
Mac app that turns a Word manuscript into styled ebooks and print PDFs
Book formatting

7.18/8 author jobs

$199.99 one-timeOne-time licence

320+34%searches a month

Mac
45
Atticus
Browser-based book writing editor and formatter for ebook and print
Book writing softwareBook formatting

7.06/8 author jobs

$147 one-timeOne-time licence

1K+25%searches a month

Windows · Mac · Linux · Chromebook · web · iOS · Android
46
Marlowe
AI developmental-feedback reports on a finished fiction manuscript
Editing & grammar

7.05/7 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $29.95 one-timeSeveral ways to pay, one-time option

30+50%searches a month

web
47
Voices by INaudio
Non-exclusive distributor of finished audiobooks to retail, library and education channels
Audiobook production

7.03/6 author jobs

No upfront feeThe platform takes a share of sales

1.6K−27%searches a month

web
48
BookBeam
Web app and Chrome extension for KDP niche, keyword and sales research
KDP research & sales tracking

6.96/7 author jobs

$348 a yearSubscription

880−8%searches a month

web · browser extension
49
Reedsy Studio
Free browser book editor that typesets print PDF and EPUB
Book writing softwareBook formatting

6.85/8 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $52.99 a year (add-on)Free plan + paid plans

5.4K−13%searches a month

web
50
Bookow
Web service that typesets a Word manuscript into print PDF and EPUB
Book formatting

6.76/8 author jobs

$80 one-timeOne-time licence

320−24%searches a month

web
51
Google Play auto-narration
Free AI narration that turns Google Play ebooks into audiobooks
Audiobook production

6.73/6 author jobs

No upfront feeThe platform takes a share of sales

no search data

web
52
Kindle Virtual Voice
KDP beta that turns eligible Kindle ebooks into computer-narrated Audible audiobooks
Audiobook production

6.73/6 author jobs

No upfront feeThe platform takes a share of sales

no search data

web
53
Kobo Writing Life
Rakuten Kobo's free portal for self-publishing ebooks and audiobooks
Publishing platforms

6.75/9 author jobs

No upfront feeThe platform takes a share of sales

1K+10%searches a month

web
54
Manuskript
Free open-source novel planner and editor using the snowflake method
Book writing software

6.75/8 author jobs

FreeFree

1.3K−7%searches a month

Windows · Linux
55
Titans Pro
Self Publishing Titans' KDP keyword tool and Chrome extension inside a wider suite
KDP research & sales tracking

6.74/7 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $180 a yearFree plan + paid plans

260−30%searches a month

web · browser extension
56
BookFunnel
Ebook and audiobook delivery service for reader magnets, ARCs and direct sales
ARC reviews & reader building

6.66/7 author jobs

$30 a yearSubscription

12K−18%searches a month

web
57
Hemingway Editor
Readability editor that highlights hard sentences, adverbs and passive voice
Editing & grammar

6.64/7 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $19.99 one-timeSeveral ways to pay, one-time option

12K−52%searches a month

web · Windows · Mac
58
KDP Cover Creator
Amazon KDP's free built-in cover builder used during title setup
Book cover design

6.63/6 author jobs

FreeFree

390+8%searches a month

web
59
Affinity
Free all-in-one design app by Canva with a page-layout studio
Book formattingBook cover design

6.53/8 author jobs

FreeFree

12K−3%searches a month

Windows · Mac
60
BookBaby
Paid self-publishing packages with ebook and print distribution
Publishing platforms

6.56/9 author jobs

Not confirmed in USDOne-time licence

6.6K−23%searches a month

web
61
Novelcrafter
Web novel-writing app with a codex and bring-your-own-key AI
Book writing softwareAI writing tools for fiction

6.55/8 author jobs

$4 a monthSubscription

8.1K+0%searches a month

web
62
RaptorWrite
Free browser AI writing editor where you bring your own model key
AI writing tools for fiction

6.54/7 author jobs

FreeFree

210−43%searches a month

web
63
Book Bolt
KDP research suite plus cover, interior and puzzle book designer
KDP research & sales tracking

6.44/7 author jobs

$239.88 a yearSubscription

9.9K−29%searches a month

web · browser extension
64
Calibre
Free open-source e-book manager, converter and EPUB/Kindle editor
Book formatting

6.43/8 author jobs

FreeFree

3.6K+33%searches a month

Windows · Mac · Linux
65
Google Play Books
Google's portal for selling ebooks and audiobooks on Google Play
Publishing platforms

6.44/9 author jobs

No upfront feeThe platform takes a share of sales

1.3K+135%searches a month

web
66
Dabble
Cloud novel-writing app with plot grid, notes and offline sync
Book writing software

6.17/8 author jobs

$19 a monthSubscription, one-time option

1.9K+12%searches a month

Windows · Mac · Linux · Chromebook · web · iOS · Android
67
Dramatica
Story-structure platform built on Dramatica theory, with optional AI
Story planning & worldbuilding

6.13/7 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $100 a yearFree plan + paid plans

1.3K−13%searches a month

web
68
Wavemaker
Free progressive web app for planning and writing novels
Book writing software

5.94/8 author jobs

FreeFree

170+18%searches a month

web
69
Apple Books
Apple's free portal for selling ebooks and audiobooks on Apple Books
Publishing platforms

5.63/9 author jobs

No upfront feeThe platform takes a share of sales

260+98%searches a month

web
70
EditGPT
AI proofreader and editor that returns Word files with tracked changes
Editing & grammar

5.64/7 author jobs

$96 a yearSubscription

1.9K+31%searches a month

web · browser extension
71
Slick Write
Free browser-based grammar and style checker with flow statistics
Editing & grammar

5.63/7 author jobs

FreeFree

1K−74%searches a month

web · browser extension
72
Sigil
Free open-source EPUB editor with code and preview views
Book formatting

5.42/8 author jobs

FreeFree

590+27%searches a month

Windows · Mac · Linux
73
Squibler
AI book and screenplay generator with an editor, on credits
Book writing softwareAI writing tools for fiction

5.43/8 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $15.83 a month (billed yearly)Free plan + paid plans

8.1K−53%searches a month

web
74
Adobe InDesign
Adobe's professional page-layout app for print and digital publishing
Book formatting

5.33/8 author jobs

Not confirmed in USDSubscription

22K−28%searches a month

Windows · Mac
75
Scapple
Freeform mind-mapping app for writers, from the makers of Scrivener
Story planning & worldbuilding

5.22/7 author jobs

$20.99 one-timeOne-time licence

2.9K−19%searches a month

Mac · Windows
76
NetGalley
Digital review-copy platform connecting publishers and authors with reviewers and librarians
ARC reviews & reader building

5.12/7 author jobs

Not confirmed in USDSubscription

74K+30%searches a month

web
77
PerfectIt
Consistency and house-style checker for long documents, from Intelligent Editing
Editing & grammar

5.14/7 author jobs

$115 a yearSubscription

1.3K−14%searches a month

Windows · Mac
78
Adobe Express
Adobe's template-based online design app with a free book cover maker
Book cover design

4.81/6 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $7.99 a monthFree plan + paid plans

90+46%searches a month

web · iOS · Android
79
Voracious Readers Only
Matches novels with readers who request copies and are asked to review
ARC reviews & reader building

4.82/7 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $30 a monthSeveral ways to pay

110−46%searches a month

web
80
Hidden Gems Books
Pay-per-reader ARC program that sends books to a genre-matched reviewer list
ARC reviews & reader building

4.73/7 author jobs

$20 one-timeOne-time licence

390+15%searches a month

web
81
ScribeCount
Royalty and sales dashboard pulling data from 40+ publishing platforms
KDP research & sales tracking

4.62/7 author jobs

$5.99 a monthSubscription

90−41%searches a month

web · browser extension
82
StreetLib
Milan-founded aggregator distributing ebooks and audiobooks worldwide
Publishing platforms

4.65/9 author jobs

$99 a yearSeveral ways to pay, one-time option

390+30%searches a month

web
83
BookBub Partners
BookBub's paid and free promotion tools for authors and publishers
ARC reviews & reader building

4.51/7 author jobs

Free planSeveral ways to pay

720−23%searches a month

web
84
Fictionary
Story-structure editing software for novelists, with AI scene feedback
Editing & grammar

4.44/7 author jobs

$168 a yearSubscription

880−23%searches a month

web
85
BookReport
Sales and royalty dashboard for KDP and other publishing platforms
KDP research & sales tracking

4.01/7 author jobs

Free plan; paid from $19 a monthFree plan + paid plans

10+0%searches a month

web · browser extension
86
K-lytics
Monthly Kindle market reports and genre data by category
KDP research & sales tracking

3.32/7 author jobs

$37 a monthSubscription

140+18%searches a month

web
87
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe's professional image editor for desktop, web and mobile
Book cover design

2.21/6 author jobs

$19.99 a monthSubscription

70−56%searches a month

Windows · Mac · web · iOS · Android

Prices in USD from each vendor’s own site, checked October 7, 2026. Searches: US Google searches a month for the product’s name, with the change over 12 months. Score out of 10, by one published formula; nobody pays to be listed.

Software by job

A self-published book passes through several kinds of software: something to draft it in, something to plan it, a check on the prose, a formatter for the ebook and print files, a cover, a store to sell it in, and tools to find readers. Each category has its own page with the full ranking and a short guide to choosing.

Write

Publish

Sell

Free tools for the numbers

Software helps you write and publish the book. For the numbers around it, our free tools work in your browser with no sign-up: the words to pages calculator for page count, the cover calculator for spine width and cover size, and the royalty calculator for what you earn per copy on Amazon.

How the Author Score works

Every score comes from one published formula: author jobs (50 points: the jobs an author needs that kind of software to do, counted only when the vendor’s own site confirms them), cost (25 points: what a year of use costs one author) and adoption (25 points: how many people in the US search for it by name, and the trend). Each product is compared only with others in its category. Nobody pays to be listed, and no score is adjusted by hand.

The formula, step by step, with every product’s points