Self-publishing guides for authors
Straight-talking guides to self-publishing — how to publish a book, which companies and platforms to use, what it costs, royalties, pricing, ISBNs and formats. Written by the Ebokio Publishing team, accurate to how the platform actually works, and honest about everyone else.
Free tools
Ebook royalty calculator
Net per copy on KDP, Kobo, Apple, Google, Draft2Digital and Ebokio at your price — each platform's own rules, dated and sourced.
CalculatorEbook price calculator
A launch price from genre, series position and goal — with the £1.77 Amazon and £1.99 Kobo royalty cliffs built in.
CheckerEPUB checker
The pre-flight stores run before accepting a book — container, navigation, missing files, metadata, DRM. In your browser; nothing is uploaded.
ConverterDOCX to EPUB converter
A clean, validated EPUB 3 from your Word manuscript — chapters from your headings, images kept. On your device; nothing is uploaded.
Self-publishing, explained
Start here · Self-publishing, explainedSelf-Publishing in 2026: How It Works, Start to Finish
Self-publishing, explained: what it is, the five stages, what it costs, what you earn per sale, where to publish, and whether it is worth it in 2026.
Self-publishing, explainedSelf-Publishing vs Traditional Publishing
Compare self‑publishing and traditional publishing with worked examples. See how Ebokio Publishing’s royalties, speed and tools differ in practice.
Platforms and comparisons
Start here · Platforms & comparisonBest Self-Publishing Companies in 2026: 14 Compared
Compare 14 self-publishing companies on cost, royalties, distribution and payouts — retailers, aggregators, print-on-demand, full-service — and pick yours.
Platforms & comparisonBest Self-Publishing Companies in the UK (2026)
Ten UK self-publishing companies compared in pounds — KDP, Kobo, IngramSpark, Troubador, PublishNation and more — plus VAT, Nielsen ISBNs, legal deposit, PLR.
Platforms & comparisonBest KDP Alternatives in 2026: 8 Compared
Eight KDP alternatives compared on royalties, fees, reach and payouts — Kobo, Apple, Google, B&N, D2D, PublishDrive, IngramSpark and Ebokio — honestly.
Platforms & comparisonHow to Publish a Book for Free in 2026
Free publishing companies for books, compared: the platforms that cost £0 in 2026, what each keeps per sale, what free never covers, and how to publish for £0.
How to publish
Start here · How to publishHow to Self-Publish a Book in 2026: Step-by-Step
How to self-publish a book in 2026, step by step: editing, cover, formatting, metadata, ISBNs, pricing, platforms, upload and review, launch — with real costs.
How to publishHow to Self-Publish a Novel in 2026: 10 Steps
Self-publishing a novel is its own craft: genre packaging, series strategy, KU vs wide, pre-orders, ARC readers and a 90-day launch — in ten honest steps.
How to publishHow to Self-Publish an Ebook in the UK (2026)
Self-publish an ebook in the UK: GBP price bands, 0% ebook VAT, Nielsen ISBNs at £93/£174, HMRC basics, PLR's 12.40p per loan, legal deposit and payouts.
Royalties, pricing and money
Royalties, pricing and moneyEbook Royalties Explained: Every Platform's Maths
Ebook royalties, platform by platform: Amazon's 70% band and delivery fees, Kobo's threshold, the flat-70% stores, and Ebokio's 70–90% of net receipts.
Royalties, pricing and moneyHow Much Does It Cost to Self-Publish a Book?
Self-publishing costs $0–$4,000 in 2026. Real prices for editing, covers, formatting, ISBNs and marketing — plus what "free publishing" actually means.
Royalties, pricing and moneyHow to Price an Ebook in 2026: Bands and Cliffs
How to price an ebook: genre bands in pounds, the £1.77 Amazon and £1.99 Kobo royalty cliffs, series and box-set pricing, and when promotions earn their keep.
Formats, files and ISBNs
Formats, files and ISBNsDo You Need an ISBN to Self-Publish? (2026)
ISBNs for self-publishers: optional for ebooks on every platform, essential for print in shops and libraries, £93 in the UK — and what a free ISBN costs you.
Formats, files and ISBNsEPUB vs DOCX for Self-Publishing: Which to Upload
EPUB vs DOCX for self-publishing: what each format is, which platforms accept which, the Word-to-ebook conversion traps, and when only a real EPUB will do.
