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Publishing · head to head

BookBaby vs Marq

BookBaby logo

BookBaby

Publishing

Pay-per-book self-publishing service for ebook conversion, print on demand and distribution

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Marq logo

Marq

Publishing

Web-based design and publishing for brand templates

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Marq has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: BookBaby every stage beyond the base package, ISBN registration, expanded distribution, extra proof revisions and editing, is billed separately, so the advertised entry price is rarely the final cost.; Marq enterprise pricing requires sales consultation with no online quotes
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which BookBaby and Marq actually diverge.

Attributes where BookBaby and Marq differ
AttributeBookBabyMarq
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchase per projectfreemium
Free tierNoYes

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Publishing).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in BookBaby

  • Ebook conversion
  • Print on demand
  • ISBN assignment
  • BookBaby Bookshop
  • Editing and cover design add-ons
  • Distribution to major retailers

Only in Marq

Nothing recorded that BookBaby does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

BookBaby

  • A first-time author who wants a single vendor to handle conversion, printing and distribution without learning the formats themselvesnot Marq
  • An author who wants a direct storefront (BookBaby Bookshop) alongside Amazon and Apple Books listingsnot Marq
  • A non-fiction author producing a small print run for events or clients rather than ongoing retail salesnot Marq
  • An author who has a finished manuscript and wants ISBNs assigned and registered under a known publisher of recordnot Marq

Marq

  • Design automation for print materialsnot BookBaby
  • Team-based design collaborationnot BookBaby
  • Brand asset managementnot BookBaby

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

BookBaby

  • Every stage beyond the base package, ISBN registration, expanded distribution, extra proof revisions and editing, is billed separately, so the advertised entry price is rarely the final cost.
  • Unlike Draft2Digital or Kindle Direct Publishing, there is no free tier; authors pay upfront for services regardless of whether the book ever sells a copy.
  • Revision rounds after the first proof are charged per round, which penalises authors who want to iterate on formatting.
  • Editing is priced per word rather than as a flat fee, so a full manuscript edit can cost more than the entire publishing package.
  • It packages services that KDP, Draft2Digital and IngramSpark offer for free or on a royalty-share basis, so cost-conscious authors comfortable with self-formatting pay for convenience they do not need.

Marq

  • Enterprise pricing requires sales consultation with no online quotes
  • 3 project limit on free tier restricts heavy users

Pricing, plan by plan

BookBaby

On request
  • Ebook Publishing$299/one-time
    • Ebook conversion and formatting
    • Distribution to major ebook retailers
    • 100 percent royalties from most retailers
  • Print on Demand$399/one-time
    • Paperback print on demand setup
    • No inventory purchase required
    • Amazon and BookBaby Bookshop listing
  • Print plus Ebook Bundle$2190/one-time
    • Basic cover design
    • Ebook conversion and print on demand
    • A run of printed copies included

Marq

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 25MB storage
    • 3 project limit
    • basic template library
  • Pro$10/month
    • 2GB storage
    • 5 free design imports
    • premium library
  • Team$10/month
    • 2GB+ shared storage
    • 15 free design imports
    • admin/user roles
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Unlimited storage
    • 30+ design imports
    • unlimited automations

Which should you pick?

Choose BookBaby if

  • You need ebook conversion.
  • You also want print on demand.
BookBaby review

Choose Marq if

  • You want to start without paying.
Marq review

Questions people ask

Is BookBaby or Marq better?
Neither clearly leads. BookBaby starts at On request and Marq at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, BookBaby or Marq?
Marq has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for BookBaby and Free for Marq.
Does BookBaby or Marq run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Marq for free?
Yes. Marq has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. BookBaby starts at On request.
What is BookBaby best used for?
BookBaby is most often used for a first-time author who wants a single vendor to handle conversion, printing and distribution without learning the formats themselves, an author who wants a direct storefront (bookbaby bookshop) alongside amazon and apple books listings, a non-fiction author producing a small print run for events or clients rather than ongoing retail sales, an author who has a finished manuscript and wants isbns assigned and registered under a known publisher of record. Of those, a first-time author who wants a single vendor to handle conversion, printing and distribution without learning the formats themselves and an author who wants a direct storefront (bookbaby bookshop) alongside amazon and apple books listings are not what Marq is typically brought in for.
What can BookBaby do that Marq cannot?
BookBaby covers Ebook conversion, Print on demand, ISBN assignment, BookBaby Bookshop.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

BookBaby: Does BookBaby take a cut of royalties?

No for most retailers; authors keep 100 percent of the retailer royalty. BookBaby earns money from the upfront service fees instead.

Marq: What storage limits apply to each paid plan?

Pro and Team plans both include 2GB+ shared storage. Enterprise plans offer unlimited storage. Free plan limited to 25MB.

Source
BookBaby: Can I publish only an ebook without print?

Yes, ebook-only packages start at 299 US dollars and do not require the print on demand package.

Marq: Can I upgrade from monthly to annual billing for cost savings?

Pro and Team plans offer annual billing at $120 per year (equivalent to $10/month), versus month-to-month at $10/month. Contact sales for Enterprise annual options.

Source
BookBaby: Is a BookBaby ISBN owned by me or by BookBaby?

ISBNs are registered with BookBaby listed as the publisher of record unless you supply your own, which affects how the book is catalogued.

Marq: How many team members can be added per plan?

Team plan supports 2-20 licenses with 1 primary user and 1 secondary free license included. Pro plan limited to 1 user. Contact sales for Enterprise member scaling.

Source
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