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BookBaby vs Moon Reader

BookBaby logo

BookBaby

Publishing

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

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Moon Reader logo

Moon Reader

Publishing

Android ebook reader app with a one-time purchase, deep format support and no subscription or store lock-in

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Moon Reader 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.; Moon Reader it is Android only, so it is not an option for iOS, Kindle hardware or desktop-first readers.
  • They diverge on capability: BookBaby covers Ebook conversion, Moon Reader covers Broad format support.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which BookBaby and Moon Reader actually diverge.

Attributes where BookBaby and Moon Reader differ
AttributeBookBabyMoon Reader
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchase per projectOne-time purchase, free ad-supported version available
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebAndroid

Identical on both: 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 Moon Reader

  • Broad format support
  • OPDS support
  • Deep customisation
  • Cloud sync
  • Reading statistics
  • Text-to-speech

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 Moon Reader
  • An author who wants a direct storefront (BookBaby Bookshop) alongside Amazon and Apple Books listingsnot Moon Reader
  • A non-fiction author producing a small print run for events or clients rather than ongoing retail salesnot Moon Reader
  • An author who has a finished manuscript and wants ISBNs assigned and registered under a known publisher of recordnot Moon Reader

Moon Reader

  • An Android user with an existing library of EPUB or comic files who wants a better reader than their store app providesnot BookBaby
  • Someone running a personal Calibre server who wants OPDS access from their phonenot BookBaby
  • A reader who wants extensive font, theme and page-turn customisation not offered by store-bound appsnot BookBaby
  • Someone who does not want a subscription and would rather pay once for a reading tool they already have content fornot 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.

Moon Reader

  • It is Android only, so it is not an option for iOS, Kindle hardware or desktop-first readers.
  • It sells no books itself, so it is only useful to someone who already has an ebook acquisition method, whether purchase, library OPDS or personal files.
  • The interface and settings menus are dense and dated compared with polished store apps like Kobo or the Everand app.
  • Development has slowed at times, and users have reported gaps between updates for newer Android versions.
  • There is no cloud account tying your library and progress together across devices beyond what you configure manually via Dropbox or Drive.

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

Moon Reader

Free
  • Moon ReaderFree
    • Ad-supported
    • Most core reading features included
  • Moon Reader+$4.99/one-time
    • No ads
    • Additional customisation and font options
    • One-time purchase, no subscription

Which should you pick?

Choose BookBaby if

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

Choose Moon Reader if

  • You need broad format support.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Android.
  • You also want opds support.
Moon Reader review

Questions people ask

Is BookBaby or Moon Reader better?
Neither clearly leads. BookBaby starts at On request and Moon Reader at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, BookBaby or Moon Reader?
Moon Reader has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for BookBaby and Free for Moon Reader.
Does BookBaby or Moon Reader run on more platforms?
BookBaby runs on Web. Moon Reader runs on Android.
Can I use Moon Reader for free?
Yes. Moon Reader 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 Moon Reader is typically brought in for.
What can BookBaby do that Moon Reader cannot?
BookBaby covers Ebook conversion, Print on demand, ISBN assignment, BookBaby Bookshop. Moon Reader covers Broad format support, OPDS support, Deep customisation, Cloud sync.

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.

Moon Reader: Does Moon Reader sell books?

No, it only reads ebook and comic files you already have or add via OPDS, cloud storage or local files.

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.

Moon Reader: Is there a subscription?

No, Moon Reader+ is a one-time purchase; there is also a free ad-supported version.

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.

Moon Reader: Is it available on iOS?

No, Moon Reader is Android only.

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