Publishing · head to head
BookBaby vs Webtoon
BookBaby
Publishing
Pay-per-book self-publishing service for ebook conversion, print on demand and distribution
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Webtoon
Publishing
Naver-owned vertical-scroll digital comics platform with a paid-early-access coin system
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Webtoon 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.; Webtoon the Canvas open-publishing tier is largely unpaid or very low-paid for the vast majority of creators, and building a paying audience without an existing platform boost or promotion is difficult, so most work on the platform earns its creator little to nothing.
- They diverge on capability: BookBaby covers Ebook conversion, Webtoon covers Vertical-scroll format.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which BookBaby and Webtoon actually diverge.
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 Webtoon
- Vertical-scroll format
- Fast Pass early access
- Originals programme
- Canvas open publishing
- Webtoon Coins
- Creator dashboard and analytics
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 Webtoon
- An author who wants a direct storefront (BookBaby Bookshop) alongside Amazon and Apple Books listingsnot Webtoon
- A non-fiction author producing a small print run for events or clients rather than ongoing retail salesnot Webtoon
- An author who has a finished manuscript and wants ISBNs assigned and registered under a known publisher of recordnot Webtoon
Webtoon
- A comics reader happy to wait for chapters to become free rather than pay to read aheadnot BookBaby
- A fan of a specific ongoing series wanting to pay for early access to the next few chapters through Fast Passnot BookBaby
- An aspiring comics creator weighing whether to submit to the paid, editorially supported Originals programme or self-publish on the open Canvas tiernot BookBaby
- A reader browsing genre categories such as romance, action or fantasy across a large catalogue of vertical-format seriesnot 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.
Webtoon
- The Canvas open-publishing tier is largely unpaid or very low-paid for the vast majority of creators, and building a paying audience without an existing platform boost or promotion is difficult, so most work on the platform earns its creator little to nothing.
- Fast Pass early access is a real-money coin purchase per chapter, and following several ongoing popular series can add up in cost for a reader who consistently wants to read ahead rather than wait.
- Coin pack pricing is structured so that unlocking a handful of chapters regularly across multiple series costs meaningfully more than a flat subscription would, and the per-chapter cost is not always transparent before purchase.
- Only a limited number of creators are accepted into the paid Originals programme, so the promise of making a living from Webtoon publishing applies to a small fraction of contributors rather than the broader creator base.
- As with Wattpad under the same Naver ownership, product direction is set within a larger conglomerate strategy, and Canvas creators in particular have limited leverage or support compared with the curated Originals slate.
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
Webtoon
Free- Free readingFree
- Full access to released chapters once their free delay period passes
- No subscription required
- Ads shown in some free chapter views
- Webtoon Coins$1.99/per pack
- Coin packs purchased in varying sizes to unlock Fast Pass early chapters
- Coins spent per chapter unlocked, not a flat subscription
- Prices scale with pack size, typically from a few dollars upward
Which should you pick?
Choose Webtoon if
- You need vertical-scroll format.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want fast pass early access.
Questions people ask
- Is BookBaby or Webtoon better?
- Neither clearly leads. BookBaby starts at On request and Webtoon at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, BookBaby or Webtoon?
- Webtoon has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for BookBaby and Free for Webtoon.
- Does BookBaby or Webtoon run on more platforms?
- BookBaby runs on Web. Webtoon runs on iOS, Android, Web.
- Can I use Webtoon for free?
- Yes. Webtoon 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 Webtoon is typically brought in for.
- What can BookBaby do that Webtoon cannot?
- BookBaby covers Ebook conversion, Print on demand, ISBN assignment, BookBaby Bookshop. Webtoon covers Vertical-scroll format, Fast Pass early access, Originals programme, Canvas open publishing.
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.
Webtoon: Do I have to pay to read Webtoon comics?
No, chapters become free after a delay; paying with Webtoon Coins through Fast Pass only lets you read upcoming chapters early.
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.
Webtoon: Can Canvas creators get paid?
Direct payment on Canvas is limited; most paid creator opportunities come through being accepted into the curated Originals programme.
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.
Webtoon: Who owns Webtoon?
Webtoon Entertainment, owned by Naver, the South Korean internet company that also owns Wattpad.
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