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Draft2Digital vs Kotobee

Draft2Digital logo

Draft2Digital

Publishing

Ebook and print distribution aggregator that takes a percentage instead of a fee

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kotobee logo

Kotobee

Publishing

Interactive EPUB authoring that also exports native mobile apps and hosted libraries

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Draft2Digital the 10% cut is taken from the list price of every copy for as long as the title stays in the channel, so on a backlist that sells for years it costs far more than a one-off formatting or distribution fee would have.; Kotobee interactive EPUB 3 features degrade or disappear in mainstream retail readers, Kindle in particular, so a book built around widgets and quizzes cannot simply be resold through ordinary retail channels later.
  • They diverge on capability: Draft2Digital covers One-upload distribution, Kotobee covers Interactive EPUB 3.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Draft2Digital and Kotobee actually diverge.

Attributes where Draft2Digital and Kotobee differ
AttributeDraft2DigitalKotobee
Pricing model10% of retail list price, no upfront feePer licence per year
PlatformsWebWindows, macOS, Web, iOS, Android

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Draft2Digital

  • One-upload distribution
  • Free conversion
  • Books2Read universal links
  • Print distribution
  • Free ISBN option
  • Series and back-matter automation

Only in Kotobee

  • Interactive EPUB 3
  • Quizzes and question banks
  • Native app export
  • Kotobee Cloud
  • DRM and access control
  • Kotobee Reader

What people use each for

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

Draft2Digital

  • An author with a growing backlist who does not want to maintain accounts at eight separate retailers and reupload corrected files to each onenot Kotobee
  • A writer who wants library distribution through OverDrive and Bibliotheca without meeting the requirements those platforms set for direct suppliersnot Kotobee
  • Anyone publishing outside the United States who wants Tolino and other regional European stores reached without local accountsnot Kotobee
  • A publisher of series fiction that benefits from automated end-matter linking across every store editionnot Kotobee

Kotobee

  • An education publisher whose distribution channel is a branded app installed by schools rather than a retail ebook storenot Draft2Digital
  • A training department delivering interactive course material with embedded assessment to a known set of employeesnot Draft2Digital
  • A publisher in a market where regional retail ebook channels are weak and direct institutional sales dominatenot Draft2Digital
  • An organisation that needs access control and device limits on material it cannot distribute openlynot Draft2Digital

Where each one falls short

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

Draft2Digital

  • The 10% cut is taken from the list price of every copy for as long as the title stays in the channel, so on a backlist that sells for years it costs far more than a one-off formatting or distribution fee would have.
  • Moving a title to direct distribution later means unpublishing and republishing at each store, which usually resets reviews, rankings and pre-order history at that retailer.
  • The free ISBN names Draft2Digital as publisher of record, which weakens the case that the book is independently published when dealing with libraries, bookshops or awards that check the imprint.
  • You lose the merchandising and promotional tools retailers give direct suppliers, including Kobo price promotion tools and Apple promotional scheduling, which are among the few levers indie authors actually have.
  • Payments wait on retailer reporting, so revenue arrives later than a direct account would pay it, and reconciling a discrepancy means the aggregator has to raise it with the store on your behalf.

Kotobee

  • Interactive EPUB 3 features degrade or disappear in mainstream retail readers, Kindle in particular, so a book built around widgets and quizzes cannot simply be resold through ordinary retail channels later.
  • Exporting a native app does not remove the app store obligations: you need Apple and Google developer accounts, you handle review submissions, and you own every rejection and update cycle.
  • There is no print workflow at all, so a title that also needs a paperback edition requires a separate layout tool and a duplicated production process.
  • It is a small vendor with a limited partner and integration ecosystem, which is a genuine concern for an institution embedding it in a multi-year curriculum programme.
  • Cloud hosting, DRM and user management are priced separately from the authoring licence, so the recurring cost of delivery, rather than the software purchase, is what the budget has to carry.

Pricing, plan by plan

Draft2Digital

Free
  • Draft2Digital$undefined/month
    • No setup, subscription or conversion fees
    • Draft2Digital retains 10% of the retail list price of each sale
    • Free ISBN available, or supply your own

Kotobee

Free
  • Kotobee Author$undefined/year
    • A free tier with limited export options
    • Paid licence tiers unlock app export and advanced widgets
    • Kotobee Cloud hosting and DRM billed separately

Which should you pick?

Choose Draft2Digital if

  • You need one-upload distribution.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want free conversion.
Draft2Digital review

Choose Kotobee if

  • You need interactive epub 3.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want quizzes and question banks.
Kotobee review

Questions people ask

Is Draft2Digital or Kotobee better?
Neither clearly leads. Draft2Digital starts at Free and Kotobee at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Draft2Digital or Kotobee?
Draft2Digital starts at Free and Kotobee at Free.
Does Draft2Digital or Kotobee run on more platforms?
Draft2Digital runs on Web. Kotobee runs on Windows, macOS, Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Draft2Digital for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Draft2Digital best used for?
Draft2Digital is most often used for an author with a growing backlist who does not want to maintain accounts at eight separate retailers and reupload corrected files to each one, a writer who wants library distribution through overdrive and bibliotheca without meeting the requirements those platforms set for direct suppliers, anyone publishing outside the united states who wants tolino and other regional european stores reached without local accounts, a publisher of series fiction that benefits from automated end-matter linking across every store edition. Of those, an author with a growing backlist who does not want to maintain accounts at eight separate retailers and reupload corrected files to each one and a writer who wants library distribution through overdrive and bibliotheca without meeting the requirements those platforms set for direct suppliers are not what Kotobee is typically brought in for.
What can Draft2Digital do that Kotobee cannot?
Draft2Digital covers One-upload distribution, Free conversion, Books2Read universal links, Print distribution. Kotobee covers Interactive EPUB 3, Quizzes and question banks, Native app export, Kotobee Cloud.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Draft2Digital: Should I distribute to Amazon through Draft2Digital?

Usually not. Amazon accounts are free and paying an aggregator a percentage on your largest sales channel is difficult to justify unless you have a specific reason to avoid a direct account.

Kotobee: Can I sell a Kotobee book on Amazon?

You can sell a stripped-down EPUB, but the interactive content that justified the tool will not render. Treat retail as a separate, simpler edition.

Draft2Digital: Can I use my own ISBN?

Yes, and you should if you want the imprint on record to be yours. The free ISBN is convenient but lists Draft2Digital as publisher.

Kotobee: Does Kotobee publish the app to the stores for me?

No. It generates the application; you supply the developer accounts and go through Apple and Google review yourself, including every subsequent update.

Draft2Digital: What happened to Smashwords?

Draft2Digital acquired it in 2022. The Smashwords store continues, and the two distribution operations were brought under one company, which reduced the number of independent aggregators to choose between.

Kotobee: Is it suitable for a trade fiction publisher?

No. It is built for education, training and reference material where interactivity and controlled access are the point.

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