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Publishing · head to head

Draft2Digital vs Marq

Draft2Digital logo

Draft2Digital

Publishing

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Marq logo

Marq

Publishing

Web-based design and publishing for brand templates

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.; Marq enterprise pricing requires sales consultation with no online quotes
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Draft2Digital and Marq actually diverge.

Attributes where Draft2Digital and Marq differ
AttributeDraft2DigitalMarq
Pricing model10% of retail list price, no upfront feefreemium

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

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

Only in Marq

Nothing recorded that Draft2Digital does not also cover.

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 Marq
  • A writer who wants library distribution through OverDrive and Bibliotheca without meeting the requirements those platforms set for direct suppliersnot Marq
  • Anyone publishing outside the United States who wants Tolino and other regional European stores reached without local accountsnot Marq
  • A publisher of series fiction that benefits from automated end-matter linking across every store editionnot Marq

Marq

  • Design automation for print materialsnot Draft2Digital
  • Team-based design collaborationnot Draft2Digital
  • Brand asset managementnot 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.

Marq

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

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

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 Draft2Digital if

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

Choose Marq if

  • You want to start without paying.
Marq review

Questions people ask

Is Draft2Digital or Marq better?
Neither clearly leads. Draft2Digital starts at Free and Marq at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Draft2Digital or Marq?
Draft2Digital starts at Free and Marq at Free.
Does Draft2Digital or Marq run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 Marq is typically brought in for.
What can Draft2Digital do that Marq cannot?
Draft2Digital covers One-upload distribution, Free conversion, Books2Read universal links, Print distribution.

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.

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
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.

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
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.

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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