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Publishing · head to head

Draft2Digital vs Reedsy

Draft2Digital logo

Draft2Digital

Publishing

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Reedsy logo

Reedsy

Publishing

Vetted marketplace of publishing freelancers with free writing and formatting tools attached

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.; Reedsy it is a marketplace, so the outcome depends entirely on the individual you hire, and Reedsy vets credentials rather than guaranteeing the quality of any specific engagement.
  • They diverge on capability: Draft2Digital covers One-upload distribution, Reedsy covers Vetted marketplace.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Draft2Digital and Reedsy actually diverge.

Attributes where Draft2Digital and Reedsy differ
AttributeDraft2DigitalReedsy
Pricing model10% of retail list price, no upfront feeFree tools; freelancers quote per project

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 Reedsy

  • Vetted marketplace
  • Quote and compare
  • Reedsy Studio
  • Typeset export
  • Reedsy Discovery
  • Free courses

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

Reedsy

  • A first-time author who can afford professional editing but has no way to judge whether a freelancer has genuine publishing experiencenot Draft2Digital
  • A writer who wants a print-ready interior and EPUB without buying formatting software or learning typesettingnot Draft2Digital
  • An author needing a specialist such as a translator or a genre-specific cover designer that a general marketplace would burynot Draft2Digital
  • A small press wanting overflow editorial capacity from screened professionals without running its own recruitmentnot 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.

Reedsy

  • It is a marketplace, so the outcome depends entirely on the individual you hire, and Reedsy vets credentials rather than guaranteeing the quality of any specific engagement.
  • The terms require you to keep communication and payment on the platform, so a professional you want to work with repeatedly stays inside a system that takes a commission on every project.
  • Vetting narrows the pool and raises prices, so authors on a small budget will find the same categories of work available for far less on open marketplaces.
  • The free editor offers only a handful of interior templates with little typographic control, so anyone who wants a specific look still needs a designer or a page layout application.
  • There is no distribution, no ISBN and no sales channel, so Reedsy solves the production half of publishing and leaves the entire commercial half to you.

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

Reedsy

Free
  • ReedsyFree
    • Manuscript editor, collaboration and typeset export at no cost
    • Freelance work quoted individually by each professional
    • Reedsy commission built into the quoted price

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 Reedsy if

  • You need vetted marketplace.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want quote and compare.
Reedsy review

Questions people ask

Is Draft2Digital or Reedsy better?
Neither clearly leads. Draft2Digital starts at Free and Reedsy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Draft2Digital or Reedsy?
Draft2Digital starts at Free and Reedsy at Free.
Does Draft2Digital or Reedsy 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 Reedsy is typically brought in for.
What can Draft2Digital do that Reedsy cannot?
Draft2Digital covers One-upload distribution, Free conversion, Books2Read universal links, Print distribution. Reedsy covers Vetted marketplace, Quote and compare, Reedsy Studio, Typeset export.

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.

Reedsy: What does Reedsy charge me?

Nothing directly for the tools. The commission on freelance work is included in the quote you are given, so the price you see is the price you pay.

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.

Reedsy: Can I hire someone I found on Reedsy and pay them privately?

It is against the terms while the relationship originated on the platform, and you lose the payment protection and dispute process. Professionals risk removal from the marketplace for agreeing to it.

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.

Reedsy: Is the free formatting tool good enough to publish with?

For standard prose fiction and most non-fiction, yes. For anything with complex layout, images, tables or a distinctive typographic identity, it is not.

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