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Publishing · head to head

IngramSpark vs Lulu

IngramSpark logo

IngramSpark

Publishing

Print-on-demand and distribution into the wholesale catalogue that bookshops order from

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Lulu logo

Lulu

Publishing

Quality book printing at a reasonable price

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: IngramSpark you must buy your own ISBN for every format, which is a real upfront cost in territories such as the United States where the national agency charges over a hundred dollars for a single number.; Lulu no fixed pricing published; vendor requires pricing calculator for quotes
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which IngramSpark and Lulu actually diverge.

Attributes where IngramSpark and Lulu differ
AttributeIngramSparkLulu
Pricing modelFree title setup, then per-unit print cost and revision feesusage-based

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), 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 IngramSpark

  • Ingram catalogue distribution
  • Global print on demand
  • Discount and returns settings
  • Hardback and colour printing
  • Ebook distribution
  • Author copies at cost

Only in Lulu

Nothing recorded that IngramSpark does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

IngramSpark

  • An author who wants independent bookshops and libraries to be able to order the book on normal trade terms rather than only through Amazonnot Lulu
  • A small press that needs hardback and colour formats printed on demand without holding stocknot Lulu
  • A non-fiction author selling at conferences and events who wants author copies at print cost and trade distribution from the same title recordnot Lulu
  • A publisher printing for international readers who needs local manufacturing in the UK or Australia to avoid shipping costs killing the marginnot Lulu

Lulu

  • Self-publishing novels without traditional publishingnot IngramSpark
  • Producing print-on-demand photo books without inventorynot IngramSpark
  • Creating photo books for preserving memoriesnot IngramSpark
  • Accessing 40,000+ global book retailersnot IngramSpark

Where each one falls short

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

IngramSpark

  • You must buy your own ISBN for every format, which is a real upfront cost in territories such as the United States where the national agency charges over a hundred dollars for a single number.
  • Setting the 55% wholesale discount and returns flag that bookshops expect can reduce net revenue on a modestly priced paperback to near nothing once print cost is deducted.
  • Enabling returns exposes you to charge-backs for unsold copies that are returned and destroyed, which turns a bookshop order that looked like a sale into a cost months later.
  • Print quality varies between plants and print runs, colour reproduction in particular, and resolving a complaint about a misprinted batch is slow because you are dealing with a distributor and not a printer you can telephone.
  • File revisions after publication carry a fee each time, so correcting an error found by an early reader costs money and takes days to propagate through the retail listings.

Lulu

  • No fixed pricing published; vendor requires pricing calculator for quotes
  • Costs vary significantly based on trim size, binding type, page count, and shipping
  • Author royalties and distribution fees not disclosed on website

Pricing, plan by plan

IngramSpark

On request
  • IngramSpark$undefined/month
    • No title setup fee
    • File revisions after publication charged per title, around twenty-five dollars
    • Print cost deducted per unit from the wholesale payment

Lulu

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Lulu review.

Which should you pick?

Choose IngramSpark if

  • You need ingram catalogue distribution.
  • You also want global print on demand.
IngramSpark review

Choose Lulu if

Nothing in the data separates Lulu from IngramSpark on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Lulu review

Questions people ask

Is IngramSpark or Lulu better?
Neither clearly leads. IngramSpark starts at On request and Lulu at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IngramSpark or Lulu?
IngramSpark starts at On request and Lulu at On request.
Does IngramSpark or Lulu run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is IngramSpark best used for?
IngramSpark is most often used for an author who wants independent bookshops and libraries to be able to order the book on normal trade terms rather than only through amazon, a small press that needs hardback and colour formats printed on demand without holding stock, a non-fiction author selling at conferences and events who wants author copies at print cost and trade distribution from the same title record, a publisher printing for international readers who needs local manufacturing in the uk or australia to avoid shipping costs killing the margin. Of those, an author who wants independent bookshops and libraries to be able to order the book on normal trade terms rather than only through amazon and a small press that needs hardback and colour formats printed on demand without holding stock are not what Lulu is typically brought in for.
What can IngramSpark do that Lulu cannot?
IngramSpark covers Ingram catalogue distribution, Global print on demand, Discount and returns settings, Hardback and colour printing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

IngramSpark: Does IngramSpark give me a free ISBN?

No. You supply your own, one for each format. That is a cost, and it is also why the publisher of record on the book is your imprint rather than theirs.

Lulu: How much does Lulu self-publishing cost?

Lulu does not publish fixed pricing. Costs depend on specific book specifications including trim size, binding type, page count, and distribution format. Users must access Lulu's pricing calculator to receive personalized quotes for their book project.

Source
IngramSpark: Will bookshops actually stock my book?

They can order it, which is a precondition, not a guarantee. Being in the catalogue on trade terms, discounted and returnable, is what makes stocking possible; convincing a shop to do it is still your job.

Lulu: How does Lulu's pricing calculator work?

Users input their book specifications such as trim size, binding type, and page count into Lulu's pricing calculator tool to receive customized pricing quotes and view production timelines.

Source
IngramSpark: Should I use IngramSpark and Amazon print together?

Many authors do, using Amazon for Amazon sales and IngramSpark for everyone else. Watch for duplicate listings and check which edition Amazon shows as the buy option.

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