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Publishing · head to head

Blurb vs Lulu

Blurb logo

Blurb

Publishing

Visual storytelling through print-on-demand books and wall art

From
$3.99/unit
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: Blurb print-on-demand model; no subscription plans or seat limits; Lulu no fixed pricing published; vendor requires pricing calculator for quotes
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blurb and Lulu actually diverge.

Attributes where Blurb and Lulu differ
AttributeBlurbLulu
Starting price$3.99/unitOn request

Identical on both: pricing model (usage-based), free tier (No), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Publishing).

What people use each for

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

Blurb

  • Self-publishingnot Lulu
  • Print marketing materialsnot Lulu

Lulu

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

Where each one falls short

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

Blurb

  • Print-on-demand model; no subscription plans or seat limits
  • Per-page costs add $0.04-$3.50 depending on product type
  • Volume discounts require minimum orders

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

Blurb

$3.99/unit
  • Paperback$3.99/unit
  • Photo Books$12/unit
  • Notebooks$12/unit
  • Wall Art$65/unit

Lulu

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Lulu review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Blurb if

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

Blurb review

Choose Lulu if

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

Lulu review

Questions people ask

Is Blurb or Lulu better?
Neither clearly leads. Blurb starts at $3.99/unit and Lulu at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blurb or Lulu?
Blurb starts at $3.99/unit and Lulu at On request.
Does Blurb or Lulu run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Blurb best used for?
Blurb is most often used for self-publishing, print marketing materials. Of those, self-publishing and print marketing materials are not what Lulu is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Blurb: What is Blurb's starting price for printed books?

Blurb's paperback books start at $3.99 for a 5x8-inch book with economy color paper, with prices increasing based on size and binding style.

Source
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
Blurb: Does Blurb offer volume discounts?

Blurb provides volume discounts: 10-20% for 10-19 copies, 15-20% for 20-49 copies, and 20-25% for 50+ copies depending on product type.

Source
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
Blurb: What does Blurb charge for photo book printing?

Blurb's photo books start at $12 and can cost up to $159 depending on size (6 sizes available), paper quality, and cover binding option.

Source
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