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Publishing · head to head

Lulu vs Storytel

Lulu logo

Lulu

Publishing

Quality book printing at a reasonable price

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Storytel logo

Storytel

Publishing

Unlimited audiobook and ebook subscription, strong in Europe and Latin America, no library card needed

From
$14.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Lulu no fixed pricing published; vendor requires pricing calculator for quotes; Storytel catalogue depth and specific title availability vary significantly by country, so the experience in a core Nordic market is not the same as in newer markets.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lulu and Storytel actually diverge.

Attributes where Lulu and Storytel differ
AttributeLuluStorytel
Starting priceOn request$14.99/month
Pricing modelusage-basedPer user per month, unlimited
PlatformsWebiOS, Android, Web

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Lulu

Nothing recorded that Storytel does not also cover.

Only in Storytel

  • Unlimited streaming
  • Offline downloads
  • Combined ebook and audiobook catalogue
  • Kids profiles
  • Personalised recommendations
  • Multi-device sync

What people use each for

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

Lulu

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

Storytel

  • A commuter who listens to several audiobooks a month and finds per-title purchase or credit systems expensivenot Lulu
  • A reader tired of library holds queues who wants guaranteed instant access to anything in the cataloguenot Lulu
  • A family wanting a shared subscription with separate kids profiles for audio contentnot Lulu
  • Someone in a Storytel-strong market such as Sweden, Poland or Brazil where the catalogue depth is greatestnot Lulu

Where each one falls short

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

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

Storytel

  • Catalogue depth and specific title availability vary significantly by country, so the experience in a core Nordic market is not the same as in newer markets.
  • Access stops the moment you cancel, so a lapsed subscriber loses the ability to continue books they were partway through, unlike owned audiobook purchases elsewhere.
  • Its ebook catalogue is meaningfully smaller than dedicated ebook services, so heavy ebook readers may find it thinner than expected.
  • It competes on unlimited access, so heavy listeners get better value than light users, who may find a credit-based service like Libro.fm or Audible cheaper per book.
  • Pricing and plan structure have changed by market over time, so the number of concurrent profiles and exact price should be checked for your specific country.

Pricing, plan by plan

Lulu

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Lulu review.

Storytel

$14.99/month
  • Storytel$14.99/month
    • Unlimited audiobook streaming
    • Smaller unlimited ebook catalogue
    • Offline downloads

Which should you pick?

Choose Lulu if

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

Lulu review

Choose Storytel if

  • You need unlimited streaming.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want offline downloads.
Storytel review

Questions people ask

Is Lulu or Storytel better?
Neither clearly leads. Lulu starts at On request and Storytel at $14.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lulu or Storytel?
Lulu starts at On request and Storytel at $14.99/month.
Does Lulu or Storytel run on more platforms?
Lulu runs on Web. Storytel runs on iOS, Android, Web.
What is Lulu best used for?
Lulu is most often used for self-publishing novels without traditional publishing, producing print-on-demand photo books without inventory, creating photo books for preserving memories, accessing 40,000+ global book retailers. Of those, self-publishing novels without traditional publishing and producing print-on-demand photo books without inventory are not what Storytel is typically brought in for.
What can Lulu do that Storytel cannot?
Storytel covers Unlimited streaming, Offline downloads, Combined ebook and audiobook catalogue, Kids profiles.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Storytel: Do I need a library card for Storytel?

No, it is a paid subscription open to anyone regardless of library eligibility.

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
Storytel: Is access unlimited or credit-based?

Unlimited streaming while subscribed, not a credit system like Libro.fm or Audible.

Storytel: What happens to my books if I cancel?

You lose access to the catalogue, including anything you were partway through, since nothing is owned outright.

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