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Publishing · head to head

Lulu vs Wattpad

Lulu logo

Lulu

Publishing

Quality book printing at a reasonable price

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Wattpad logo

Wattpad

Publishing

User-generated fiction publishing and reading app, owned by Naver alongside Webtoon

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Wattpad has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Lulu no fixed pricing published; vendor requires pricing calculator for quotes; Wattpad only a small, selected group of authors participate in the Paid Stories revenue-share programme, so the large majority of writers publishing on the platform earn nothing directly from their work being read.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lulu and Wattpad actually diverge.

Attributes where Lulu and Wattpad differ
AttributeLuluWattpad
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelusage-basedFree with ads; paid ad-free subscription and optional in-app coin purchases
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebiOS, Android, Web

Identical on both: 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 Wattpad does not also cover.

Only in Wattpad

  • Free serialised fiction library
  • Wattpad Premium subscription
  • Wattpad Coins
  • Paid Stories programme
  • Writing and publishing tools
  • Wattpad Studios

What people use each for

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

Lulu

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

Wattpad

  • A reader wanting free access to a large catalogue of ongoing, chapter-by-chapter serialised fictionnot Lulu
  • An amateur writer wanting to publish work chapter by chapter and build a following before seeking traditional publicationnot Lulu
  • A frequent reader wanting an ad-free, offline-capable experience through Wattpad Premiumnot Lulu
  • A fan wanting to tip a favourite author or unlock select paid stories through the Wattpad Coins systemnot 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

Wattpad

  • Only a small, selected group of authors participate in the Paid Stories revenue-share programme, so the large majority of writers publishing on the platform earn nothing directly from their work being read.
  • The free tier is ad-supported with ads appearing between chapters, which interrupts reading flow in a way competitors with a purely subscription model do not.
  • Content moderation across a huge volume of user-submitted fiction has been an ongoing challenge, and mature or borderline content has periodically drawn scrutiny given the platform's substantial teenage user base.
  • Since the 2021 Naver acquisition and merger with Webtoon, product direction is set within a larger Korean media conglomerate strategy rather than independently, which has meant slower, less predictable feature development for the original Wattpad product.
  • Story completion and update frequency depend entirely on individual amateur authors, so readers following an ongoing story have no guarantee it will ever be finished.

Pricing, plan by plan

Lulu

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Lulu review.

Wattpad

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Ad-supported reading of the full story catalogue
    • No offline downloads
    • Ads shown between chapters
  • Wattpad Premium$4.99/month
    • Ad-free reading
    • Offline chapter downloads
    • Also offered at a discounted annual rate

Which should you pick?

Choose Lulu if

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

Lulu review

Choose Wattpad if

  • You need free serialised fiction library.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want wattpad premium subscription.
Wattpad review

Questions people ask

Is Lulu or Wattpad better?
Neither clearly leads. Lulu starts at On request and Wattpad at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lulu or Wattpad?
Wattpad has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Lulu and Free for Wattpad.
Does Lulu or Wattpad run on more platforms?
Lulu runs on Web. Wattpad runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Wattpad for free?
Yes. Wattpad has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Lulu starts at On request.
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 Wattpad is typically brought in for.
What can Lulu do that Wattpad cannot?
Wattpad covers Free serialised fiction library, Wattpad Premium subscription, Wattpad Coins, Paid Stories programme.

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
Wattpad: Is Wattpad free?

Yes, reading is free and ad-supported; Wattpad Premium removes ads and adds offline downloads for a monthly or annual fee.

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
Wattpad: Can writers make money on Wattpad?

A limited number of authors are selected into the Paid Stories programme and earn a share of Wattpad Coins spent on their work; most authors do not earn direct payment from the platform.

Wattpad: Who owns Wattpad?

Naver, the South Korean internet company that also owns Webtoon, acquired Wattpad in 2021.

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