Draft2Digital: The Complete Guide for Self-Published Authors
Draft2Digital is the most efficient way to distribute your book to every major retailer outside Amazon in a single upload. This guide covers how D2D works, what it costs, which retailers it reaches, and how to use Universal Book Links to simplify your marketing.
D2D Distribution Channels
Key retailers, royalty rates, and notes for each platform available through Draft2Digital.
| Retailer | D2D Available | Royalty Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Kindle | No (use KDP direct) | N/A | Must publish directly on KDP |
| Apple Books | Yes | ~63% net | Strong for romance, literary fiction |
| Barnes & Noble | Yes | ~54% net | US-focused; Nook devices |
| Kobo | Yes | ~63% net | Strong in Canada, Europe, Australia |
| Scribd | Yes | Per-read royalty | Subscription model; good for backlist |
| OverDrive / Libraries | Yes | Varies | Public library distribution worldwide |
| Tolino | Yes | ~63% net | Dominant in German-speaking markets |
| Vivlio | Yes | ~63% net | France, Belgium, Netherlands |
| Google Play Books | Yes | ~52% net | Global reach; Android ecosystem |
What Draft2Digital Gives You
Free Ebook Formatting
D2D's formatter is one of the best free tools available. Upload a Word doc and get a professionally formatted EPUB. Even authors who don't distribute through D2D use the formatter and then upload the EPUB to KDP or other platforms directly.
Universal Book Links
Every book gets a Books2Read link that routes readers to their preferred retailer automatically. One link works for your Apple Books readers, Kobo readers, and everywhere else — dramatically simplifying social media, email, and ad marketing.
Print via IngramSpark
D2D's IngramSpark integration lets you handle print distribution from the same dashboard as your ebook distribution. Reach bookstores, libraries, and print retailers without maintaining a separate IngramSpark account.
Amazon Reviews Still Matter When You Go Wide
Whether you publish wide with Draft2Digital or stay exclusive on KDP, your Amazon review count is the credibility signal that converts readers on every platform. Build your Amazon review foundation with iWrity while D2D handles your distribution.
Get Reviews with iWrity — Free to StartFrequently Asked Questions
What is Draft2Digital and how does it work?+
Draft2Digital (D2D) is an ebook and print aggregator that distributes your book to 40+ retailers and library platforms from a single upload. You upload your manuscript once, and D2D formats it, creates your ebook files, and distributes to Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Scribd, OverDrive, Tolino, and more. D2D takes approximately 10% of your earned royalties as their fee — there are no upfront costs.
How much does Draft2Digital cost and what royalties does it pay?+
Draft2Digital charges no upfront fees. They take approximately 10% of what you earn from each retailer. For example, if Apple Books pays you 70% of your list price, D2D retains 10% of that 70%, leaving you with 63%. Royalty rates vary by retailer, but most major stores pay 60–70% of list price, making your effective D2D royalty roughly 54–63% of list price.
How does Draft2Digital compare to going wide directly?+
Going direct to each retailer (Apple Books, Kobo Writing Life, Barnes & Noble Press, etc.) gives you slightly higher royalties because you skip D2D's 10% cut. However, direct publishing requires maintaining separate accounts on 8+ platforms, uploading updates to each individually, and tracking sales across multiple dashboards. D2D saves enormous time at the cost of a small royalty percentage. Most authors use D2D for convenience, switching to direct only on platforms where they earn significant volume.
What retailers does Draft2Digital distribute to?+
Draft2Digital distributes to Apple Books, Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo, Scribd, OverDrive (libraries), Tolino (Germany/Austria/Switzerland), Vivlio (France/Belgium), Google Play Books, Baker & Taylor, Bibliotheca, cloudLibrary, and 30+ additional platforms. Amazon Kindle is not available through D2D — you must publish directly on KDP for Amazon distribution.
Does Draft2Digital offer print distribution?+
Yes. Draft2Digital offers print-on-demand through an integrated partnership with IngramSpark. This allows you to manage both ebook and print distribution from the D2D dashboard. The print distribution reaches bookstores, libraries, and online retailers through Ingram's network. Setup costs for print via D2D are lower than going directly to IngramSpark, though direct IngramSpark gives more control over pricing and returnability settings.
How do I use Draft2Digital Universal Book Links?+
Draft2Digital provides Universal Book Links (UBLs) through their Books2Read service. Each book gets a single URL that automatically detects a reader's country and preferred retailer, redirecting them to the right store. You use this single link in all your marketing — social media, emails, ads — instead of posting separate links for Apple, Kobo, B&N, and Amazon. UBLs dramatically simplify your marketing and improve conversion rates.