The tools self-published authors actually use
Keyword research, formatting, writing apps, covers and audiobooks. We list what each tool costs today, what it does well and where it falls short, so you can skip the ones you do not need.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, iWrity may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only list tools we think indie authors can use, and we write down the downsides too. How we review tools.
Best-of lists
Head-to-head
KDP research
One-time-payment keyword, category and ads research for Amazon books.
A subscription with a KDP research extension plus low-content creation tools.
A one-time-payment browser extension for sizing up Amazon niches.
Research plus cover and interior design for low-content KDP books.
Deep category, keyword and listing data for publishers with many titles.
Formatting
Writing and formatting in one app, on any computer, paid once.
Amazon's free formatter for Kindle ebooks and KDP paperbacks.
Distribution
Free ebook and print formatting plus wide distribution.
Wide distribution for a flat monthly fee, keeping 100% of royalties.
Writing
Editing
Style, pacing and grammar reports built for fiction writers.
Covers and design
Free design tool for ebook covers, ads and social graphics.
3D mockups, ads and simple covers built for authors.
Quick book mockups and social images from a huge template library.
Fonts, graphics and KDP interiors on one subscription.
Stock photos and vectors for covers, ads and social posts.
Audiobooks
Author websites
Drag-and-drop website builder for an author site, blog and book pages.
Courses
A one-time-payment video course on publishing with Amazon KDP.
Tools build the book. Reviews sell it.
Once your book is live, iWrity matches you with readers in your genre who leave honest Amazon reviews. Free to start.
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