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.
| Tool | Best for |
|---|---|
| Canva | Best free design tool |
| Book Brush | Best for mockups and ads |
| Book Bolt | Best for low-content covers |
| Placeit | Cheapest unlimited mockups |
| Creative Fabrica | Best for fonts and KDP interiors |
| Depositphotos | Best for cover photos |
Canva
Thousands of templates for covers and ads, with a generous free plan.
- ✓Free plan goes a long way
- ✓Easy for non-designers
- ✓Covers and marketing graphics in one place
- ✗No automatic spine or bleed for print
- ✗Template elements have license limits
Book Brush
3D book mockups and author ad templates in minutes.
- ✓Made for authors
- ✓Fast mockups
- ✓Free plan to test it
- ✗Paid plans billed yearly
- ✗Video tools only on higher tiers
Book Bolt
Cover studio that sizes trim, bleed and spine for KDP.
- ✓Research and design in one tab
- ✓The cover studio handles KDP spine and bleed for you
- ✓Puzzle generators save a lot of manual work
- ✗The trial lasts only three days
- ✗Built for low content, less useful for novelists
Placeit
Unlimited downloads with a commercial license for a few dollars a month.
- ✓Cheap for unlimited downloads
- ✓Commercial license included
- ✓Large library
- ✗Not author-specific
- ✗Conflicting prices on the page
Creative Fabrica
Millions of fonts and graphics plus ready-made low-content interiors on one subscription.
- ✓Huge font library for cover titles
- ✓Ready-made KDP interiors
- ✓Cheap first year
- ✗Renewal price is unclear on the page
- ✗Quality varies between designers
Depositphotos
190 million+ stock photos, with pay-per-image packs if you only need one.
- ✓Pay-per-image packs for one-off covers
- ✓Huge photo library
- ✓Commercial license included
- ✗No free trial
- ✗Unlimited plans need a 12-month commitment for the lower price
How we picked
We checked every price on the vendor's own site on the date at the bottom of this page.
We looked at what a self-published author needs from this kind of tool, not at feature counts.
We list the downsides of every pick, including the ones we earn a commission on.
Frequently asked questions
Can I design my own KDP cover?
Yes. Use KDP's cover calculator for the full wrap size, then design in Canva or Book Bolt. Check genre bestsellers so your cover fits in.
What is a book mockup?
An image of your cover on a 3D book, phone or tablet. Authors use them in ads and social posts.
Related guides on iWrity
Prices and features checked on 2026-10-09. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on their site before you buy.
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