AuthorHouse Alternatives (2026): 6 Options Compared
Quick answer: The best AuthorHouse alternative depends on how much help you want. If you are happy to do the work yourself, Amazon KDP, IngramSpark and Draft2Digital charge little or no upfront fee. If you want a team, Gatekeeper Press, BookBaby and Harmony Publishing sell done-for-you services. Whichever you choose, read the termination, refund and royalty clauses before you pay. AuthorHouse's own services agreement shows why.
Disclosure: Harmony Publishing is one of the six options below. Every figure in this post links to the page it came from, and prices change, so check each company's page before you pay. Last checked: October 2026.
What AuthorHouse's own agreement says
AuthorHouse publishes its standard contract as a PDF. The version we read is the Services and Distribution Agreement (the file name carries a 2020 date). It is between you and Get Published! LLC, which it describes as a subsidiary of Author Solutions, LLC doing business as AuthorHouse. AuthorHouse's About page describes the company as family-owned and independently led, so ask which entity you would be signing with. These are the points that matter when you compare:
- You keep the copyright. The agreement says you remain the sole owner of all right, title and interest, including copyright, in your manuscript. During the term, AuthorHouse holds an exclusive license to publish and sell the work through the channels it chooses.
- Either side can end the contract at any time with written notice. Refunds are limited: within 90 days of purchase you get the amount paid less $150 or 10% of the package price (whichever is greater) before you submit a manuscript, 50% of the price after submission, 25% once design work starts, and nothing after Final Approval. After 90 days there is no refund.
- Changes after Final Approval cost extra. Once you approve the book you waive claims over errors found later, and you pay the fees for any later corrections.
- Royalties are paid quarterly, by US bank transfer only. They are paid within 90 days after each calendar quarter, and AuthorHouse may hold them until they reach $75.
AuthorHouse royalty rates in the agreement
| Sale type | Royalty |
|---|---|
| Print, through retailers | 10% of retail price |
| Print, AuthorHouse bookstore | 25% of retail price |
| Digital | 50% less discounts and taxes |
| Audio | 100% less discounts and taxes |
Source: AuthorHouse agreement, section 3. "Retail price" means the suggested retail price.
The agreement says these rates apply unless you buy the Author Advantage Royalty or Set Your Own Price programs, which come with separate contracts. AuthorHouse's royalties page describes the 10% print rate as based on payments AuthorHouse actually receives, while the agreement states it as a share of the suggested retail price. Ask which basis applies to your book, in writing.
Why authors look for an alternative
Cost. We could not find current AuthorHouse package prices on its public pages. A review on selfpublishing.com (dated September 2023) lists a Starter package at $1,999 and an Essential package at $4,999, plus $350 to add hardcover to Starter. Treat those as a guide and ask AuthorHouse for a written price list.
Complaints. Writer Beware, a long-running watchdog for authors, listed poor product quality, heavy up-selling of marketing packages, royalty-statement problems and costly fixes for publisher errors among its complaints about Author Solutions in a 2013 post that was updated in 2022. That post is old and covers the parent company, so read it as background and check recent reviews yourself. The class action it reports was later dismissed (the post's update says late 2015), so this is a record of complaints, not a legal finding.
For our own side-by-side, see Harmony vs AuthorHouse and our AuthorHouse and BookBaby complaints guide.
AuthorHouse alternatives compared
| Option | Upfront cost | What you earn | Rights | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon KDP | Free tools | eBook 35% or 70%; paperback less printing | You keep ownership | eBook, paperback |
| IngramSpark | No setup fee | eBook 85% of net; print varies | See IngramSpark terms | Fees, pricing |
| Draft2Digital | $20 activation fee | About 10% commission on eBooks | No exclusivity | FAQ |
| Gatekeeper Press | Signature package listed at $3,500 | 100% royalties | You keep 100% | Pricing, FAQ |
| BookBaby | Quote-based | Not stated on the pricing page | Not stated on the pricing page | Pricing |
| Harmony Publishing | $699 to $9,999 | 100% royalties | You keep all rights | Packages |
The six options in more detail
1. Amazon KDP: lowest cost, you do the work
KDP says it provides free tools to self-publish and that you retain ownership of your content. eBooks earn 35% or 70% of the list price depending on the option and territory, with a delivery cost on the 70% option. Paperbacks earn 50% or 60% of the list price, depending on price and marketplace, minus printing costs. KDP's own example: a $15 paperback with a $5.00 printing cost earns $4.00.
2. IngramSpark: wider bookstore and library reach
IngramSpark announced in 2023 that it would stop charging book setup fees and would not charge revision fees if you revise within 60 days of the book's first production date. Its April 2025 notice says setup is still free and that books enabled for distribution pay a 1.5% market access fee. eBooks earn 85% of net revenue. Older guides still quote a $49 setup fee, which no longer applies. Check IngramSpark's user guide for its file requirements before you upload.
3. Draft2Digital: eBooks to many stores, no exclusivity
Draft2Digital takes about 10% of the retail price of each sale. Publishing needs a one-time $20 activation fee, and accounts earning under $100 a year pay a $12 annual fee. Its FAQ says you keep your copyright, it does not require exclusivity, and you can revoke its permission at any time. Its print service is black-and-white paperbacks only and pays about 45% of list price minus printing cost.
4. Gatekeeper Press: done-for-you, listed prices
Gatekeeper Press says authors earn 100% of royalties and keep 100% of their rights. Its pricing page lists a Signature Package at $3,500 (shown reduced from $4,000), with editing sold separately at $25, $35 or $55 per 1,000 words depending on the level. After publication, content changes cost $40 for 1 to 10 changes, rising to $125 per hour for 51 or more, and it allows one free metadata change a year, then $25 per change, according to its FAQ. See our separate Gatekeeper Press alternatives guide.
5. BookBaby: print-focused, priced by quote
BookBaby's pricing page works as a quote tool for printed books and eBooks, with print runs of 25 to 2,000 copies. Its FAQ says a fully produced book with editing, custom cover, interior formatting and a first print run typically lands between $2,000 and $7,000, and that cover design starts at $399. Check BookBaby's terms of service for royalty and rights details, which its pricing page does not cover.
6. Harmony Publishing: fixed packages, full rights
Harmony Publishing sells five packages from $699 (Essentials) to $9,999 (Legend). Authors keep 100% of royalties and all rights. Essentials includes no printed copies; printed copies start with Complete ($1,299, 25 paperbacks). Standard turnaround is 4 to 6 weeks, and every quote is valid for 7 days. If you are not sure which fits, the four-question package finder narrows it down.
How to choose
- You have a finished, edited book and want the lowest cost: KDP for Amazon, plus IngramSpark if you want bookstore and library distribution.
- You only need eBooks in many stores: Draft2Digital.
- You want editing, cover and layout handled: compare Gatekeeper Press, BookBaby and Harmony on what each package includes, not just the headline price.
- You want physical copies: check how many printed copies are included and what extra copies cost. See what self-publishing costs.
Five questions to ask before you pay any publisher
- Can I leave at any time, and what exactly is refunded at each stage?
- What are my royalty rates for print, eBook and direct sales, and what are they calculated on?
- Who owns the ISBN, and can I take my files and move to another distributor? (ISBN guide)
- What do corrections cost after I approve the proof?
- Is every service and price in the contract, or are some only on the sales call?
FAQ
Is AuthorHouse a vanity press?
AuthorHouse charges authors for publishing services, which is the pay-to-publish model. Writer Beware's post on Author Solutions describes the company as closer to a printing service than a publisher. Our guide to vanity press versus self-publishing explains how to tell the difference.
Do I keep my copyright with AuthorHouse?
Yes. The agreement says you remain the sole owner of the copyright in your manuscript. It also grants AuthorHouse an exclusive license to publish and sell the work while the agreement is in force.
Can I cancel an AuthorHouse contract?
The agreement lets either side end it at any time with written notice, but refunds depend on how far the project has gone and stop after 90 days or after Final Approval. Retailer listings may stay visible after termination, and you can request the files in PDF.
What is the cheapest way to publish instead of using AuthorHouse?
Doing it yourself through KDP costs nothing for the tools, but you pay separately for editing, cover and layout if you need them. A publisher's package bundles those. Compare the total, not the first line of the price list.
Which AuthorHouse alternative pays the highest royalty?
Gatekeeper Press and Harmony Publishing both state 100% royalties to the author, and KDP and IngramSpark pay a percentage of each sale after printing costs or fees. Royalty percentage alone does not tell you what you keep, because the production fee you pay upfront comes out of the same pocket.
Sources
- AuthorHouse Services and Distribution Agreement (PDF)
- AuthorHouse: royalties and About us
- selfpublishing.com: AuthorHouse review (September 2023)
- Writer Beware: class action lawsuit filed against Author Solutions (2013, updated 2022)
- Amazon KDP: eBook royalties, paperback royalties
- IngramSpark: no setup fees, April 2025 pricing notice, pricing
- Draft2Digital FAQ
- Gatekeeper Press: pricing, FAQ
- BookBaby pricing
- Harmony Publishing packages
Next steps
Want a second opinion on a contract or a quote you already have? Answer four questions to see which Harmony package fits your book, or compare Harmony with other publishers.
New to Harmony Publishing? What is Harmony Publishing?