Harmony Publishing vs BookBaby
Both companies help authors publish. The difference is in how the pricing is structured and who owns what at the end.
Short version. BookBaby is a large à-la-carte service provider: you choose each service and the cost accumulates. We sell bundled packages with a published starting price, register the ISBN in your name, and take no share of your royalties. If you need one service, à la carte can suit you. If you need the whole route from manuscript to distribution, a package is usually clearer and cheaper overall.
Side by side
| Harmony Publishing | BookBaby | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price for a full package | From $699 (Essentials) | À la carte — you assemble the service list, and the total builds as you add items |
| What the entry price includes | Cover design, interior layout, ISBN, distribution setup, 100% royalties | Depends which services you select; most authors add several |
| Royalties | You keep 100% | Varies by service and channel; check current terms |
| ISBN and publisher of record | Registered in your name or your own imprint | Varies by service |
| Printing | Per copy, priced on page count, trim, binding, interior colour and quantity | Per copy, priced on specification |
| Print on demand | Available | Available |
| Hardcover and paperback | Both | Both |
| eBook conversion | Included from the Complete tier | Separate service |
| Editing | Copyediting and proofreading from Premium; developmental from Rockstar | Separate services by type |
| Distribution | Worldwide, set up in your name | Available, including retail and eBook channels |
| Delivery timescale | Most books published in 6–8 weeks | Depends on services selected |
| Support model | One team across editing, design, print and distribution | Self-serve with paid add-ons |
Competitor descriptions reflect their published service structure at the time of writing and may change. Check their current pricing directly before deciding. Our own prices are listed on the cost page.
The real difference: packages versus à la carte
À-la-carte pricing is not a trick — it lets you buy only what you need. But it makes the total harder to predict, because most authors discover they need more than they expected: editing, then formatting, then an ISBN, then distribution. Each line is reasonable; the sum is the number that matters.
A bundled package publishes the whole figure upfront. Whether that is better value depends on how many of those services you actually need. If most of them, a package usually wins. If one, à la carte often does.
What we get wrong, and what to watch for from anyone
No provider is right for every author, including us. Three things worth checking with any company — ours included:
- Ask who the publisher of record will be. If it is not you or your imprint, understand why before you sign.
- Ask what royalty share they take. Any percentage of your sales is a cost that compounds over the life of the book.
- Ask whether you receive your editable source files. If you cannot take your interior and cover elsewhere later, you are locked in.
On all three, our answer is: you are the publisher of record, we take no royalties, and you receive your print-ready and editable files.
Frequently asked questions
Is BookBaby cheaper than Harmony Publishing?
It depends what you need. BookBaby prices each service separately, so a bare-bones listing can look cheaper than a package — but the total rises as you add editing, cover design, formatting, ISBN and distribution. Our packages bundle those together with a published starting price, which makes the all-in figure easier to see before you commit.
Who owns the ISBN and the rights?
With us, the ISBN is registered in your name or your own imprint, you are the publisher of record, and you keep 100% of your royalties and full rights to the book. We take no licence in your work beyond producing the files you commission.
Can I print with one company and distribute through another?
Yes. An ISBN is non-exclusive. You can print with us and list elsewhere, or use our distribution setup and keep selling through your own website, Amazon KDP, bookshops and any other channel.
Do I need editing before publishing?
Not always. If your manuscript is already professionally edited, our Essentials package is built for exactly that. If it needs work, editing is included from the Complete and Premium tiers upward.
Should I choose a package or buy services individually?
A package is usually better value if you need several services, and it puts one team in charge of the whole process. Buying individually can make sense if you need only one thing — for example cover design on an otherwise finished book.