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 US self-publishing service provider selling packages and add-ons; editing is a paid add-on rather than part of the package, and it does not publish a package start price on its pricing page. 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, buying add-ons can suit you. If you need the whole route from manuscript to distribution, a package is usually clearer.
Side by side
| Harmony Publishing | BookBaby | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price for a full package | From $699 (Essentials) | No package start price is published on the page. BookBaby's FAQ gives ranges: under $1,000 for a bare-bones budget, and $2,000–$7,000 for a fully produced book with editing, custom cover, formatting and a meaningful first print run |
| What the entry price includes | Cover design, interior layout, ISBN, distribution setup, 100% royalties | Cover design, interior formatting (print and eBook), printing, global distribution, metadata, ISBN assignment and a Bookshop store, per BookBaby |
| Royalties | You keep 100% | Own Bookshop store: 85% of retail price on eBooks, 50% on print, 75% on audiobooks. Retail eBook sales: BookBaby states it takes no commission on net sales. You keep 100% ownership of your rights |
| 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 | Print-on-demand and short-run printing, 25 to 2,000 copies |
| 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 | Paid add-on in three tiers (proofreading, copy editing, line editing), not bundled into the package |
| Distribution | Worldwide, set up in your name | Amazon for print; eBooks to Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and others; plus its own Bookshop |
| Delivery timescale | 4–6 weeks standard; occasionally up to 8 weeks | About 4 weeks of production from approved print-ready files |
| Support model | One team across editing, design, print and distribution | Hands-on service team, with editing and design 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.
BookBaby sources, checked 4 October 2026: bookbaby.com/pricing (price ranges, print run size), bookbaby.com/self-publishing (inclusions, editing add-ons, rights) and bookbaby.com/learn/what-we-do (Bookshop royalties). Check their current terms before deciding.
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's own FAQ puts a bare-bones budget at under $1,000 and a fully produced book at $2,000–$7,000, with editing sold as a paid add-on. A bare-bones listing can look cheaper than a package, but the total rises as you add editing and a print run. 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.