Harmony Publishing vs Lulu
Lulu is a long-established print-on-demand platform with a wide format range and a self-serve workflow.
Short version. Lulu is a print-on-demand platform: you bring print-ready files and it prints and distributes them, with no editing, design or formatting included. We produce the book as well as print it. If your files are finished and you want the widest choice of trim sizes and bindings, Lulu is a strong self-serve route. If they are not finished, that work has to happen first.
Side by side
| Harmony Publishing | Lulu | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A full-service self-publishing company that produces and prints your book | A print-on-demand platform — you supply finished, print-ready files |
| Entry price | From $699 (Essentials), bundling design, layout, ISBN and distribution | No service package; you pay per copy, plus any services you buy elsewhere |
| Editing and cover design | Included from the relevant tier upward | Not provided — you arrange these yourself |
| Interior formatting | Included | Not provided — the file must arrive production-ready |
| Format range | Standard trade sizes in paperback and hardcover | Its strength — a wide range of trim sizes, bindings and paper stocks |
| Bookstore reach | Worldwide distribution set up in your name | Available; retail and wholesale reach |
| Royalties | You keep 100% | Paid on sales through the channel; terms set by the platform |
| Support model | One team across design, print and distribution | Self-serve — you manage files and metadata |
| Best for | Authors who want the whole route handled | Authors with finished files who want format choice |
Competitor descriptions reflect their published service structure at the time of writing and may change. Check current terms directly. Our prices are on the cost page.
Three questions to ask any provider
Including us. The answers decide more about value than the headline price:
- 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 book 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 Lulu cheaper than Harmony Publishing?
Lulu charges per copy and does not include editing, cover design or formatting, so its figures look lower because less is included. The comparison only holds if you add the cost of the services you would arrange elsewhere. If you already have professionally finished files, Lulu can be the cheaper route for printing alone.
Do I need print-ready files for Lulu?
Yes. Lulu is a print platform, so the interior and cover must arrive production-ready — correct trim, bleed, embedded fonts, CMYK colour and a barcode block if the book carries an ISBN. Producing those files is the part we do.
Can I use both?
Yes. An ISBN is non-exclusive, so a book produced with us can be printed or distributed through Lulu, or produced and printed with us and listed elsewhere. There is no conflict.
Which has more format options?
Lulu, and that is its main advantage — a wider range of trim sizes, bindings and paper stocks than a service-led publisher typically offers. If format choice is your priority and your files are ready, Lulu is the specialist tool.