Harmony Publishing vs Reedsy
Reedsy is a marketplace connecting authors with freelance editors, designers and marketers.
Short version. Reedsy is a marketplace, not a publisher: it introduces you to freelancers who do the work, and you commission and manage each one separately. We are a single production team that handles the whole route. If you want to choose and direct each specialist yourself, a marketplace gives you that control. If you would rather hand the project to one team, that is what we do.
Side by side
| Harmony Publishing | Reedsy | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A single production team handling design, print and distribution | A marketplace of freelance editors, designers and marketers |
| Engagement model | One company, one point of contact, one quote | You hire and manage each freelancer separately |
| Who manages the project | Us | You — sourcing, briefing, scheduling and payment |
| Cover design and formatting | Included from the relevant tier upward | Commissioned per freelancer, at their own rates |
| Editing | Copyediting and proofreading from Premium; developmental from Rockstar | Commissioned per freelancer, by type |
| Printing | Included; priced per copy on specification | Not provided — you arrange a printer separately |
| Distribution | Worldwide, set up in your name | Not provided — you arrange it separately |
| Royalties | You keep 100% | You keep 100%; you pay each freelancer their fee |
| Best for | Authors who want one team and one quote | Authors who want to select and direct each specialist |
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 Reedsy cheaper than Harmony Publishing?
Not directly comparable. Reedsy is a marketplace, so you pay each freelancer their own rate, and the total depends entirely on who you hire. A package price bundles the same categories of work into one figure, which makes the total easier to see upfront. Some authors spend less on a marketplace by hiring selectively; others spend more once project management is counted.
Do I have to manage the freelancers myself?
On Reedsy, yes — you source, brief, schedule and pay each specialist. With us, one team handles the whole route and you approve the work at each stage.
Can I hire a Reedsy editor and print with you?
Yes. There is no conflict. Many authors use a marketplace for one specialist service and a production company for the rest. The ISBN and the finished files remain yours either way.
Which gives me more control over the cover?
A marketplace, if you want to interview several designers and choose. We assign the design work and you review concepts and revisions within the package.