Smashwords

Smashwords is a DRM-free ebook storefront founded in 2008, now operating as an ebook retail channel within the Draft2Digital ecosystem. As of January 2026, the platform functions as a storefront only — new authors open a Draft2Digital account and opt in to the Smashwords Store as a distribution channel. There is no separate Smashwords publishing account.

What You Get

• Author coupon system: Create percentage-off, dollar-off, or free download coupons with custom expiration dates, redemption limits, and global codes spanning multiple titles. Public coupons auto-appear on the "Special Deals" promotional shelf — no major retailer replicates this for authors.
• Annual sales events: Three sitewide promotions — Read an Ebook Week (March), Summer/Winter Sale (July), End of Year Sale (December–January) — drive substantial reader discovery. The 2025 Summer Sale showed 28% year-over-year growth; Read an Ebook Week 2025 had 169,000 participating titles.
• DRM-free formats: Readers receive files in EPUB, MOBI, PDF, and additional formats, accessible on any device without DRM restrictions.
• Permissive content policies: Accepts erotica and adult content categories that most mainstream retailers reject, using an author certification system.

Who It's For

• Authors publishing adult or erotic content: One of the few legitimate major retail channels for these genres, with an established reader base that specifically seeks this content.
• Authors wanting coupon-based promotions: Direct coupon generation is unavailable at Amazon, Apple Books, or any other major retailer — a genuinely distinctive capability.
• Draft2Digital users seeking additional channels: Adding Smashwords costs nothing extra and provides access to dedicated DRM-free readers and annual sale events.
• New authors: Sign up at Draft2Digital and opt in to the Smashwords Store as a distribution channel. No separate account or workflow needed.

Pricing: Free to publish — no upfront fees. Authors earn 75% of list price on direct Smashwords Store sales for books priced $2.99 and above (effective January 1, 2026); books priced under $2.99 earn 40%. Library sales earn 45%. Distribution to retail partners via Draft2Digital pays 60% of list price.

Strengths

• Industry-leading retail royalty: 75% on direct Smashwords Store sales (for books $2.99+) is the highest rate among major ebook retailers. Books under $2.99 earn 40%. Rates simplified from the old cart-based formula in January 2026.
• Unique coupon system: Author-generated, time-limited discount codes are a promotional tool no other major retailer offers — valuable for ARC distribution, reader magnets, and newsletter incentives.
• Proven annual events: Record-breaking sitewide sales with documented growth data, not just marketing claims.

Limitations

• Store-only: No longer a publishing platform or distribution aggregator. Everything runs through Draft2Digital — Smashwords is one opt-in channel within that system.
• Smaller audience: Serves a dedicated indie-reader community, not the scale of Amazon or Apple Books.
• Minimum payout thresholds (as of November 2025): $10 for PayPal and US direct deposit, $20 for international direct deposit and Payoneer, $100 for check payments.
• Ebooks only: No print book capability at the Smashwords Store.

Alternatives

Draft2Digital is the publishing and distribution platform that powers Smashwords and should be the starting point for any new author. For authors prioritizing Kindle Unlimited revenue, Amazon KDP with Kindle Select provides exclusivity in exchange for KU enrollment — a tradeoff Smashwords/D2D wide-distribution authors cannot make.