All tiers at a glance
Compare picks across every budget — click any tool to see full details.
| Category | $0 | Under $300 | $2,000+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writing Tools | yWriterFree | Scrivener$60–$96 one-time | Scrivener$60–$96 one-time |
| Editing | ProWritingAidFree – $36/mo | ProWritingAidFree – $36/mo | Reedsy Editors$500–$5k/word |
| Formatting | Reedsy Book EditorFree – $11 | Atticus$147–$147 one-time | Vellum$200–$250 one-time |
| Cover Design | CanvaFree – $20/mo | SelfPubBookCovers$55–$279/project | 99designs$299–$1k/project |
| Publishing | Amazon KDPFree | Amazon KDPFree | IngramSparkFree |
| Marketing | StoryOriginFree – $10/mo | BookFunnel$30–$300/yr | BookBubFree – $4k/project |
Self-Publish Your Book for $0
Everything you need to publish a professional book without spending a dime
Estimated stack cost
+ variable costs for tools priced per-word, per-project, or per-use
Based on entry-level pricing. One-time purchases counted in year 1 only.
writing tools
Free scene-based writing software with manuscript organization
editing
Generous free tier catches grammar, style, and readability issues
formatting
Completely free professional formatting with ePub and PDF export
cover design
Free tier includes book cover templates and a drag-and-drop editor
publishing
Free to publish with up to 70% royalties on the world's largest bookstore
marketing
Free tier includes reader magnet delivery and basic ARC management
The $0 Publishing Stack
You don't need to spend a single dollar to publish a professional book. These free tools cover every step of the process from writing to marketing.
The trade-off: Free tools require more time and effort. Your cover may look less polished than a professional design, and your editing will rely on AI tools rather than human editors. But many successful authors started exactly this way.
Upgrade path: As your books earn money, reinvest in professional cover design and editing first — these have the biggest impact on sales.