IngramSpark vs PublishDrive Comparison 2026
IngramSpark puts a physical book into the catalogue bookshops and libraries order from, free to set up with printing charged per copy once a title's specification is finalised. PublishDrive is built around ebooks, uploading once to more than 50 retailers and 240,000 libraries for a flat subscription rather than a cut of royalties, free for one book and 3 channels or from $13.99 a month billed annually for three books and 50 channels. IngramSpark charges by the copy printed; PublishDrive charges by the title held on its plan and takes nothing from what each one sells.
Print a book into the retail supply chain
Ebook distribution with no cut of royalties
At a glance
- Both have a genuinely free tier.
Side by side
IngramSpark | PublishDrive | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Not listed | From $13.99 |
| Pricing model | Free plan, paid tiers | Free plan, paid tiers |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Billing | Not stated | Annual only |
| Free trial | Not stated | None |
| API | Not stated | Not stated |
IngramSpark
Print a book into the retail supply chain
IngramSpark is how an independent author gets a physical book into the catalogue bookshops and libraries actually order from, which Amazon's own printing does not do on the same terms. Setup costs nothing now, print is charged per copy, and the distribution reach is the reason to be here rather than the interface. Returns, discounts and trim sizes are decisions with real money attached, and the site is better at listing them than at explaining them.
Our note
Use the print cost calculator before finalising a page count, because trim size and paper choices move the unit cost enough to decide whether the book is profitable. Most authors list on both IngramSpark and KDP, using one for reach and the other for Amazon margin.
PublishDrive
Ebook distribution with no cut of royalties
PublishDrive charges a subscription and then takes nothing from sales, which inverts the usual aggregator deal and pays off the moment a book sells steadily. One upload reaches over 50 retailers and a library network most authors never get near. Plans are capped by title count, so a back catalogue costs more than a single book does.
Why people weigh these two
- PublishDrive instead of IngramSpark
- PublishDrive distributes ebooks without taking a cut of royalties, on subscription from $13.99 with a free tier, for authors whose priority is ebook reach rather than print.
- IngramSpark instead of PublishDrive
- IngramSpark places a printed book into the retail supply chain bookstores order from, a different distribution problem than the ebook retailers PublishDrive reaches.
Which one should you pick
Pick IngramSpark when the point is a physical book bookshops and libraries can order through normal retail channels, with wholesale discounts and returns set the way the trade expects. There is no subscription. The cost is per printed copy, based on trim size, page count and binding.
Pick PublishDrive when ebooks across many retailers and a library network are the priority and a subscription beats a royalty cut. Starter is $13.99 a month billed annually for 3 books and 50 channels, with 0 percent revenue share on every tier, so the plan is the entire cost. A single title that barely sells may not clear the subscription price, worth working out before committing to a tier built for a back catalogue.
Common questions
- Which one is built for print, and which for ebooks?
- IngramSpark is print-first: its whole reason to exist is getting a physical book into the retail and library supply chain. PublishDrive is ebook-first, uploading once to more than 50 retailers and 240,000 libraries, though it also distributes print and audiobook formats.
- Does either take a cut of royalties?
- PublishDrive states 0 percent revenue share on every tier, so its subscription is the whole cost. IngramSpark charges per printed copy rather than a royalty percentage, and its ebook revenue share is not stated on the pricing page.
- Is PublishDrive worth it for a single book?
- Usually not. Its free plan already covers one book and 3 channels, and the paid tiers are built for a back catalogue: Starter covers 3 books for $13.99 a month billed annually. A single title selling modestly may not clear the subscription cost.
- How many titles can PublishDrive's plans hold?
- Free holds one, Starter holds three, Standard holds six, and a higher tier reaches 48 titles before custom pricing applies. IngramSpark has no such title cap. Its cost scales with copies printed rather than titles listed.
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