Publishing a Book Online vs. in Bookstores: How Authors Can Really Earn Money

The question of where and how to publish your book is more complex today than ever before. In addition to traditional publishing houses and self-publishing platforms, there are now a wide variety of online reading platforms where stories can be published directly and read by a community.

But which option is truly worthwhile financially? And where does the greater potential lie for long-term income as an author?

In this article, we compare both paths – from Wattpad to BoD, from community platform to print-on-demand – with a focus on monetisation options for authors.

1. Online Reading Platforms: Writing for the Community

Online reading platforms are mostly social networks centred around reading and writing. The focus here is not on selling a book, but on sharing and growing alongside an active community. Many authors use them as a springboard to gain their first readers, receive feedback, or build a name for themselves.

Wattpad – Reach Yes, Earnings Barely

Wattpad is arguably the best-known reading platform in the world. It offers authors the opportunity to publish stories for free and build an audience.

However: Earning money here is only possible if you are among the absolute top authors. The monetisation programme is not openly available, but rather selected by the Wattpad editorial team. Only authors with very high reach – sometimes millions of views – are proactively invited, for example through the Wattpad Stars or Paid Stories programme. For everyone else, Wattpad remains primarily a platform for visibility, not for income.

Advantages:

• Large international community
• Direct contact with readers
• Potential discovery by publishers or film studios

Disadvantages:

• Little to no monetisation
• Content remains the property of the authors, but platform rights are in some cases far-reaching

Enormous competition

Inkitt – Monetisation via Subscriptions

Inkitt combines a reading platform with a self-publishing approach. Readers can subscribe to stories here, similar to Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee.

However, this system only works if you have already built a very active community – willingness to pay is limited, and authors must invest a great deal of engagement to generate income on an ongoing basis.

Advantages:

• Good platform structure and straightforward publishing
• Subscription system for fans possible
• Potential inclusion in Inkitt's own publishing house (Galatea)

Disadvantages:

• Income only with a large community
• Dependence on platform algorithms
• Limited visibility for new authors

Story Ban – Explicitly Non-Commercial

Story Ban takes a different approach: the platform is non-commercial and sees itself as a free space for literary exchange. Authors are not permitted to publish advertisements or reading samples for commercial purposes, and monetisation is explicitly excluded.

Advantages:

• Independent, ad-free platform
• Ideal for hobby authors and creative experimentation

Disadvantages:

• No income opportunities
• Limited reach

Colibli – Chapter-Based Remuneration

An interesting exception is Colibli. Here, authors automatically earn from every chapter accessed. This means: Even smaller stories can be worthwhile, as long as they are read regularly. This model is particularly exciting for authors who publish regularly and want to build a continuous readership.

Advantages:

• Fair, transparent remuneration
• Direct connection between activity and earnings
• No obligation to subscriptions or advertising

Disadvantages:

• New platform with limited reach
• Earnings dependent on reading frequency

2. Book Trade & Print-on-Demand: Control Over Price and Royalties

While reading platforms often score points with reach, print-on-demand services (PoD) offer the major advantage that authors earn directly from every book sold. Each copy is printed only when ordered, meaning there are no upfront costs for storage or minimum print runs.

Advantages of Print-on-Demand

• Full price control: Authors set their own selling prices and margins.
• No upfront costs: Only what is ordered gets printed.
• Availability in the book trade: Titles can appear in online and brick-and-mortar retail via ISBN.
• Professional appearance: Cover, layout, and ISBN are standardised and usually of high quality.

Disadvantages of Print-on-Demand

• Marketing rests entirely with the author. Without a community or advertising, hardly anyone will find the book.
• Costs for additional services: Proofreading, cover design, editing, and typesetting usually cost extra.
• Technical hurdles: Depending on the provider, formatting and metadata can be time-consuming.

Tredition – Free & Transparent

Tredition is one of the few PoD platforms that works completely free of charge. Authors pay no one-time fee, yet still receive an ISBN and distribution through the book trade. Revenue is generated through sales, and royalties can be set independently.

Advantages:

• No entry costs
• Fair royalties
• Publication as print and e-book

BoD (Books on Demand) – Quality Has Its Price

BoD is one of the best-known German self-publishing platforms. It impresses with high print quality, broad distribution, and good support options. However, all of this comes at a price. BoD charges setup fees and, in some cases, annual costs for certain packages.

Advantages:

• High-quality printing
• Reliable service
• Strong distribution (incl. Amazon, Thalia, Hugendubel)

Disadvantages:

• High entry costs
• Dependency on the chosen package

Tolino Media – Technically Demanding, but Fair

Tolino Media sits between Tredition and BoD in terms of pricing and concept. The platform is particularly interesting for e-books; however, the technical implementation can be more complex, as format specifications and metadata must be followed very precisely.

Advantages:

• Strong presence in the German book trade
• Fair terms
• Focus on digital books

Disadvantages:

• Technically demanding
• Less ideal for beginners

3. Warning About „Vanity Publishers“

An important note for anyone looking to publish their book: Stay away from so-called vanity publishers.

These providers often advertise with terms like „professional publication“ or „publishing contract“, but charge several thousand euros for services that are available for free or at a lower cost on reputable self-publishing platforms. They are not real publishers, as they do not assume any financial risk and generally do not offer genuine marketing either.

4. Conclusion: Visibility or Self-Determination?

Both paths have their merits – what matters most is your goal.

Goal	Recommendation
Build reach & community	Reading platforms such as Wattpad or Colibli
Generate income per sale	Print-on-Demand (e.g. Tredition, BoD, Tolino)
Experiment & receive feedback	Story Ban or Wattpad
Publish long-term as an author	Combination of PoD & community building

In short: If you want to make a living from your writing, there is no way around a professional publication through the book trade in the long run – but reading platforms can be the perfect starting point to make yourself and your stories known.

Published by scribigo.de – the AI-powered Textbuddy for authors, students, and publishers.