New fees Coming From Draft2Digital

You know that I strongly recommend using Draft2Digital for wide distribution of ebooks. And I still think they are a good choice, even with these new fees ($20 one-time activation fee for new accounts, and a $12 annual maintenance fee for accounts earning less than $100 per year in net royalties.)

These fees go into effect on May 14, 2026.

To get a really in-depth analysis of what this all means, as well as when to consider Kindle Select (exclusive to Kindle, so not selling your ebooks anywhere else, including your website), see this great article by Alexa Bigwarfe. 

What she doesn’t cover is how does IngramSpark’s ebook offerings compare. So, I looked into that as well. Here are my thoughts:

One of the questions many indie authors are now asking after Draft2Digital’s announcement is:

“If I’m paying fees anyway, should I reconsider my ebook distribution strategy?”

Alexa Bigwarfe does a good job breaking down the new D2D fee structure and the reasoning behind it in her recent article.

What’s especially interesting is how the conversation naturally expands into comparing the three major “wide” ebook distribution approaches:

• Draft2Digital
• PublishDrive
• IngramSpark

Draft2Digital: Still the Easiest Entry Point for Most Authors

For many indie authors, Draft2Digital remains the simplest and most author-friendly way to distribute ebooks beyond Amazon.

D2D handles distribution to Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, libraries, subscription services, and more — all from a relatively intuitive dashboard. It also offers automatic back matter tools, Universal Book Links, promo opportunities, and relatively responsive customer service.

The new policy adds:

• a $20 one-time activation fee for new accounts
• a $12 annual maintenance fee for accounts earning under $100/year in royalties

For authors actually selling books wide, the annual fee is relatively minor. The bigger long-term cost consideration is D2D’s percentage-based commission structure.

Alexa Bigwarfe points out that D2D’s model remains economically favorable for lower-volume authors, while higher-volume “wide” authors may eventually save money elsewhere.

PublishDrive: Better Economics for Higher-Volume Ebook Sales

PublishDrive uses a different business model.

Instead of taking a percentage of royalties, PublishDrive primarily charges a subscription fee while allowing authors to keep 100% of net royalties after retailer deductions.

That means:

• lower-volume authors often do better financially with D2D
• higher-volume wide authors may eventually save substantial money with PublishDrive

PublishDrive also has some strengths that appeal to more sophisticated indie publishers:

• stronger international reach in some markets
• AI-powered marketing and analytics tools
• subscription pricing that scales with catalog size
• stronger appeal for author-publishers managing multiple books

However, many authors still find D2D easier to use and more beginner-friendly.

IngramSpark: Excellent for Print Distribution — Mixed for Ebook Distribution

This is where things get interesting.

IngramSpark is absolutely essential for many indie authors on the print side. As I often tell clients and workshop attendees, if you want bookstores and libraries to take your print book seriously, you generally need IngramSpark in the mix.

But ebook distribution through IngramSpark is a different story.

Technically, IngramSpark does distribute ebooks to many retailers and library channels. However, compared to Draft2Digital and PublishDrive, it has traditionally been:

• less user-friendly
• slower to update metadata
• weaker in ebook-specific marketing tools
• less transparent in reporting
• more oriented toward print publishing workflows

Many experienced indie publishers therefore use:

• KDP directly for Amazon ebooks
• Draft2Digital or PublishDrive for wide ebook distribution
• IngramSpark primarily for print distribution

That hybrid approach has become something of the industry standard among professional self-publishers.

So Which One Makes the Most Sense?

For most newer indie authors:

• Draft2Digital is still probably the easiest and safest choice for wide ebook distribution.

For advanced indie publishers with strong sales:

• PublishDrive may become financially more attractive over time.

For print distribution:

• IngramSpark remains extremely important, regardless of what you do for ebooks.

And honestly, the new D2D fees may not end up being the biggest issue at all.

The real question is whether your books are earning enough in wide distribution to justify the time and effort required to market them effectively outside Amazon. That’s where metadata, covers, categories, keywords, and ongoing marketing become far more important than a $12 annual fee.

Wide distribution is still a viable strategy — but it increasingly rewards authors who approach publishing as an ongoing business rather than a one-time upload process.

I will touch on all of the above and more in my upcoming presentation on June 6: KDP, IngramSpark, AI & Other Things Keeping Indie Publishers Awake at Night.