In this article, I want to cover the topic of Best Websites to Write, Design and Publish Books Online to ensure self-published authors and new writers have the right resources to get started.
From the first draft to the final publication, these websites provide all the services to transform a book into a reality, be it writing aid, design help or distribution services.
Key Points & Best Websites To Write, Design, and Publish Books Online List
| Website | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Reedsy | Professional editing, design marketplace; built-in writing tool with export. |
| Blurb | Book design tools (print & ebook), templates, integration with Amazon/Ingram. |
| Scrivener | Advanced writing software; ideal for structuring long-form content. |
| Canva | Easy-to-use design templates for book covers and interiors; drag-and-drop UI. |
| BookBaby | Full-service self-publishing: editing, design, distribution, and printing. |
| Pressbooks | Online book creation platform; export to PDF, EPUB, MOBI; used in education. |
| Lulu | Print-on-demand & global distribution; free book creation tools. |
| Scribophile | Writing community; peer feedback and critique for fiction/non-fiction authors. |
| Atticus | All-in-one writing and formatting tool; alternative to Scrivener and Vellum. |
| Wattpad | Social storytelling platform; great for building audience and receiving feedback. |
10 Best Websites To Write, Design, and Publish Books Online
1.Reedsy
Reedsy is the go-to platform for an author looking to get a book written, edited, designed, and published. Each of the tasks comes with a one-stop solution for an online writing tool that provides editing, formatting, and collaboration options.
Reedsy is best known for its integrations with other professionals where authors can book qualified editors, cover designers, and marketers. Manuscripts can be exported and are supported in EPUB, PDF or print ready formats.
Reedsy is perfect for indie authorswho wish to published quality books without the hassle of traditional publishing routes. It also offers online classes, writing prompts, and even webinars.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Online Writing Tool | Clean interface with formatting and collaboration options. |
| Marketplace for Professionals | Hire editors, designers, marketers, and ghostwriters. |
| Book Formatting Tool | Export to EPUB and print-ready PDF formats. |
| Free to Use | No cost to write or format books. |
| Educational Resources | Writing prompts, webinars, and author guides. |
| Ideal For | Indie authors looking for high-quality publishing tools and services. |
2.Blurb
Blurb is foremost known as a self-publishing platform that enables the users to create visually rich books including:- photo books, books written at a portfolio level, cookbooks, as well as magazines.
It is equipped with easy to use design tools, for example, BookWright, where a user can design a book as if it is a digital scrapbook by adding, formatting page by page, including images, and customizing each and every part of their book.
A user can either print hardcovers, paperbacks, or distribute them digitally on Amazon and IngramSpark. Blurb integrates with Adobe InDesign and Lightroom for professional designers.
All of its users that need print on demand services, have access to affordable and high quality print on demand services. Blurb is known for its print quality and customizable publishing solutions.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| BookWright Software | Free tool for designing books with full control. |
| Photo Book Specialization | Great for visual books like portfolios and cookbooks. |
| Print-on-Demand | Order as few or as many copies as needed. |
| eBook and PDF Export | Supports digital publishing and sales. |
| Distribution Options | Sell through Amazon, IngramSpark, or Blurb bookstore. |
| Adobe Integration | Compatible with InDesign and Lightroom. |
3.Scrivener
Scrivener makes writing and organizing long-form pieces such as novels, screenplays, and academic essays easier with its specialized tools. Chapter, notes, research and outlines can all be stored in a singular workspace.
Scrivener features a drag-and-drop interface alongside various formatting capabilities which allows writers to creatively arrange their pieces. Supported exports include PDF, DOCX and EPUB.
Authors needing strong scheduling options and flexibility throughout the writing process will benefit from Scrivener. This paid option has a loyal userbase as it enables writers to have a controlled, organized and structured manuscript.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Advanced Organization | Manage chapters, research, and outlines in one place. |
| Corkboard View | Visual tool for arranging story elements. |
| Multiple Export Formats | Export to DOCX, PDF, EPUB, and more. |
| Cross-Platform Support | Available for Windows, macOS, and iOS. |
| Paid Software | One-time purchase with ongoing updates. |
| Ideal For | Novelists, screenwriters, and researchers. |
4.Canva
Canva is widely utilized for designing visually appealing book covers as well as layout pages. Canva is a graphic design platform that is a drag-and-drop based design tool. It also supplies thousands of free templates, stock photos, and illustrations.
Although writing is not a primary function of Canva, self publishing authors are able to utilize the tool to stylishly create cover pages of the books, marketing material, and even pages within the book.
Canva Pro has extra benefits such as a brand kit and downloadable files in high-resolution. For visually oriented authors and publishers, whether the book is an eBook or a printed edition, the inexpensive and beginner friendly design features of Canva makes the platform a necessity.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Book Cover Templates | Professionally designed templates for various genres. |
| Drag-and-Drop Interface | Simple, intuitive design tools for beginners. |
| Free and Pro Plans | Basic access free; Pro unlocks advanced features. |
| Stock Library Access | Millions of images, icons, and graphics. |
| Social Media Integration | Create matching promotional content for book marketing. |
| Ideal For | Authors needing quick and attractive cover or layout designs. |
5.BookBaby
BookBaby is a self publishing platform that has a broad range of features along side book publishing such as scanning, editing, global selling, cover designing, and print distribution.
BookBaby is perfect for self publishing authors and also provides an easy to use interface along with a talented team of experts for print and digital versions.
They give ISBN numbers, convert eBooks, and list them in popular stores like Amazon, Apple Books, and even Barnes and Nobles. Some services may not be free, however, the support alongside the quality makes every penny spent worth it.
For authors that are in a competing market and are seeking a high quality self publishing platform without the need for a traditional publisher, the BookBaby infrastructure is a great option.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Full Publishing Services | Editing, cover design, formatting, and distribution. |
| eBook & Print Options | Convert to ePub, MOBI, or print formats. |
| Retail Distribution | Distribute to Amazon, Apple Books, B&N, and more. |
| Custom ISBNs | Assign ISBNs and barcode creation. |
| Marketing Services | Paid options for press releases, reviews, and more. |
| Ideal For | Authors looking for a complete professional publishing solution. |
6.Pressbooks
Pressbooks serves educators, self-publishers, and independent authors as an online book creation and publishing platform. You can write and format books, then export them as PDF for printing, EPUB for eBooks, and MOBI for Kindle.
It has a WordPress-like clean interface that is easy to navigate. Creating an account gives access to a professional template which helps in making the book polished without much design work.
It is useful for American authors and has gained popularity among academics for use in Open Educational Resources. It is a great solution for self-published authors who do not want to compromise on design, control, and distribution.
Pressbooks gives options to select from a free and a paid plan, making it flexible for various publishing requirements.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Web-Based Authoring | Write and format directly in your browser. |
| Export Formats | EPUB, MOBI, PDF, and more. |
| Professional Templates | Easy-to-use design templates for clean formatting. |
| Open Educational Resource (OER) | Popular with educators and academics. |
| WordPress-Based UI | Familiar interface for users with blogging experience. |
| Free & Premium Plans | Limited free use; unlock more features with paid plans. |
7.Lulu
Lulu is an older self-publishing service that offers print-on-demand and global distribution services. It offers paperback, hardcover, photo books, and calendars.
Authors may use Lulu to upload their manuscript and design covers with Lulu’s provided tools, and select their preferred storefront: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Lulu’s marketplace. It also offers ISBN registration and bulk printing.
Lulu’s strong points are its flexible services, no upfront costs, and industry wide distribution. It is ideal for those who wish to control the pricing, rights, and revisions of the book, and yet, still reach a vast audience without the need of large print runs or large publishing contracts.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Print-on-Demand | Publish and print without minimum orders. |
| Global Distribution | Sell via Amazon, B&N, and Lulu bookstore. |
| Book Creation Wizard | Upload manuscript and design cover easily. |
| ISBN Services | Option to assign your own ISBN or get one from Lulu. |
| Bulk Printing Discounts | Suitable for authors needing stock copies. |
| Ideal For | Self-publishers seeking flexible, low-cost publishing. |
8.Scribophile
Scribophile is a community platform with a focus on writing critique and appraisal. Although it does not feature book design or publishing tools, it is highly useful at the writing and editing stages.
Writers share some excerpts, and in return for critique, they provide their feedback on other authors’ excerpts. This exchange of constructive appreciation and critique in a community greatly helps in improving the quality of the writing before it undergoes the publishing process.
Apart from contests, Scribophile has writing forums and a nurturing environment for both novices and veterans. It is perfect for authors needing honest critique and community support during the writing process. Premium plans offer better posting and visibility options.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Peer Feedback System | Earn karma points by critiquing others to post your own work. |
| Writing Workshops | Online workshops and group critiques. |
| Forums and Community | Engage with fellow writers across genres. |
| Contests and Awards | Regular writing contests with prizes and recognition. |
| Premium Membership | Unlocks more posting slots and private messaging. |
| Ideal For | Writers seeking constructive feedback and community support. |
9.Atticus
Atticus is a new multifaceted software for indie authors. It now packs a combination of best features Scrivener and Vellum as it focuses on organization and formatting. With Atticus, writers can create a book from scratch, format, then organize, and finally export it for print or e-publishing.
Atticus is compatible with all devices as it works on the cloud and offers rich options such as fonts, themes, layout styles, and even custom styles.
This is a go-to solution for authors who intend to prepare a submission-ready document without bouncing from one app to another. Atticus is a paid application, but the aforementioned self-publishing features and ease of use refine its value greatly for self-publishers.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| All-in-One Tool | Combines writing, formatting, and exporting. |
| Cloud-Based Access | Write and edit from any device. |
| Custom Book Themes | Apply consistent, professional design easily. |
| Print & eBook Export | Generate files for KDP, IngramSpark, etc. |
| Intuitive Interface | User-friendly UI for beginners and pros alike. |
| Ideal For | Indie authors who want streamlined, professional publishing. |
10.Wattpad
Wattpad is a social storytelling platform that lets readers and writers to interact freely. They allow writers to tell stories and create a loyal fanbase. Wattpad is remarkable forbuilders of fiction stories, and especially impactful for writers of romance, fantasy, and young adult novels.
Wattpad allows authors to publish chapter by chapter, comment, and receive feedback, thus cultivating a wide readership. Several authors have also received publishing and media deals because of the massive readership they gained through Wattpad.
The platform is peer focused and fosters storytelling in series, making it great for authors trying to test concepts, gain exposure, and interact with the readers. It is much easier and effective for narrating stories in the digital era.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter-by-Chapter Publishing | Publish stories in serialized format. |
| Community Interaction | Receive feedback through comments and likes. |
| Reader Analytics | Track engagement and reading stats. |
| Wattpad Stars Program | Monetization and brand partnership opportunities. |
| Adaptation Opportunities | Top stories can get TV or publishing deals. |
| Ideal For | Fiction writers looking to build an audience online. |
Conclusion
In summary, the offered website bprovides services which can aid the writers to craft, format, and publish books without any hassle. For those who wish to self publish a book or interested to pursue it as a novel or a designer will find these websites useful.
It can assist with writing, formatting, distribution and other tasks. All these depends on your writing objectives, your level of expertise with technology, and the amount of involvement you wish to have.
