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Side by side

Draft2Digital vs PublishDrive

The two Publishing Database records, field by field. Every value is read from the record itself, so it carries that record’s sources and the date it was last checked. No scores and no winner: which fits depends on the book.

Weighing the choice rather than the terms? PublishDrive vs Draft2Digital: Subscription or Commission?

Draft2Digital vs PublishDrive: terms compared
Draft2DigitalVerified 26 October 2026PublishDriveVerified 26 October 2026
What it is
Type
Distributor / Aggregator · FormattingDistributor / Aggregator · Print-on-Demand · Audiobook Platform
Formats
EPUB, PrintEPUB (ebook), Print (print-on-demand), Audiobook
Distribution
Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Amazon (by invitation only), Library and subscription servicesAmazon, Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Libraries (240,000+ via partners), 50+ retail and library stores worldwide, including POD partners in China and India
Territories
Worldwide by default, through the sales channels you choose; you can restrict territories for a book in its metadata (Terms s.15).Worldwide (the author can limit the territory)
Terms
Exclusivity
Not requiredDraft2Digital states it does not acquire rights or require exclusivity of any kind. Every storefront is opt-in and can be opted out of at any time.Not requiredNon-exclusive and worldwide; the author can limit the territory at registration and can withdraw a work at any time for any reason (removal from stores takes roughly 4–6 weeks). The licence is not perpetual — it lasts only as long as needed to provide the service, fulfil orders placed during the term and comply with law; stores may keep archival copies so earlier purchasers retain access.
ISBN
Free ISBN: YesYour own ISBN: YesAn ISBN is assigned free of charge to any book published through the system.Free ISBN: NoYour own ISBN: YesPublishDrive does not assign an official ISBN. You can use your own ISBN, or take a free PublishDrive Unique Identifier (PUI), which most retailers accept in place of one.
Royalties
  • 10% of list priceDistribution shareDraft2Digital states it takes approximately 10% of the retail price of each sale, with the exact figure varying by store and book type. The retailer's own cut is separate and is taken before this.
  • 100%Author share (subscription plans)On a paid subscription plan PublishDrive takes 0% commission: the author keeps 100% of the royalty each store pays PublishDrive, across ebook, print and audio. PublishDrive's general royalties page describes that as the same rate as publishing directly, but its own Amazon pages do not bear this out: its Kindle special terms pay 70% only between $2.99 and $9.99 and in a listed set of countries, 60% in Andorra, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Spain and Switzerland, and 35% otherwise — a narrower band than KDP direct, recorded as $2.99–$12.99 since 7 July 2026. Its Amazon distribution page gives a flat 60% instead, and calls Amazon a wholesale model where the royalties page says agency, so no single Amazon ebook rate is recorded. The author sets the list price within each store's limits. PublishDrive does not guarantee any specific rate; the store's own cut still applies before its payout.
Fees
  • Account activation — $20.00 one-off
  • Annual maintenance — $12.00 per year
  • Subscription (paid plans) — $13.99 per month
  • Per-sale commission — not charged
Payment schedule
Monthly, around the 15th. Retailers typically pay Draft2Digital 30–60 days after an ebook or audiobook sale and up to 90 days for print, so payments lag the sale accordingly. Minimum payout thresholds vary by method: $10 direct deposit or PayPal, $20 international direct deposit or Payoneer, $100 by cheque.A single consolidated monthly payout, paid about one month after the official earnings report for a period, so payment lags each store's own reporting. The minimum payout threshold is currently $5. Methods vary by country — Wise or local bank transfer, cheque, PayPal, Payoneer or Intercash; PayPal and cheque pay in USD.
Returns
Retailers can reverse earlier sales for returns, fraud or chargebacks, and Draft2Digital pays only on money it actually receives (Terms s.12(a)). If a royalty has already been paid, it may be offset against future royalties or you may be asked to repay it (s.12(g)(1)). The terms set no returns policy for print sold through retailers; Storefront purchases such as author copies are final and non-returnable unless the site says otherwise (s.6(f)).Refunds a store gives a customer are charged to you and appear as negative items on earnings reports (Terms s.11.7); a royalty already paid may be offset against future royalties, or you may be required to repay it (s.12.5). Print copies, wholesale or direct, are non-returnable, but you must reimburse the cost of any copy returned because of a title-setup error such as the wrong trim size, binding or paper (s.11.7).
Rights & privacy
Overall posture
Generally protectiveGenerally protective
AI training on your work
Terms are silent or ambiguousExplicitly excluded
Content licence
Narrow — scoped to running the serviceNarrow — scoped to running the service
Deletion
AvailableAvailable
Export
StrongStrong

The full records, with sources, facts and change history: Draft2Digital and PublishDrive.