Draft2Digital

Publishing terms

Formats

EPUB, Print

Distribution

Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Amazon, Library and subscription services

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.

ISBN

Free ISBN supplied: YesAccepts your own ISBN: YesAn ISBN is assigned free of charge to any book published through the system.

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.

Fees

• Account activation — $20.00 one-offNon-refundable, and lasts the life of the account.
• Annual maintenance — $12.00 per yearCharged only to accounts earning under $100 a year with active distributions, and waived for the first year.

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.

Rights & privacy

Manuscript upload

Required

Cloud storage

Yes

Account required

Yes

AI features

Not determined

AI training on your work

The terms are unclearThe terms do not mention AI or machine learning, but they do grant "the additional right to use your manuscript and Work files for the purpose of improving and enhancing our systems for converting and distributing electronic and physical books", adding that no sale or licensing of the work happens under that clause. Whether that covers training a model on manuscripts is not stated either way — the clause is scoped by purpose rather than by technique.

Content licence

A non-exclusive, worldwide licence to distribute the work in the formats and to the channels you choose. It is irrevocable only "unless and until you terminate this Agreement according to its terms" — so unlike an unconditionally irrevocable grant, ending the agreement ends it. On termination Draft2Digital must stop distributing and tell sales channels to cancel listings. You retain copyright, and section 15(e) adds a genuinely uncommon term: you own the Work files Draft2Digital creates for you, such as the formatted EPUB, subject only to the rights you granted. One qualification on the clean exit — the rights continue after the term "as necessary for us to allow sales channels to market, sell and distribute your Works as contemplated hereunder", so the grant tapers rather than stopping dead.

Deletion

Individual works can be delisted at any time, and the agreement can be terminated at any time, with or without cause, on notice.

Export

Distribution is opt-in per storefront and non-exclusive throughout, so nothing prevents publishing the same work elsewhere at the same time or moving away entirely.

Policy reviewed 4 September 2026