Alternatives to IngramSpark for Your Print-on-Demand Books

By Mihaela Bidilică

Are you looking to up your print-on-demand game?

IngramSpark might be the go-to for print-on-demand, but it's not the only player. Print-on-demand is a popular option, so you’ll find many alternatives to IngramSpark.

Let’s go over a few great POD platforms.

What Is Print-on-Demand?

Print-on-demand [POD] is a cost-effective method for indies to produce and distribute their books. There is no minimum order quantity, which works great for authors and small or medium-sized publishers.

Book production begins when an order is placed. The system then automatically initiates the printing of the book. Once printed, the book is bound and shipped directly to the customer.

This process eliminates the need for pre-printing and storing large quantities of books.

Top benefits for indies

  • no large upfront costs associated with traditional print runs.
  • no warehousing, no shipping, no unsold stock
  • easy updates: corrections can be included in the next print
  • more environmentally friendly

IngramSpark Alternatives

Now, let’s speak alternatives to Ingram.

A. Print-on-demand options via PublishDrive

1. Amazon KDP

Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing [KDP] has a print-on-demand service integrated with its ebook platform. Books are typically produced within one to three days of ordering. The print-on-demand services are linked to physical stores in available countries.

While KDP is ideal for those selling primarily through Amazon, it provides free listing and direct access to create detailed product pages, charging only a commission on sales. The royalty structure for print books ranges from 40% to 60% of the sale price.

The service doesn't support magazines, periodicals, or spiral-bound notebooks.

Amazon KDP vs. IngramSpark
  • KDP offers free setup and other Amazon integration. Ingram also no longer charges the setup fee for print, which used to be $49. However, they charge approximately $25 per upload for any revisions after the first 60 days after a title has been approved. Additionally, the company charges a market access fee of 1% of the list price for every print book sold through its global distribution network.
  • KDP's production time is faster (1-3 days vs. IngramSpark's 3-5 days), but IngramSpark offers more format options, including hardcovers with dust jackets.

2. Repro India

Repro offers print-on-demand services that cater specifically to the Indian market, one of the largest English-language content markets globally. Production takes up to 7 days.

Their platform allows self-published authors and publishers to distribute books directly to major online retailers in India, including Amazon.in, Flipkart, and Bookscape (Repro's own online store).

Note: Repro is an Ingram partner, which means they also offer print-on-demand services to other countries through Ingram.

Repro India vs. IngramSpark
  • Repro focuses on the Indian market, offering direct distribution to major online retailers there, while IngramSpark provides wider global distribution to bookstores and libraries.
  • Repro offers lower-priced services, with black-and-white printing costs approximately 50% lower than Ingram and 20% lower than Amazon Print. Color printing costs are slightly cheaper than Ingram and about 50% less than Amazon Print.

3. CNPeReading

CNPeReading offers print-on-demand services that tap into the vast Chinese market, where millions of readers seek print books.

CNPeReading's distribution network includes major Chinese online retailers such as JD, which captures 30% of the Chinese market, and Dangdang, a bookseller with 30 million monthly visitors to its online store. This wide reach means your print-on-demand books can effectively penetrate the Chinese book market.

💡Note the distribution requirements to China: After being reviewed internally by the PublishDrive team, the books are sent to the Chinese importers. Mandatory state censorship follows; we do not have any criteria for the process and are not provided with any feedback. Store editorial teams have the final say on book display, even if it passes censorship, as they solely pick books they feel are compatible with their audiences.

How to reach these IngramSpark POD alternatives

As a PublishDrive customer, you get the full perks of the PublishDrive book network.

  1. Get your metadata in order and increase discoverability with an industry-standard blurb and spot-on categories, all with the AI-assisted Book Metadata Generator.
  2. Reach 39K+ stores for your print books and 240K+ digital libraries for your ebooks through a streamlined process.
  3. Keep a close eye on your author business from a single dashboard, and forget complicated royalty splitting with Abacus.
  4. Retain 100% net royalties with subscription-based aggregation.

To get started, Sign in/ Sign up, and from My Books in the Dashboard, choose between a hardcover and a paperback.

View the full process: 

At the end, select your POD service of choice. 

B. Other POD Services

1. Lulu

Lulu offers a print-on-demand service for authors to print and sell books through their own stores, aside from Lulu Bookstore. Royalty rates are 80% for every sale, after printing costs.

Books are typically produced within three to five days of ordering.

The service supports a wide range of products, including hardcovers, paperbacks, coil bound, and linen wraps.

Lulu doesn't have a minimum order requirement and allows authors to set their own profit margins.

Lulu vs. IngramSpark
  • Lulu Direct empowers authors to sell directly through their own stores, with integrations for Wix, Shopify, WooCommerce, and Lulu Api. IngramSpark provides wider distribution to bookstores and libraries.
  • Lulu's book production time (3-5 days) is similar to IngramSpark's
  • Both services offer a variety of book formats and binding options

2. Blurb

Blurb is a POD service that allows authors to choose from a wide variety of paper types. Production time for printing and binding typically takes four to five business days. There is no minimum order requirement.

Blurb supports a variety of book products, including trade books, magazines, notebooks, photo books, and ebooks. Photobooks are a great choice for indies selling graphic novels or cookbooks that involve photos and graphics.

Once you upload and create your book on the Blurb platform, the base price depends on what kind of format you’d like to choose, such as photo, paperback, magazine, and more.

Note: You can then set up your book to be purchased on Blurb’s site or Blurb plus other retailers provided by IngramSpark. You can earn 45-64% royalties.

The service provides its own design software to help authors design their products to meet bookseller standards. It integrates with Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, and InDesign for easier formatting and submission.

Blurb vs. IngramSpark
  • Blurb offers its own design software and Adobe integrations, while IngramSpark focuses more on distribution services.
  • Blurb's production time (4-5 days) is similar to IngramSpark's, but Blurb provides a wider range of product types, including photo books and notebooks.
  • IngramSpark offers wider distribution to bookstores and libraries, while Blurb provides an integrated bookstore.

3. Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble Press provides a POD platform for authors to publish and track sales of their books in various formats. Books published through Barnes & Noble Press are accessible on BN.com and through NOOK devices.

Barnes & Noble vs. IngramSpark
  • Barnes & Noble Press provides direct access to BN.com and NOOK devices, helping authors reach millions through their stores, apps, and devices.
  • The production time for Barnes & Noble Press [5-10 days] is slightly longer than IngramSpark's [3-5 days].
  • Both services offer a variety of book formats and binding options, though Barnes & Noble Press is more focused on distribution through its own channels.

4. Book Baby

BookBaby is a POD service focused on high-quality production with professional support. The service has a $399 setup fee for wide distribution [$149 for the BookBaby shop], making it the priciest option among its competitors.

They offer a wide range of book products, including perfect bound, paperback, and hardback, with black-and-white or full-color printing options.

BookBaby offers a 50% royalty rate to authors and has extensive distribution, including all of IngramSpark's stores plus additional retailers. Authors can list their print-on-demand books on major platforms like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as various wholesale distributors.

BookBaby vs. IngramSpark
  • BookBaby's production time (3-5 days for orders <500 books) is comparable to IngramSpark's, but BookBaby has a minimum order requirement of 25 books.
  • BookBaby's distribution network includes all of IngramSpark's stores plus additional retailers.

5. Bookvault

Bookvault is a UK-based POD platform that supports authors in selling both direct and wide. Bookvault's distribution networks include major players like Amazon, IngramSpark, Gardners, and The Great British Book Shop.

As a UK-based company, Bookvault is particularly well-suited for authors targeting the UK book market.

Bookvault vs. IngramSpark
  • With the free plan, Bookvault has a setup fee of $25/ title compared to IngramSpark's varying setup costs.
  • Bookvault's royalty range [40-90%] is higher than IngramSpark, depending on the specific sales channels used.
  • Both services provide access to major retailers, with Bookvault notably including IngramSpark in its distribution network.

6. AccuTrack

Acutrack is a book printing and fulfillment service. They have a wide range of book products, including paperback, hardcover, spiral bound, journals, workbooks, calendars, and coloring books in various sizes.

Acutrack vs. IngramSpark
  • With Acutrack, orders are shipped within one business day of placement, compared to IngramSpark's 3-5 day production time.
  • Acutrack has a minimum order requirement, while IngramSpark offers true print-on-demand with no minimums.
  • Acutrack offers a wider variety of book types, including spiral bound and coloring books, which are not typically available through IngramSpark.
  • IngramSpark focuses on wide distribution to bookstores and libraries, while Acutrack emphasizes e-commerce integration and direct fulfillment.

Tips to choose your POD provider

When choosing your POD provider, think of the following:

1. Transparency

Reliable partners maintain consistent policies, avoiding unexpected changes that disrupt author workflows.

2. Production speed

Quick turnaround times contribute to customer satisfaction and positive reviews. Look for services with efficient production processes to maintain a competitive edge.

3. Fulfillment efficiency

You should thoroughly evaluate packing and shipping times. Services with carrier partnerships may offer reduced shipping costs. The capability for international distribution expands potential markets.

4. Retail connections

If they have a robust network of wholesalers and booksellers, your book is more likely to be placed in physical bookstores.

5. Book format options

Take time to assess their book formatting possibilities. This variety ensures authors can meet specific requirements for different sales channels while staying on top of market preferences.

6. Proof quality

High-quality, affordable proofs allow authors to ensure the final product meets their expectations before full production.

7. Cost structure

POD services have different financial models. Some charge no upfront fees but take commissions on each sale, while others require initial payments, allowing authors to retain all profits. Learn which suits you best.

8. User feedback

Look for reviews from other authors to provide insights into the service's reliability, quality, and customer support.

Conclusion

While Ingram Spark might be the go-to for many, remember it's not your only option. There's a world of print-on-demand services out there, each with its own strengths. And let's not forget the enduring appeal of physical books. In our digital age, there's still a unique magic to holding a tangible story in your hands. Don't miss out on connecting with readers who crave that experience.