Self-Publishing eBooks vs Your Own App

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When creators search for “ebook self publishing” or “best platforms to sell ebooks,” their first thought often goes to major distribution platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Smashwords, or other ebook marketplaces. These platforms are well-known, accessible, and have an existing pool of readers that many authors find appealing. But while they provide reach, they also come with limitations—especially when it comes to revenue and ownership.

The bigger opportunity lies in building your own channel with a creator publishing platform like Audiorista. By using a white-label ebook app, you gain full control of your brand and audience while keeping more of your earnings. This guide compares traditional marketplace publishing with the approach of selling ebooks directly through your own app and outlines best practices for maximizing revenue and audience connection.

The basics of ebook self publishing

Self-publishing means creating, distributing, and selling ebooks without relying on a traditional publishing house. Most authors turn to distribution platforms for this purpose. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Apple Books, Kobo, or aggregator platforms such as Smashwords are common choices. These platforms handle distribution logistics and provide access to vast libraries that attract millions of readers.

The advantages of these platforms are straightforward. They offer immediate accessibility, allowing any author to upload and sell their ebooks globally. They also connect authors to a broad reader base that might be difficult to reach without marketplace infrastructure. In addition, the built-in purchasing systems remove the need for technical setup.

However, these benefits come with a tradeoff. Marketplaces often take a significant cut of every sale, reducing the revenue authors ultimately earn. In many cases, royalties are capped at a percentage that leaves creators with less than half of the retail price. Equally important, the platform—not the author—owns the customer relationship. This means limited or no access to reader data and no way to build a long-term audience outside the marketplace environment.

Selling ebooks through your own app

An alternative approach is creating a white-label ebook app. This is a fully branded digital bookstore and reading experience that runs under your own name—not that of a third-party platform. In this model, you’re not just another listing inside a crowded marketplace. Instead, you own the entire channel where readers find, purchase, and consume content.

The benefits of this approach go well beyond branding. By controlling your app, you decide pricing strategies, payment structures, and sales models. You can directly monetize your ebooks through one-time purchases, subscriptions, or bundles, without platform restrictions. Most importantly, you create an exclusive relationship with your readers and capture valuable audience insights to guide your publishing strategy.

With tools like Audiorista, it’s possible to build a custom ebook store app without the technical overhead that custom development usually requires. Audiorista’s no-code platform lets you quickly launch your own branded app for iOS, Android, and web, with built-in support for direct sales, subscriptions, and content bundles. This puts creative and business control directly in your hands, ensuring you’re not dependent on external marketplaces for success.

Ebook distribution platforms vs your own channel

When comparing traditional distribution platforms with owning your own ebook app, two main factors stand out: revenue and control. Marketplaces typically offer royalties ranging anywhere from 30% to 70% of the sale price. While this seems appealing at first glance, the platform retains a significant portion of every sale over time.

In contrast, running your own app lets you retain nearly all of your sales revenue. Aside from payment processing costs, the profits remain with you. This makes a major difference in long-term earnings, especially if you build a loyal audience base.

Control is equally critical. On marketplaces, titles sit alongside thousands of others, competing for attention under strict platform rules. In your own app, you set the tone, design, and user experience, ensuring that your brand—not the marketplace’s—is front and center. This unlocks the potential of long-term audience loyalty that isn’t tied to another company’s ecosystem.

Best way to publish ebooks online

The most effective publishing strategies don’t rely on handing over audience ownership to third parties. Instead, they focus on building independent distribution channels. Best practices for digital publishing success include:

• Starting with niche content that appeals to a clearly defined audience
• Selling digital content directly through your own branded channels
• Using analytics to understand reader habits and refine future publishing decisions

With modern platforms, independent authors and media companies no longer need the infrastructure of major marketplaces to succeed. Instead, they can use dedicated solutions for publishers to streamline distribution, monetization, and analytics under their own brand identity. Audiorista’s platform includes advanced analytics, flexible payment and subscription models, and seamless integration with your existing content workflows.

App vs ebook marketplace revenue potential

The revenue gap between marketplace publishing and app-based distribution is significant. In marketplaces, creators earn standard royalties that top out at standard capped rates, often under 70%. Beyond these royalties, opportunities for recurring income are limited, with few options to upsell or cross-sell products directly.

By contrast, selling ebooks in your own app gives you control of nearly the entire sales price. Aside from minor fees from payment processors, your revenue stays intact. Moreover, you’re not limited to single-copy sales. With your own app, you can create subscription models, membership access, or exclusive bundles that maximize long-term income and build predictable revenue streams unavailable on generic marketplaces. Audiorista supports all of these monetization strategies, making it easy to launch and manage multiple offers within your app.

Upselling is especially important here. When readers engage directly inside your branded app, they’re immersed in your ecosystem—not distracted by competing titles. This creates a natural environment for additional purchases and subscription sign-ups that increase the lifetime value of each customer. Audiorista’s built-in tools for cross-selling and bundling content make it simple to grow your revenue per user.

This combination of higher margins, flexible monetization models, and deeper customer relationships illustrates why owning your distribution channel leads to a stronger publishing business over time.

This guide showed the hidden costs of ebook self publishing on marketplaces and why building your own white label ebook app can help you keep more profits, own your audience, and provide a better reading experience. Instead of settling for limited royalties, learn how to truly sell digital content direct and maximize income with Audiorista.

Ready to keep more revenue and own your publishing channel? Launch your own branded ebook app with Audiorista today.