Best Tools to Sell Books Directly From Your Website
Compare 8 popular platforms for selling ebooks and print books directly to readers. Keep more profit, own your customer relationships, and build a sustainable book business.
Why Sell Books Directly Instead of Only Through Retailers
Amazon, Apple Books, and other retailers take 30-65% of every sale. When you sell directly from your website, you keep 90-95% after payment processing fees. On a $10 ebook, that is the difference between $3.50 and $9.00 in your pocket.
Beyond money, direct sales give you something retailers never will: customer email addresses. When someone buys through Amazon, Amazon keeps that relationship. When someone buys from your site, you can email them about your next book, build loyalty, and create repeat customers.
Direct selling also frees you from platform dependence. Amazon can change royalty rates, delist your book, or alter their algorithm anytime. Your own sales channel is yours to control. Many successful authors use a hybrid approach: retailers for discovery and direct sales for maximum profit.
The tools for selling books directly have become remarkably easy to use. You do not need technical skills or a large budget to get started. Let me compare the best options so you can choose what fits your needs.
4 Mistakes When Setting Up Direct Sales
1. Choosing Based on Features You Will Not Use
Some platforms offer extensive features for course creators, membership sites, and physical products. If you just need to sell ebooks, a simpler tool costs less and works better. Match the tool to your actual needs, not hypothetical future needs.
2. Ignoring the Checkout Experience
A clunky checkout process kills sales. Test the buying experience yourself before committing. How many clicks to purchase? Does it work on mobile? Can buyers use their preferred payment method? Friction at checkout means abandoned carts.
3. Forgetting About International Sales
Your readers are global. Make sure your chosen platform supports international payments, handles currency conversion, and manages VAT/sales tax appropriately. Some cheaper options only work well for US customers.
4. Not Connecting to Your Email List
The biggest advantage of direct sales is getting customer emails. Make sure your sales platform integrates with your email service so buyers automatically join your list. If you have to manually export and import, you will forget and lose that valuable data.
8 Tools for Selling Books Directly Compared
1. Gumroad
Popular choice for indie creators selling digital products. Simple setup, clean checkout, and handles delivery automatically. Takes 10% plus payment processing on the free plan, or flat 10% on paid plans with more features.
2. Payhip
Similar to Gumroad but with lower fees. Free plan takes 5% transaction fee plus payment processing. Paid plans eliminate the transaction fee entirely. Handles EU VAT automatically, which saves headaches for international sellers.
3. BookFunnel
Built specifically for authors. Delivers ebooks directly to any e-reader, handles multiple file formats, and integrates with author marketing tools. Plans start around $20/year for basic delivery up to $250/year for full features including sales.
4. Shopify
Full e-commerce platform that can sell anything including books. Plans start at $29/month. More complex to set up but offers complete control over your store. Works for both digital and physical books with inventory management.
5. WooCommerce
Free WordPress plugin that turns any WordPress site into an online store. No transaction fees beyond payment processing. Requires more technical setup and ongoing maintenance. Highly customizable with thousands of extensions.
6. Lemon Squeezy
Modern platform handling digital products, subscriptions, and software. Takes 5% plus payment processing. Clean interface, handles global taxes automatically, and offers affiliate program features built in.
7. Ko-fi Shop
Started as a tip jar for creators, now offers a full shop feature. Free tier takes 0% on sales, paid tier at $6/month removes all platform fees. Simple and creator-friendly with built-in audience features.
8. Stripe Payment Links
Not a full platform but a way to accept payments with just a link. 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction, no monthly fees. You handle file delivery yourself. Simple but requires manual processes for fulfillment.
How to Choose and Get Started
Define What You Are Selling
Are you selling just ebooks, or also print books? Do you want to offer bundles, audiobooks, or courses later? Will you sell internationally? Your answers narrow down which platforms fit. For most authors starting with ebooks, Payhip or Gumroad work great.
Test the Checkout Experience
Create a test product and buy it yourself. Count the clicks. Try on your phone. Check if your email service connects properly. Most platforms offer free plans or trials so you can test before committing. A smooth checkout converts more browsers into buyers.
Connect to Your Website and Email
Add buy buttons to your book website that link to your sales platform. Set up the email integration so buyers join your list automatically. Promote your direct sales option alongside retailer links. Many readers prefer buying direct once they understand it supports you more.
Ready to Sell Books From Your Own Website?
Book Website Builder creates professional book websites ready for direct sales integration. We help you set up buy buttons that connect to your chosen sales platform. Keep more profit and own your reader relationships. Starting at €349.
Your Book Website Includes:
- Buy buttons linking to your sales platform of choice
- Multiple purchase options for different formats
- Email capture integration for building your list
- Mobile-optimized checkout flow
- Professional design that builds buyer trust
- Guidance on choosing the right sales platform
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I stop selling on Amazon if I sell direct?
No, most successful authors use both. Amazon provides discoverability and reaches readers who would never find your website. Direct sales provide higher margins and customer relationships. Use Amazon for discovery and your site for maximum profit.
How do I deliver ebooks after purchase?
Most platforms handle delivery automatically. Gumroad, Payhip, and BookFunnel all send download links immediately after purchase. Some offer direct-to-Kindle delivery. You upload your files once and the platform handles the rest.
What about refunds and customer service?
Each platform has refund handling built in. For digital products, refund rates are typically very low. Most platforms let you set your own refund policy. Customer service for purchases goes through the platform, reducing your workload.
Do I need to handle sales tax and VAT?
Platforms like Payhip, Gumroad, and Lemon Squeezy handle VAT and sales tax collection automatically. This is a huge benefit for international sellers. With manual solutions like Stripe Payment Links, you may need to manage this yourself.
Can I sell print books directly?
Yes, but you need inventory or print-on-demand integration. Shopify and WooCommerce work well for this. You can also use services like Lulu Direct or BookVault that integrate with various platforms to print and ship books on demand.
Which platform has the lowest fees?
Ko-fi Shop with the Gold membership and WooCommerce have the lowest platform fees - essentially just payment processing costs around 2.9% + 30 cents. Payhip and Lemon Squeezy at 5% plus processing are reasonable middle ground options with better features.
Related Guides
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Design your website to maximize direct sales conversions.
View Pricing and Packages
See all available book website packages with sales integration.