Compare
BookArc vs Draft2Digital
This is barely a comparison and the page exists to say so. One of these writes a book; the other sells one. If you are choosing between them, you have probably misread what one of them does.
Feature comparison
| Feature | BookArc | Draft2Digital |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Plans and writes the book, then exports it. | Converts a finished manuscript into ebook and print files, and distributes it to retailers and libraries. |
| Writing | Plans and writes every chapter. | None. It starts from a manuscript you supply. |
| Getting the book on sale | You upload the files yourself, wherever you like. | One upload reaches a wide network of stores and library systems, with store-by-store control. |
| Formatting | Typeset as it is written — 6 × 9 trim, print-ready interior. | Automated and template-driven, from a Word or RTF file. |
| Cover design | Designed for the book. | Cover templates, but not a design tool. |
| Pricing shape | Free tier, then a monthly plan. | Nothing up front; a commission on each sale. |
| Who owns the book | You. No rights taken, no cut of sales. | You. They are a distributor, not a publisher. |
Draft2Digital details checked against their own site on . Products change — check theirs before deciding, and tell us if anything here is out of date.
Choose BookArc if…
- The book does not exist yet.
- You want the chapters written, not just formatted.
- You want a cover.
Choose Draft2Digital if…
- The manuscript is finished and you need it on sale.
- You want to reach Apple Books, Kobo and the library systems without uploading to each one.
- You would rather pay nothing now and give up a percentage later.
- You want free formatting even if you sell the book somewhere else entirely.
They are two steps of the same job
Writing a book and selling one are different problems, and almost nobody solves both with a single tool. A normal path is: produce the manuscript, get a file a store will take, then get it in front of readers. BookArc is the first two. Draft2Digital is the second two.
The overlap is the formatting step, and it is real — both will hand you an EPUB. If you have a BookArc export you can upload it and skip their conversion entirely; if you would rather start from a Word file, theirs is free and good enough.
Free is not free, and that is fine
Draft2Digital takes a commission on every sale rather than charging up front. For a book that sells modestly that is the cheapest arrangement available anywhere. For a book that does well it costs more than any one-off tool would have — which is a good problem, and worth understanding before it arrives. The royalty calculator will show you where the crossover sits for your price.
The Amazon question
Distribution networks like this one reach almost everywhere except Amazon, which most authors upload to directly. Whether you should be on both is a real decision with a lock-in attached, and it is covered properly here.
Questions people ask
Can I use a BookArc book with Draft2Digital?
Yes. Export the book as a Word file or an EPUB and upload it. Nothing about a BookArc export is proprietary — the files are ordinary EPUB, PDF and DOCX.
Do I need Draft2Digital if I only sell on Amazon?
No. Amazon takes a direct upload and a distributor in between adds a cut for nothing in return. Distribution networks earn their commission when you want to be in the stores and libraries that are awkward to reach one at a time.
Other comparisons
Write the book you keep meaning to write.
Describe it in one sentence. BookArc plans the chapters, writes every one of them and designs the cover. 30 credits free, no card.