If you’re a writer considering self-publishing your work, you’ve likely looked at major platforms like Amazon, Google, and, of course, Apple Books (formerly known as iBooks). The first and most pressing question is always: How much does it cost to publish a book on Apple Books?
It’s a straightforward question with a slightly nuanced answer. The good news is that the direct fee to use the platform is essentially zero. However, achieving professional success requires understanding the real investment—the self-publishing costs involved in making your book competitive.
Let’s break down the expenses—from the non-existent platform fee to the essential professional services—to give you a clear picture of what your budget needs to look like.
The Zero Barrier: Apple’s Platform Fee
Let’s start with the simplest part of the equation: Apple Books does not charge a direct fee for uploading and selling your book.
That’s right. The cost to publish a book on Apple Books is free to publish. You do not pay an upfront fee, a monthly subscription, or a per-book upload charge. This policy is standard across most major self-publishing platforms, making the initial hurdle of distribution purely administrative, not financial.
Understanding the Royalty Structure
Instead of charging an upfront Apple Books publishing fee, Apple takes a percentage of the sales after the book sells. This is called the royalty structure.
Apple Books offers a standard, high-level 70% royalty rate to the author for most books. This generous rate applies to books sold within most territories, provided they are priced appropriately.
This means if your book sells for , you receive approximately (70%), and Apple keeps (30%). You owe Apple nothing until a sale is made. This “pay-per-sale” model keeps the self-publishing costs manageable for authors, as the platform is funded only by success.
Financial Requirements (The Small Print)
While the platform cost is $0, free to publish, you will need to set up a valid bank account to receive payments, and you must adhere to Apple’s payment thresholds and tax requirements. You are responsible for any taxes related to your book sales in your country of residence.
If you are publishing a book under the Public Domain (meaning the copyright has expired), the royalty rate generally drops to 45% because the work is not exclusive to a single author. But for a new, original work, the 70% rate is a strong incentive.
The REAL Investment: Essential Production Costs
If you decide the cost to publish a book on Apple Books is zero, but you skip essential steps, your book will likely fail to sell. The true investment in self-publishing costs lies in professional production. This is the difference between an amateur manuscript and a book that consumers trust.
Here are the non-negotiable costs you should budget for:
1. Professional Editing
Editing is the single most important investment you can make. A poorly edited book, full of grammar errors, plot holes, or weak structure, will earn negative reviews and prevent long-term success. Editing typically breaks down into three types, and you need at least two:
| Editing Type | Focus | Cost Range (per word) |
|---|---|---|
| Developmental Editing | Story structure, character, pacing, clarity of argument (for nonfiction). | to |
| Copy Editing | Grammar, syntax, word choice, consistency, flow. | to |
| Proofreading | Final stage check for typos and minor errors before launch. | to |
For a standard 80,000-word novel or nonfiction book, a comprehensive editing process (copy editing + proofreading) will typically cost between $1,800 and $4,500. This is where the majority of your self-publishing costs should be allocated. If you skimp here, your readers will notice.
2. High-Quality Cover Design
In the e-book world, the cover is your most powerful marketing tool. It has to instantly communicate genre, tone, and professionalism, especially when viewed as a thumbnail on a storefront like Apple Books. A professionally designed cover is essential.
Cost Breakdown for Cover Design:
- Pre-made Cover (Templates): to . These are cheaper but not unique to your book.
- Custom Professional Design: to . A custom designer will read your brief, source licensed images, and create a cover tailored specifically to your book and target market.
- Full Wrap-Around (for Print-on-Demand): Often an additional to .
If you want your book to compete with titles from major trade publishers, budgeting at least $500 for a custom cover is highly recommended. The cover design directly influences whether a potential reader clicks your title on the Apple Books storefront.
3. Formatting and Conversion (EPUB)
To be accepted by Apple Books, your manuscript must be converted into a specific digital format. The industry standard for e-books is EPUB format. Apple prefers, and sometimes requires, this standard.
- DIY Formatting (Free): You can format your book yourself using free software like Calibre or Vellum (Vellum requires a Mac and costs about for unlimited use, but is often considered the best formatting tool). If you do it yourself, the cost to publish on Apple Books remains zero, but you must invest the time and manage the technical details.
- Professional Formatting Service: to . A professional formatter ensures your EPUB file is clean, accessible (with proper headings and metadata), and displays correctly across all Apple devices (iPhones, iPads, Macs).
A budget of around $250 for a professional formatter, or the purchase of a dedicated tool like Vellum, is a smart investment to ensure a seamless reading experience.
Optional, but Strategic Self-Publishing Costs
Beyond the core essentials of editing and design, certain optional costs can significantly impact your book’s visibility and marketing potential on the Apple Books platform and beyond.
1. The ISBN (International Standard Book Number)
The ISBN is a unique identifier required by bookstores and libraries.
- Cost: If purchased in a block of 10 or more in the US, the cost per ISBN is around $30 to $50. Buying a single ISBN is much more expensive.
- Requirement for Apple Books: If you are only publishing the e-book through Apple Books and no other channels, you often do not technically need to purchase your own ISBN. Apple can assign an internal, free identifier.
- Recommendation: If you plan to sell on multiple platforms (Amazon, Kobo, etc.) and in print, you absolutely need your own ISBN to maintain a single identity for your book across all channels. Factor in $150 to $500 if you need a block of ISBNs for future books.
2. Marketing and Advertising
A professional book won’t sell itself. Marketing is a continuous, long-term cost that directly influences the success you see on the Apple Books platform. This is usually the largest, ongoing part of self-publishing costs.
- Author Website/Email List: A professional author website costs roughly $100 to $300 per year (domain name and hosting). Building an email list (Mailchimp/ConvertKit) can cost $0 to $50 per month, depending on subscriber count.
- Paid Advertising: Running ads on platforms like Facebook, BookBub, or even Apple Search Ads is crucial for discovery. Authors often budget $100 to $1,000 per month for ads, depending on their strategy and revenue goals. A minimum marketing budget of $500 for the launch period is recommended.
- Promotional Services: Fees for newsletter mentions, book reviewers, and publicists can range from $50 to $5,000, based on the service’s reach.
3. Hiring a Ghostwriter or Book Coach
For non-fiction authors, particularly business professionals or celebrities who have knowledge but lack the time to write, hiring a ghostwriter represents the highest possible cost, dramatically increasing the total self-publishing costs.
- Ghostwriter Cost: to over . This expense turns the entire process into a high-cost investment but guarantees a professionally written manuscript ready for editing and publication on Apple Books.
- Book Coach Cost: to . A coach helps structure your writing process, holds you accountable, and guides you through the entire self-publishing journey.
Path to Apple Books: Direct Upload vs. Aggregator Distribution
There are two primary ways to get your book listed on the Apple Books storefront, and each has implications for ease of use and long-term management.
Path A: Direct Upload (Apple’s Connect Portal)
You can upload your EPUB file directly to Apple through their publishing portal, Apple Books Connect.
- Pros: You receive the maximum 70% royalty payment directly from Apple. You have complete, instant control over pricing and metadata changes.
- Cons: Historically, the portal required a Mac computer for the initial setup and sometimes required specific technical knowledge. While some of the restrictions have loosened, managing the account can be intimidating for a new author.
Path B: Using an Aggregator (Ghostwriting Solution)
Aggregators are third-party companies that take your single EPUB file and distribute it to all major retailers, including Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and others.
- Pros: Free to publish through the aggregator. They handle the technical formatting and the often-complex relationship with multiple retailers. This is often the easiest, lowest-barrier-to-entry route for getting on Apple Books.
- Cons: The aggregator takes a small commission (typically around 10% to 15%) of your royalty. This means your effective Apple Books publishing fee is paid indirectly through a reduced royalty rate. For example, if Apple pays 70% royalty, the aggregator might take 10% of that 70%, leaving you with 63%.
For an author just starting out who wants to reach multiple platforms easily, the aggregator route is often the most affordable and least stressful option, effectively trading a small portion of future royalties for convenience and wider distribution.
Summary of Total Self-Publishing Cost Tiers
While the cost to publish a book on Apple Books is technically zero, the investment required for a competitive product is significant. Here is a summary of typical self-publishing costs tiers for a single book launch:
| Cost Tier | Description | Estimated Total Budget |
|---|---|---|
| DIY / Minimum Professional | Self-formatted, professionally proofread only, custom cover design. | $750 – $1,500 |
| Professional / Standard | Comprehensive copy editing, custom cover, professional formatting, small marketing budget. | $3,500 – $6,000 |
| Premium / Business Level | Developmental editing, premium custom cover, professional formatting, extensive launch marketing, ISBNs. | $7,000 – $15,000+ |
The choice you make regarding these investments determines how successful you will be on the Apple Books storefront. Every dollar spent on professional quality directly boosts the visibility and credibility of your work.
The platform is open and free to publish. The market, however, demands excellence, and that excellence requires an investment in your product’s quality.
Final Thoughts on Investing in Your Book
Apple Books is a fantastic platform for reaching millions of readers worldwide, and its author-friendly royalty structure means you keep the majority of your earnings. Don’t let the initial zero Apple Books publishing fee trick you into skipping the necessary expenses.
Think of it this way: the platform is giving you free access to the global marketplace. Your job is to create a product worthy of that marketplace. Investing in top-tier editing, design, and marketing ensures that your book stands out among the millions of other titles, ultimately converting that zero upload cost into profitable, long-term success. Get your foundation right, and the potential for a great return on investment is huge!
