8 Best Smashwords Alternatives in 2026 (#2 Owns Smashwords) 📚

If you are looking for Smashwords alternatives, start here: since January 2026, Smashwords is no longer a publishing platform at all. It is a DRM-free ebook store, and you can only get a book into it through Draft2Digital.

So the real question is which part of Smashwords you are replacing. For distribution to Apple, Kobo, and libraries, the answer is Draft2Digital or PublishDrive. For the store and its direct-to-reader royalty, the answer is a direct sales tool like Payhip or BookFunnel.

In this guide, you’ll get:

• What actually happened to Smashwords, and what still works
• The 8 best alternatives, matched to the job you used Smashwords for
• Verified 2026 fees and royalty rates for each option
• An honest section on where these platforms beat our own product, Chapter

Here is the short version first, then the details.

What Happened to Smashwords?

Smashwords — an ebook retailer founded in 2008 that was, until recently, also one of the largest indie ebook distributors.

Draft2Digital acquired Smashwords in March 2022 and spent the next few years moving every publishing account onto the D2D dashboard. According to the Smashwords About page, the shift to “a dedicated ebook store only” was completed in January 2026.

Three things follow from that, and they shape every recommendation below.

• You cannot upload to Smashwords anymore. Draft2Digital is now the exclusive distributor supplying the Smashwords store. You publish at D2D and tick the Smashwords box.
• The old Meatgrinder and Premium Catalog are gone. The famous (and famously fussy) Word-to-ebook converter and the Smashwords distribution network have been retired into D2D’s tools.
• The store royalty changed. On January 1, 2026, the store moved to a flat 75% on ebooks priced $2.99 and up, and 40% below $2.99. Under the old system, many authors earned close to 80%.

If you want the full background on the merger, our Smashwords vs Draft2Digital comparison covers it in detail.

Why Authors Still Search for a Smashwords Alternative

Most people searching this fall into one of four groups. Each needs a different tool.

Former Smashwords publishers who never finished migrating, or who dislike the D2D dashboard, want somewhere else to send their catalog.

Authors hit by the new fees. As of May 14, 2026, new D2D accounts pay a one-time $20 activation fee, and accounts with under $100 in net earnings over 12 months pay $12 a year. Because Smashwords now runs through D2D, those fees reach Smashwords authors too.

Authors who loved the store itself. Smashwords was the place for DRM-free sales, coupon codes, and reader-set pricing. The 40% rate on books under $2.99 hurts anyone who relied on $0.99 promos and sitewide sales.

Authors with no book yet. Plenty of people research distribution long before the manuscript exists. That is a real problem with a real fix, so we start there.

1. Chapter — Best If Your Book Is Not Written Yet

Our Pick — Chapter (Our Product)

Chapter is an AI book-writing platform. It helps you go from idea to a complete, structured manuscript, then exports clean DOCX and EPUB files you can upload to Draft2Digital, KDP, PublishDrive, or any store on this list.

Best for: Authors who have been comparing distributors but do not have a finished manuscript Pricing: $97 one time, 2 books included (fiction or nonfiction), 30-day money-back guarantee Why we built it: Distribution is the easy part. Finishing the book is where most authors stall.

Let us be upfront: Chapter is not a Smashwords replacement in the distribution sense. It will not put your ebook on Kobo, sell it to readers, or send it to libraries. If your manuscript is done, skip straight to #2.

Chapter earns the top slot because it solves the step that comes before any of these platforms. More than 2,147 authors have used it, and over 5,000 books have been created on it. You set the concept and audience, edit a chapter-by-chapter outline, then draft with the AI while you steer.

There is no subscription and no royalty share. You pay once, and every cent you earn on Kobo, Apple, or the Smashwords store stays yours. If you want the broader process first, our guide on how to write a book walks through it step by step.

Honest limitation: Chapter has no free tier or free trial. The 30-day money-back guarantee is the only way to test it risk-free.

Where These Platforms Beat Chapter

This section matters, so here it is plainly. Every other tool on this list does something Chapter does not do at all.

They distribute and sell your book. Chapter does not. Draft2Digital, PublishDrive, and StreetLib deliver your ebook to retailers and library systems, sync your metadata, and pay you royalties. Chapter hands you a finished file and stops there.

They handle storefronts and payments. Payhip and BookFunnel take payment, deliver the file, and manage download links. Chapter has no store, no checkout, and no reader-facing pages.

Some of them are free to start. D2D charges nothing upfront beyond its new activation fee, Kobo Writing Life is free, and PublishDrive lets you publish one ebook free. Chapter costs $97 before you write a word.

They fit authors with finished books. If you already have a polished manuscript, Chapter adds nothing to your distribution workflow. Use it for your next book, not for this decision.

2. Draft2Digital — Best Overall Replacement (It Owns Smashwords)

Best for: Former Smashwords authors who want the same stores, plus the Smashwords store itself

Draft2Digital is the official successor. It is the only way into the Smashwords store, and it distributes to the same major retailers Smashwords used to reach: Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, Tolino, and library services such as OverDrive and BorrowBox.

D2D also does what Smashwords never did. Its formatting tools are far friendlier than the old Meatgrinder, it offers print books, and it can deliver to Amazon. Our Draft2Digital review covers the dashboard, print program, and payment reports.

The downsides are cost and lock-in. D2D keeps roughly 10% of list price on retailer sales, and the new activation and maintenance fees apply. If you left Smashwords to get away from this company, D2D obviously is not the answer. Our Draft2Digital alternatives roundup goes deeper on that.

Pricing: Free to publish plus a commission per sale; $20 one-time activation for new accounts; $12/year if net earnings stay under $100

3. PublishDrive — Best for Keeping 100% of Royalties

Best for: Authors with several books who would rather pay a subscription than a per-sale commission

PublishDrive replaces the percentage model with a subscription. On paid plans, you keep 100% of your royalties from the stores, and the company advertises reach to more than 50 retailers and 240,000 libraries, including Amazon and Google Play Books.

There is also a free plan that lets you publish one ebook to Apple Books, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo with no subscription and no commission. That makes PublishDrive the lowest-risk way to test a non-Amazon launch.

The catch is the math. A monthly fee only beats a 10% commission once your sales are steady. PublishDrive does not list exact plan prices on its public pricing page, so get a quote and compare it to what D2D took from you last year.

Pricing: Free plan for one ebook; paid subscription plans for larger catalogs; add-on tools priced separately

4. StreetLib — Best for European and International Reach

Best for: Authors targeting Italian, Spanish, and wider European markets

StreetLib is an Italy-based aggregator with a strong network of European retailers and library platforms that US-focused distributors sometimes miss. It is a genuine option if a meaningful share of your readers are outside North America.

StreetLib has moved to tiered memberships. Recent reviews describe a free plan for a limited number of ebooks that reaches only a few partners, plus paid memberships that unlock the full network, including the big stores.

Its terms have shifted more than once, so confirm current royalties and fees directly before you move a catalog. The dashboard is also less polished than D2D. For most US authors, StreetLib works best as a complement for specific markets, not a full replacement.

Pricing: Free tier with limited distribution; paid monthly memberships for the full network

5. Kobo Writing Life — Best Direct Channel to Replace an Aggregator

Best for: Authors willing to manage a few direct accounts to earn more per sale

Going direct is the simplest way to cut out the middle layer Smashwords used to be. Kobo Writing Life is free, and Kobo pays 70% on ebooks priced $2.99 and up, and 45% below that, with no upper price cap.

Compare that to roughly 60% from Kobo through D2D. On a $4.99 ebook, the gap is about 50 cents per copy. Kobo also gives direct authors access to Kobo Plus and its own promotions team.

The same logic applies to Apple Books and Google Play Books, both of which accept direct uploads. See our guides to Apple Books self-publishing and Google Play Books self-publishing. The trade-off is admin: separate dashboards, separate tax forms, separate payments.

Pricing: Free; 70% royalty at $2.99+, 45% below

6. Payhip — Best Replacement for the Smashwords Store

Best for: Authors who want DRM-free direct sales, discount codes, and the highest possible margin

If what you miss is the Smashwords storefront, Payhip is the closest match. You get your own ebook store, set your own prices, run coupon codes and sales, and readers download DRM-free files, just like Smashwords.

The economics are better on most books. Payhip’s Free plan charges a 5% transaction fee, the Plus plan is $29/month with a 2% fee, and the Pro plan is $99/month with no transaction fee. PayPal or Stripe processing fees apply on top, but you still keep far more than 75%.

The difference is traffic. Smashwords had readers browsing a catalog. Payhip has none of its own, so every buyer comes from your newsletter, website, or ads. Our guide to selling books direct to readers covers how to build that audience.

Pricing: Free plan (5% fee); Plus $29/month (2%); Pro $99/month (0%)

7. BookFunnel Plus Your Own Store — Best for Serious Direct Sellers

Best for: Authors with an established newsletter who want a branded store and reliable ebook delivery

BookFunnel does not sell books itself. It delivers them: readers get a download page with instructions for every device, which removes the biggest headache of direct sales. Pair it with Shopify or a similar storefront and you have a fully branded Smashwords replacement.

Plans start at $30 a year, but direct sales delivery is only included on the higher tiers. Add Shopify’s monthly plan and this is the most expensive option here.

It pays off at scale, because you control pricing, bundles, and customer data. Read our BookFunnel guide for authors and our walkthrough of selling books on Shopify before committing.

Pricing: From $30/year; direct sales delivery on higher tiers; storefront costs extra

8. Amazon KDP — The Store Smashwords Never Reached

Best for: Authors who want the largest ebook market and are open to exclusivity

Smashwords never distributed to Amazon, so every Smashwords author needed a separate KDP account anyway. If you are rethinking your whole setup, it is worth deciding whether going wide still makes sense for you.

KDP pays 70% on ebooks priced $2.99 to $9.99 in most markets, and enrolling in KDP Select puts your book in Kindle Unlimited. The price is exclusivity: Select books cannot be sold on Kobo, Apple, the Smashwords store, or your own site.

For genre fiction with heavy page-read demand, KDP Select can out-earn every wide option combined. For nonfiction and international audiences, wide usually wins. Our wide vs exclusive publishing guide breaks down the decision, and our KDP guide covers setup.

Pricing: Free; 70% royalty on $2.99–$9.99 ebooks, 35% outside that range

Smashwords Alternatives Compared

Which Smashwords Alternative Should You Choose?

Match the tool to the job Smashwords did for you.

1. You want the same distribution with minimal effort. Use Draft2Digital. It is the Smashwords successor and still feeds the Smashwords store.
2. You want to stop paying a commission. Use PublishDrive on a paid plan, or go direct to Kobo, Apple, and Google.
3. You miss the Smashwords store. Use Payhip, or BookFunnel plus Shopify if you have a large mailing list.
4. You sell heavily outside the US. Add StreetLib for European reach.
5. You do not have a finished manuscript. Start with Chapter, then pick a distributor once the book exists.

Many successful wide authors combine these: direct accounts for their biggest stores, an aggregator for everything else, and a direct store for superfans. Our overview of book distribution options for self-publishers shows how those layers fit together.

Is the Smashwords Store Still Worth Using?

Yes, for books priced $2.99 and up. The Smashwords store pays 75% at that price, which is higher than the roughly 60% you get through D2D at most retailers. If you already use D2D, enabling the Smashwords channel costs nothing extra.

It is a poor fit for $0.99 promos and permafree funnels. Below $2.99 the rate drops to 40%, and coupons that push a book under that line trigger the lower tier. The store is also planning to add customer preorders in 2026, per its About page.

How Do I Move My Books Off Smashwords?

To move your books off Smashwords, you work through Draft2Digital, because that is where every former Smashwords publishing account now lives. Log into D2D, unpublish the titles from the channels you are leaving, then upload the same files to your new platform.

Keep your ISBNs if you own them. Free ISBNs assigned by an aggregator usually stay with that aggregator, so a move can mean a new ISBN and a new product page. Before re-uploading, run your files through our ebook formatting guide checks to avoid rejections.

FAQ

Does Smashwords still exist?

Yes, Smashwords still exists, but only as an ebook store. Since January 2026 it is a DRM-free retail storefront owned by Draft2Digital. You can no longer upload books directly; authors publish through Draft2Digital, which is the exclusive supplier of titles to the Smashwords store.

What is the best alternative to Smashwords?

The best alternative to Smashwords is Draft2Digital for most authors, because it owns Smashwords and reaches the same retailers and libraries. If you want to avoid commissions, PublishDrive is the strongest option. To replace the storefront itself, Payhip offers DRM-free direct sales with lower fees.

Can I still publish on Smashwords?

You can still sell on Smashwords, but you cannot publish there directly. All uploads now go through Draft2Digital, which distributes your ebook to the Smashwords store as one of its sales channels. Former Smashwords accounts have been migrated onto the D2D dashboard.

Is Draft2Digital the same as Smashwords?

Draft2Digital and Smashwords are now the same company, but they are not the same product. Draft2Digital is the publishing and distribution platform, while Smashwords is a DRM-free ebook store that D2D owns. D2D acquired Smashwords in March 2022 and completed the transition in January 2026.

What royalty does the Smashwords store pay in 2026?

The Smashwords store pays a 75% royalty on ebooks priced $2.99 or higher and 40% on ebooks under $2.99, effective January 1, 2026. That is higher than most retailers at mid-range prices but lower than the old Smashwords rates, which reached about 80% on many books.