ACX
Amazon’s Audiobook Creation Exchange — connect with narrators and distribute to Audible/Amazon/Apple under ACX terms. Exclusive vs non-exclusive royalty splits differ; read current contracts carefully.
All tools
Filter by category or pricing. Search matches names and blurbs.
42 tools shown
Amazon KDP
Kindle Direct Publishing — the dominant self-publishing storefront for ebooks and print-on-demand. Optional KDP Select exclusivity unlocks Kindle Unlimited. Essential for most indies; not the only store if you go wide.
Atticus
Cross-platform writing-plus-formatting app (browser/PWA) aimed at indie authors who want Vellum-like output without needing a Mac. Strong for fiction interiors and print/ebook export; writing features are lighter than Sc…
AutoCrit
Fiction manuscript analysis that benchmarks pacing, dialogue, and word choice against genre patterns. Best as a diagnostic pass for genre fiction, not a substitute for a skilled human editor.
BookBrush
Author-oriented design platform with genre-sorted templates, 3D book mockups, and promo video tools. Built for marketing graphics and mockups rather than replacing a custom cover artist for every title.
BookFunnel
Ebook (and audiobook) delivery for reader magnets, ARCs, group promos, and direct sales fulfilment, with strong reader tech support. Widely considered the default delivery layer for indie list-building. No public affilia…
Bowker (MyIdentifiers)
Official US ISBN agency. Relevant if your publishing entity is US-based. UK authors should normally buy from Nielsen instead of Bowker.
Calibre
Free ebook library manager and converter supporting many formats. Excellent for converting and tweaking EPUBs; the learning curve for advanced editing is real. Pair with Sigil if you need deeper HTML-level EPUB surgery.
Campfire
Modular worldbuilding and writing suite (maps, timelines, characters, manuscript). Especially useful for speculative fiction authors who need interconnected lore alongside drafting.
Canva
Browser design tool widely used for simple ebook covers, ads, and social graphics. Fine for non-fiction and low-content experiments; competitive fiction covers often still benefit from a specialist designer.
Carrd
One-page site builder ideal for a clean author landing page, book links, and mailing-list signup. Fast to launch; less suitable if you need a large blog or shop.
ChatGPT
General-purpose AI assistant used by some authors for brainstorming, blurbs, and research summaries. Not a substitute for craft, voice, or legal/editorial judgement. Avoid pasting sensitive unpublished manuscripts into t…
Claude
Anthropic’s AI assistant, often praised for long-context editing help and thoughtful critique. Same caveats as other LLMs: verify facts, protect your rights, and do not outsource your authorial voice wholesale.
Dabble
Cloud novel-writing app with a Plot Grid, goals, and co-authoring. Positions itself as simpler than Scrivener and has emphasised an AI-free writing environment. Works in browser and as an installable web app.
Draft2Digital
Wide ebook (and print) aggregator that sends files to multiple retailers and libraries for a distribution commission. Includes automated formatting from Word. A common companion to KDP for authors who want Apple, Kobo, l…
Fiverr (editing & covers)
Open freelance marketplace where you can hire editors, proofreaders, and cover designers at many price points. Vet samples carefully — results range from excellent to poor. Escrow helps, but you still need clear briefs a…
FreeAgent
UK accounting software built for freelancers and sole traders — invoicing, expenses, Self Assessment support, and MTD-oriented workflows. Especially attractive if your bank offers it free with a business account.
Grammarly
Ubiquitous grammar and clarity assistant across browser and desktop. Strong for surface errors; fiction authors often find it over-corrects voice and dialect — review suggestions critically.
IngramSpark
Print (and ebook) distribution via Ingram’s trade network — the channel bookshops and libraries often use to order. Higher bar for files and metadata than KDP; valuable when you want bookstore-friendly wide print.
KDSpy
Browser-based Amazon research overlay for category and sales-estimate style insights while you browse the store. Useful for quick competitive checks; always verify figures against your own sales data.
Kindle Create
Amazon’s free formatter for Kindle ebooks and KDP paperbacks. Convenient if you are Amazon-first; output is oriented to KDP (including KPF), so authors going wide usually prefer EPUB-centric tools.
Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
Creator-focused email platform (rebranded from ConvertKit) with tagging, automations, and landing pages. Popular with authors who treat their newsletter as a business asset rather than a blast list.
Kobo Writing Life
Direct self-publishing to Kobo’s global ebook and audiobook storefronts. No exclusivity requirement; useful for Canadian and international reach and for authors building a non-Amazon presence.
MailerLite
Email marketing with automations, landing pages, and integrations commonly used with BookFunnel. Frequently recommended as a cost-effective starter ESP for indie authors.
Nielsen ISBN Agency (UK & Ireland)
Official ISBN agency for the UK and Ireland. Buy your own ISBNs if you want your imprint listed as publisher (rather than a platform-assigned free ISBN). Not legally mandatory to publish, but expected for bookstore/libra…
Notion
Flexible databases and docs often used for series trackers, launch checklists, and editorial calendars. Fine for planning; less ideal as the sole drafting home for a 100k-word novel.
Novelcrafter
Fiction writing platform with a Codex story bible and scene-driven drafting. AI features typically use your own model keys rather than a closed proprietary stack — still treat AI prose as a draft aid, not a finished book…
Obsidian
Local-first Markdown notes with backlinks and a graph view. Not a dedicated novel app, but many authors use it for research, series bibles, and Zettelkasten-style planning. Offline-first and privacy-friendly.
Plottr
Visual outlining and series-bible software: drag-and-drop scene cards, structure templates, character and world notes. Popular with plotters who want timelines before drafting in Scrivener or Word.
PressReady
Manuscript in → KDP-ready EPUB3 & print PDF out. Browser formatter for indie authors: import Markdown, plain text, or DOCX; set metadata; pick KDP trim (5×8 / 5.5×8.5 / 6×9) and theme; run preflight; download print PDF +…
ProWritingAid
Self-editing suite with deep style reports, integrations (including Scrivener), and fiction-oriented checks. Useful before a human editor — not a replacement for developmental or line editing on a commercial manuscript.
Publisher Rocket
Amazon keyword and category research for authors: estimate demand, inspect competition, and build keyword lists for metadata and Amazon Ads. One of the best-known paid research tools in the indie space.
QuickBooks (UK)
Widely used UK cloud accounting with sole-trader plans aimed at Self Assessment and Making Tax Digital readiness. Compare current Sole Trader vs Simple Start features if you are VAT-registered.
Reedsy Marketplace
Vetted marketplace of editors, designers, and other publishing freelancers. Strong for authors who want traditional-publishing credentials rather than open bidding. Browse portfolios, request quotes, and manage milestone…
Reedsy Studio
Free browser writing and formatting tool (formerly Reedsy Book Editor) with EPUB and print-ready PDF export, collaboration, and clean themes. Less customisation than Atticus or Vellum, but an excellent zero-cost starting…
Scrivener
Long-form writing software built around a binder, corkboard, and research folders. Steep learning curve, but still the default for complex novels and research-heavy non-fiction. Export to Word/ebook formats is capable bu…
StoryOrigin
Author marketing toolkit: reader magnets, newsletter swaps, group promos, ARC management, and universal links. A common lower-cost complement or alternative to BookFunnel for cross-promotion workflows.
Sudowrite
Fiction-oriented AI writing assistant for brainstorming, rewriting, and expanding prose. Treat outputs as drafts you must heavily edit; check retailer and competition rules on AI-assisted work and be transparent where re…
Upwork
General freelance marketplace used by authors to hire editors, designers, and assistants. Stronger contract tools than casual gig sites; still requires portfolio checks and a clear scope of work.
Vellum
Mac-only book formatter prized for polished fiction interiors, styles, and device previews. You import a manuscript, style chapters, and generate retail ebooks plus print PDF. Not available on Windows — many Windows auth…
Voices by INaudio (ex-Findaway)
Wide audiobook distribution (successor branding to Findaway Voices) to many retailers and libraries without Audible exclusivity. Common choice for authors who want library and non-Amazon audiobook reach.
WordPress.com
Hosted WordPress blogging and sites. Good when you want posts, series pages, and plugins-via-plans without self-hosting. Distinct from self-hosted WordPress.org.