Leanpub

Leanpub pioneered the "publish while you write" model: authors release in-progress books, collect early purchases, and update the manuscript as they go — with all readers receiving free lifetime updates. The variable pricing slider lets readers see exactly how much of their payment goes to the author, which often encourages generosity. Well-suited for nonfiction, technical, and business books where incremental value is natural.

• Best for: Nonfiction, technical, and business authors who want to validate demand and collect reader feedback before completing the manuscript
• Key features: Publish in-progress and iterate with feedback, variable "pay what you want above minimum" pricing, free lifetime updates for all buyers, DRM-free, built-in email list, author storefront; no exclusivity — publish elsewhere at any price
• Royalties: Authors keep 80% of each sale; Leanpub takes 20%. For books priced $7.99+, the full 80% applies; for books priced $0.99–$7.98, royalty is 80% minus a flat $0.50 fee. These royalty terms are the same on every plan, including the free tier.
• Pricing (publishing is free): Publishing costs nothing — the free tier lets you write in-browser and preview/publish up to 20 times per month. Optional Author Memberships (added April 2026) unlock more: Light Author ($12.99/mo, unlimited previews/publishes, custom themes, print-ready PDF export), Pro Author ($17.99/mo, adds AI support, GitHub/Dropbox sync, Google Analytics, InDesign export, API), Max Author ($34.99/mo, generous GhostAI usage ≈ outline + edit one book/year, VIP support, plus service credits equal to the monthly fee), and Ultra Author ($99/mo, ~5× the GhostAI usage). Memberships are monthly subscriptions, separate from the per-sale royalty.
• AI (GhostAI): Leanpub's GhostAI writing/editing assistant is available on Pro Author and above; Max/Ultra include monthly GhostAI usage allowances (additional credits purchasable on any membership).
• Limitations: Less suited to fiction; not a traditional crowdfunding platform but achieves early-access validation through pre-publication sales. AI features require a paid Pro membership or higher.