# Leanpub

> A lean publishing platform where authors publish books while still being written, collecting early reader purchases and iterating based on feedback with variable pricing. Free to publish; optional paid Author Memberships add AI writing tools and integrations.

Source: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/crowdfunding/leanpub
Website: https://leanpub.com
Category: Crowdfunding (https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/crowdfunding)
Pricing: freemium — $0–$99/monthly
AI-powered: yes
Tags: lean-publishing, in-progress, nonfiction, technical, variable-pricing, early-access, ebooks, ai-writing
Last verified: 2026-06-18
Best For: Nonfiction and technical authors who want to publish in-progress, collect early purchases, and iterate based on reader feedback
Funding Model: pre-order, book-specific
Platform Fee: 20% of each sale (authors keep 80%)
Platform Fee Pct: 20

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.