Leanpub

Create, Publish, and Sell eBooks and Online Courses Easily

Freemium

Description

Leanpub provides an intuitive platform for creating, publishing, and selling ebooks and online courses. Authors can write using the in-browser editor, Markdown, or by syncing with GitHub and Dropbox, making it easy to manage and update content throughout the writing process.

The platform supports flexible releases, allowing works in progress to be published and updated frequently. Leanpub offers generous royalties for authors and optional Reader Memberships that grant access to a large catalog of free and premium books. Its ecosystem caters to technical content, academic publishing, and digital learning.

Key Features

Publish Early, Publish Often: Release and update books and courses as you write
In-browser and Markdown authoring: Write directly online or use Markdown files
Integration with GitHub and Dropbox: Sync content for easy version control
Flexible release scheduling: Publish works in progress or finalized versions
Direct sales: Sell ebooks and courses directly to readers globally
Earning high royalties: 80% royalty to authors for sales over $7.99
Reader Membership with credits: Access free books and get credits for premium content
Large technical catalog: Wide range of programming, software, and technical books
Optional paid membership for readers and authors: Unlocks additional capabilities
Royalty pool for supporting authors: Membership fees support authors of free books

Use Cases

Publishing ebooks on programming, data science, or technology
Creating and selling online courses
Selling self-published books to a global audience
Earning royalties as an independent author
Offering works in progress or early drafts to readers
Accessing free and premium technical books with a membership
Academic publishing and textbook distribution
Building a library of technical and professional resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Reader Membership to buy books or courses on Leanpub?

No, you can always buy Leanpub books or courses without having a Reader Membership. Membership provides additional benefits such as credits and access to free books.

What is a Reader Membership?

A Reader Membership is a paid subscription that gives you access to approximately 2,000 free-with-membership books, as well as credits to purchase premium books and courses on Leanpub.

How do author royalties work on Leanpub?

Leanpub pays authors 80% royalties on books and courses priced at $7.99 or above, and 80% minus $0.50 for sales under $7.99. Additional royalties are paid from memberships through a royalty pool.

Can I use credits to purchase any book or course?

Yes, book credits and course credits obtained through Reader Memberships can be used to purchase any Leanpub book or course, with most content costing one or two credits.

Are there free books available on Leanpub without a membership?

Yes, some books are free for everyone and can be found using the store filters. Other books are free only with a Reader Membership.