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Get My Quote in PoundsHome › Self-Publishing in the UK › Best Self-Publishing Companies UK
UK self-publishing companies compared
Best Self-Publishing Companies in the UK (2026)
Most comparison lists rank companies without showing a single price. This one shows what each UK option publishes about its prices, rights and royalties, links to the source, and says plainly where a price is not published, so you can compare like for like before you sign anything.
Every fact on this page links to its source and was checked on 26 October 2026. We are one of the companies listed, and we say so.
The short answer
UK authors choose between three kinds of self-publishing company. Do-it-yourself platforms such as Amazon KDP, IngramSpark and Bookvault cost little or nothing to set up but leave editing, design and marketing to you. Assisted self-publishing companies such as Matador, Publishing Push and Columbia Publication publish their package prices, from about £990 to £7,500, and handle the production for you. Partnership and full-service publishers such as The Book Guild and Whitefox do not publish prices. Before signing, compare the full price, who owns the ISBN, whether the company takes a share of royalties and where the book will be distributed.
Prices checked 26 October 2026 · Reviewed by Gia Kahn, Lead Editor · Next review November 2026 · How we check
Is this you?
This is for you if
- You are a UK author choosing who should publish your book, and every list you find hides the prices.
- You want to know what a reasonable price is before a company quotes you.
- You want to keep your rights and your royalties.
- You want your book in bookshops, not only on Amazon.
Most “best of” lists are written to sell, not to compare.
They rank companies without prices, repeat each other’s marketing, and rarely mention the questions that matter: who owns the ISBN, whether the company takes a cut of every sale, and whether the book can actually reach a bookshop. Two authors can pay the same and end up with very different books and very different royalties.
This page compares what each company publishes, in pounds, with a link to the source for every fact. Where a company does not publish a price, we say so instead of guessing.
Start here
Which kind of self-publishing company do you need?
Decide the kind first. It matters more than the brand.
| Kind | Typical published price | Choose it if |
|---|---|---|
| DIY platforms: Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Bookvault | Free to low monthly fees, plus an ISBN | You can edit, design and format the book yourself, or hire freelancers and manage them |
| Assisted self-publishing: Matador, Publishing Push, Columbia Publication | About £990 to £7,500, published | You want the editing, cover, formatting, ISBNs and distribution done for you at a known price |
| Partnership and full-service: The Book Guild, Clink Street, Whitefox | Not published | You want a publisher-style relationship and are happy to get a quote before you know the price |
Not sure which? Apply for our free sample edit below. An editor edits your first 1,000 words and tells you what your book needs, whoever you publish with.
Side by side
How do UK self-publishing companies compare on price?
Published prices, rights and terms, as each company states them. Ratings are Trustpilot averages at the time of checking.
| Company | Published price | What it is, and what to know |
|---|---|---|
| Matador (Troubador) | Example quotes £650 (ebook), £3,000 (printed, 200 copies), £6,000 (bookshops, 500 copies), £7,500 (maximum exposure) | Assisted self-publishing. Examples are approximate, include VAT and assume up to 75,000 words, text only. States it never holds the rights. Runs its own UK warehousing and bookshop distribution. Trustpilot 4.7 from 219 reviews |
| Publishing Push | £990 (Budding Author), £2,365 and £3,390 (Professional Author, without copy-editing and proofreading), £6,970 (The Stephen King) | Assisted self-publishing, up to 70,000 words; custom pricing above that. States you keep full rights and 100% of royalties. Trustpilot 4.6 from 315 reviews |
| Columbia Publication (us) | £1,149 (Global Publish), £1,899 (Full Production), £3,799 (Authority System), from £5,699 (Authority Plus) | Self-publishing services. ISBNs included, two revision rounds per deliverable, 100% of royalties to the author, no VAT added, paid upfront on a written quote |
| The Book Guild | Not published | Partnership publishing, where the author shares the costs, alongside mainstream publishing. Terms not published. Trustpilot 4.7 from 75 reviews |
| Clink Street Publishing | Not published | Self-publishing imprint. Its site lists a 75% royalty, keeping your rights and no lock-ins, without published terms |
| Whitefox | Not published | Full-service publishing partner for authors and brands, with its own sales team and warehouse. Authors keep their rights |
| Bookvault | Free plan with £19.95 setup per title; Indie £24.95 a month; Pro £89.95 a month | Print-on-demand platform. Printing from £1.17 a paperback and £3.82 a hardback. Distributes to Amazon, Gardners and others. Royalties paid out in 90 days. Trustpilot 3.9 from 106 reviews |
| Amazon KDP | Free | DIY platform. Amazon.co.uk paperbacks pay 60% of a list price of £7.99 or more, minus printing; a 200-page black-and-white paperback costs £2.85 to print. Free ISBN works on Amazon only. Rated Excellent by the Alliance of Independent Authors |
| IngramSpark | Free title setup | DIY platform reaching the wider book trade, including bookshops and libraries. Revision fees removed from February 2026; a 1.875% market access fee applies to distribution-enabled books |
Prices and ratings checked 26 October 2026 on each company’s own site and Trustpilot. Prices change; check the source before you buy.
Want a price in pounds for your own book? We reply within one business day.
Get My Quote in PoundsBefore you sign
What should you check before choosing a UK self-publishing company?
- The full price. Is VAT included? Is editing included, or is it extra? Are printed copies part of the price?
- Royalties. Do retailers pay you directly, or does the company collect sales and pay you a share?
- The ISBN. Is it yours, the company’s, or Amazon’s free number that only works on Amazon?
- Your files. Do you receive the finished print and ebook files to keep?
- Revisions. How many rounds are included on the cover, the interior and the edit?
- Distribution. Can a UK bookshop order the book, or is it Amazon only?
- Payment terms. Deposit, instalments or upfront, and what happens if you cancel?
Our answers: a fixed price in pounds with no VAT added, royalties paid by retailers straight to you, ISBNs included or yours, finished files delivered to you, two revision rounds per deliverable, distribution beyond Amazon, and payment upfront on a written quote.
Doing it yourself
What does it cost to self-publish in the UK on your own?
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ISBNs from Nielsen | £93 for one, £174 for ten | VAT included. One per format; ten is the usual buy |
| KDP and IngramSpark accounts | Free to set up | Accounts in your own name |
| Printing a paperback on KDP | £2.85 for 200 black-and-white pages | £0.85 plus £0.01 a page for most black-and-white books |
| Editing, cover and formatting | Freelance or packaged | Where most of the budget goes, and what decides how professional the book looks |
Sources: Nielsen ISBN Store and Amazon KDP printing cost pages, checked 26 October 2026. More detail in self-publishing in the UK.
When it is done
Choosing with your eyes open
You know what a fair price looks like, which questions to ask and which answers to expect. Whoever you choose, you sign knowing who owns the ISBN, where the royalties go and what is included, and your book goes on sale the way you planned.
Our packages in pounds
If you choose Columbia Publication
One price in pounds, confirmed in writing before you commit.
Recommended
Full Production
£1,899
Adds a full proofread and one project manager running every stage.
Everything in Global Publish, plus proofreading
Get My Quote in PoundsAuthority
Authority System
£3,799
Adds a full copy edit, keyword and category work, an author website and a press release.
Everything in Full Production, plus copy edit
Get My Quote in PoundsPaid in full upfront once you approve the written quote. See everything that is included in self-publishing in the UK.
What you can count on
How we compiled this comparison
- Published prices onlyTaken from each company’s own pricing page.
- Not published means not publishedWe do not estimate a price a company has not shared.
- Sources linkedEvery company’s page and rating source is listed below.
- DatedChecked on 26 October 2026 and reviewed monthly.
- We are listed tooOur own entry is marked, with the same details as everyone else.
- Corrections welcomeIf a company’s details change, tell us and we will update them.
How it runs
If you publish with us
- Tell us the bookLength, genre and where it is.Day 1
- Quote in poundsPackage, price and schedule.Within 1 business day
- Edit, design, formatWith your approval at each stage.Two revision rounds
- ISBNs and accountsSet up in your name.Before publication
- On saleAmazon.co.uk and beyond.Typically 4 to 9 weeks
Custom Quote
Build your custom quote
We’ve started with Publishing & distribution. Add anything else your manuscript needs, and a specialist sends an itemised quote within one business day. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Written quote within one business day. Nothing is charged until you approve it. 100% of your rights stay yours.
Questions
UK self-publishing companies: common questions
What is the best self-publishing company in the UK?
The best one is the one that matches the work you want done for you. If you can do the work yourself, Amazon KDP and IngramSpark cost little to start. If you want the production done for you at a known price, compare the assisted companies that publish their prices, such as Matador, Publishing Push and Columbia Publication, on what each package includes.
How much does a UK self-publishing company charge?
Published assisted packages run from about £990 (Publishing Push) and £650 for an ebook-only example (Matador) to around £7,500. Columbia Publication starts from £1,149. Some companies, including The Book Guild, Clink Street and Whitefox, do not publish prices.
Do self-publishing companies take my royalties?
Some do and some do not. Ask whether retailers pay you directly or the company collects sales first. Matador says it never holds your rights, Publishing Push and Columbia Publication state that you keep 100% of royalties.
Is Amazon KDP enough on its own?
For Amazon sales, yes. Its free ISBN only works on Amazon, so for bookshops and libraries you need your own ISBN and wider distribution, for example through IngramSpark.
What is partnership publishing?
A model where the author pays part of the cost of publication and the publisher handles the rest. Terms vary, so ask for them in writing.
How was this comparison made?
From each company’s own published pages and Trustpilot, checked on 26 October 2026, with sources linked below. We are one of the companies listed.
Get a price in pounds to compare.
Length, genre and where the manuscript is. A specialist replies within one business day.
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