Book Pricing — Free, Paid & Subscriber-Only
Understand BookAuth's three pricing models and how platform fees work across Free, Pro, and Business subscription plans.
BookAuth gives you full control over how you monetize your books. This guide explains the three pricing models, how platform fees are calculated, and strategies for maximizing your revenue.
What You'll Learn
- The three pricing models and when to use each
- How platform and payment processing fees work
- Revenue calculations by subscription plan
- Strategies for pricing your books competitively
The Three Pricing Models
Free Books
Books priced at $0 — available to all readers without any payment.
Best for:
- First-in-series books (reader magnets)
- Short stories and novellas
- Promotional giveaways
- Building your reader base
When a book is free, readers can download it instantly from the book page without going through checkout. Free books still count in your analytics and can receive reviews.
Paid Books (Direct Sales)
Set a fixed purchase price. Readers pay through Stripe's secure checkout system.
Best for:
- Full-length novels
- Premium content
- Established series entries
- Revenue generation
You can set any price from $0.99 to $999.99. There are no price restrictions or requirements.
Subscriber-Only Books
Exclusive to readers who subscribe to your VIP/subscriber tier.
Best for:
- Bonus chapters and epilogues
- Exclusive novellas
- Special editions
- Subscriber-only prequel stories
Non-subscribers see an upgrade prompt on the book page instead of a download button.
Understanding Platform Fees
Every paid sale on BookAuth incurs two types of fees:
1. BookAuth Platform Fee
This fee varies by your subscription plan:
| Your Plan | Platform Fee | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 5% of sale price | $0/month |
| Pro | 3% of sale price | $12/month |
| Business | 2% of sale price | $29/month |
2. Stripe Processing Fee
This is Stripe's standard payment processing fee, charged on all transactions regardless of your plan:
- 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Revenue Calculation Examples
Example 1: $9.99 Book on Free Plan
Sale price: $9.99
BookAuth platform fee: -$0.50 (5% × $9.99)
Stripe processing fee: -$0.59 (2.9% × $9.99 + $0.30)
─────────────────────────────
Your net revenue: $8.90 (89.1% of list price)
Example 2: $9.99 Book on Pro Plan
Sale price: $9.99
BookAuth platform fee: -$0.30 (3% × $9.99)
Stripe processing fee: -$0.59 (2.9% × $9.99 + $0.30)
─────────────────────────────
Your net revenue: $9.10 (91.1% of list price)
Example 3: $9.99 Book on Business Plan
Sale price: $9.99
BookAuth platform fee: -$0.20 (2% × $9.99)
Stripe processing fee: -$0.59 (2.9% × $9.99 + $0.30)
─────────────────────────────
Your net revenue: $9.20 (92.1% of list price)
Breakeven Analysis: When Does Pro Pay for Itself?
Monthly Pro cost: $12.00
Fee savings per $9.99 sale: $0.20 (5% - 3% = 2% savings)
Breakeven point: 60 sales/month
If you sell more than 60 books per month at $9.99, the Pro plan pays for itself purely through the lower platform fee — before counting other Pro features (AI, higher limits, etc.).
Pro Tip: The break-even calculation shifts dramatically for higher-priced books. At $19.99/book, you only need 30 sales/month for Pro to pay for itself.
Changing Your Pricing
- Navigate to Content > My Books
- Open the book editor
- Modify the Pricing section
- Click "Save"
Changes take effect immediately. Important notes:
- Switching from Paid to Free does not refund existing purchases
- Switching from Free to Paid does not charge existing downloaders
- Price history is logged for your records but not publicly displayed
Discount Codes
You can create promotional discount codes to offer temporary price reductions:
| Plan | Active Discount Codes |
|---|---|
| Free | Up to 3 |
| Pro | Up to 10 |
| Business | Unlimited |
See the "Creating Discount Codes" article for full details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I set different prices for different countries?
A: BookAuth currently uses a single global price in USD. Regional pricing is planned for a future update.
Q: Do I need Stripe connected to list free books?
A: No. Stripe is only required when you're accepting payments. You can list unlimited free books without a Stripe account.
Q: Are there any minimum or maximum prices?
A: Minimum $0.99, maximum $999.99 for paid books. Free ($0) is also available.
Q: Can I offer bundle pricing?
A: Yes! Pro and Business plan authors can create book bundles. See the "Creating & Selling Book Bundles" article.
Related Articles
- Understanding Payouts & Revenue
- Creating Discount Codes
- Creating & Selling Book Bundles
- Understanding Platform Fees by Plan
- Connecting Stripe for Payouts