BookFunnel for Indie Authors
BookFunnel is not a publishing platform in the traditional sense—it doesn’t sell your book, list it on retailers, or collect royalties. But what it does do is equally powerful: it gives indie authors complete control over digital book delivery, reader magnet distribution, and secure, professional file handling. With tens of thousands of authors using BookFunnel to build their lists, manage advance copies, and control who gets access to what, it has become one of the cornerstones of a smart indie author’s toolset—especially for those going wide.
If your author business depends on reader engagement, mailing list growth, direct sales, or cross-promotion, BookFunnel isn’t optional—it’s essential.
Platform History
BookFunnel was founded in 2015 by Damon Courtney, an indie author and software developer, with a simple goal: to help authors deliver ebooks to readers without tech headaches. What started as a basic download solution quickly evolved into a multi-function author services platform that now includes mailing list integration, audiobook delivery, download tracking, DRM tools, and even direct sales support.
Today, BookFunnel powers thousands of author-reader interactions daily. It has grown into the go-to backend for indie authors managing complex promotional campaigns, ARC (Advanced Review Copy) distribution, and reader onboarding—while staying invisible to the reader. That’s part of its genius.
How BookFunnel Fits in a WIDE Strategy
While BookFunnel won’t help you sell on Amazon, Apple, Kobo, or B&N, it complements your wide strategy by offering off-retailer tools that support discovery, conversion, and audience ownership. It excels at helping you connect directly with readers—bypassing the gatekeepers.
BookFunnel’s value in a wide strategy includes:
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Creating reader magnets to build and grow your mailing list.
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Hosting author promos to boost exposure alongside other writers.
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Delivering ARCs securely to early reviewers without piracy risks.
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Supporting direct ebook and audiobook sales with seamless file delivery.
By taking control of how your books are delivered, you reinforce the most important part of your wide strategy: reader connection.
What BookFunnel Offers Indie Authors
BookFunnel gives you a robust set of tools to manage how you interact with your readers outside the traditional sales ecosystem. You can upload ebooks in EPUB or MOBI format (or even PDF), generate custom download pages, and deliver them directly to readers via email opt-in or private link.
For authors selling direct from their own websites or platforms like PayHip, Gumroad, or Shopify, BookFunnel becomes the secure delivery partner—ensuring readers get the right file, with full support across devices and apps.
Audiobook authors benefit too. BookFunnel allows full audiobook hosting and delivery, letting you sell or give away audio just as smoothly as ebooks. Your listeners can stream chapters or download MP3 files using BookFunnel’s clean, intuitive audiobook app.
BookFunnel Plans, Costs, and Delivery Limits
BookFunnel offers three pricing tiers depending on your needs: First-Time Author, Mid-List Author, and BestSeller. Each plan supports unlimited readers and delivery pages, but features scale based on use case.
Here’s what you need to know:
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Plans start at $20/year for basic ebook delivery (First-Time Author).
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Mailing list integrations begin at $100/year (Mid-List Author).
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The BestSeller tier ($250/year) adds direct sales support, custom domains, and more.
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Audiobook delivery is included in all tiers, though storage is limited by plan.
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All tiers come with full reader support, and delivery help for nearly every device or app.
There are no per-download fees, and you can use your BookFunnel links anywhere—social media, newsletters, author swaps, or your website.
Comparison to Other Platforms
Platform | Retailer | Delivery | Mailing List Tools | Audiobook Support | Ideal Use Case |
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BookFunnel | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Reader magnets, direct sales, ARCs |
Amazon KDP | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Ebooks and print sales |
Draft2Digital | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Wide ebook distribution |
PayHip + BookFunnel | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Full control over digital sales |
StoryOrigin | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Reader magnets and swaps |
BookFunnel doesn’t try to be a retailer or take a cut of your sales—it empowers you to sell however and wherever you choose.
Marketing Opportunities Through BookFunnel
While BookFunnel isn’t a retailer, it still helps authors get discovered and grow their audience through several built-in marketing tools.
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Reader Magnets: You can create a free story or sample to give away in exchange for a reader’s email address. These magnets feed directly into platforms like Mailerlite, ConvertKit, or Mailchimp, building your list from day one.
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Author Swaps: Collaborate with other writers in your genre to cross-promote magnets. You each share the other’s link in a newsletter, gaining access to each other’s audiences.
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Group Promotions: Join curated promotions with dozens of other authors, organized by genre, theme, or season. These landing pages can receive thousands of visits, often doubling a mailing list in a few weeks.
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Direct Sales Pages: Use BookFunnel in tandem with platforms like Payhip or WooCommerce to drive traffic to your own store—avoiding retailer fees entirely.
None of these require advertising dollars. BookFunnel makes it easy to bootstrap your visibility through collaboration and smart list-building.
Pros and Cons of Using BookFunnel
Pros:
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Extremely affordable for the tools it provides.
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Clean, branded download experience for readers.
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Excellent reader support, even on older devices.
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Integrates with major mailing platforms.
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Supports both ebooks and audiobooks.
Cons:
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Requires effort to set up magnets and workflows.
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Doesn’t drive organic traffic—you bring the audience.
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Some features (like direct sales delivery) require higher tiers.
ScribeCount Integration with BookFunnel
ScribeCount integrates with BookFunnel directly, but there is a downside: because BookFunnel does not handle royalty collection or retail sales fro authros selling direct, they often pair it with storefront platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce. ScribeCount can track these storefront sales and extract better data than they can with BookFunnel alone. To avoid duplicated sales figures int heir dashboard, most authors sync their stores to ScribeCount alone. It helps to view BookFunnel fitting more into the infrastructure side of your author business, while ScribeCount handles sales tracking across retailers.
Conclusion
BookFunnel isn’t glamorous—but it’s essential. It gives indie authors something few tools can: control. Whether you’re giving away a novella, selling your next release directly, or delivering audiobooks from your own store, BookFunnel ensures the experience is smooth, professional, and reliable for every reader. If you're serious about building a sustainable, wide author business, BookFunnel deserves a permanent place in your publishing toolbox.