Full-service self-publishing
Publishing with nothing hidden.
Otic Press is the only full-service self-publishing company that shows you every cost — calculated, itemized, and confirmed — before you sign anything.
Live pricing calculator
Calculate your exact publishing cost
Adjust the inputs below. Every line item updates in real time. No estimates, no ranges — just your actual price.
Add-ons
Your cost breakdown
This is your actual price. Not an estimate.
Industry comparison
BookBaby charges $2,150–$2,918 for comparable services — with add-on fees revealed after signup.
You're saving an estimated $614–$1,382 with full transparency.
Services
Everything your book needs.
Four disciplines. One team. Every service priced before you commit.
Editorial
From manuscript to polished prose
Developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, and proofreading — available individually or as a complete editorial pass. Priced per word, shown upfront.
Design
Covers that sell. Interiors that read.
Custom cover design and professional interior layout/formatting for print and ebook. Flat rates, no revision surprises.
Publishing
ISBN, copyright, and distribution — done right
We handle ISBN registration, US Copyright Office filing, and distribution setup to Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, or both. You own everything.
Marketing
Launch support that actually moves books
ARC distribution, launch strategy, and reader outreach. Priced as a flat add-on — no retainer, no percentage of sales.
Comparison
The publishing industry's dirty secret.
Most self-publishing companies hide their real costs behind "packages" and upsells. Here's what the comparison actually looks like.
| Feature | Otic Press | BookBaby | Spines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront pricing shown | Yes — calculated before signup | No — packages only | Unclear |
| Hidden add-on fees | None | Distribution, ISBN, revisions | Reported by users |
| Refund policy clarity | Shown on pricing page | Buried in FAQ | Vague terms |
| ISBN ownership | You own it | BookBaby listed as publisher | Depends on package |
| Royalty passthrough | 100% to author | Percentage retained | Not clearly stated |
| Distribution channels | KDP + IngramSpark, your choice | Multiple, package-dependent | Limited, unclear |
Based on publicly available information. Last reviewed August 2026.
Author stories
Authors who've been burned before.
I paid BookBaby $2,400 and didn't find out about the $300 distribution fee until my book was already formatted. With Otic Press, I knew the exact total before I sent a single file.
Marisol Vega
The Cartographer's Daughter
The calculator alone was worth it. I ran my numbers three times adjusting word count and trim size, and every time the breakdown made sense. No asterisks, no 'contact us for pricing.'
James Okafor
Parallel Meridians
After two bad experiences with companies that buried their refund policy in the FAQ, I was skeptical. Otic Press put the refund terms on the same page as the price. That's when I knew.
Claire Hutchinson
What the River Keeps
Ready to publish without the guesswork?
No account required. No email needed. Just your numbers.