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Scribd VS Leanpub

Compare Scribd VS Leanpub and see what are their differences

Scribd logo Scribd

Unlimited books, audiobooks & comics. Unparalleled discovery. Any device. $8.99/month

Leanpub logo Leanpub

Leanpub is a powerful publishing platform for serious authors.
  • Scribd Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-16
  • Leanpub Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-22

Scribd features and specs

  • Extensive Library
    Scribd offers a wide variety of content including books, audiobooks, magazines, and even documents from multiple genres.
  • Unlimited Access
    Subscribers get unlimited access to a rotating library of titles at a fixed monthly fee, allowing ample reading without purchasing each book individually.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The platform provides an easy-to-navigate interface with personalized recommendations and a customizable reading experience.
  • Cross-Device Syncing
    Scribd syncs your progress across devices, so you can start reading on your phone and continue on your tablet or computer seamlessly.
  • Offline Reading
    Users can download titles for offline reading, making it convenient for areas with limited internet access.

Possible disadvantages of Scribd

  • Rotating Library
    While Scribd offers unlimited access, some books may become unavailable over time due to the rotating nature of the library.
  • Limited Audiobook Selection
    Compared to dedicated audiobook services, Scribd's audiobook selection is not as extensive.
  • Regional Restrictions
    Certain books and content may not be available in all regions due to licensing agreements.
  • Monthly Fee
    Although comprehensive, Scribd does come with a monthly subscription fee, which might not be justifiable for infrequent readers.
  • Data Consumption
    Streaming or downloading large files such as audiobooks and high-resolution magazines can consume significant data, affecting users with limited internet plans.

Leanpub features and specs

  • Flexible Publishing Platform
    Leanpub offers a flexible publishing platform that allows authors to publish in-progress works and update their books even after publication.
  • Royalty Rates
    Authors can earn up to 80% royalties on their book sales, which is generally higher compared to traditional publishing platforms.
  • Built-in Audience
    Leanpub attracts a dedicated audience interested in technical and non-fiction books, providing authors with an established readership base.
  • Supportive Community
    Authors have access to a supportive community and resources, including forums, blog posts, and FAQs, to help them succeed in their writing endeavors.
  • Multiple Formats
    Books can be published in various formats, including PDF, ePub, and Mobi, giving readers flexibility in how they consume the content.

Possible disadvantages of Leanpub

  • Niche Market
    Leanpub is primarily focused on technical and non-fiction books, which might limit its appeal for authors writing fiction or other genres.
  • Learning Curve
    Authors might face a learning curve when using Leanpub's Markdown-based writing and publishing tools, especially if they are not familiar with Markdown.
  • Limited Marketing Support
    Unlike traditional publishers, Leanpub does not provide extensive marketing and promotional support for authors, who must handle much of the book promotion themselves.
  • Platform Dependency
    Authors may become reliant on Leanpub's platform and ecosystem, which could be a disadvantage if they wish to switch platforms in the future.
  • Platform Fees
    While Leanpub offers high royalty rates, there are platform fees involved, which can affect the final earnings of the author.

Scribd videos

Is Scribd Worth It?

More videos:

  • Review - Scribd Review
  • Review - Audible vs Kindle Unlimited vs Scribd Review (and why I switched)

Leanpub videos

Publish your own book for free and make huge money -Use Leanpub .

More videos:

  • Review - Publish early, publish often with Leanpub

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Scribd and Leanpub)
Digital Publishing
82 82%
18% 18
eBook Reader
100 100%
0% 0
Ebooks
74 74%
26% 26
e-Books And Digital Publishing Software

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Scribd and Leanpub

Scribd Reviews

10 of the Best Ebook Readers for Windows, macOS, and Mobile
The reader itself is gorgeous to use and is available on iOS and Android. It’s a bright and modern app that includes a host of options to help you read content from the community. It’s not as in depth with regards to features as other solutions, but like Scribd, the experience trumps all.
Top 25 SlideShare Alternatives To Create & Share Online Presentations
With over 80million monthly active readers Scribd is the world’s most popular open platform for publishing and sharing documents of all types. You can upload your academic or business presentations to Scribd for free and share with anyone. Yes, you can embed your Scribd documents on your own website too.
Source: slidehelper.com
17 Powerful Issuu Alternatives Nobody Told You About (1 BIG winner)
When looking at the costs, Scribd is cheaper, so for anyone publishing a paid for magazine, it could be a consideration. However, the possibility to share isn’t there, and you can’t embed your publications on your website, although it is quite straightforward to load to services like Behance. But, if you are looking for something with an Issuu like PDF viewer, Scribd is not...

Leanpub Reviews

We have no reviews of Leanpub yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Scribd should be more popular than Leanpub. It has been mentiond 54 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Scribd mentions (54)

  • “Manitoba Affidavit” 1870
    If you go to https://scribd.com and enter search term Lawrence Barkwell + Métis and change results to documents/articles, all of his 2,000+ research papers are there. He was the historian for the Louis Riel Institute and Gabriel Dumont Institute for over 20 years. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Complete plans for a 2-storey residential Building
    Look on scribd.com. They have several plan sets for residential structural buildings. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • whats your opinion on elvis as an actor?
    Jerry Schilling speaks to this in his book, "Me and a Guy Named Elvis." Highly recommend this audiobook available for free on a trial basis at scribd.com. Source: about 3 years ago
  • whats your opinion on elvis as an actor?
    There are several Elvis ebooks and audiobooks you can access for free with a 30-day trial at scribd.com. Registration requires a credit card but you can cancel before the first payment. Source: about 3 years ago
  • f*cking scribd amex offers
    Get a $6 statement credit by using your enrolled eligible Card to make a single purchase of $11.99 or more online at scribd.com by 10/31/2023. Limit of 5 statement credits (total of $30). See terms. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

Leanpub mentions (31)

  • Maximizing Your Development Skills: Proven Strategies for Continuous Learning
    Reading is a time-tested way to deepen your understanding. Titles like “You Don’t Know JS” and “Clean Code” are excellent for developers seeking to refine their knowledge. Digital libraries like O’Reilly or Leanpub offer a range of tech books you can access. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • You too can write a book
    For beta ebook publishing I can't help but recommend my friends at https://leanpub.com where my latest book is currently at the top of the charts. I've been publishing with them since they launched (a long time ago) and have made nearly six figures lifetime revenue. Plus they give you one-button push to publish to print versions at Amazon. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • 14 Tips for Becoming an Indie Author
    As an indie author and publisher, you may start with one platform—Amazon’s KDP, Lulu, or maybe Leanpub. You may develop the appetite to publish your next title on that platform, too. That can be fine and actually quite useful—but even with Amazon being the ebook platform, increase your reach, and sell on additional platforms. - Source: dev.to / almost 3 years ago
  • website/platform to sell stories based on choose-your-own-fee pricing?
    For books, you can sell on leanpub.com, which uses adjustable sliders for pricing. They take 20%, but they set a minimum price of $7.99, which is probably too high for selling individual stories (they are aiming more at textbooks and technical trade books). Source: about 3 years ago
  • What minimum can I do with a laptop which can help me earn (legal) money (no matter how small, but guaranteed) in python. I wish to know the depth I need to go before I start earning literally anything. Oh and yes, It would be a plus if it were Remote work.
    Look up FREE books. So many peeps have written their own books and put them on the web. One place I also like to get free books is leanpub.com. Source: about 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Scribd and Leanpub, you can also consider the following products

Issuu - Issuu is the leading digital publishing platform delivering exceptional reading experiences of magazines, catalogs, and newspapers.

Gumroad - An all-in-one solution to sell your work and grow your audience.

Google Play Books - Google Play Books lets you search, preview, and buy millions of books using Google Book Search.

Libro.fm - A digital audiobook platform for independent bookstores

SlideShare - Discover, Share, and Present presentations and infographics with the world’s largest professional content sharing community.

Publitas.com - Publitas helps you to drive more visitors to your online store by publishing catalogs online.