A Draft2Digital Alternative That Also Writes, Designs and Narrates
Draft2Digital is one of the most trusted ways for indie authors to publish wide, delivering finished books to Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, libraries and more. It assumes the book is already written, edited and designed. CruxOne starts earlier: it helps you write the book, designs the cover, formats it, narrates it and translates it, then publishes it to the stores.
What Draft2Digital is best at
Draft2Digital is excellent at distribution. It is free to join, takes a share of each sale instead of charging up front, offers free formatting, and reaches a long list of retailers and library platforms from one dashboard. Its universal book links and payment consolidation are genuinely useful for authors going wide.
When to choose Draft2Digital
Choose Draft2Digital if your book is finished, edited and has a cover, and you want a free, reliable way to distribute it to many retailers and libraries in exchange for a share of each sale.
When to choose CruxOne
Choose CruxOne if you also need help producing the book: AI writing and editing, cover design, print and ebook formatting, audiobook narration and translation, then one-click publishing to Amazon KDP, Apple Books, Kobo and 50+ stores.
| Feature | Draft2Digital | CruxOne |
|---|---|---|
| AI writing & editing | No | Yes, write and edit the whole book |
| AI cover design | No AI cover design | Yes, AI cover design |
| Print-ready formatting | Yes, free | Yes, print and ebook |
| Audiobook narration | No narration | Yes, AI narration |
| Translation | No | Yes, 90+ languages |
| One-click publishing to stores | Yes, wide distribution | Yes, KDP, Apple, Kobo & 50+ |
| Works on Windows, Mac & web | Web | Any browser, any device |
| Pricing | Share of each sale | Free plan, then from $19/mo |
Frequently asked questions
Is Draft2Digital free?
It is free to join and publish. Draft2Digital keeps a share of each sale, roughly 10% of the retail price, rather than charging up front.
Does Draft2Digital help write the book?
No. Draft2Digital formats and distributes finished books. CruxOne helps you write and edit with AI before publishing.
Does Draft2Digital design covers?
It does not offer AI cover design. CruxOne generates covers sized to each retailer's trim and spine requirements.
Can I use Draft2Digital and CruxOne together?
Yes. Some authors produce the book in CruxOne and distribute through Draft2Digital, or use CruxOne for the major stores and an aggregator for smaller ones.
Which is better for publishing wide?
Both publish beyond Amazon. Draft2Digital focuses on distribution of finished books; CruxOne combines production and publishing in one place.