Blurb vs IngramSpark (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Blurb grades higher than IngramSpark: 2.4 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Blurb grades higher on the free plan and platforms. IngramSpark grades higher on features. They get the same grade on value for money and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
IngramSpark
Print-on-demand and wholesale distribution for self-published books
Which one is for you
Pick Blurb if
- Fits if you want a few printed copies of a book with no setup fee
- Works for authors who sell through Amazon or Ingram retail distribution
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you want large formats: a 12 by 12 inch hardcover photo book starts at $67
- Skip it if you want every format in retail, as not all can go to distribution and retail fees vary
- Watch out: BookWright runs on Mac and Windows only
- Watch out: retail distribution lists the book on the retailer's page, with no Blurb storefront on that route
Pick IngramSpark if
- Fits if you want your book listed with bookstores and libraries, not only online
- Works for authors who already have print-ready files and an ISBN
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you need an ISBN: IngramSpark sells one for $85 in the US, per format
- Watch out: you decide whether retailers can return the books, and that choice is yours to carry
- Skip it if you use KDP's Expanded Distribution, because IngramSpark says not to use both for the same title
- Not for you if you want a trial or a free plan, as each copy printed costs money
How we grade them
| 2.4GPABlurbFair | 2.2GPAIngramSparkFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo subscription. Books start at US $8.99 and photo books at US $12.00, rising with size and pages, and the pricing page shows a 12 by 12 inch hardcover at US $67.00. | CNothing to join, then a printing cost per copy: the discounts page gives $4.17 for a 200-page 6 x 9 black-and-white paperback at 0 to 99 copies. An ISBN is $85 in the US unless you bring your own. |
| Free plan and trial | BNo setup fee or subscription, and the design tools cost nothing. But every printed copy is paid, so nothing leaves the building free. | CNo cost to sign up or upload a book, but every copy you order is paid for, and there is no trial. |
| Features | CDesign tools, many formats, an Instant Store, retail distribution, bulk printing and a print API. Not every format can go to retail, and there is no hosted storefront on that route. | BHardcover and paperback printing, ebook conversion, a book-building tool, bulk discounts and a print-and-ship calculator, with global wholesale distribution. Nothing on the listing is missing for the job. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. You design the book yourself, in a browser, BookWright or an Adobe app. | CNo store rating on record. You prepare files, buy or supply an ISBN and set returns yourself. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, Mac and Windows, with Amazon, Ingram and Adobe links, plus a print API. No phone app is listed. | CWeb only, and no API or integrations on the listing. |
| Best for | printing your own photo books and paperbacks | getting self-published books into bookstores and libraries |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Blurb and IngramSpark. How we grade
Price against what you get
Blurb has no paid plan and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. IngramSpark has no paid plan and scores 2.3.
On this chart the two sit in the same place: the same score for the same starting price. Of the other print-on-demand and dropshipping services on the chart, none scores higher than Blurb for less, and none scores higher than IngramSpark for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Blurb also covers online store.
- IngramSpark also covers digital downloads.
At a glance
| Blurb | IngramSpark | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | No subscription. Blurb says there are no upfront costs; you pay per printed product, with books from US $8.99 and photo books from US $12.00. | No cost to create an account or set up a new book. You pay printing costs per copy, and ebooks earn an 85% share of net revenue. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Blurb | Lightning Source LLC (Ingram Content Group) |
| Price read from | blurb.com | ingramspark.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Blurb
- Prices are per product and rise with size and page count: a 12 x 12 inch hardcover photo book with an image wrap starts at US $67.00 on the pricing page.
- Not every format can go to retail distribution, and retail fees vary by retailer.
- Retail Distribution lists the book on the retailer's own page; there is no hosted storefront from Blurb on that path.
- BookWright runs on Mac and Windows only; the other design tools run in a browser or inside Adobe apps.
IngramSpark
- Distribution needs an ISBN for each format: IngramSpark sells one for $85 in the US, gives a free non-transferable one it owns, or you buy your own.
- Example printing cost from the discounts page: $4.17 per copy for a 200-page 6 x 9 inch black-and-white paperback at 0 to 99 copies.
- Publishers decide whether their books are returnable by retailers.
- IngramSpark says a title in KDP should not use KDP's Expanded Distribution if it is also distributed through IngramSpark.
Key features
Blurb
- Book design tools
- BookWright is a desktop app for Mac and Windows, and there is an online editor, a PDF uploader, and plugins for Adobe InDesign, Lightroom Classic and Photoshop.
- Wide range of formats
- Photo books in six sizes, paperback and hardcover books, magazines, notebooks and journals, and wall art, each with its own paper options.
- Instant Store
- A hosted product page for selling a book directly, which Blurb says has no subscription or extra fees. Blurb prints and ships each order.
- Retail distribution
- Books can be listed on Amazon, through Ingram's network to bookstores and libraries, or on the Blurb Bookstore, with ISBN support included.
- Bulk printing
- Volume discounts start at 10 copies on printing, and bulk services with custom quotes and dropshipping to several addresses are offered for 100 or more copies.
- Print API
- Blurb says its RPI Print API has no fees or minimums and white-label packaging, for developers who want to connect a store or app.
IngramSpark
- Global book distribution
- Books enabled for distribution are listed through a network of bookstores, libraries and online retailers via a metadata feed. IngramSpark says retail listings take 2 to 6 weeks to appear.
- Hardcover and paperback on demand
- Print books are made when ordered. Publishers can also order copies of their own book directly from their account.
- Print and ship calculator
- A calculator shows print and shipping cost for a book, and a compensation calculator shows what each print sale earns.
- Bulk print discounts
- Print orders of 100 or more copies get a discount, from 2% at 100 to 299 copies up to 35% over 10,000 copies, according to the discounts page.
- Book-building tool
- A free tool creates print-ready files and ebooks. IngramSpark says it does not offer editing, typesetting or design services itself.
- Ebook conversion
- A print book can be converted to an ebook for $0.60 per page.
Plans
Blurb
Pay per product$0
No subscription or setup fee. The pricing page lists starting prices per product: paperback and hardcover books from US $8.99, photo books from US $12.00, magazines from US $7.00.
IngramSpark
Free account$0
No cost to sign up or upload a print book or ebook. Print cost is charged per copy, and ebooks pay 85% of the net revenue IngramSpark receives.
Ways to pay less
Blurb
- Other savings
Volume discounts from 10 copies
Blurb says volume discounts on printing start at 10 copies, and bulk printing services cover 100 or more copies with custom quotes.
IngramSpark
- Other savings
Bulk print discounts from 100 copies
Print orders of 100 or more books get a discount that grows with quantity, from 2% at 100 to 299 copies up to 35% over 10,000 copies.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Blurb or IngramSpark?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Blurb and IngramSpark are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Blurb or IngramSpark?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Blurb and IngramSpark have a free plan.
Which platforms do Blurb and IngramSpark run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Blurb lists macOS and Windows apps. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.