The Leanpub Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Leanpub in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Leanpub
The Insider’s Guide
Write, publish and sell ebooks and courses, with author memberships
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among tools for selling digital products, read from Leanpub’s own pages.
Made by Ruboss Technology Corp. · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Leanpub’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Leanpub’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 35 of the 50 other tools for selling digital products we grade
Leanpub is a publishing platform and bookstore where authors write books and courses in a browser editor or from files synced with GitHub or Dropbox, then publish them with a click. Sales go through Leanpub's store, and authors keep a percentage of each one. Paid author memberships raise limits and add features.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Leanpub, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You still have to write and format the book and set up a store page.
- 1
Best for authors who want to write and sell ebooks or courses
Leanpub lets you write, publish and sell ebooks and courses, with 80% royalties on the free plan.
- 2
Paid plans start at $8.99 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $8.99 per month, billed every 3 months ($26.97).
- 3
There is a free plan
Free Author: 3 books and 1 course, up to 5 previews or publishes a month, and 80% royalties on sales.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Three ways to write
Write in a browser with the Minimal, Visual or Source editor, or upload finished PDF and EPUB files in Upload Mode.
- 6
One-click preview and publish
Preview or publish an ebook with one click. The Free plan allows 5 a month and Mini 20; Light and above are unlimited.
- 7
GitHub and Dropbox writing
Write on your own computer and sync with GitHub or Dropbox. This starts at the Pro Author membership.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 35 of 50
That is against the other tools for selling digital products we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Leanpub you would be making checkout, card payments and sales tax handled for you. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Leanpub at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $8.99 per month, billed every 3 months ($26.97)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Ruboss Technology Corp.
- Category
- Selling Digital Products
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for authors who want to write and sell ebooks or courses
Leanpub lets you write, publish and sell ebooks and courses, with 80% royalties on the free plan. The free plan stops at 3 books and 1 course, and sales go through Leanpub's own store, with better tools locked behind its dearer plans.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Paid plans start at $8.99 a month billed every 3 months, which is the edge of the cheapest quarter for digital products. The tools most authors want sit on Light at $13.99 and Pro at $18.99. |
| Free plan and trial | B | A free author plan with 3 books, 1 course, 5 previews or publishes a month and 80% royalties. One writer can get started on it. |
| Features | C | Three ways to write, one-click publish, bundles, coupons, reporting and an API. But custom themes and print-ready PDF start at Light, and GitHub and Dropbox sync at Pro. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You still have to write and format the book and set up a store page. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web app with GitHub, Dropbox, Google Analytics and InDesign links, plus an API on Pro. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Leanpub is for
- Fits if you write a book in Markdown and want to publish it as you go
- Works for authors who'd rather use Leanpub's store than build their own
Who it is not for
- Tight if you're staying free, as 3 books, 1 course and 5 publishes a month is the cap
- Watch out: buyers use Leanpub's checkout, not your own site
- Pricey if you want custom themes or print-ready PDF, which start at Light Author
- Watch out: GitHub and Dropbox sync, Google Analytics and the API need Pro Author
- Skip it if you want one monthly bill, because prices shown are billed every 3 months
Good to know
Good for
- Technical authors who write in Markdown and publish in installments
- First-time authors who want to start without paying anything
- Writers who want to sell an ebook and a course in one store
Worth knowing
- Free accounts are capped at 3 books, 1 course and 5 previews or publishes a month.
- Custom themes and print-ready PDF export start at Light Author; GitHub and Dropbox sync at Pro Author.
- Prices shown on the page are per month billed every 3 months; monthly, annual and lifetime options sit behind the page's billing tabs.
- Sales run through Leanpub's own store, so buyers meet Leanpub's checkout rather than your own site.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$8.99
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Leanpub has a free plan. Paid plans start at $8.99 per month, billed every 3 months ($26.97).
Free Author
$0
Write 3 books and 1 course, preview or publish 5 times a month, and use the Minimal, Visual or Source editor.
Mini Author
$8.99
per month, billed every 3 months ($26.97)
Up to 100 books and 100 courses and 20 previews or publishes a month. Page also lists a $12 yearly saving over monthly billing.
Light Author
$13.99
per month, billed every 3 months ($41.97)
Unlimited previews and publishes, custom themes and print-ready PDF export.
Pro Author
$18.99
per month, billed every 3 months ($56.97)
Adds GitHub and Dropbox sync, Google Analytics, InDesign export, the Leanpub API and AI Support.
Max Author
$32.99
per month, billed every 3 months ($98.97)
Adds a homepage Shelf spot every six months, VIP email support and a monthly AI usage allowance.
Ultra Author
$89
per month, billed every 3 months ($267)
Everything in Max with ten times the monthly AI usage.
The free plan
Free Author: 3 books and 1 course, up to 5 previews or publishes a month, and 80% royalties on sales.
Read from leanpub.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Write, publish and sell ebooks and courses, with author memberships. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, AI features, Markdown, long-form writing, online courses, online store, digital downloads.
Three ways to write, one-click publish, bundles, coupons, reporting and an API.
- Three ways to write
- Write in a browser with the Minimal, Visual or Source editor, or upload finished PDF and EPUB files in Upload Mode.
- One-click preview and publish
- Preview or publish an ebook with one click. The Free plan allows 5 a month and Mini 20; Light and above are unlimited.
- GitHub and Dropbox writing
- Write on your own computer and sync with GitHub or Dropbox. This starts at the Pro Author membership.
- Selling and royalties
- Each book gets a landing page. Authors earn 80% on purchases of $7.99 and up, and 80% minus 50 cents below that.
- Courses, bundles and coupons
- Sell courses, bundles and tracks, and run coupons, using the marketing features included on every plan.
- Reporting and API
- Google Analytics and the Leanpub API are included with Pro and Max memberships.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- GitHub
- Dropbox
- Google Analytics
- InDesign
Leanpub is made by Ruboss Technology Corp.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
35/50
Other tools for selling digital products it is graded above
Leanpub's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 35 of the 50 other tools for selling digital products we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on value for money (B, above 41 of 50) and worst on features (C, above 1).
Its paid plans start at $8.99 a month, against a middle price of $16.74 for the category: 6 of the 22 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 7 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 51 tools for selling digital products we grade, cut by the letter each got. Leanpub’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 41 of 50
- BFree plan and trialAbove 23 of 50
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 50
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 50
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 14 of 50
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 33 tools for selling digital products. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Leanpub is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Leanpub you would be making checkout, card payments and sales tax handled for you. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.6 is higher than 35 of the 50 other tools for selling digital products we grade. It costs $107.88 a year.
What you could make
- Digital downloads, long-form writing, Markdown and online courses: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Checkout, card payments and sales tax handled for you.
- It plugs into other products, GitHub, Dropbox and Google Analytics among them, and has an API.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. Leanpub’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Gumroad, Payhip, Sellfy, itch.io and E-junkie
The 5 tools Leanpub is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Gumroad
Free
Sell downloads, memberships and courses for a cut of each sale.
- Only Gumroad lists iOS and Android apps.
- Leanpub also covers Markdown, long-form writing, online courses and online store.
- Gumroad also covers email campaigns, affiliate tracking and merchant of record.
- 2.6GPA
Payhip
Free plan · from $29/mo
Store for downloads, courses and memberships, with a free plan.
- Leanpub also covers Markdown and long-form writing.
- Payhip also covers affiliate tracking.
- 2.4GPA
Sellfy
Free trial · from $22/mo
Store builder for selling downloads, subscriptions and print-on-demand.
- Leanpub has a free plan. Sellfy does not, though it has a free trial.
- Leanpub also covers Markdown, long-form writing and online courses.
- Sellfy also covers email campaigns, affiliate tracking and print on demand.
- 3.2GPA
itch.io
Free
Open marketplace for indie games, assets and tools, pay what you want.
- Only itch.io lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Leanpub also covers Markdown, long-form writing and online courses.
- itch.io also covers community.
- 2.4GPA
E-junkie
Free trial · from $8/mo
Sell downloads and goods with buttons, carts or a shop.
- Leanpub has a free plan. E-junkie does not, though it has a free trial.
- Leanpub also covers Markdown, long-form writing and online courses.
- E-junkie also covers affiliate tracking and shipping labels.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Leanpub free?
Leanpub has a free plan. Free Author: 3 books and 1 course, up to 5 previews or publishes a month, and 80% royalties on sales.
How much does Leanpub cost?
Leanpub lists 6 plans. Free Author: $0.
What platforms does Leanpub work on?
Leanpub is available on Web.
Does Leanpub have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Leanpub is listed for Web.
Does Leanpub have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Leanpub is listed for Web.
Is Leanpub open source?
Leanpub is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does Leanpub have an API?
Yes. Leanpub offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Leanpub integrate with?
Leanpub's listing names GitHub, Dropbox, Google Analytics and InDesign.
Who makes Leanpub?
Leanpub is made by Ruboss Technology Corp.
What are the alternatives to Leanpub?
The closest alternatives to Leanpub in our directory are Gumroad, Payhip, Sellfy, itch.io and E-junkie.
How does Leanpub compare with other tools for selling digital products?
Leanpub's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 35 of the 50 other tools for selling digital products we grade, and level with 10.
Is Leanpub good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Leanpub B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $8.99 a month, against a middle price of $16.74 for the category: 6 of the 22 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Leanpub?
To replace Leanpub you would be making checkout, card payments and sales tax handled for you.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Leanpub’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Leanpub's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Ruboss Technology Corp. Prices change, so check leanpub.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Leanpub, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/leanpub
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Leanpub: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/leanpub
Know someone choosing between tools for selling digital products?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/leanpub/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded tools for selling digital products after Leanpub, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Selling Digital Products Insider's GuideEvery one of the 51 tools for selling digital products we grade, compared
- Whop Insider's GuideStorefront, checkout and payouts for paid communities and products3.4 GPA
- itch.io Insider's GuideOpen marketplace for indie games, assets and tools, pay what you want3.2 GPA
- Patreon Insider's GuidePaid memberships, a shop and community for creators and their fans3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Leanpub’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Leanpub is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Ruboss Technology Corp. Prices and plans change: check leanpub.com before you buy.