Faba Books vs Draft2Digital

May 1
2 min read

Draft2Digital is one of the best tools for wide distribution, but it comes with tradeoffs.

Feature	Faba Books	Draft2Digital
Built For	Authors who want readers + scalable revenue	Authors distributing eBooks to retailers
Platform Type	Ad-supported publishing platform	eBook & print distributor
Monetization Model	Ad revenue, earn per read	Royalties per sale, minus retailer + D2D cut
Pricing Strategy	Free books! $FREE.99 drives more readership	Paid books across retailers
Earnings Model	Scales with readership	Scales with sales
Revenue Metric	ePMR, earnings per 1,000 reads	Royalties per sale
Upfront Cost	$99 or $149 license	Free, but takes commission
Commission	None	10% of net, on top of retailer cuts
Distribution	Direct to readers	Amazon, Apple, Kobo, B&N, libraries
Discoverability	High, free content attracts more readers	High, via retailer ecosystems
Revenue Consistency	Earn from every reader	Earn only when someone buys
Customer Data	✓ You own your audience	✗ Retailers keep customer data
Payout Speed	Ongoing based on readership	Monthly, often 60 day delay
Author Website	✓ Free hosted profile	✓ Basic author page
Ideal For	Authors struggling to sell	Authors going wide across platforms

Faba Books vs Draft2Digital

The challenge of publishing with Draft2Digital

Draft2Digital is one of the best tools for wide distribution, but it comes with tradeoffs.

You only earn when someone buys. Like other traditional platforms, revenue depends entirely on sales. If readers do not purchase your book, you earn nothing, even if there is interest.

Revenue gets split multiple times.

When a book sells through D2D, the retailer takes a cut first, often around 30%. Then D2D takes an additional 10% of the remaining amount. This means a significant portion of your revenue is gone before you get paid.

You do not own your audience. Sales happen through retailers like Amazon or Apple Books. That means you do not get access to your reader’s email or long term relationship.

Discovery still depends on platforms. While distribution is wide, visibility is controlled by retailer algorithms. Without strong rankings or marketing, your book can get buried.

Payout delays.

Most earnings are paid monthly with delays, often around 60 days, which slows down your cash flow.

Why Faba Books is different

Faba Books is built around a completely different idea, earn from attention, not transactions.

Free books unlock massive reach. Readers are far more likely to click and read something that is free. This increases your audience, visibility, and long term growth.

You earn from every reader, not just buyers. With ad placements throughout your book, every read generates revenue. No purchase required.

Introducing ePMR, Earnings Per 1000 Reads. Instead of tracking sales, you track readership. ePMR shows how much you earn per 1,000 reads, giving you a scalable and predictable model.

Real earning potential, example

Using our built in calculator:

~$294.40 ePMR
~$426.88 per month

Disclaimer, this example assumes a U.S. based book with a U.S. audience, 5,000 monthly readers, and an average 29% engagement rate. Results will vary. Higher engagement rates can significantly increase revenue.