Free book publishing tools
KDP tools for authors
A KDP tool path for authors who already finished the manuscript.
Start with the current block: page planning, formatting, cover geometry, validation, metadata, or a failed upload. Each free result points to the next dependency.
✓Free task-specific checks✓One approved source version✓Repair only when needed
Use the author path that matches the current stage
Before formatting, estimate pages and select a trim size. After the text is stable, inspect DOCX structure and preview the layout. Once pagination is final, calculate the full-wrap cover. Validate the EPUB, print PDF, images, and metadata only after the last export.
| Stage | Free action | Pay only when |
|---|---|---|
| Plan | Words-to-pages, book sizes, launch timeline | No payment; adjust the plan first |
| Prepare | DOCX structure, template, three-page preview | You need a finished replacement interior |
| Cover | Spine and full-wrap calculator | The existing wrap needs human correction |
| Validate | EPUB, PDF, image DPI, and metadata checks | You need explanation, repair, revalidation, and delivery |
| Recover | KDP error decoder and upload error guide | The actual source must be repaired |
When a free official route is enough
Kindle Create wins for a supported KDP-first title when you are comfortable installing the official free tool and its export passes. Reedsy Studio wins for free browser drafting and basic formatting. EPUBCheck wins for technical users who can repair every standard error themselves.
ShipMyBook wins a narrower moment: the source is finished, the upload deadline is real, and you want the checks, approved version, and replacement deliverables connected without learning another full editor.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is ShipMyBook affiliated with Amazon KDP?
No. ShipMyBook is independent publishing software. Official KDP requirements and the live upload interface remain authoritative.
Should a first-time author pay before trying free tools?
Usually no. Use the free planning and validation steps first. Pay when a specific finished source requires repair or a reviewed delivery package.
What if I publish many books?
A repeat author may value five or twenty private versioned workspaces. Atticus or Vellum can still be the better investment when you want to control formatting yourself across unlimited books.
Start at the failed step, not at checkout.
Browse the full tool directory and choose one concrete publishing job.