Lulu vs IngramSpark Laptops Image

Lulu offers the full self-publishing experience with no upfront fees.

Comparing Lulu Press & IngramSpark

IngramSpark is a low-cost self-publishing service designed exclusively to get your book into Ingram's Catalog. They offer a huge range of paper, binding, and sizing options as well as ISBN set up at a reasonable cost.

Lulu offers free upload and publishing, something IngramSpark charges a fee for. If you simply need to print books without Ingram's distribution, Lulu is more affordable and easier to use.

What IngramSpark does not offer is any way for creators to sell their books direct to readers. Lulu's ecommerce tools make it easy to sell to your readers from your social media profile or website.

Book Printing Options

Black & White / Color

Yes
Yes

Paperback

Yes
Yes

Hardcover

Yes
Yes

Calendar

Yes
No

Photo Book

Yes
No

Lulu

IngramSpark

Cover Builder

Yes

Template

Coil Bound

Yes
No

Lulu

Yes

IngramSpark

Yes

Black & White / Color

Paperback

Lulu

Yes

IngramSpark

Yes

Hardcover

Yes

Lulu

Yes

IngramSpark

Yes

Lulu

No

IngramSpark

Coil Bound

Calendar

Yes

Lulu

No

IngramSpark

Photo Book

Yes

Lulu

No

IngramSpark

Cover Builder

Yes

Lulu

Template

IngramSpark

Distribution

Yes
Yes

Royalties for Print Books in Distribution

Fixed revenue set by author
(varies by retailer)

Varies by retailer

Royalties: Print

80% of profits

45-70% of Sales

Unit Price:
 6 x 9 in, B&W, 100 pages

$2.45

Setup Cost: $49 + $2.40 per book

Unit Price:
 6 x 9 in, Color, 100 pages

$5.75

Setup Cost: $49 + $3.61 per book

Lulu

IngramSpark

Yes

Lulu

IngramSpark

Yes

Distribution

Royalties for Print Books in Distribution

Lulu

Fixed revenue set by author (varies by retailer)

Lulu

Varies by retailer

IngramSpark

Royalties: Print

80% of profits

Lulu

45-70% of Sales

IngramSpark

Unit Price:
 6 x 9 in, B&W, 100 pages

$2.45

Lulu

Setup Cost:
$49 + $2.40 per book 

IngramSpark

Unit Price:
 6 x 9 in, Color, 100 pages

$5.75

Lulu

Setup Cost:
$49 + $3.61 per book 

IngramSpark

Retail site

Yes
No

Ecommerce Plugins

Yes
No

Volume Discounts

Yes
No

API Printing/Direct Sales

Yes
No

Lulu

IngramSpark

Yes

Lulu

No

IngramSpark

Retail site

Ecommerce Plugins

Yes

Lulu

No

IngramSpark

Volume Discounts

Yes

Lulu

No

IngramSpark

API Printing/Direct Sales

Yes

Lulu

No

IngramSpark

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Print Book Distribution

Book Selling Options

Discover Self-Publishing with Lulu

Publishing on Lulu is completely free! You’ll always be able to order at cost for resale by hand, internal use, or promotional purposes.

Discover
Self-Publishing with Lulu

Publishing on Lulu is completely free! You’ll always be able to order at cost for resale by hand, internal use, or promotional purposes.