BookBaby empowers self-published authors with the world’s largest eBook and printed book distribution network, reaching readers in over 170 countries through 100+ retailers and distributors, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Ingram. We provide a full range of publishing services, from book printing and formatting to cover design and Print On Demand. Based near Philadelphia in Pennsauken, NJ, BookBaby is proud to help authors share their stories worldwide.
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Is BookBaby legit?
BookBaby (bookbaby.com) has a 4.1 out of 5 rating on OK.one, based on 201 user reviews collected here. It is listed under Media & Publishing and its reputation is good. 73% of reviews are 4 stars or higher and 13% are 1 star; The business has replied to 74% of negative reviews; Reviews mostly discuss Product, Customer service, Quality. Last updated 2026-09-02.
What reviewers say
AI generated
Reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers frequently praise the friendly and supportive staff who patiently guide first-time authors through every single step of the entire publishing journey. Many people also appreciate the exceptional print quality, vibrant colors, and gorgeous professional book designs that consistently exceed their initial expectations.
However, some reviewers were not happy with publishing errors, unexpected formatting issues, and frustrating communication delays that occurred after making their initial purchases. A few other people also felt that the editing services and the strict proofing process could be significantly improved for better results.
Auto-generated from all reviews of this business. For reference only.
* customer service, or lack therof
* paid $$$ for line proofing that had too many errors
* an independent contractor Sandra M. emailed a proof to me with an added typo that was not in the original image and refused to correct or refund so again I paid for worthless work that couldn’t be used.
* sending proof and a timeline to BB that purely documented the contractor’s error the result was to “split the charge.” They don’t stand behind the work.
There are too many other publishing companies that will give better results.
* Buyer beware of BookBaby
Reply from BookBaby2026-03-05
Hello, thanks for your feedback. Can you provide your sales order number or customer number so we can look into these concerns for you? Our editors would not be emailing proofs to you directly -- the edited files are always posted to your BookBaby account for download, so I'm unsure what you are referencing.
The people know what they're doing. They are personable and responsive ... quickly. They follow through. They have systems in place that tell them what happened at each step of the way. When I upload a file, several people are aware and depending on their role, they quickly respond. Plus many systems are automated so there is a system intelligence that has a structure and timely agenda. And finally, the quality of print output is outstanding. Hopefully, the eBook quality will prove to be so, also....
I am so happy with how my books turned out and with the support given by everyone at BookBaby. The answers to any questions I had came swiftly, and the book was ready and in hand surprisingly quickly, all while providing a beautiful product.
Customer service that is second-to-none! The process was simple and straight forward, with excellent guidance along the way. The finished product was exceptional, better than I imagined.
The staff at BookBaby is very easy to work with. They are prompt to respond to emails and phone calls. My finished book "Killing Henrietta"from them is superb, a great job!
I began writing a memoir as a keepsake for our children. But I am older and not entirely familiar with printing terminology or how to arrange text and photos in the manuscript. But BookBaby coached me on how to progress and even provided personal assistance at a very reasonable price. Overall, the experience was very fulfilling. I am very happy I chose BookBaby.
From day one of my vision to honor my darling mom in a book, I had a special inkling about BookBaby. I researched multiple self publishing companies, and BookBaby stood out amongst them all. It has been a challenge filled with anxiety, but it was a labor of love. Despite my expertise in podcasting, broadcast news, library science and media, I was completely uninformed about the bookmaking world. The overwhelming process included poring over photo albums going back in time to the 40s, 50s, and 60s; researching dates, places and names; making layout, templates, graphics, book size and paper type decisions; and learning to climb the self-publishing mountain . It was daunting but I was determined.
Thank goodness for the staff at BookBaby. Every department pitches in if you have questions - and everyone tries to answer you in a timely fashion.
Thank goodness for Sierra Edwards.
I cannot rave enough about the clarity, patience, and expertise of Sierra Edwards. She not only explained every detail and issue that I initiated along the way, but she always went the extra mile to respond to questions and concerns. She is amazingly calm amidst deadline pressure and a fast paced industry.
She deserves a gold medal…and a trip to Tahiti! I am happy to answer any further questions about the amazing focus and attention she pays to a very detailed author like myself. This has been a very personal and passionate book project, and I could not be happier with the result. “Life Lessons from my mom -the Jewish Dalai Lama” is now a stunning tribute to my mother in an elegant, timeless book.
Bravo to Sierra Edwards, Onpress Book Printing and BookBaby!
Morgan has been great to correspond with and helped me set up my bookshop. He also was able to help me with shipping and answered all other questions that I've had.
Do not use this company, you will waste your money. Line editing came back with numerous errors and inconsistencies. Customer service personnel answers questions by sending reading material because they don’t know the answers.
Reply from BookBaby2026-01-22
Thanks for your feedback. We're sorry you weren't happy with our services. As we have mentioned in replies to your two other reviews, through multiple phone calls with our support team, we attempted to provide you with assistance in how to properly use Microsoft Word. You spoke to at least four members of our team, totaling several hours of talk time. They all tried to assist you with accessing your edited file, including approving/rejecting the editor's suggestions and functions like saving the file to your computer. When that was still unsuccessful, we then provided links to Microsoft's help desk articles, a link to our own You Tube video tutorial, and additional instructions in emails. Our editor made over 2,900 corrections, adjustments, and suggestions to your supplied file.
Don't expect quality editing support (answers) from BB. Unless the author is highly knowledgeable using WORD or willing to read, study and learn (in lieu of getting answers) pass on BB. Also, if you don't know basic grammar, punctuation etc., then BookBaby is not for you because there were numerous errors in the completed line editing, which I paid $$$$.
Reply from BookBaby2026-01-22
Hello, thanks for your feedback. With your edited files, we originally posted clear instructions on how to view the editor's changes in Word. In order to provide additional support to you, we also supplied you with links to Microsoft's help desk, a YouTube tutorial from our own design preflight team, and finally emailed concise step by step instructions. I'm sorry that you found that inadequate.
Serious Lack of Customer Service and Communication
I had contacted BookBaby the last quarter of 2025 to edit and format my latest book . My initial contact seemed only interested in getting the sale because after I chose to edit with BookBaby, she couldn't be bothered to answer my questions. The editing job was "ok," but for the price I paid, it was not worth it. The editor made comments and asked me questions, but when I called to ask questions for clarification, I was told I could get answers if I wanted to pay for another round of editing. I have published professionally before and the editors and I had clear dialogues. BookBaby feels very unprofessional. For now, I am extremely concerned to continue working with BookBaby, as I don't trust their customer service and can't seem to get my questions answered. After reading other reviews about problems with distribution, I also have reservations about the quality of this company.
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