Yes. AuthorLoft has a free plan that never expires — no credit card required. You get your own author website, book catalog, and subdomain at no cost. Upgrade to Standard or Premium when you're ready for direct sales, a custom domain, or advanced features. Learn more about AuthorLoft.

Can I sell books directly through my AuthorLoft website?

Yes. Standard and Premium plans include a built-in direct sales storefront powered by Stripe. You can sell eBooks and PDFs directly to readers, with secure checkout and instant download links delivered automatically. Learn more about direct book selling.

Do I need coding or technical skills to use AuthorLoft?

None at all. AuthorLoft is built specifically for authors, not developers. You can set up your site, add your books, and go live in under five minutes using a simple admin panel — no code, no agencies, no waiting. Walk through building your first site in our step-by-step guide.

Can I use my own custom domain?

Yes. Every author gets a free subdomain instantly (e.g. yourname.authorloft.com). If you want to use your own domain (e.g. www.yourname.com), that's available on Standard and Premium plans. See our guide to publishing your site and connecting a custom domain.

How do I organise my books by series or genre?

AuthorLoft has built-in series and genre hierarchy — you can group books into series, assign genres and sub-genres, and readers can browse and filter your catalog. There's no limit to how deeply you can organise your titles.

Can I capture newsletter subscribers through my author site?

Yes. AuthorLoft includes a built-in newsletter capture form. Readers can sign up with their email, and you can optionally collect category preferences. You can export your subscriber list at any time to use with Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or any other email tool. Learn how to build your first author email list.

How many books can I add to my catalog?

The Free plan supports a generous number of titles — up to 5, a good starting point for most authors. The Standard and Premium plans support larger catalogs: 20 and then unlimited. You can find the exact limits for each plan on the Pricing page.See exact plan limits on the Pricing page.

Can I try AuthorLoft before committing to a paid plan?

Absolutely. The Free plan is fully functional — you can build your complete author site, add books, and share it with readers at no cost. There's no time limit and no credit card required, so you can explore everything before deciding to upgrade. If you decide to leave, just let us know. You can delete your account, or we can do that for you.Learn more about what AuthorLoft includes.

What happens to my site if I cancel my paid plan?

If you downgrade from a paid plan, your site stays live on the Free plan. You won't lose your content — your books, pages, and subscriber list remain intact. Any features exclusive to paid plans (like ARC Management or a custom domain) will be paused until you re-upgrade. Some limitations may apply.Compare what's included on each plan.

Is using AI tools in writing ethical, especially for literary novels?

Yes, it can be ethical, and in many cases it already is. The bigger question is how AI is being used, not simply whether it is used at all. Writers have always used tools and outside assistance. Editors shape manuscripts, ghostwriters contribute ideas, research assistants gather facts, spellcheckers clean prose, and software suggests grammar changes. AI sits somewhere on that spectrum, depending on how much creative control the human keeps. Here’s where most readers, publishers, and authors tend to draw the line. Generally considered ethical Brainstorming plot ideas Naming characters or places Research assistance Outlining scenes or chapters Fixing grammar and pacing Generating alternative phrasings Helping overcome writer’s block Acting like a developmental editor Helping with marketing copy, blurbs, ads, and metadata In these cases, the author is still the creative force making decisions, shaping voice, theme, emotion, and story direction. More controversial Having AI generate large sections of prose with minimal human revision Publishing AI-written books while implying they were fully human-crafted Flooding marketplaces with low-effort generated novels Training models on copyrighted works without permission Mimicking a living author’s distinctive voice too closely This is where people begin debating authenticity, disclosure, artistry, and ownership. What readers usually care about most Most readers are not conducting a purity test. They care about: Was the story emotionally engaging? Did the author put genuine thought and effort into it? Does it feel original? Was the audience deceived? If an author uses AI as a collaborator but still creates something meaningful and personal, many readers accept that. If it feels mass-produced and soulless, readers tend to reject it quickly, regardless of the tool. Literary fiction vs commercial fiction The ethics conversation becomes sharper in literary fiction because literary novels are often valued for: unique voice lived experience emotional depth stylistic craftsmanship If AI replaces those elements entirely, critics argue the “human art” aspect weakens. But using AI as a thinking partner while the author still supplies the insight, pain, humor, worldview, and final language is increasingly viewed as legitimate. Current publishing reality Major publishers, indie authors, and screenwriters are already using AI in some form: outlining research editing translation support metadata and SEO marketing audiobook prep Even highly respected professionals quietly use AI-assisted workflows now. The stigma is shifting from “AI exists” to “was it used responsibly and transparently?” A practical way to think about it A useful test is this: Does the AI replace the author, or extend the author? If it extends your creativity, sharpens your storytelling, and helps you finish stronger work, most people would consider that ethical. If it replaces the creative process entirely while pretending otherwise, that’s where trust issues begin.Read our full guide on writing with AI.

You wrote the book. They keep the reader.Take it back.

your storefront ·your audience ·your revenue ·your rules

Every sale through someone else's storefront is a reader you'll never hear from again — no name, no email, no way to reach them next time. AuthorLoft gives you your own site, your own list, and everything you earn. Free to start, live in fifteen minutes.

Start your business →See a live author site →

↳ your readers, always yours↳ zero platform fees↳ live in 15 minutes

Your Profit

The old way

Retail publishers take most of your profit

With AuthorLoft

You keep 100%

Your Readers

The old way

Their email list, their rules

With AuthorLoft

Your list, nobody can take it

Your Analytics

The old way

No idea who your audience is

With AuthorLoft

Full audience analytics, always

Your Platform

The old way

Paying for 5 tools that don't connect

With AuthorLoft

One platform, everything built in

Your Brand

The old way

Their storefront, their brand

With AuthorLoft

Your domain, your design

For Authors

The old way

Amazon owns your readers

With AuthorLoft

Sell direct, own your readers

Your Profit

📦

Retailers own your buyers

The platform keeps the relationship. You get a payout — with no idea who bought, enrolled, or is reading.

✉️

Your list isn't yours

Build thousands of followers on a platform you don't control, and they can be gone overnight. Email lists built on their terms aren't yours.

🧩

Five tools that don't talk

Website. Email. Storefront. Analytics. Payments. You're paying for five things and still gluing them together by hand.

The solution

One platform.
Everything you own.

AuthorLoft replaces your website, email service, payment processor, and analytics — and puts you in control of every reader relationship you earn.

Your storefront

A beautiful author website with a built-in bookstore, live in 15 minutes. Your domain, your design, your brand — not theirs.

Your sales

Sell eBooks, audiobooks, and courses direct to your audience via Stripe. Zero platform fees — every dollar from every sale goes straight to you.

Your list

Capture reader emails with newsletter campaigns and reader magnets. Own the list. Nobody can take it away, restrict it, or charge you to reach it.

The difference

What changes when you own it.

The old way

With AuthorLoft

Your revenue

Retailers take their cut — you see 30–70%

Your revenue

You keep 100% of every direct sale

Your readers

Their platform, their email list, their rules

Your readers

Your list, always. Nobody can take it from you.

· 1 live author site ·

Real sites.
Real authors.

Every site below was built by an independent author using AuthorLoft — no designers, no developers, no waiting.

Anthony Bedford

Author | Scuba Instructor | Analytical Explorer

Visit site→

Yours could be next.

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· Real authors ·

Authors who finally own their shelf.

“

I am not only a user of the services I am the Owner of AuthorLoft. Bias - yes!

I just want you all to know I built a very inclusive product for authors to be proud to use. Check out my personal book page: Andy Bedford

”

Anthony Bedford

Thriller Author · AuthorLoft Founder

The Indie Author Playbook

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Pricing

Start free. Scale when you're ready.

No credit card. Upgrade when you want direct sales or a custom domain.

50%off

🎉 Founding Member Offer

Founding member offer — 50% off for your first 12 months

MonthlyAnnual save 20%

Starter Package

Free

$0/month

This is a FREE plan that limits users to minimum functionality.

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Up to 5 books
Up to 5 courses
Up to 50 blog posts
AuthorLoft subdomain (yourname.authorloft.com)
Standard customizable pages
Newsletter campaigns
AuthorLoft Bookstore listing
Achievement Badges
Media kit
ePub Converter
Contact form
100 MB storage

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Standard

$19.99/month

This plan is for beginner authors who may not have many books to advertise or who are just starting.

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Up to 20 books
Up to 20 courses
Up to 100 blog posts
AuthorLoft subdomain -OR- your own Custom domain
Customize page & themes
Newsletter campaigns
Direct digital sales (Stripe)
ARC management
Achievement Badges
Email Integration
ePub Converter
Contact form
5 GB storage

Unlimited Features

Premium

$59.99/month

This plan provides complete access to all tools and features, offering a full author web presence with a variety of shareable assets.

Start free — Premium →

Unlimited books
unlimited courses
Unlimited blog posts
AuthorLoft subdomain -OR- your own Custom domain
Customize page & themes
MP3/WAV narrations & excerpts
Newsletter campaigns
ARC management
Email Integration
AI assistant / SEO audit
Direct digital sales (Stripe)
Flip book Integration
Analytics dashboard
Achievement Badges
Contact form
ePub Converter
50 GB storage

Stripe fees apply to direct sales · 30-day money-back guarantee · cancel anytime

Stripe fees apply to direct sales · 30-day money-back guarantee · cancel anytime · Full plan comparison →

Your audience
is waiting.

Every sale through a middleman is someone you'll never reach again. Start free today and own everything you build — books, courses, or both.

Start your business — free →Browse the bookstore

No credit card. No lock-in. No middleman.

You wrote the book. They keep the reader.Take it back.

Retailers own your buyers

Your list isn't yours

Five tools that don't talk

One platform.Everything you own.

Your storefront

Your sales

Your list

What changes when you own it.

Real sites.Real authors.

Authors who finally own their shelf.

Grow your readership.Keep every reader.

Get AuthorLoft News in your inbox

Start free. Scale when you're ready.

Free

Standard

Premium

Your audienceis waiting.

One platform.
Everything you own.

Real sites.
Real authors.

Grow your readership.
Keep every reader.

Your audience
is waiting.