[EYEBROW: WIDE PUBLISHING]

Draft2Digital vs Smashwords 2026: Best Wide Distribution Platform?

Draft2Digital vs Smashwords is the central question for any indie author going wide — meaning publishing their ebooks on retailers beyond Amazon. Both platforms distribute to Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and dozens of smaller retailers, but they differ significantly in user experience, formatting quality, and the retailers they reach. In 2022, Draft2Digital acquired Smashwords, but the two platforms continue to operate as separate products with different strengths. Here is what you need to know in 2026.

What Changed After the Draft2Digital Acquisition

When Draft2Digital acquired Smashwords in February 2022, many authors expected an immediate merger. Instead, D2D has maintained both platforms while gradually migrating Smashwords authors and integrating the best features of each. The Smashwords Store — a direct-to-reader storefront — was migrated to Draft2Digital's infrastructure and rebranded as the D2D Store. Smashwords' unique retailer relationships, particularly with library platforms like OverDrive and Bibliotheca, were preserved and are now accessible through D2D.

The practical result: as of 2026, Draft2Digital is the forward-looking platform with active development, while Smashwords operates in maintenance mode. New authors should start with Draft2Digital. Authors with existing Smashwords accounts can continue using it but should consider migrating to D2D for access to newer features.

Retailer Reach Comparison

Draft2Digital reaches more retailers, particularly in European markets (Tolino, Vivlio) and the growing library channel (Palace Marketplace). For authors targeting international readers or library sales, D2D's broader reach is a meaningful advantage.

Formatting and Upload Experience

Draft2Digital's formatting tools are significantly more polished. You upload a Word document or DOCX file, choose a theme, and D2D generates a clean ePub with professional chapter headings, a linked table of contents, and a back matter template that automatically adds links to your other books. The process takes under 10 minutes for a standard novel.

Smashwords' "Meatgrinder" formatting system — its legacy DOCX-to-ePub converter — is functional but finicky. It requires strict adherence to a style guide (the Smashwords Style Guide, a 117-page document) to produce a clean output. Authors who do not follow the guide precisely often end up with formatting errors. For authors comfortable with Word styles, it works; for everyone else, it is a source of frustration.

Both platforms accept pre-formatted ePub files, which bypasses their conversion tools entirely and gives you full control over the final output.

Royalties and Pricing

Both platforms pay 60% of the list price for ebooks sold through third-party retailers, after the retailer takes their cut. Apple Books, for example, pays 70% to the distributor; D2D and Smashwords then pay 60% of that 70% to the author — resulting in approximately 42% of the list price reaching the author. This is standard across all aggregators.

For sales through the D2D Store or Smashwords Store (direct-to-reader), the royalty is 85% of the list price, which is the highest available anywhere. Building a direct sales channel through these stores is increasingly valuable as authors seek to reduce platform dependence.

Wide for the Win by Mark Leslie Lefebvre is the definitive guide to wide publishing strategy and is written by a former Kobo executive with deep knowledge of the non-Amazon retail landscape. Let's Get Digital by David Gaughran covers the full indie publishing ecosystem including wide distribution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use both Draft2Digital and Smashwords at the same time?
A: No — since D2D acquired Smashwords, using both would create duplicate listings at the same retailers, which violates their terms of service. Choose one platform per title and use it exclusively for wide distribution.

Q: Does Draft2Digital distribute to Amazon?
A: No. Neither D2D nor Smashwords distributes to Amazon. To sell on Amazon, you must publish directly through KDP. The wide distribution platforms handle all other major retailers.

Q: How long does it take for a book to go live after uploading to Draft2Digital?
A: Apple Books typically goes live within 24–72 hours. Barnes & Noble and Kobo are usually 24–48 hours. Google Play can take up to 2 weeks. Library platforms (OverDrive, Bibliotheca) take 2–4 weeks.

Q: Is Draft2Digital free to use?
A: Yes. Draft2Digital charges no upfront fees. They take a 10% commission on sales made through their platform, which is deducted before paying the author. There are no setup fees, annual fees, or per-title charges.

Q: Should I go wide or stay in KDP Select?
A: This depends on your genre and marketing strategy. KDP Select gives you Kindle Unlimited access (a major revenue source for genre fiction) but requires Amazon exclusivity. Wide publishing builds long-term platform independence and can outperform KDP Select for non-fiction, literary fiction, and authors with international audiences. See our KDP Select vs Wide guide for a full breakdown.

For authors ready to go wide, start with our publishing tools to calculate your royalties across platforms before making the switch.

Further Reading

• How to Write a Series That Keeps Readers Coming Back (And Buying More Books)
• NetGalley Review 2026: Is It Worth It for Indie Authors?
• The Complete Guide to KDP Royalties in 2026