Archway Publishing is a paid self-publishing service that carries the Simon & Schuster name but is run by Author Solutions from Bloomington, Indiana. Its packages cost $2,599 to $18,599, and on most print sales you earn 10% of the retail price.
It suits you if you have a finished manuscript, want a professionally produced book with little effort, and can treat the fee as a cost rather than an investment. It does not suit you if you expect the Simon & Schuster name to lead to a book deal, or if you need the book to pay for itself.
In this Archway Publishing review, you’ll learn:
- What each of the five packages costs and includes, from Archway’s own comparison chart
- What the Simon & Schuster link actually means, in Archway’s own words
- What Archway Publishing reviews on the BBB, Trustpilot and Reddit show
- Where Archway genuinely beats us, and who should walk away
Here is the full assessment.
What Archway Publishing Actually Is
Archway Publishing — a print-on-demand self-publishing service, branded “from Simon & Schuster” and operated by Author Solutions, that sells design, distribution and marketing packages to authors who pay up front.
Simon & Schuster and Author Solutions launched Archway in November 2012. Publishers Weekly reported at the time that Author Solutions would run the back end, and that Simon & Schuster would send some authors of unsolicited manuscripts to the program.
The contract makes the structure plain. The current Archway agreement says you engage Get Publishing! LLC, “a subsidiary of Author Solutions, LLC doing business as Archway Publishing.” It adds that Simon & Schuster “and its affiliates are not parties to this Agreement.”
Author Solutions also runs AuthorHouse, Xlibris, iUniverse and Trafford. Readers of our AuthorHouse review or Xlibris review will recognize almost every clause below.
What Does “From Simon & Schuster” Mean?
“From Simon & Schuster” means a licensed name and some input on packages, not a Simon & Schuster publishing deal. Archway’s own About Us page says Simon & Schuster provided design guidelines and helped build the packages, but “the actual services are provided by Author Solutions.”
The page says Simon & Schuster “will keep an eye out for titles that perform well in the marketplace.” Every package lists an “Opportunity for Discovery by Simon & Schuster.”
Archway’s site highlights one success story, Strays by Virginia Castleman, which it says Simon & Schuster’s Aladdin imprint acquired. We found no independent coverage of that deal, and Archway publishes no pickup figures.
Treat discovery as a lottery ticket, not a service. Writer Beware called the monitoring promise a “carrot” at launch. If a traditional deal is your goal, learn how to find a literary agent instead.
What Do Archway Publishing Packages Cost?
Archway Publishing packages cost $2,599 to $18,599 on the Archway comparison chart, checked on November 2, 2026. Every package includes an ebook, a softcover, cover design, page design, an ISBN, a Library of Congress Control Number and online distribution.
| Pathfinder | Catalyst | Trailblazer | Achiever | Leader | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,599 | $4,299 | $6,599 | $12,099 | $18,599 |
| Ebook, softcover, cover, page design | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Hardcover | Add-on | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Free softcover copies | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 40 |
| Image insertions | 20 | 30 | 50 | 75 | Unlimited |
| Editorial assessment (sample edit) | Add-on | Add-on | Included | Included | Included |
| US copyright registration | Add-on | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Marketing services credit | $200 | $300 | $500 | $500 | $500 |
| Author website (one year hosting) | 3 pages | 3 pages | 6 pages | 6 pages | 10 pages + SEO |
| Bookseller returns program | Add-on | 12 months | 12 months | 24 months | 36 months |
| Press release | Add-on | Add-on | 100 outlets | 500 outlets | 500 outlets |
The chart lists free hardcover copies (3, 5, 10 and 15) only for the four tiers that include hardcover. The Leader package adds a two-week online ad campaign, a pitch to 25 independent bookstores and a book promo video.
Prices exclude tax and shipping on your free copies, and full-color illustrations are an add-on on every tier. Older third-party write-ups quote different ranges by genre, so ask your consultant which package list applies to your book.
What do you not get, even on the top tier?
No package includes a full edit. The highest tiers include an editorial assessment, which the chart describes as a sample edit of a portion of your manuscript. A copyedit or developmental edit is a separate purchase from the services store.
The chart also does not list the Set Your Own Price or Author Advantage Royalty programs in any package. The agreement treats both as separate programs, and they control your retail price and royalty rate.
What Does the Archway Contract Say?
The Archway contract leaves you the copyright but gives Archway control of the published edition. You remain the “sole and exclusive owner” of your manuscript. During the agreement, you grant Archway an exclusive worldwide license to produce and sell the work.
These are the terms worth knowing, all from the Archway Services and Distribution Agreement:
- Archway sets your price. It determines the Suggested Retail Price unless you buy the Set Your Own Price Program.
- Archway owns the design work. Imprint names, logos, barcodes and ISBNs stay Archway’s. Custom illustrations it creates for you are yours.
- A $75 processing fee is never refunded. It is charged at purchase and deducted from any refund.
- Either side can end it. You can terminate at any time with written notice. Archway keeps a non-exclusive license for a 90-day transition.
- Disputes go to arbitration. Claims go to binding individual arbitration unless you opt out in writing within 30 days of signing. Court cases go to Monroe or Marion County, Indiana.
Can you get a refund from Archway Publishing?
You get a full Archway refund only before you submit your manuscript. The agreement pays back 100% within six months of purchase, or 100% less $150 between six and 12 months. After you submit the manuscript but before Final Approval, the refund is 50% of the purchase price.
After Final Approval, or 12 months after purchase, there is no refund. Submission counts from the first time you deliver text or images, so do not send anything until you are sure.
How Do Archway Royalties Work?
Archway pays 10% of the Suggested Retail Price on print books sold through retailers such as Amazon, 25% on print sales through its own bookstore, and 50% of net on ebooks. Royalties are calculated by calendar quarter and paid within 90 days after each quarter ends.
| Sale type | Archway royalty |
|---|---|
| Print, through retailers | 10% of Suggested Retail Price |
| Print, through the Archway bookstore | 25% of Suggested Retail Price |
| Ebook, any channel | 50% of retail price less discounts and taxes |
| Audiobook, any channel | 100% of retail price less discounts and taxes |
| Subscription or lending models | 30% of revenue Archway receives |
| Copies you buy, used copies, free copies | No royalty |
Payment goes only by electronic transfer to a US bank account unless Archway approves another method, which adds fees. Archway can hold royalties until you reach $75.
How many copies do you need to sell to break even?
Here is our illustration, not an Archway figure. On a $19.99 paperback, 10% of the retail price is about $2.00 per copy sold through Amazon. At that rate, Pathfinder ($2,599) needs about 1,300 retail sales to recover the fee, and Leader ($18,599) needs about 9,300.
Most self-published books sell far fewer copies. Publishing directly on Amazon KDP pays 60% of list price minus printing on paperbacks priced $9.99 and up. Our explainer on how book royalties work shows typical rates by format.
What Archway Publishing Does Well
Archway delivers a designed, printed and listed book without asking you to learn any publishing software. That has real value.
The prices are public. All five packages and their contents sit on one comparison chart. Many paid publishers quote only after a sales call.
The packages include more than the sister brands. Ten free softcovers on the entry tier, an LCCN on every tier and copyright registration from Catalyst upward are more generous than the $999 entry plan at sister brand Xlibris, which includes 3 copies and charges extra for the LCCN.
Reviewers praise the people. Positive Trustpilot reviews consistently mention courteous, helpful staff and a clear process for first-time authors.
You keep the copyright and can leave. There is no multi-year lock-in. Written notice ends the agreement, with a 90-day wind-down.
What Archway Publishing Does Not Do Well
The core problem is price against return. Archway’s entry package costs more than twice the cheapest Xlibris plan, and the 10% print royalty makes it hard to earn back.
The entry price is high. Pathfinder costs $2,599 for services you can buy separately for a fraction of that. Our breakdown of the cost to self-publish a book shows realistic budgets.
You do not control your price by default. Archway sets the retail price unless you buy a separate program. A high print price can sink sales of a first book.
Marketing credits are small. A $200 to $500 credit buys little, and the larger campaigns sit only in the $18,599 tier.
The Simon & Schuster name is mostly branding. Simon & Schuster is not a party to your contract and does not provide the services.
What Do Archway Publishing Reviews Say?
Archway Publishing reviews split by platform. Trustpilot is middling, the parent’s BBB grade is high, and watchdogs remain critical. Checked on November 2, 2026:
| Source | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 3.9 TrustScore from 457 reviews, 74 in the last 12 months |
| Trustpilot star split | 49% five-star, 17% four-star, 11% three-star, 5% two-star, 18% one-star |
| BBB, Author Solutions profile | A+ rating, accredited since 2010, 70 complaints in 3 years across all imprints |
| Archway on the BBB | Listed as an alternate name under Author Solutions, with no standalone page |
Archway Publishing reviews on the BBB
Archway has no separate BBB grade. It appears as one of more than 20 alternate business names on the Author Solutions LLC profile in Bloomington, which holds an A+ rating and 70 complaints over three years.
An A+ grade mostly reflects how a business responds to complaints and how long it has operated. Seventy complaints across every Author Solutions imprint is a modest count, so read the complaint text, not just the letter.
Archway Publishing reviews on Trustpilot
The positive reviews praise staff, design and finished book quality. The negative reviews cluster around costs that felt higher than expected, upselling, marketing that fell short of what was promised, slow communication, and print or proofreading errors.
Archway replies to most negative reviews there.
Archway Publishing reviews on Reddit
We could not find a recent, substantial Reddit thread about Archway to cite. Searches mostly return watchdog posts and older blog reviews. If you search Reddit yourself, check each thread’s date, because the packages have changed since 2012.
What author watchdogs say
The Alliance of Independent Authors issued a watchdog warning on Archway in January 2013. It argued Archway used the same model as its sister imprints and cited recurring Author Solutions complaints about royalties, sales calls and add-on charges.
That warning is old, but the contract structure it describes has not changed much. Our vanity press warning signs and AuthorHouse legitimacy check cover what advocates look for and the Author Solutions lawsuit history.
Is Archway Publishing in Bloomington, Indiana, Legit?
Yes, Archway Publishing is a legitimate business, not a scam. It operates from the Author Solutions office at 1151 W. 2nd Street, Bloomington, Indiana, delivers the books it sells, and publishes its contract and prices.
“Legit” and “good value” are different questions. The fee is high, the royalty is low, and the Simon & Schuster connection is thinner than the branding suggests. Archway posts its own fraud alert page, so verify any caller who claims to represent it.
Where Archway Beats Chapter
We make Chapter, and Archway does several things we do not do at all. If these are what you need, Archway offers something Chapter cannot.
Archway prints and ships physical books. Every package includes free softcovers, from 10 on Pathfinder to 40 on Leader. Chapter produces a manuscript, not printed copies.
Archway lists your book for sale. It handles distribution to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the Ingram and Baker & Taylor networks. With Chapter, you upload the finished book yourself.
Archway designs the cover and interior. A design team builds both. Chapter writes the book; it does not produce a print-ready layout or cover.
Archway runs marketing for you. Press releases, an author website, bookstore returnability and, on Leader, a bookstore pitch campaign are all done for you. Chapter does none of this.
Archway gives you a person to call. That hand-holding matters if you are not comfortable with software.
Archway offers a slim discovery chance. Simon & Schuster says it watches for strong performers. Chapter has no publisher looking over your sales.
If your book is finished and you only need it produced and distributed, Chapter is the wrong tool.
Who Should Use Archway Publishing
Archway fits a narrow group of authors well:
- You have a finished, edited manuscript and no wish to learn KDP or IngramSpark
- You want a professionally produced book for family, clients or a speaking audience, and profit is not the goal
- You have read the full agreement, including the refund schedule and the arbitration opt-out window
Who Should Not Use Archway Publishing
Walk away if any of these describe you:
- You want the book to earn money. A 10% print royalty sets a recoup bar most first books never clear.
- You are paying for the Simon & Schuster name. It does not make you a Simon & Schuster author, and discovery is not a service you can count on.
- Your manuscript is not finished. Submitting it early cuts your refund to 50%.
- You are on a tight budget. Self-publishing for free on KDP puts the same book on Amazon for nothing.
Comparing paid services? See our Xlibris legitimacy check and Dorrance Publishing review.
The Alternative We Built
Archway solves the problem after the book is written. Many authors pricing out a $2,599 package are stuck one step earlier: the manuscript is not done.
Our Pick — Chapter
Chapter is AI book writing software that takes you from an idea to a complete, structured manuscript in your voice. More than 10,000 authors have used it, and it has been featured in USA Today and the New York Times. You keep 100% of the rights, then publish wherever you choose, including free on Amazon KDP.
Best for: Authors who have not finished their manuscript, or who want to publish without a four-figure fee Pricing: $97 one time, 2 books included (fiction or nonfiction), 30-day money-back guarantee Why we built it: A publishing package is worthless without a finished book, and writing it is where most authors stall.
Chapter has honest limits. There is no free tier or trial, it does not print, design or distribute your book, and you still edit what it drafts. Our Chapter review covers the details.
Chapter plus free publishing on KDP costs $97, against $2,599 for Archway’s cheapest package. You set your own price and keep the full KDP royalty. Our guide on how to self-publish a book walks through each step.
If your book is still unwritten, Chapter for nonfiction and Chapter for fiction write the complete manuscript for $97 one time, with no subscription and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
FAQ
Is Archway Publishing owned by Simon & Schuster?
No, Archway Publishing is operated by Author Solutions, not Simon & Schuster. Its contract is with Get Publishing! LLC, an Author Solutions subsidiary. Simon & Schuster lends its name, helped design the packages and says it watches for strong sellers, but it is not a party to your agreement.
How much does Archway Publishing cost?
Archway Publishing costs $2,599 to $18,599 for its five packages: Pathfinder $2,599, Catalyst $4,299, Trailblazer $6,599, Achiever $12,099 and Leader $18,599. Prices exclude tax and shipping. Hardcover and copyright registration are add-ons on Pathfinder, and no package includes a full edit.
What royalty does Archway Publishing pay?
Archway pays a 10% print royalty on retail sales through partners such as Amazon, based on the Suggested Retail Price it sets. It pays 25% on its own bookstore sales and 50% of net on ebooks, calculating royalties quarterly and paying within 90 days of each quarter’s end.
Does Archway Publishing have a BBB rating?
Archway Publishing has no standalone BBB rating. It is listed as an alternate name on the Author Solutions LLC profile in Bloomington, Indiana, which holds an A+ rating and showed 70 complaints over three years across all of its imprints when we checked in November 2026.
Is Archway Publishing worth it?
Archway Publishing is worth it only if you value a hands-off, professionally produced book more than the money. For authors who want sales income, a $2,599 to $18,599 fee and a 10% print royalty rarely pay back, while publishing on KDP costs nothing up front.
