Xlibris Review: Plans, Royalties and Contract (2026) 📚

Xlibris is a paid self-publishing service owned by Author Solutions. You pay $999 to $10,999 for a publishing plan, and Xlibris designs, prints on demand and lists your book. You then earn 10% on most print sales.

It suits you if you have a finished manuscript, want printed copies with little effort, and treat the fee as the cost of a keepsake. If you want the book to earn money, publishing it yourself costs a fraction of the price and pays several times the royalty.

In this Xlibris review, you’ll learn:

• What each of the five plans includes, and what the Australian site charges
• What the current Xlibris author agreement says about pricing, refunds and leaving
• What Xlibris reviews and complaints on Trustpilot and the BBB actually show
• Where Xlibris genuinely beats us, and who should walk away

Here is the full assessment.

What Xlibris Actually Is

Xlibris — a print-on-demand publishing service that sells design, production, distribution and marketing packages to authors who pay up front.

The contract makes the structure plain. The current US author agreement names the company you sign with as Get Publishing! LLC, “a subsidiary of Author Solutions, LLC doing business as Xlibris.” Its address is in Bloomington, Indiana.

Author Solutions also runs AuthorHouse, iUniverse and Trafford. In March 2025, Publishers Marketplace reported that the Najafi Companies had sold Author Solutions to Center Street Ventures.

Xlibris is not a traditional publisher. It pays no advance and earns its revenue from your fees, not from selecting books it expects to sell. If your question is whether it is a scam, our Xlibris legitimacy check covers ownership history, the lawsuit and the BBB record. This page covers what your money buys.

What Do Xlibris Publishing Plans Cost?

Xlibris publishing plans cost $999 to $10,999 in the US. Every plan includes an ebook, a paperback, cover design, interior design and an electronic galley. The higher tiers add hardback, more free copies, bookstore returnability, a press release and an author website.

These figures come from the Xlibris publishing plans page, checked on October 30, 2026. Prices exclude tax.

Full-color illustrations are an add-on on every plan. The page also lists editorial services, a marketing credit and a Signature package above Expert, but it does not show a price for Signature or for the Expedited package that promises publication in as little as two weeks.

What does Xlibris cost in Australia?

Xlibris Australia lists the same five plans at higher numbers. The Australian plans page shows Spark at 1,399, Classic at 3,399, Crest at 6,699, Prime at 9,099 and Expert at 16,299. The page shows no currency symbol, though it is the Australian site.

Your royalties may still be paid in US dollars. The US agreement says royalties are paid in USD by electronic transfer to a US bank account, and other methods need approval and carry extra fees. If you are outside the US, ask for your own country’s agreement and payment terms before you sign.

How Does the Xlibris Publishing Process Work?

Xlibris assigns you a publishing consultant, takes your manuscript, and builds the book from it. You review a digital proof, sign a Final Approval, and the book goes live in its bookstore and with retailers such as Amazon.

The sequence, based on the author agreement:

1. Choose a plan and sign. You can pay in full or in monthly installments. Installment plans carry a non-refundable $75 processing fee.
2. Submit the manuscript. This step matters for refunds, as you will see below.
3. Design and production. Xlibris lays out the interior, designs the cover and inserts your images.
4. Proof review. You get an electronic copy to check “each and every aspect” of the book.
5. Final Approval and pricing. You sign off on the book and on the retail price Xlibris sets.
6. Title live. The book appears in the Xlibris bookstore and through its distribution partners.

Read the Final Approval step closely. Once you sign it, the agreement says you waive claims over errors or pricing issues found later, and any further corrections cost extra. Proofread that galley as if nobody else will.

Xlibris does not publish a standard timeline on its plans page. The existence of a paid Expedited package suggests the standard route takes noticeably longer than two weeks.

What Does the Xlibris Contract Say?

The Xlibris contract leaves you the copyright but gives Xlibris control of the published edition. You remain “the sole and exclusive owner” of your manuscript. During the agreement, though, you grant Xlibris an exclusive worldwide license to print, sell and distribute the work.

That exclusive license is the clause most Xlibris reviews skip. While you are under contract, Xlibris controls the edition it produces. These are the other terms worth knowing, all from the US author agreement:

• Xlibris sets your price. The agreement says Xlibris determines the Suggested Retail Price unless you buy the Set Your Own Price Program, which is included only from Crest upward.
• Xlibris owns the design. The cover design, interior layout, ISBN and imprint name belong to Xlibris. Custom illustrations it creates for you are yours.
• Either side can end it. You can terminate at any time with written notice, with or without cause.
• Sales can continue for 90 days. After termination, Xlibris keeps a non-exclusive license during a 90-day transition.
• You get a PDF, not open files. On written request after termination, Xlibris sends PDF files within 30 days, with its own property removed.
• Disputes go to arbitration. Claims go to binding individual arbitration unless you opt out in writing within 30 days of signing.
• Royalties under $75 can be held. Xlibris may hold payments until you reach $75, paying held amounts within 90 days of year end.

Can you get a refund from Xlibris?

You can get an Xlibris refund only early in the process. For a publishing package, the agreement pays 100% back if you cancel within six months and before you submit the manuscript. Between 6 and 12 months, it is 100% less $150.

After you submit the manuscript but before Final Approval, the refund drops to 50% of the purchase price. After Final Approval, or more than 12 months after purchase, there is no refund. The $75 installment fee is never refunded.

The practical lesson: do not send your manuscript until you are sure. Submission halves what you can recover.

How Do Xlibris Royalties Work?

Xlibris pays 10% of the Suggested Retail Price on print books sold through retailers, 25% on print sales through its own online bookstore and 50% of net on ebooks. Royalties are calculated by calendar quarter and paid within 90 days after each quarter ends.

The full royalty schedule from the agreement, unless you buy a royalty upgrade:

One wording difference is worth flagging. The agreement bases the print rate on the Suggested Retail Price, while the Xlibris royalty FAQ describes the base as the payment Xlibris actually receives. Ask your consultant which figure applies to your book, and get the answer in writing.

How many copies do you need to sell to break even?

Here is an illustration, not an Xlibris figure. On a $19.99 paperback, 10% of the retail price is about $2.00 per copy sold on Amazon. At that rate:

• Spark ($999) needs about 500 retail sales to recover the fee
• Classic ($2,199) needs about 1,100
• Crest ($4,399) needs about 2,200
• Expert ($10,999) needs about 5,500

If the base turns out to be net receipts after retailer discounts, those numbers rise. Most self-published titles sell far fewer copies than this, so for most authors the plan is a cost rather than an investment. Our explainer on how book royalties work shows what a typical rate looks like by format.

What Xlibris Does Well

Xlibris delivers a finished, printed, listed book without asking you to learn any publishing software. For an author who will never open a KDP dashboard, that has real value.

The prices are public. Many paid publishers quote only after a sales call. Xlibris lists all five US plans and five Australian plans online, so you can compare before you speak to anyone.

The contract is public too. The full author agreement is a free download from its FAQ. That is rarer than it should be, and it lets you read every clause in this review for yourself.

You keep the copyright. The agreement states it plainly, and custom illustrations Xlibris draws for you are yours as work for hire.

You can leave at any time. There is no multi-year lock-in. Written notice ends the agreement, with a 90-day wind-down.

Ebook and audio royalties are fair. Fifty percent of net on ebooks and 100% of net on audio are reasonable rates. The problem is the 10% print rate, which is where most Xlibris sales happen.

The refund window is real. Six months to cancel for a full refund, if you have not submitted the manuscript, is more generous than some paid publishers offer.

What Xlibris Does Not Do Well

The core problem is price against return. You pay hundreds to thousands of dollars for services you can buy for much less, and the 10% print royalty makes the fee very hard to earn back.

The print royalty is low. Publishing directly on KDP, a paperback earns 60% of list price minus printing for list prices of $9.99 and up on Amazon.com. On a $15 paperback, Amazon’s own example pays $4.00 per copy.

You do not control your price by default. On Spark and Classic, Xlibris sets the retail price unless you pay for the Set Your Own Price add-on. A high print price can kill sales of a first book.

Basic services are add-ons on the entry plan. On the $999 Spark plan, hardback, the Library of Congress number and bookstore returnability all cost extra. The real entry price is often higher than the headline.

The upsells are persistent. Marketing calls are the most common theme in Xlibris complaints. The plans page itself lists a long menu of paid marketing extras.

Non-US authors face friction. Royalties go by electronic transfer to a US bank account by default. Other payment methods need approval and add fees.

Disputes go to arbitration. If something goes wrong, you are in binding individual arbitration, with any in-person hearing held in Indiana, unless you opted out within 30 days of signing.

What Do Xlibris Reviews and Complaints Say?

Xlibris reviews split by platform. The parent company’s BBB profile is strong, while Trustpilot is poor. Checked on October 30, 2026:

Xlibris reviews on Trustpilot. The positive reviews praise helpful staff, the design and production work, and global listings. The negative reviews cluster around five issues: disputed or tiny royalties, high-pressure calls selling marketing packages, typos and weak covers, unanswered emails, and promised items that never arrived.

Xlibris publishing reviews complaints about scammers. Some Trustpilot complaints describe calls to elderly relatives and suspected data sharing. Xlibris replies that impersonators are using its name, and it publishes its own publishing scams warning. Verify any caller through the official site before paying anything.

Xlibris on the BBB. An A+ grade mostly reflects how a business responds to complaints and how long it has operated. Seventy complaints across more than 20 imprints is a modest count, so read the complaint text rather than the letter.

Xlibris on author watchdog sites. The Alliance of Independent Authors keeps a running watchdog file on Author Solutions, and its imprints appear on most author-advocate warning lists. Our list of vanity press warning signs explains what those advocates look for.

Xlibris Australia reviews. We found no separate review base for the Australian site. Australian authors use the same company, the same Trustpilot profile and, it appears, the same agreement structure.

Xlibris vs Doing It Yourself: Which Costs Less?

Doing it yourself costs far less than an Xlibris plan, because KDP charges nothing to publish and pays a much higher royalty. Your real costs are a cover, editing and, if you want them, your own ISBN and copyright registration.

The DIY route costs you time and some learning instead of money. If you have never published before, our step-by-step guide on how to self-publish a book walks through every stage, and our breakdown of the cost to self-publish a book shows realistic budgets.

Where Xlibris Beats Chapter

We make Chapter, and Xlibris does several things we do not do at all. If these are what you need, Xlibris offers something Chapter cannot.

Xlibris prints and ships physical books. Every plan includes free paperbacks, from 3 on Spark to 40 on Expert. Chapter produces a manuscript, not printed copies.

Xlibris lists your book for sale. It puts the book on Amazon, other retailers and its own bookstore. With Chapter, you still upload the finished book yourself.

Xlibris designs the cover and interior. A designer builds both from your files. Chapter writes the book; it does not lay out a print-ready interior for you.

Xlibris illustrates picture books. Full-color illustration is an add-on there. Chapter writes text only.

Xlibris handles registrations. The Library of Congress number and bookstore returnability come with higher plans, which saves you paperwork.

Xlibris gives you a person to call. You get a consultant, and that hand-holding matters if you are not comfortable with software.

If your book is finished, edited and you only need it printed and listed, Chapter is the wrong tool and these differences are decisive.

Who Should Use Xlibris

Xlibris fits a narrow group of authors well:

• You have a finished, proofread manuscript and no wish to learn KDP or IngramSpark
• You want printed copies for family, a congregation or a local audience, and profit is not the goal
• You are making a picture book or illustrated memoir and want design and illustration under one roof
• You have read the full author agreement, including the refund schedule and the arbitration clause

If you are writing a family history, our guide on how to write a memoir covers the writing first.

Who Should Not Use Xlibris

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 want to control your price. On Spark and Classic, Xlibris sets it unless you pay extra.
• You are outside the US and want simple payouts. Default royalty payment goes to a US bank account.
• Your manuscript is not finished or edited. 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? Our AuthorHouse review covers the sister imprint, and our Page Publishing review and Dorrance Publishing review cover similar models. For lower-cost options, see our best self-publishing platforms roundup.

The Alternative We Built

Xlibris solves the problem after the book is written. Many authors who price out Xlibris plans 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 plan 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 review and edit what it drafts. Our Chapter review covers what it does and does not do.

The total cost is the difference. Chapter plus free publishing on KDP costs $97, against $999 for the cheapest Xlibris plan. You set your own price, see every sale and keep the full KDP royalty, with no exclusive license to anyone.

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

How much does Xlibris cost?

Xlibris costs $999 to $10,999 for its five US publishing plans: Spark $999, Classic $2,199, Crest $4,399, Prime $6,099 and Expert $10,999. A Signature package sits above Expert without a published price. Hardback, the Library of Congress number and returnability are add-ons on Spark.

What royalty does Xlibris pay?

Xlibris pays a 10% print royalty on retail sales through partners such as Amazon, based on the Suggested Retail Price in its author agreement. It pays 25% on its own bookstore sales, 50% of net on ebooks, and calculates royalties quarterly, paying within 90 days of each quarter end.

Do you keep the rights to your book with Xlibris?

Yes, you keep the copyright under the Xlibris agreement. However, you grant Xlibris an exclusive license to publish and sell the work while the agreement runs, and Xlibris owns the cover design, interior layout and ISBN. You can terminate at any time with written notice.

Can I get my money back from Xlibris?

Xlibris refunds 100% of a package if you cancel within six months and before submitting your manuscript. After submission but before Final Approval, the refund is 50% of the purchase price. After Final Approval or 12 months, there is no refund, and installment fees are never refunded.

Is Xlibris worth it?

Xlibris is worth it only if you value a hands-off printed book more than the money. For authors who want sales income, a $999 to $10,999 fee and a 10% print royalty rarely pay back, while publishing the same book on KDP costs nothing up front.