0% commission on Lifetime
After the $300 one-time fee, you keep everything the retailer pays you.
Compare
Chiify vs Draft2Digital
Draft2Digital is the platform Smashwords merged into in 2022 — same 10% commission structure, same wide distribution, now under one roof. Chiify offers 0% commission Lifetime, free EPUB conversion, and WCAG 2.2 accessibility by default.
Draft2Digital (D2D) is one of the longest-running indie ebook aggregators. In 2022 it merged with Smashwords; new uploads and account management now run through D2D, while smashwords.com remains a separate reader-facing store brand.
If you are evaluating Draft2Digital, you are evaluating the same commission model and Meatgrinder-era conversion philosophy that Smashwords pioneered — with D2D's UI and Books2Read tooling on top. Chiify is the pay-once alternative with accessibility built in.
See also our Chiify vs Smashwords page for historical context on the merger.
Chiify vs Draft2Digital, side by side
| Feature | Chiify | Draft2Digital | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free or one-time $300 Lifetime | Free, no subscription | – |
| Commission on sales | 0% (Lifetime/Pro), 10% (Free) | 10–15% depending on channel | ✓ |
| Free EPUB conversion | Yes, our pipeline | "Meatgrinder" converter (controversial output quality) | ✓ |
| Lifetime EPUB warranty | Yes | No | ✓ |
| Free ISBN-13 (Bowker-registered) | Yes | Yes | – |
| Amazon KDP | Yes | Yes | – |
| Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play, B&N | Yes | Yes | – |
| Library lending (OverDrive, Hoopla) | Yes | Yes | – |
| Audiobook distribution | Yes | Limited (D2D Audio still maturing) | ✓ |
| Human review before retailer delivery | Yes | No | ✓ |
| WCAG 2.2 / EAA 2025 accessibility | Auto on every plan | Not built-in | ✓ |
| Pre-orders & price scheduling | Yes | Yes | – |
| Royalty splits with co-authors | Yes | Yes | – |
| Direct-to-reader store integration | Yes (chiify.com/store) | Yes (smashwords.com + Books2Read) | – |
| Best for | Authors who want 0% commission long-term | Authors who want no upfront cost and D2D's author tools | – |
Competitor details are based on publicly available information and can change — check Draft2Digital's site for current pricing and terms.
The Meatgrinder
Conversion: the famous Smashwords vs. clean EPUB question
Smashwords' famous "Meatgrinder" converter has been simultaneously praised (it's free, it works, it's fast) and criticized (it produces conservative EPUB output that loses formatting nuances, breaks complex layouts, and routinely fails Apple iBooks validation). Smashwords requires very specific Word formatting for the Meatgrinder to produce a clean EPUB.
Chiify uses a modern conversion pipeline built on Pandoc + custom XML post-processing. We accept Word, Google Doc, PDF, and Markdown with looser source-formatting requirements, and produce EPUB 3.3 output that passes EPUBCheck 5 and the Apple iBooks Asset Guide tests.
Both produce a usable file. Chiify produces a cleaner one with less manuscript prep on your end.
Commission
Math on a $4.99 ebook
Amazon takes 30% of $4.99, leaving $3.49 to the aggregator:
- Chiify Lifetime/Pro — author keeps $3.49 (100%)
- Chiify Free — author keeps $3.14 (90%)
- Smashwords/D2D — author keeps $3.14 (90%, the standard 10% aggregator cut)
On the Free plan, the math is identical. On Lifetime, after the $300 one-time fee Chiify pays for itself in roughly 86 sales at $4.99 vs. Smashwords' 10% commission.
Smashwords merger
What changed when Smashwords joined Draft2Digital
Since the 2022 merger, Draft2Digital is the publishing platform. Smashwords.com still sells books to readers, but authors uploading today typically use draft2digital.com. The Meatgrinder converter and Style Guide remain part of legacy workflows.
Chiify is independent of that stack — if you want D2D's Books2Read links and community, you can use both (non-exclusive). If you want 0% commission long-term and EU accessibility compliance without extra work, Chiify is the alternative.
Why authors choose Chiify
Modern conversion
Works with looser source formatting — no Meatgrinder Style Guide to memorize.
WCAG 2.2 by default
Your books are EU Accessibility Act ready without you knowing what the EAA is.
Human review
Every submission read by a person before retailer delivery, not just an automated pass.
Escape the forever 10% cut
D2D's standard commission is 10% on every sale, forever. Chiify Lifetime is $300 once, then 0% platform commission.
When Draft2Digital might be the better choice
No tool is right for everyone. Here's where Draft2Digital can be the smarter pick:
- 17 years of operating history — they were doing this when most aggregators were not yet companies.
- Smashwords store — direct-to-reader discovery at smashwords.com, particularly strong in romance and erotica.
- Universal Book Link (Books2Read) — polished universal-link tool that predates most competitors.
- Author marketing community — newsletters, promotion opportunities, and merchandising built over years.
Try the numbers yourself with our free royalty calculator and print cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Did Smashwords merge into Draft2Digital?
Yes — in 2022. Draft2Digital is now the author-facing platform. The Smashwords consumer store still exists at smashwords.com, but new publishing workflows run through D2D.
Is Draft2Digital the same as Smashwords for pricing?
Broadly yes — free to join, ~10% commission on sales, no subscription. Feature sets differ slightly (D2D Audio, Books2Read, etc.) but the core economics match.
Can I switch from Draft2Digital to Chiify?
Yes. Unpublish at D2D (allow time for retailer takedowns), then upload to Chiify with the same ISBN. Library circulation history is preserved when the ISBN stays the same.
Should I read the Smashwords comparison too?
If you want the full Meatgrinder vs. modern conversion breakdown and merger history, our Chiify vs Smashwords page covers the same ground with more detail on the legacy brand.
Start distributing your books worldwide
Keep 100% of your royalties — no exclusivity, no setup fees.