How Beacons and BookBub compare
Beacons is more than a link page. A link-in-bio, digital product store, email marketing, media kit, brand-deal invoicing, and AI tools give a creator a mini back office without leaving the app. For someone monetizing social attention with sponsors and downloads, it is a clever, generous bundle.
BookBub Author Websites is made for writers who would rather be writing. Import an ebook from Amazon or BookBub and its cover, description, and retailer links fill in, and each book gets its own page that you update in one place. Templates are designed around genres, the Author Bio, Blog, and Contact pages are ready on day one, and a built-in newsletter pulls your book details into every email. Pro adds series pages, a press kit and events, and reader magnets that trade a free download for a signup, and the Free plan has no time limit.
Where they are different
Beacons
- Beacons is a profile with tools.
- Beacons emails from its platform.
- Beacons sells downloads and links.
BookBub
- BookBub's book pages send readers to Amazon, Apple Books, and other retailers, with no checkout on the site.
- BookBub's newsletter sends 1,000 emails a month on Free and 10,000 on Pro, from a no-reply address on your domain on Pro, and replies go to your personal email.
- BookBub's blog has an RSS feed but no comments, and its only automation is a welcome email.
- BookBub's Events page lists your appearances.
Choose Beacons when you are monetizing a social audience with sponsors, downloads, and a bio link.
Choose BookBub when your books sell through retailers, you want a polished author site in an afternoon, and a simple monthly newsletter is all the email you need.
Compare features
What's on Beacons and BookBub
A check means that capability is available. Beacons and BookBub are marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace siteBeacons: IncludedBookBub: Included
- Custom domainBeacons: IncludedBookBub: Included
- Editor ModeBeacons: IncludedBookBub: Not included
- Theme and fontsBeacons: IncludedBookBub: Included
- Brand kitBeacons: IncludedBookBub: Not included
Public content
- BlogBeacons: Not includedBookBub: Included
- Shop pagesBeacons: IncludedBookBub: Included
Audience and email
- AudienceBeacons: IncludedBookBub: Included
- Marketing emailsBeacons: IncludedBookBub: Included
- Campaign workflowsBeacons: IncludedBookBub: Not included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsBeacons: IncludedBookBub: Not included
- Scheduling and bookingsLink to external scheduling available on Starter.Beacons: IncludedBookBub: Not included
Team
- AI AssistantBeacons: IncludedBookBub: Not included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Beacons or BookBub, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Beacons or BookBub may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Beacons vs BookBub pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Beacons
Current plans and prices
See what Beacons charges on their pricing page.
BookBub
Current plans and prices
See what BookBub charges on their pricing page.
Cardel: An alternative to
Beacons and BookBub
You don't pay until you publish.
Cardel provides a home for your craft. Share and sell your work, grow your audience, and bring your community together on a site of your own.
Common questions
Is Cardel an alternative to Beacons or BookBub?
Cardel is a home for your craft: a site of your own with a blog, newsletter, shop, community, and one inbox. It can replace Beacons or BookBub when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list on this page shows where Beacons and BookBub are marked.
Can I use Cardel with Beacons or BookBub?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep Beacons or BookBub for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared with Beacons and BookBub?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. Beacons and BookBub set their own prices, so check their pricing pages on this page for current plans.
How do I switch from Beacons or BookBub to Cardel?
Start with Build Your Site, set up your home, and bring your work over at your own pace. You do not have to move everything on day one.