How Cardel and BookBub compare
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.
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. Cardel is not an author-only builder: it does not import your books from Amazon or deliver a free download when a reader subscribes.
Where they are different
BookBub's book pages send readers to Amazon, Apple Books, and other retailers, with no checkout on the site. Cardel's Shop lists your items on every plan and, on Pro and up, takes Stripe card payments with orders behind them.
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. Cardel sends and receives on your own domain, and replies land in the Messaging Center next to the contact form and reader chat.
BookBub's blog has an RSS feed but no comments, and its only automation is a welcome email. On Cardel, readers sign in to comment on and like your posts, a new post can go to your list on its own, and Pro adds multi-step campaign workflows.
BookBub's Events page lists your appearances. Cardel's Schedule lets readers book a school visit, a talk, or a call straight into your Google or Outlook calendar on Pro and up.
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.
Choose Cardel when you want readers to answer back: comments on your posts, a newsletter written and replied to on your own domain, a shop or bookings for signed copies and visits, and every message in one Messaging Center.
You are the Forgemaster. Cardel is your forge. What you build is yours.
Common questions
Is Cardel a BookBub alternative?
Cardel is a home for your craft: a site of your own with a blog, newsletter, shop, community, and one inbox. It can replace BookBub when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list below shows where the two overlap and where they part.
Can I use Cardel and BookBub together?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep BookBub for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared to BookBub?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. BookBub sets its own prices, so check their pricing page below for current plans.
How do I switch from 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.
Compare features
What's on Cardel and BookBub
A check means that capability is available. BookBub is marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace siteCardel: IncludedBookBub: Included
- Custom domainUse your own domain with HTTPS. Cardel includes the DNS records for the site and for sending and receiving email.Use your own domain with HTTPS. Cardel includes the DNS records for the site and for sending and receiving email.Cardel: IncludedBookBub: Included
- Editor ModeCardel: IncludedBookBub: Not included
- Theme and fontsCardel: IncludedBookBub: Included
- Brand kitCardel: IncludedBookBub: Not included
Public content
- BlogCardel: IncludedBookBub: Included
- Reader engagementCardel: IncludedBookBub: Not included
- Showcase pagesCardel: IncludedBookBub: Included
- Shop pagesCardel: IncludedBookBub: Included
Reach and quality
- SEOCardel: IncludedBookBub: Included
Audience and email
- AudienceGroups, tags, and import so you can organize contacts and bring in an existing list.Groups, tags, and import so you can organize contacts and bring in an existing list.Cardel: IncludedBookBub: Included
- AccessibilityCardel: IncludedBookBub: Not included
- Email templates and From addressesCardel: IncludedBookBub: Included
- Email on your domainSend and receive from your custom domain, not a shared Cardel address.Send and receive from your custom domain, not a shared Cardel address.Cardel: IncludedBookBub: Not included
- Marketing emailsCardel: IncludedBookBub: Included
- Bulk email workflowsCardel: IncludedBookBub: Not included
- Campaign workflowsCardel: IncludedBookBub: Not included
Messaging
- Messaging CenterCardel: IncludedBookBub: Not included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsSell on your Shop pages with Stripe. Cardel takes a 0.5% application fee on those card sales. Stripe's own processing fees still apply, and you keep the rest.Sell on your Shop pages with Stripe. Cardel takes a 0.5% application fee on those card sales. Stripe's own processing fees still apply, and you keep the rest.Cardel: IncludedBookBub: Not included
- Scheduling and bookingsLink to external scheduling available on Starter.Cardel: IncludedBookBub: Not included
Team
- AI AssistantCardel: IncludedBookBub: Not included
Other
- Genre templatesCardel: Not includedBookBub: Included
- Book importCardel: Not includedBookBub: Included
- Analytics pixelsCardel: Not includedBookBub: Included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Cardel or BookBub, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Cardel or BookBub may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Cardel vs BookBub pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Cardel
You don't pay until you publish
Build at no cost, then choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live.
BookBub
Current plans and prices
See what BookBub charges on their pricing page.
Forge your community
Choose Cardel
Looking for a BookBub alternative? Bring your work to a site of your own.
Compare Cardel
See how Cardel stacks up, or explore BookBub comparisons.
