How BookBub and Circle 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.
Circle is where serious community hosts go when the community is the business. Spaces for discussion and chat, courses and events in the same place, paid memberships with branded checkout, gamification, workflows, Circle AI, and on Circle Plus your own branded iOS and Android apps. It has grown into an all-in-one for membership businesses, and the Website Builder and Email Hub mean many hosts no longer need a second tool for the front door. If your members log in every week to talk to each other, Circle is built for exactly that.
Where they are different
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.
Circle
- Circle's pages are the front door to a members-only space.
- Circle's Email Hub is an add-on priced per contact on top of the plan.
- Circle's DMs live between members inside the community.
- Circle has courses, live streams, paid tiers for users, and gamification.
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 Circle when a paid, private community with courses and events is the product, and you want members in a branded app.
Compare features
What's on BookBub and Circle
A check means that capability is available. BookBub and Circle are marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace siteBookBub: IncludedCircle: Included
- Custom domainBookBub: IncludedCircle: Included
- Editor ModeBookBub: Not includedCircle: Included
- Theme and fontsBookBub: IncludedCircle: Included
Public content
- BlogBookBub: IncludedCircle: Not included
- Reader engagementBookBub: Not includedCircle: Included
- Showcase pagesBookBub: IncludedCircle: Included
- Shop pagesBookBub: IncludedCircle: Not included
Reach and quality
- SEOBookBub: IncludedCircle: Included
Audience and email
- AudienceBookBub: IncludedCircle: Included
- Email templates and From addressesBookBub: IncludedCircle: Included
- Marketing emailsBookBub: IncludedCircle: Included
- Bulk email workflowsBookBub: Not includedCircle: Included
- Campaign workflowsBookBub: Not includedCircle: Included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsBookBub: Not includedCircle: Included
Team
- AI AssistantBookBub: Not includedCircle: Included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of BookBub or Circle, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but BookBub or Circle may add or remove features that are not shown here.
BookBub vs Circle pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
BookBub
Current plans and prices
See what BookBub charges on their pricing page.
Circle
Current plans and prices
See what Circle charges on their pricing page.
Cardel: An alternative to
BookBub and Circle
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 BookBub or Circle?
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 or Circle when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list on this page shows where BookBub and Circle are marked.
Can I use Cardel with BookBub or Circle?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep BookBub or Circle for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared with BookBub and Circle?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. BookBub and Circle set their own prices, so check their pricing pages on this page for current plans.
How do I switch from BookBub or Circle 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.