How BookBub and Heartbeat 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.
Heartbeat is a friendly place to start a paid community without a big budget. For $49 a month you get channels, threads, chat, voice rooms, DMs, unlimited courses and events, a custom domain, checkout pages, five automation workflows, and Pulse, an AI that actually sets up channels, offers, and pages for you. Grow adds unlimited workflows, DM rules, an affiliate program, and white-label email; Scale adds a branded app. For a founder with a small group who wants courses and calls next to the conversation, Heartbeat covers a lot for the price.
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.
Heartbeat
- Heartbeat's landing page is the door to a private space.
- Heartbeat emails members through workflows and a weekly digest.
- Heartbeat's events sync to members' calendars.
- Heartbeat charges 5% to 1.25% on payments.
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 Heartbeat when a small paid community with courses, calls, and member chat is the product.
Compare features
What's on BookBub and Heartbeat
A check means that capability is available. BookBub and Heartbeat are marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace siteBookBub: IncludedHeartbeat: Included
- Custom domainBookBub: IncludedHeartbeat: Included
- Theme and fontsBookBub: IncludedHeartbeat: Included
Public content
- BlogBookBub: IncludedHeartbeat: Not included
- Showcase pagesBookBub: IncludedHeartbeat: Included
- Shop pagesBookBub: IncludedHeartbeat: Not included
Audience and email
- AudienceBookBub: IncludedHeartbeat: Included
- Marketing emailsBookBub: IncludedHeartbeat: Included
- Bulk email workflowsBookBub: Not includedHeartbeat: Included
- Campaign workflowsBookBub: Not includedHeartbeat: Included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsBookBub: Not includedHeartbeat: Included
Team
- AI AssistantBookBub: Not includedHeartbeat: Included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of BookBub or Heartbeat, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but BookBub or Heartbeat may add or remove features that are not shown here.
BookBub vs Heartbeat pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
BookBub
Current plans and prices
See what BookBub charges on their pricing page.
Heartbeat
Current plans and prices
See what Heartbeat charges on their pricing page.
Cardel: An alternative to
BookBub and Heartbeat
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 Heartbeat?
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 Heartbeat when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list on this page shows where BookBub and Heartbeat are marked.
Can I use Cardel with BookBub or Heartbeat?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep BookBub or Heartbeat for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared with BookBub and Heartbeat?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. BookBub and Heartbeat set their own prices, so check their pricing pages on this page for current plans.
How do I switch from BookBub or Heartbeat 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 Cardel, BookBub, and Heartbeat
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