For indie authors looking to dive into direct sales without hefty fees eroding their profits, Laterpress offers a compelling alternative. Traditional ecommerce setups typically levy transaction fees on top of payment processing costs, but Laterpress charges nothing beyond Stripe’s standard processing fees.
Why Choose Laterpress?
Established in 2022, Laterpress stands out by letting authors publish books and serials directly to branded subdomains or customized URLs, allowing maximum control of reader experience and payments. The platform supports web-based reading with a built-in e-reader and EPUB downloads, offering flexibility to both authors and readers.
Laterpress centers transparency and author collaboration, providing frequent development updates via their Discord community. This approach appeals strongly to creators affected by Amazon's discontinued Kindle Vella platform.
Core Features & User Experience
When you join Laterpress, you’ll easily link or create a Stripe account, with costs limited to Stripe's processing fees—typically 2.9% to 3.4% per transaction plus $0.30. Beyond these, Laterpress doesn’t charge extra for direct sales, though optional community marketing features have associated fees.
Publishing Simplicity
You can add standalone books or series collections, customizing each title's cover, summary, and categories. Laterpress supports uploading entire EPUB files, creating chapters directly in-platform, or pasting already-written content. Reordering content is intuitive, and schedule-based chapter releases facilitate serialization. Any part of your work can be revised or reuploaded anytime.
Pro Tip: If you sell serialized content, it's better to replace individual chapters with improved versions later—this ensures existing customers don't repurchase.
Customized Reader Access
Titles launch with dedicated URLs, hosted either under a Laterpress-branded subdomain or your own custom domain linked from your website. When readers follow the link, they're greeted with a streamlined landing page prompting them to read online or download immediately
Pricing Flexibility
Authors define their own pricing structures, including full-book purchases, serialized bundles, or subscription plans—ideal for leveraging various reader preferences like full eBook buyers, serialization enthusiasts, and subscription-favoring audiences.
Email Marketing Integration
Readers have the option to consent to email notifications, making it straightforward for authors to expand mailing lists. You can download and transfer subscribers’ details to your email provider using CSV exports.
Pro Tip: Through the Reports tab, gain insights into reader behavior, track engagements, and monitor detailed metrics like reading dates and EPUB downloads for strategic planning.
Reader-Centric Design
Laterpress provides an immersive reading experience directly through its built-in web reader. Users can adjust fonts, sizes, themes, and smoothly navigate chapters and pages. Reader positions sync across devices, allowing seamless continuation across browsers.
Additionally, readers may rate and review books, interacting directly on your book’s dedicated page, enriching author-reader engagement.
Community & Discovery Features
Though not built as a discovery marketplace, Laterpress offers community-driven features to facilitate book discoverability and mutual author support—albeit with fees.
- Recommendations List: Readers exploring your collection could discover and purchase other authors’ books, yielding a referral fee system (5% to referring author, 10% to Laterpress).
- Affiliate Links: Directly promote fellow indie authors’ books via personalized affiliate links across your network or through reader street teams, with a similar split between participants.
These optional mechanisms help authors collaboratively boost visibility with reasonable, transparent fees.
AI-Assisted Writing & Future Upgrades
Currently in beta, the Storybook and AI Assistant features offer organizational tools and AI-powered support for plotting, drafting, and editing stories. Pricing for AI tools will operate under a clear pay-as-you-go structure.
Looking forward, Laterpress plans further additions including monthly subscription models, audiobook integration, and a dedicated reader app—communicated continually through newsletters and Discord.
Is Laterpress Right For Your Author Career?
For authors who previously relied on Kindle Vella or those looking to minimize costs and simplify direct ebook or serialized sales, Laterpress proves compelling. The platform’s infrastructure, transparency, and community engagement suit newer authors or those with limited budgets and tech experience. However, highly established authors focused on extensive product lines including physical merchandise might find Laterpress limited.
The platform’s dedication to author input, manageable growth rate, and creator-focused governance set it apart from industry giants, positioning Laterpress as a uniquely empowering tool as it evolves.
In a crowded landscape, Laterpress provides authors with meaningful opportunities to direct their stories, interact transparently, and grow step-by-step alongside a platform designed specifically with their needs in mind.
About the Author: Jenn Lessmann is the author of Unmagical: a Witchy Mystery and multiple serialized stories. An experienced educator with advanced degrees, Jenn remains passionate about storytelling, writing craft, and caffeinated drinks. Her snarky paranormal fantasy resonates with new-adult audiences, blending humor, witchcraft, and mystery.
