Smashwords
Smashwords is a global online ebook retailer offering over 1 million DRM-free titles from 280,000 independent authors and publishers, operating as a retail-only storefront under Draft2Digital since its March 2022 merger.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersLos Gatos, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Smashwords does
Smashwords is a global online ebook retailer and self-publishing platform founded in 2008 by Mark Coker. The company operates a direct-to-consumer ebook store hosting over 1 million DRM-free titles from approximately 280,000 independent authors and publishers worldwide. Following its March 2022 merger with Draft2Digital, Smashwords now operates as a retail-only entity under Draft2Digital LLC, with all publishing and distribution services migrated to Draft2Digital.com, which serves as the exclusive supplier to the Smashwords Store.
The core platform is built around multi-format ebook delivery (epub-compatible) and features several proprietary tools: the Smashwords Library (a personal reader book locker with Dropbox and email integration), Smashwords Coupons (custom marketing campaign tool), Smashwords Alerts (automated new-release notifications), Smashwords Presales (pre-release book launch tool), and the Erotica Certification System (ECS), a classification framework invented in 2017 to categorize taboo themes in erotica titles. Smashwords distributes content through direct storefront sales and via channel partnerships with Barnes & Noble, Amazon Kindle, Apple iBookstore, Kobo, Sony Reader Store, Baker & Taylor, Califa (California libraries), and Flipkart (India), among others.
The business model is a marketplace with a transactional take rate. Publishers earn 75% of list price on books priced $2.99 or higher (the highest rate in the industry per company claims, with authors eligible for up to 80%), while Smashwords retains the remaining ~25% commission. Registration is free for both readers and authors. The company has no disclosed external funding, operates with 11-50 employees, is headquartered in Edmond, Oklahoma, and is led by founder Mark Coker with Bill Kendrick as CTO and Lead Developer. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and no growth metrics are available post-merger.
Smashwords firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Smashwords
- Legal name
- Draft2Digital LLC d/b/a Smashwords
- Website
- https://smashwords.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Smashwords is a global online ebook retailer offering over 1 million DRM-free titles from 280,000 independent authors and publishers, operating as a retail-only storefront under Draft2Digital since its March 2022 merger.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Smashwords industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Ebook Retail Marketplace
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130), Software Publishers (5132), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- E-book Retail & Reading Platforms (Stores, Apps, Devices) (MPAJAMAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- eBook & Digital Reading Platforms (BPAMAJAK), Digital Publishing Aggregators & Distribution (e-book distribution, news syndication) (MPAJAMAE)
Keywords
Where Smashwords is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Gatos
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Smashwords business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Ebook sales commission: Smashwords acts as an ebook retailer selling works from publishers. Publishers earn 75% of list price on books priced $2.99 or higher.
- Publisher royalties: Authors and publishers earn royalties from ebook sales. The Smashwords Store offers publishers 75% list on all books priced $2.99 or higher, described as the highest rate in the industry.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Publisher royalties: 75% of list price for books $2.99+ |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels14 records
Marketing channels8 records
Smashwords product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Smashwords is a global online ebook retailer offering a catalog of over 1 million DRM-free ebooks supplied by independent authors and publishers via Draft2Digital. The platform provides a direct-to-consumer storefront along with reader tools including a personal Smashwords Library, automated author Alerts, promotional Coupons, early-release Presales, and large-scale Supersales events.
Product overview
Smashwords operates as a global online ebook retailer (a Draft2Digital company since 2022) offering a platform for independent authors and publishers to sell their works directly to readers. The core product is the Smashwords Store with over 1 million DRM-free ebooks, supported by the Smashwords Library for reader book management. Key platform features include Smashwords Supersales (annual promotional sales events), Smashwords Presales (early-release book launch tool), Smashwords Coupons (custom marketing campaigns), Smashwords Alerts (automated author new-release notifications), and the Smart Author Podcast for publishing education. The platform also includes the Erotica Certification System (ECS) for content classification. Authors manage publishing through Draft2Digital while distribution to readers occurs through the Smashwords Store. Publishers earn up to 80% list price royalties on books priced $2.99 or higher.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Smashwords Store Global online ebook retailer offering over 1 million DRM-free independently published ebooks to readers worldwide, supplied through Draft2Digital as the exclusive distributor.
- Smashwords Library Personal ebook library for registered Smashwords readers where purchased books remain available even if the author stops selling; supports Dropbox-linked cloud storage and email delivery to epub-compatible reading devices.
- Smart Author Podcast Educational podcast hosted by founder Mark Coker guiding writers from ebook publishing basics through advanced topics; available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and other podcast directories.
Companies that use Smashwords
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Smashwords technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature5 records
Smashwords partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, minor and regional.
- Draft2DigitalflagshipSmashwords became a Draft2Digital company following merger in March 2022. Former Smashwords authors and publishers now manage their publishing operations at Draft2Digital.com. Draft2Digital is the exclusive supplier to the Smashwords store.
- Findaway VoicescorePartnership to help authors produce and distribute audiobooks at affordable prices through Findaway's audio production and distribution network.
- Gardners BooksminorUK distribution partnership for ebooks.
- FlipkartregionalIndia ebook distribution partnership to help authors and publishers distribute ebooks to Indian readers.
- CalifacorePartnership with California library network supporting over 220 California libraries. Califa received $325,000 in funding for Ebook Ownership Project.
- Page FoundryminorMobile distribution partner for Android devices.
- Baker & TaylorcoreDistribution agreement to offer Smashwords ebooks in Blio eReading Application and Axis360 Digital Media Library Platform for library lending.
- ScrollMotionminorPartnership to create mobile apps for indie ebook authors and publishers.
- Diesel eBook StoreminorDistribution partnership to expand inventory and create additional sales channels for indie ebook authors and publishers.
- WattpadminorPartnership to offer new publishing options for indie authors on Wattpad platform.
- Apple iBookstorecoreDistribution partnership enabling self-published authors to reach iPad and iPhone readers through Apple's iBookstore. Apple later highlighted Smashwords authors in Breakout Books promotion.
- Amazon Kindle StorecoreSupply agreement to distribute Smashwords ebooks to Amazon Kindle Store.
- KobocorePartnership to connect the world's authors with Kobo's global ebook readers.
- ShortcoversminorGlobal distribution deal with Shortcovers (Astor Publishing) for expanded ebook distribution.
- Sony ElectronicscoreDistribution agreement with Sony Electronics; Smashwords helped power Sony's new Publisher Portal for indie authors.
- Barnes & NoblecoreDistribution agreement to distribute Smashwords ebooks to Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstore.
- SourcebooksminorTraditional publisher Sourcebooks experimented with DRM-free ebook sales via Smashwords.
- Lexcycle/StanzacoreEarly partnership to expand readership opportunities for independent authors to iPhone and iPod Touch via Stanza ebook reader.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Smashwords competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Smashwords social profiles
Digital presenceSmashwords financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Smashwords leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Smashwords funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Smashwords M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Smashwords
What does Smashwords do?
Smashwords is a global online ebook retailer offering a catalog of over 1 million DRM-free ebooks supplied by independent authors and publishers via Draft2Digital. The platform provides a direct-to-consumer storefront along with reader tools including a personal Smashwords Library, automated author Alerts, promotional Coupons, early-release Presales, and large-scale Supersales events.
Is Smashwords a public or private company?
Smashwords is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Smashwords founded?
Smashwords was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Smashwords based?
Smashwords is headquartered in Los Gatos, United States, in the North America region.
How does Smashwords make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Ebook sales commission is the primary driver. The others are publisher royalties.
Does Smashwords have an API?
No public API is recorded for Smashwords.
What industry is Smashwords in?
Smashwords's product category is Digital Ebook Retail Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAMAA, E-book Retail & Reading Platforms (Stores, Apps, Devices), with a secondary code of BPAMAJAK, eBook & Digital Reading Platforms. Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.