Author.Today
Author.Today is a Russian-language self-publishing platform and digital library founded in 2016, enabling independent authors to publish e-books and audiobooks directly to Russian-speaking readers across 18+ genres, with transaction fees, reader awards, and recommendation-driven discovery.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- Headquarters—
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Author.Today does
Author.Today is a Russian-language self-publishing platform and digital library that enables independent authors to publish and monetize original works directly to readers. Founded in 2016 by Sergey Shapin, the platform operates as a two-sided marketplace connecting Russian-speaking authors with readers across fantasy, sci-fi, LitRPG, попаданцы (isekai), romance, contemporary prose, and 18+ other genres. Authors retain creative control and earn revenue from sales and reader-donated awards, while readers access a catalog of e-books in FB2 and EPUB formats, audiobooks, and serialized works-in-progress, with cross-device synchronization via an Android mobile application.
The platform's core technology supports e-book reading and audiobook playback with customizable typography (font size, typeface, color schemes), offline download, and a recommendation engine that personalizes content discovery based on user reading history. Supplementary technical features include email-based two-factor authentication, social login integration with VK ID, Google, and Yandex ID, and cross-device library synchronization. The site exhibits a product-led and community-led go-to-market model: curated collections (подборки), author rankings, reader discussions, contests (litmobs), and an award/gifting system drive engagement and discovery without traditional advertising.
Commercially, Author.Today operates on a transaction-based revenue model with a platform take rate on e-book sales (54–299 rubles per volume), audiobook sales (199–299 rubles), and reader-gifted author awards. A subscription tier (149 rubles) provides access to select content. Pricing varies by book, author, and format, with free content available alongside paid titles. The platform serves primarily Russian-speaking readers in Russia, the CIS, and the global Russian-speaking diaspora, with no disclosed revenue, funding, or headcount data.
Author.Today firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Author.Today
- Legal name
- Author.Today
- Website
- https://author.today
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Author.Today is a Russian-language self-publishing platform and digital library founded in 2016, enabling independent authors to publish e-books and audiobooks directly to Russian-speaking readers across 18+ genres, with transaction fees, reader awards, and recommendation-driven discovery.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Author.Today industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Self-Publishing Digital Library
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Self-Publishing Platforms (KDP-style Marketplaces & Portals) (MPAJAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Author Website, Storefront & Direct-to-Reader Commerce (D2C Sales) (MPAJAJAE), Audiobook Self-Publishing & Production Services (Narration, Studio, ACX-style) (MPAJAJAJ), Author Marketing, PR & Launch Services (Ads, Book Tours, Influencers) (MPAJAJAL)
Keywords
Author.Today business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Book Sales (Electronic): Authors sell individual e-books at various price points (e.g., 149-299 rubles per volume). Readers purchase chapters or full books. Platform takes a commission on each transaction.
- Audiobook Sales: Audiobook purchases at fixed prices, with some priced at 199-299 rubles per title
- Author Awards/Donations: Readers purchase and gift awards to authors as appreciation, providing additional monetization for authors and revenue share for platform
- Subscription Access: Some books available via subscription model (e.g., 'Подписка 149 ₽') for access to specific content
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Individual E-book Sales |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Audiobook Purchases |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Access |
| Subscription | Monthly | Discounted Offers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Author.Today product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Author.Today is a Russian-language self-publishing platform and digital library launched in 2016. It enables independent authors to publish works-in-progress and finished titles directly to readers in FB2 and EPUB e-book formats and as audiobooks, while readers discover, purchase, and consume this content online and via an Android mobile app. The platform takes a transaction-based commission on paid sales and awards gifted by readers to authors.
Product overview
Author.Today is a self-publishing platform and digital library for Russian-language literature, operating as a unified platform offering two primary content formats: electronic books (available in FB2 and EPUB formats) and audiobooks. The platform connects authors with readers, enabling authors to publish works-in-progress and readers to follow creative development from the earliest stages. Supplementary offerings include a mobile Android application for cross-device synchronization and curated thematic collections. The platform supports social features including comments, reviews, awards, and user follow systems. Reading customization options include adjustable font sizes, typefaces, and color schemes, with offline download capability. Authentication is supported via VK ID, Google, and Yandex ID social login providers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Author.Today
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Author.Today technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature5 records
Author.Today partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Author.Today competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Author.Today social profiles
Digital presenceAuthor.Today financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Author.Today leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Author.Today funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Author.Today M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Author.Today
What does Author.Today do?
Author.Today is a Russian-language self-publishing platform and digital library launched in 2016. It enables independent authors to publish works-in-progress and finished titles directly to readers in FB2 and EPUB e-book formats and as audiobooks, while readers discover, purchase, and consume this content online and via an Android mobile app. The platform takes a transaction-based commission on paid sales and awards gifted by readers to authors.
Is Author.Today a public or private company?
Author.Today is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Author.Today founded?
Author.Today was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
How does Author.Today make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Book Sales (Electronic) is the primary driver. The others are audiobook Sales, author Awards/Donations and subscription Access.
Does Author.Today have an API?
No public API is recorded for Author.Today.
What industry is Author.Today in?
Author.Today's product category is Self-Publishing Digital Library. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAJAA, Self-Publishing Platforms (KDP-style Marketplaces & Portals), with a secondary code of MPAJAJAE, Author Website, Storefront & Direct-to-Reader Commerce (D2C Sales). Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.