Bookelis
French self-publishing platform from near Nantes with free publication, a 70% e-book share in its own shop and optional Hachette Livre distribution packs
Quick Overview
| Company | Bookelis SAS |
|---|---|
| Category | Self-Publishing Platforms |
| Headquarters | Sainte-Luce-sur-Loire, France |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - France (EU) |
| Data Location | Website hosted by OVH in Roubaix, France; book data location not stated |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Free publication, print on demand, e-book distribution with the Optima option, Hachette Livre distribution packs, author order discounts, author services, cover template |
| Pricing | Publication free; author copy discounts from -5% at 5 copies; paperback unit cost from 8.01 euro incl. VAT in the cost example; Hachette packs as paid subscriptions |
| Best For | French-language authors who want free publication first and bookshop distribution as an add-on |
| Replaces | Amazon KDP, IngramSpark |
Detailed Review
Bookelis SAS is registered in Nantes as RCS B 538 862 434, with a share capital of 54,307 euro and its seat at 2 rue Gutenberg in Sainte-Luce-sur-Loire. The site says it chose to offer publication on the platform for free, with no hidden fees.
The service targets French authors, and its pages explain self-publishing, printing and distribution in French only.
Free Core, Paid Distribution
Publishing on the platform costs nothing. Revenue for the company comes from printed orders, author services and the distribution subscriptions that sit on top of the free tier.
A partnership page describes three subscription packs with Hachette Livre: Pack France, which reaches nearly 5,000 outlets including FNAC, Cultura, Amazon and E.Leclerc cultural stores, Pack Francophonie, which extends to Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Canada, and Pack Monde for worldwide reach.
E-Book Shares
For e-books the author keeps 70% of the sale price when the book is sold in the Bookelis bookshop, with no commission. Switching on the Optima option sends the file to Amazon, Kobo, Google Play, Apple Books and other stores, where the author receives 40% of the price.
Sales dashboards are updated monthly by the team.
Print Costs and Author Orders
The cost guide gives an example unit cost of 8.01 euro including VAT for a softcover book, and about 30 euro for a single colour hardcover on glossy paper. Author orders are discounted: 5% for 5 to 9 copies, 15% for 10 to 29, 20% for 30 to 59 and 25% for 60 to 149.
Printing is on demand, so no stock is held by the author.
Limitations to Consider
Distribution through Hachette Livre costs extra and the pack prices were not on the pages checked. Pages are in French only. The e-book share through partner stores is 40%. The founding year and the data-storage region were not stated. This review rests on the vendor's pages, not a hands-on test.
Who Should Use Bookelis
French writers who want to publish without paying first and decide later whether bookshop distribution in France or the francophone countries is worth a subscription.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Publication on the platform is free
- 70% e-book share in the Bookelis bookshop
- Hachette Livre packs for France, francophone countries or worldwide
- Staggered discounts on author copies up to 25%
- Print on demand without stock
Cons
- Only 40% e-book share on partner stores with Optima
- Hachette distribution is a paid add-on
- Site and guides are in French
- Pack prices not visible on the pages checked
Alternatives to Bookelis
Other European self-publishing platforms worth comparing before you decide:
BoD Books on Demand
Germany · Hamburg print-on-demand house with fixed one-off publishing packages
tolino media
Germany · Self-publishing arm of the German tolino bookseller alliance
epubli
Germany · Berlin platform that publishes books free and keeps 30% of net
tredition
Germany · Family-run German platform with a quality check on every book
See all European self-publishing platforms or compare them directly against Amazon KDP on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The cost guide says the company decided to offer free publication on its platform without hidden fees. Distribution subscriptions through Hachette Livre, author services and printed copies are paid separately.
In the Bookelis bookshop the author keeps 70% of the sale price with no commission. With the Optima option the e-book reaches Amazon, Kobo, Google Play and Apple Books, and the author receives 40% of the price there.
They are subscription packs for paper books: Pack France with about 5,000 outlets, Pack Francophonie for Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Canada, and Pack Monde for worldwide distribution. Overseas departments are only in Pack Monde.