IngramSpark versus Createspace for Quality of Print Books

Are you planning to publish a book? What print on demand company are you considering?

In this training, I will share with you a comparison between IngramSpark and Createspace in terms of quality.

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IngramSpark vs Createspace

Many of you use Createspace. That is also what I used and recommended for years. However, some of my colleagues told me, “You need to use IngramSpark. You need to use them because their quality is better.”

There were a couple of things that happened last year that made me realize it was time to look into Ingram Spark.

So here are some of the differences between these two print-on-demand company.

The first thing is that Createspace changed their policy on ISBNs. Createspace used to have a $10 option for purchasing ISBN’s. So you could purchase an ISBN for $10 and use it just for Createspace. That would also give you the ability to add your publishing company name.

As most of you know, I recommend independent publishing. That means that you’re establishing your own publishing company and it’s a lot easier than you think. You can get started very simply.

With the $10 ISBN option, it allowed us to publish print books without having to purchase ISBNs from My Identifiers in a big bulk. We also don’t need to put that money out up front.

Our business has often operated on very tight cash flow margins. My husband and I don’t use credit. If we don’t have it we don’t spend it. So that was an option that we used for many years.

Createspace recently changed their policy on it. They no longer have the $10 ISBN. So you either have to pay $99 per ISBN or by a package from MyIdentifiers.com. We bought a package of 100 ISBNs when they were on sale.

The Comparison

When you have your own ISBN you can do both Createspace and IngramSpark. I share a lot of details on the tips that I’ve learned as I went through the process for the first time. It’s all inside Author Audience Academy.

But today I really wanted to share with you a little bit about the quality difference. A lot of people have told me over the years that the quality is different.

As I’ve mentioned above, Createspace changed their ISBN package. At the same time, IngramSpark did a special during October and November. The promotion was if you published a new book during that time you could get your set up fees waived.

Honestly, that was the thing that set me back from trying Ingram Spark. They have set up fees. But since those fees were waived during that time, I thought, “You know what, this is the perfect time to try IngramSpark.”

So I have my book here in both versions. I want to show you a little bit of the quality difference with Createspace versus IngramSpark.

Book Cover and Binding

Now, on the cover, the IngramSpark proof came out a little bit of a different color. See how the IngramSpark one is a little bit darker than the Createspace copy? The colors came out a little bit brighter. I also feel that the IngramSpark copy it a little bit better.

I ended up choosing the matte cover on Createspace. The matte cover is what I personally prefer. It feels more professional.

Now some of you may want that shiny cover to it, and some like the matte look to it. So you just have to choose which one looks better for you. But they both feel about the same to me, to be honest.

Another thing I noticed is on the spine for the Createspace copy. It wasn’t completely centered. So I think sometimes it really happens with Createspace. Even though you have everything specified for the size of your book, it may be off just a little bit as they print the book.

It’s not that much. I don’t know if you can tell. Other than that, everything else pretty much looks the same to me on the cover.

One other thing is the binding. On the IngramSpark, you don’t really see much glue in there. On the Createspace copy, you see a little bit more glue.

I don’t know if that makes any difference over time with the books, but that was a little bit of a difference.

Images and Inside the Book

If you look inside at the images and things inside the book to me it looks really similar. The printing looks very similar.

One thing I did notice though is if you feel the quality or the thickness of the paper, the feel is a little different. The IngramSpark paper feels a little smoother to me than that of Createspace.

So it seems that the paper is a little bit better quality with the IngramSpark. The thickness actually feels fairly similar to me, too. So it does seem as though the paper quality is a little better with Ingram Spark.

That’s really the only differences that I found. The qualities of both printings seem very similar.

If you’ve had experiences with publishing on both Createspace and IngramSpark, let me know what your experience has been. What have you found with quality issues?

I’m getting ready to publish my very first print children’s book. I really think of children’s books that are full color. And from the research I’ve done, and what I’ve heard, it seems that IngramSpark is a better platform for that type of book.

For this book, Broken Crayons Still Color, I think the differences are small enough. Both copies are as good as each other.

I have published this through Createspace for Amazon. I also published it on IngramSpark for all the other distributors, and also, so that I can be in the Ingram Catalog for bookstores.

For my children’s book, however, I’m considering publishing it just on IngramSpark, depending on how it turns out.

So I may upload it to both, get a proof from Createspace, and then decide. I can do a comparison again, and decide if I want to publish it on both or just want do it on Ingram Spark.

There are so many options. And this is such an incredible and exciting time to be an independent and published author. It’s a good time to have your own publishing company and to be self-publishing because there are so many options. There are so many things you can do.

I’m always sharing the things that I’m learning. I have a specific post inside Author Audience Academy where I shared the tips that I’ve learned so far using Ingram Spark. It’s in there and I’d love for you to join us if you’re not yet a member. You can join us at AuthorAudienceAcademy.com.

Until next time!

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More Ideas on Publishing a Print Book

If you want to learn more tips to help you publish your own print book, check out “Self-Publishing Print Books”

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