Prices below were read on NetGalley’s own order page on 8 September 2026, and the comparison prices on each vendor’s pricing page the same day. Reviewed by Robert Prime, 8 September 2026.
NetGalley is where trade reviewers, librarians and booksellers find their next reads, which makes it powerful and expensive in equal measure. Here’s whether it’s right for a self-published book.
How it works and what it costs
You list your advance copy; approved members download it and (hopefully) review it. NetGalley reaches a more “professional” audience than other ARC tools, librarians, booksellers, media, and high-output bloggers who cross-post to Goodreads and Amazon.
- Direct self-published listing: $575 for a six-month Digital Review Copy listing, on NetGalley’s order page as at 8 September 2026. That page says it is for authors listing one to four books a year, and asks you to contact them above four. Fees are non-refundable.
- Featured Title promotion: $150 for a week-long carousel placement on NetGalley’s Find Titles page, or $125 if you add it to a listing order.
- Cheaper route: a co-op listing through an author group or service splits the cost.
Is it worth it?
Worth it if: you want librarian and bookseller visibility, NetGalley is the obvious channel for that, and it pairs well with library distribution and getting into bookshops.
Skip it (or use alternatives) if: your goal is launch-day Amazon review volume. For that, cheaper tools win:
- BookSirens, pay-per-download, genre-targeted, strong for fiction.
- StoryOrigin, $10 a month or $100 a year on its pricing page, to run your own review team and cross-promotions. Extra pen-name accounts are half price on annual billing.
- BookFunnel, ebook delivery for your own ARC team.
Set realistic expectations
Not every download becomes a review. Typical review rates run 30-50%, so request more downloads than the reviews you need. And reviews are honest, a weak book tends to get weak reviews, so proofread and polish first.
How to run it well
- List 8-10 weeks before launch so reviews land for launch day.
- Write a compelling listing, the book description rules apply.
- Follow up: NetGalley lets you message members who downloaded.
- Funnel reviewers to Goodreads and Amazon.
NetGalley alternatives at a glance
If the direct listing price is too steep, these cover the same job for less:
| Platform | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| NetGalley (direct) | $575 / 6 months | Librarians, booksellers, trade reviewers |
| NetGalley co-op | shared listing fee | NetGalley reach at a fraction of the cost |
| BookSirens | pay-per-download | Genre-targeted Amazon review volume |
| StoryOrigin | $10/month or $100/year | Running your own review team + cross-promos |
| BookFunnel | from $30/year (First-Time Author plan) | Delivering ARCs to your own list securely |
The pattern most indie authors settle on: BookSirens or your own team for review volume, and reserve NetGalley (ideally via a co-op) only when you specifically need librarian and bookseller eyes. See the full ARC platform comparison.
Frequently asked questions
How much does NetGalley cost for a self-published author?
$575 for a six-month direct listing, on NetGalley’s own order page as at 8 September 2026, plus $150 for a Featured Title promotion ($125 with a listing). Co-op listings through author groups or services cost less. The fees are non-refundable.
NetGalley vs BookSirens, which is better?
NetGalley for librarian/bookseller reach; BookSirens for cheaper, genre-targeted Amazon review volume. Many authors use BookSirens for reviews and reserve NetGalley for trade visibility.
What review rate should I expect?
30-50% of downloaders typically review. Plan for more downloads than reviews needed.
Is NetGalley worth it for fiction?
Often not at the direct price, fiction authors usually get better ROI from BookSirens or their own ARC team. NetGalley shines for non-fiction and library-targeted titles.
Related guides
- ARC review generation
- ARC platforms compared
- Get book reviews when self-published
- Goodreads for authors
- Library distribution (BorrowBox, Libby)
External references
- NetGalley, official platform
- Alliance of Independent Authors
About this guide
Written by Robert Prime for publishing.co.uk. Prices checked on NetGalley’s, BookFunnel’s, BookSirens’ and StoryOrigin’s own pages, 8 September 2026.
