NetGalley is one of the best-known platforms for distributing advance review copies, but it is not the right fit for every author. Cost, reviewer reach, file security, campaign support and the size of an author’s existing audience all affect which platform makes sense.
This guide compares NetGalley, BookFunnel, BookSirens, StoryOrigin, Sọna and an author-managed reviewer team. It looks at what each option does well, where it falls short and which type of campaign it is best suited to.
Prices and product terms can change. The figures below were checked on 18 July 2026 and should be verified again before publication or purchase.
Comparison at a Glance
Quick guide: NetGalley is strongest for established trade reach; BookFunnel for authors with an existing reviewer team; BookSirens for genre-focused discovery; StoryOrigin for newsletter-led campaigns; Sọna for secure app-based eARCs and global reviewer access; and a private team for authors who already own their audience.
NetGalley
Best for established book-trade reach
NetGalley connects publishers and authors with reviewers, librarians, booksellers, educators and media. Authors can approve requests, provide pre-approved access and deliver through the NetGalley Shelf app or other supported reading routes.
Its main advantage is reach. Its main drawback is cost. A direct six-month single-title listing was $575 when checked on 18 July 2026, before optional promotion. NetGalley also states that reviews are not guaranteed, so paying for access does not guarantee coverage.
Pros
- Large and established review community
- Recognised by trade professionals
- Request approval and campaign controls
- Useful when librarian, bookseller or media visibility matters
Cons
- High fixed cost for a single title
- Authors compete with a large catalogue
- Reviews and outcomes are not guaranteed
- May be excessive when the main need is secure delivery rather than trade exposure
BookFunnel
Best for delivering to reviewers you already have
BookFunnel is an established ebook and audiobook delivery service. Its Certified Mail tools can send unique links to an author’s reviewer team, schedule reminders and provide reader support.
BookFunnel is not primarily a reviewer-discovery marketplace. Authors normally bring their own readers or find them through separate promotions. The Mid-List plan was listed at $20 per month or $200 per year for authors moving to the new 2026 plans when checked.
Pros
- Reliable delivery infrastructure
- Strong reader support
- Useful for private ARC teams
- Flexible device delivery
- Scheduled follow-up tools
Cons
- No built-in open reviewer marketplace
- Secure ARC email tools require a higher plan
- The author must recruit and vet reviewers
- Downloaded files may offer less account-bound control than an in-app system
BookSirens
Best for genre-focused reviewer discovery
BookSirens promotes accepted books to its reviewer community and manages delivery, reminders and campaign reporting. Its public Promote pricing was $10 per accepted ARC plus $2 for each reader it finds who downloads the book when checked. Authors could also invite their own readers without the per-reader discovery charge.
Its pay-per-reader structure can be easier to budget than a large fixed listing fee. However, books must meet the platform’s acceptance criteria, and no platform can guarantee that a particular title will attract readers or positive reviews.
Pros
- Built-in reviewer discovery
- Predictable campaign caps
- Suitable for many independent genre titles
- Authors pay for readers found rather than only for visibility
Cons
- Acceptance criteria apply
- Costs rise with reader acquisition
- Results vary by genre, cover and blurb
- Performance figures published by the company should be treated as vendor-reported
StoryOrigin
Best for newsletter-led authors and cross-promotion
StoryOrigin combines review-copy delivery with newsletter swaps, group promotions, reader magnets, universal links and other author-marketing tools. Its Basic plan includes file delivery, while review-copy vetting and automated follow-up were listed under the $10 monthly or $100 annual Standard plan when checked.
It is strongest when an author already has a newsletter, wants to collaborate with other authors or needs several marketing tools in one place. It is not a large open reviewer marketplace in the NetGalley sense.
Pros
- Broad author-marketing toolkit
- Useful for newsletter swaps and group promotions
- Review-copy delivery and follow-up
- Good value for authors using several features
Cons
- Discovery depends heavily on the author’s network
- Less useful for authors without a mailing list
- Not primarily a trade or librarian platform
- The number of tools can be more than a simple ARC campaign needs
Sọna
Best for secure app-based campaigns with integrated discovery
Sọna combines direct reviewer invitations, public reviewer requests and campaign tracking in one dashboard. Advance copies are read inside the Sọna Reader apps for iOS and Android rather than supplied as unrestricted public files.
Under the current model, authors use credits when a reviewer claims a copy. Standalone campaigns are available, so an author does not have to sell the book through the Sọna store to use the eARC system. When a title is also sold on Sọna, approved eARC reviews can support the same book page readers later use to buy.
Sọna is built in Nigeria and open globally. Its strongest differentiators are account-bound app delivery, claim-based campaign costs and an Africa-first discovery environment. Its reviewer community is newer and smaller than NetGalley’s, and it does not currently offer the same level of trade, librarian or bookseller reach.
Pros
- Direct invitations and public reviewer requests
- Account-bound app reading
- Claim-based credits
- Campaign tracking in one dashboard
- Standalone campaigns available
- Useful connection between eARC activity and a later store page
Cons
- Smaller and newer reviewer community
- Less trade and librarian reach than NetGalley
- Reviewers must use the Sọna app
- Campaign results still depend on reader interest
- Independent public validation of the platform is still developing
Your Own Reviewer Team
Best for authors with an established reader base
An author-managed reviewer team can be built through a newsletter, website form, book club or reader community. There is no marketplace discovery fee, and the relationships can become more valuable over time.
The trade-off is administration. The author must recruit, vet, deliver, remind, track and support reviewers. A secure delivery tool is still advisable, and reviewers should always be free to give an honest opinion.
Pros
- Direct relationships with readers
- No marketplace fee
- Long-term audience ownership
- Full control over selection and communication
Cons
- No built-in discovery
- Recruitment takes time
- Delivery and reminders are manual unless another tool is used
- The author carries the compliance and support burden
How to Choose the Right Platform
- Choose NetGalley when established trade reach is central to the campaign and the listing cost is justified by the launch budget.
- Choose BookFunnel when you already have a reviewer team and need dependable delivery and reader support.
- Choose BookSirens when you want genre-focused marketplace discovery with a campaign budget you can cap.
- Choose StoryOrigin when newsletter growth, author collaboration and wider marketing tools are as important as ARC delivery.
- Choose Sọna when secure app-based reading, direct invitations, public reviewer requests and claim-based campaign control matter more than established trade reach.
- Use your own reviewer team when you already have a loyal audience and are prepared to manage recruitment and follow-up yourself.
Can You Use More Than One?
Yes. Many authors combine an owned reviewer list with one external discovery platform. For example, direct invitations can cover trusted readers while a marketplace introduces the book to people outside the author’s existing audience. The main risks are duplicate copies, inconsistent tracking and sending the same reviewer through several routes without checking first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which option is cheapest?
That depends on the number of reviewers, whether you already have an audience and whether you need discovery or only delivery. A subscription may be economical across several launches, while claim-based or per-reader pricing can be more suitable for a single campaign.
Which platform offers the largest reviewer pool?
NetGalley has the most established professional and consumer review community in this comparison. A larger pool does not guarantee that a particular book will be requested or reviewed.
Which option gives authors the most file control?
Account-bound in-app reading offers tighter control than distributing ordinary downloadable files. Sọna uses this approach. Other services use unique links, watermarking or controlled delivery methods with different trade-offs.
Do authors have to pay reviewers?
No. Reviewers should be free to give an honest opinion. Authors may provide a complimentary review copy or platform access, but should not pay for a positive review.
Can Sọna eARCs be used without listing the book for sale?
Yes, standalone campaigns are available under the current product model. Confirm the current campaign terms before publication.
Conclusion
There is no single best eARC platform for every independent author. NetGalley is strongest for established trade reach. BookFunnel is suited to authors who already have reviewers. BookSirens focuses on marketplace discovery. StoryOrigin is useful for newsletter-led marketing. Sọna offers a newer, security-led option combining app-based reading, public requests and direct invitations. An author-managed team provides the most direct relationship but requires the most administration.
Choose according to the job your campaign needs to do, not the reputation of the platform alone. Compare current pricing, reviewer access, delivery controls and the amount of work you are prepared to manage before committing.