Top 5 Best Websites to Sell Books in 2023 - BookScouter Blog (2024)

All about booksBy Julienne NovaMarch 15, 2023 Last Updated on May 25, 2023 by Sammy WilsonTags: sell book, top 5 listNo Comments

Top 5 Best Websites to Sell Books in 2023 - BookScouter Blog (1)

Do you have used novels or textbooks taking up space in your home that need to be sold? Navigating today’s online marketplace can be tricky, especially for first-time sellers. Here’s what you need to know about the best websites to sell books in 2023.

1. BookScouter

If you want to sell books online, BookScouter is one of the best platforms. When it was first launched, its main purpose was to help sell textbooks for the best price, but now, with 30+ vendors integrated into the platform, it helps find the best offers for buying and selling used books, too.

BookScouter is unique from the other booksellers on this list because it helps connect you with vendors looking to buy the specific textbook you are selling. Instead of just posting a listing and waiting for someone to make a purchase, BookScouter searches its database ofover 30 vendorsfor the best offers. You can actually compare the textbook buyback prices, making sure that you’ll get the most amount of money for your sale.

Not only have these buyers been vetted by BookScouter, but you can also check verified reviews and ratings on each vendor—which are publicly displayed—meaning that this avenue is safer for sellers, as it is not full of bogus reviews. Additionally, when selling to vendors listed on BookScouter, shipping is totally free, and all buying and selling decision-making processes take place on thewebsiteor in theapp, both of which have simple and intuitive design and can be easily navigated by online bookseller veterans and beginners alike, what makes it one of the best places to sell books.

As an added benefit, BookScouter sponsors a $500 quarterly textbook scholarships for college students.

@bookscouter

Want to get rid of #textbooks ? Sell your #books for most cash with BookScouter.com😜 #selltextbooks #sellbooksonline #sellbooks #collegestudent #students #studenthacks #collegehacks

♬ original sound – BookScouter

2. eBay

Though it has lost popularity due to itsauction-based sales and the appearance of more popular reselling apps, eBay is still a solid option for those looking to sell used books online in 2023. However, eBay is not the best place to sell textbooks because auctions often lead to sellers being lowballed, resulting in a loss of profit.

That being said, if you are looking tosell rare booksor books that can be considered collector’s items, choosing to list these items via eBay auctions can be very profitable, especially if these books are in high demand.

Your first50 listingson eBay arefree, but for any sales after that, you will be charged a small fee, which may be detrimental to profits depending on how much money your items sell for. Additionally, you have to pay for your own shipping.

For eBay newbies, the online website can be overwhelming, as it is a large marketplace that requires a bit of a learning curve. On the other hand, theeBay mobile appis a bit more straightforward.

3. Amazon

Amazon has become the world’s online marketplace and is an absolute behemoth. So does Amazon buy textbooks and books?

Yes, it does. The only way to sell books via Amazon is to sell directly to buyersand make sales yourself. The Amazon textbook trade-in program that quickly became popular among students was shut down without notice or explanation in 2020. Now you have to create a seller account and add listings for your books, personally setting the price, rather than accepting whatever Amazon offers you. This option has the potential to be more lucrative than the first, as you have more control over your earnings. However, it is a bit more time-consuming, and the competition is steep—depending on the price and condition of your books,they may sell quickly or not at all—and you have to pay for your own shipping.

Due to the fact that Amazon is such a huge conglomerate, it is not the best avenue to sell used books in 2023. When selling directly to buyers on Amazon, you likely will have a tough time making a sale due to the sheer number of sellers on the site—many of whom are willing to sell the same books for a fraction of what you might charge.

4. Chegg

Chegg used to be the best place to sell your old textbooks and make a profit. It featured fair prices and free shipping for the textbooks purchased. Unfortunately, not anymore. As of 2023, Chegg no longer purchases books; instead, it sends you to another brand to sell your books.

5. AbeBooks

Despite selling books for over ten years, AbeBooks is somewhat of a newcomer in the online book-selling scene in terms of popularity. Still, it has cemented itself as a great place to buy and sell books, including textbooks.

If the company name did not already give it away, AbeBooks is a website dedicated to buying and selling books, unlike larger reselling sites like eBay or Amazon. This is a bonus because customers are actively searching for your products:books!

You can’t sell directly to AbeBooks, so you will need to do the legwork yourself in order to make a sale. Additionally, AbeBook’s largest focus is on works of fiction, nonfiction, and rare books. If you sell these kinds of items, AbeBooks is a great marketplace—but it is not the best website if you want to sell textbooks.

The website is a bit confusing but thorough, as it classifies books in many different ways, including condition, binding type, genre, and collection attributes. Unfortunately, AbeBooks does not have an app.

Still unsure of what website to use to sell your books? Compare and contrast the important information.

BookScouter

eBay Amazon AbeBooks
Top 5 Best Websites to Sell Books in 2023 - BookScouter Blog (2)Top 5 Best Websites to Sell Books in 2023 - BookScouter Blog (3)Top 5 Best Websites to Sell Books in 2023 - BookScouter Blog (4)Top 5 Best Websites to Sell Books in 2023 - BookScouter Blog (5)
Mobile App YesYesYesNo
Sell Directly to SiteNoNoNoNo
Focus on TextbooksYesNoNoNo
Free ShippingYesNo

No

No

Conclusion

If you want to sell used books, you may be surprised that it’s not as easy as it seems. However, the good news is that there are plenty of websites to make things easier. BookScouter is the best site to sell used books and textbooks, as the website and mobile app are easily navigable, they offer free shipping for all sellers, and their direct-to-vendor connection ensures that you won’t have to wait around for a buyer. You will earn a profit on your book.

For fiction or nonfiction novels, your best bet is to useAbeBooks, though its lack of an app and free shipping is a big drawback.

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FAQs

Top 5 Best Websites to Sell Books in 2023 - BookScouter Blog? ›

Sell and hunt for books with BookScouter

Moreover, you don't have to wait weeks for anybody to get interested in your item for sale — with BookScouter, finding a buyer and getting paid is just a matter of a few clicks. You can also become a real book hunter!

Can you make money with BookScouter? ›

Sell and hunt for books with BookScouter

Moreover, you don't have to wait weeks for anybody to get interested in your item for sale — with BookScouter, finding a buyer and getting paid is just a matter of a few clicks. You can also become a real book hunter!

Is BookScouter a good place to sell books? ›

BookScouter is the best site to sell used books and textbooks, as the website and mobile app are easily navigable, they offer free shipping for all sellers, and their direct-to-vendor connection ensures that you won't have to wait around for a buyer. You will earn a profit on your book.

Is BookScouter a reliable website? ›

BOOKSCOUTER LLC is a legit company. You can entrust Bookscouter with finding the perfect book buyback company for you. BookScouter uses information only from accredited companies, so you can rest assured that your sale will be secured—from the beginning of the textbook-selling process to the end.

What is the fastest way to sell books? ›

Places to Sell Used Books
  • eBay: eBay is a great place to try reselling your used books. ...
  • Local bookstores and book-buying markets: If you don't want to fuss with packing and mailing your books, take them to a local used bookstore, put them in a kids' consignment sale, or try selling them through Facebook Marketplace.
Jul 18, 2022

How to sell 100 books a day? ›

How To Sell 100 Books Per Day: 6 Things You Need To Do
  1. 1) Write a lot of good stories. This point, though obvious, bears restating. ...
  2. 2) Have a great product description and a professional cover. This is self-explanatory. ...
  3. 3) Price your book right. ...
  4. 4) Promote your books. ...
  5. Related reading:
Jul 17, 2012

How do you get paid for your books? ›

How to make money by reading books
  1. Join BookTok. ...
  2. Write book reviews as a freelancer. ...
  3. Start a book blog. ...
  4. Run a book club. ...
  5. Proofread books for money. ...
  6. Become a book podcaster. ...
  7. Get paid to narrate audiobooks. ...
  8. Work as a book editor.
Apr 17, 2023

How much does BookScouter cost? ›

BookScouter Pro is a recurring subscription and available for a monthly fee of $29.99.

What are the reviews of BookScouter? ›

Bookscouter is an app that I used to find online platforms that would pay for gently used books. It is a very helpful app because you can price compare what the going rate for a book resell is and is get the best value for books that you plan to resell.

What is the rating of BookScouter? ›

Is BookScouter Legitimate? Bookscouter has a 3.8 of 5-star rating on Trustpilot and 4 of 5-star ratings in both the Google Play and Apple App Store. Users like the easy-to-use scanning feature, the ability to see multiple offers at once, and how easy it makes getting rid of unwanted textbooks.

Who owns BookScouter? ›

BookScouter.com
Type of siteComparison shopping website
OwnerBOOKSCOUTER LLC
Founder(s)Brandon Checketts
IndustryInternet, Comparison Shopping, E-commerce
Productsbooks, used books, textbooks
10 more rows

How to sell old books on the Internet? ›

Tip #1: Find the Best Places to Sell Used Books Online
  1. BookScouter. The first thing you should do is go to BookScouter. ...
  2. Amazon. If you like more complicated ways, you can go directly to Amazon and try selling your books there. ...
  3. eBay. ...
  4. Etsy. ...
  5. Decluttr. ...
  6. Powell's Books. ...
  7. Half Price Books. ...
  8. Local Bookstores and Book-Buying Markets.
Sep 29, 2022

Is there any app to sell the books? ›

Scan your books' barcodes using the Ziffit app or enter the ISBNs to see how much your items are worth. Whether you need to offload last term's textbooks, part with a disappointing bestseller, or just clear some room on your bookshelves, we offer great prices for a whole range of titles.

What is the best app to sell books for cash? ›

PangoBooks is the easiest way to sell your books online and earn some extra cash in the process. Our easy-to-use book marketplace app takes all the guesswork of selling and shipping and is an outstanding way to find savings on used books.

What is a good number of books to sell? ›

Qualifications aside, if you are a new writer at a big publisher and you've sold more than 10,000 copies of a novel you are in very good shape — as long as you didn't have a large advance. It should be easy for you to get another book contract. If you sold more than 5,000, you are doing pretty well.

What sort of books sell the most? ›

The bestselling book genre is romance and the most profitable fiction book genre.

How many books to sell to make $100,000? ›

After the first year, you'll have 12 books published. To make $100k with those 12 books, you'd need to sell 348 copies of each book each month. After the second year, you'll have 24 books published. To make $100k with those 24books, you'd need to sell 174 copies of each book each month.

How to sell 50,000 copies of your book? ›

3 Steps I've Followed to Sell 50,000 Books
  1. Step 1: Write a viral title. Your title is the best ad for your book. ...
  2. Step 2: Run pricing promotions. You can sell a lot of books with pricing promotions. ...
  3. Step 3: Write lots of books. When readers like one book, they buy your others.

How do you get paid $200 to read books? ›

In good news for—likely every reader on this website, a company called WordsRated is looking for “Bibliofile-at-large” (i.e. contractors) to… read books for them. For every book you read, they'll pay you $200.

How much does Kirkus pay for book reviews? ›

Writing Book Reviews for Kirkus Reviews

The review runs about 350 words and is due two weeks after the book is assigned. They pay $50, but it could go upwards to $75 if they see some great writing.

How many books do you need to sell to make money? ›

You need to publish one book to make money. Making money as an author isn't dependent on how many books you publish but on the quality of your books and how well you market them. You could self-publish 10 books and not earn anything, but publish one well-crafted book, and you could earn thousands.

How to scan books for money? ›

Just download, scan, and head straight to the bank with the BookScouter mobile app! BookScouter App, available on iOS and Android, allows you to scan ISBNs and get prices for the used books you want to sell.

How does BookScouter app work? ›

BookScouter makes this process easy by quickly searching all those sites for you. Our technology submits the ISBN to each website, just as you would perform an ISBN lookup. It then displays the prices from those sites so you can see the range of offers and decide where you want to sell your book.

Does Barnes and Noble buy used books? ›

Click Get Quote to see how much we will pay you for your book. If you agree on the price, we will provide you with a prepaid label so you can send the book to us without shipping fees. Once we receive your book, we'll send you a check for your total sale if it is in an acceptable condition.

What are the best books to sell online? ›

According to market data from top used booksellers and reselling marketplaces like Amazon, these are the best books to resell—some of them may surprise you!
  • Textbooks.
  • Self Help Books.
  • Literary Classics.
  • Book Sets and Series.
  • Faith-Based and Religion Books.
  • The Best Books to Donate: Use Your Best Judgment.
Nov 28, 2022

Is Pangobooks good to sell on? ›

If you're looking for a great deal on great books, Pangobooks is a great place to browse and buy. Booksellers are unlikely to get rich by selling through Pangobooks, but the site offers clear terms and makes selling easy. It's a great app if you want to earn a bit of extra cash while clearing out your bookshelf.

How do you know if a book is worth buying? ›

In determining the value of a book there are three basic elements: 1) rarity, 2) condition, and, 3) demand. Books with the most value normally have all three of these elements, and the loss of any will likely result in a loss of value. Age of the book is not always a key factor in value.

What age books sell the most? ›

Middle-grade books (ages nine through 12) are seeing the highest absolute gains in sales.

What size books sell the best on? ›

Most Common Book Trim Sizes
  • General Fiction: 6" x 9"
  • General Nonfiction: 5.5" x 8.5"
  • Thrillers/Mysteries: 5.25" x 8"
  • YA General Fiction: 5" x 7"
  • YA Dystopian, Fantasy, and Sci-Fi: 5.5" x 8.5"
  • General Self Help: 5.25" x 8"
  • Inspirational/Spiritual: 5" x 8"
  • Memoir: 5.25" x 8"
Dec 8, 2021

How well does the average book sell? ›

The average self-published book sells 250 copies. The average self-published author makes $1,000 per year from their books. 33% of self-published authors make less than $500 per year.

What is the biggest book seller company? ›

What is the largest bookstore chain? The biggest bookstore chain is Barnes & Noble, operating 627 retail stores across all 50 U.S. states.

Is there still a market for books? ›

In the trade book segment, physical books are still dominating the market. However, digital sales are on the rise, especially audiobooks, and will be the driving force behind book sales growth over the next several years. In 2021, the total revenue from the trade book segment was $18.79 billion.

Is BookScouter American? ›

While BookScouter.com is accessible anywhere in the world, keep in mind that most of the vendors buying and selling books on our site are based in the United States.

What kind of books sell the most on Amazon? ›

Collectibles: First edition books, signed books, and any other book that could be considered “collectible” are also popular on Amazon. Non-fiction: Overall, non-fiction performs a lot better than fiction on Amazon.

How do I sell everything to everyone? ›

How to Sell Anything to Any Audience
  1. Identify your target market. Selling is all about knowing what motivates people. ...
  2. Do your research. ...
  3. Connect with the buyer personally. ...
  4. Ask lots of questions. ...
  5. Keep the focus on the customer. ...
  6. Find their core motivation. ...
  7. Know your consumer psychology. ...
  8. Make them feel something.

Does half price books pay well? ›

Average Half Price Books Bookseller hourly pay in California is approximately $21.20, which is 69% above the national average.

How much do Ziffit pay for books? ›

The average amount for each book they accepted was around £0.45 so that's pretty good, considering I would just have donated these books to charity anyway.

Is Ziffit free? ›

Will it cost me anything? From scanning your items to payment, the Ziffit service is completely free of charge. The idea is that you can earn money from your unwanted items.

How do I sell my book for the first time? ›

Subscribe to receive this extra resource.
  1. Start by Creating Your Brand. ...
  2. Create a Website. ...
  3. Create an Email List. ...
  4. Choose the Right Audience for Marketing. ...
  5. Reach Out to Book Reviewers. ...
  6. Choose the Right Book Cover. ...
  7. Offer Your Book for Free on Amazon. ...
  8. Use Ads on Amazon to Boost Your Sales.

Can you still make money from books? ›

Is writing a book profitable? Yes. If you want to make money writing books then you need to start treating writing like your full-time job. A lot of work goes into becoming a successful author, especially if you want to self-publish, as you'll be responsible for everything yourself.

What is similar to Ziffit? ›

ziffit.com's top 5 competitors in May 2023 are: webuybooks.co.uk, zapper.co.uk, musicmagpie.co.uk, stuffusell.co.uk, and more. According to Similarweb data of monthly visits, ziffit.com's top competitor in May 2023 is webuybooks.co.uk with 138.0K visits.

How much does PangoBooks take? ›

PangoBooks charges a 20% sales fee for books that sell on our platform with a minimum fee of $0.40.

What makes a book a #1 best seller? ›

Books can be labeled as a "National Bestseller" once they've appeared on a bestseller list published in a national publication, like The National Post. An "International Bestseller" appears on lists across at least two countries. Books can claim "#1 bestseller" status if, you guessed it, they appeared in the #1 spot.

Why are book sales declining? ›

Sales of hardcovers, likely hurt by rising prices (prompted in part by supply chain problems), fell 10.4%, while trade paperback sales fell only 2.4%. Trade paperbacks accounted for 60% of unit sales in 2022, up from 57% in 2021, while hardcovers' share of the market declined from 33% in 2021 to 30% last year.

How hard is it to sell a book? ›

Unfortunately, book sales never come that easy for anyone. It is hard to sell a book if you haven't correctly identified your target audience and marketed to them appropriately. Authors also face challenges with book sales if the book is poorly priced or its cover isn't appealing.

What are the top 3 most sold books of all time? ›

25 Best-Selling Books of All-Time
  • #1 – Don Quixote (500 million copies sold) ...
  • #2 – A Tale of Two Cities (200 million copies sold) ...
  • #3 – The Lord of the Rings (150 million copies sold) ...
  • #4 – The Little Prince (142 million copies sold) ...
  • #5 – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (107 million copies sold)

What is the biggest market for books? ›

Global book sales distribution

In terms of countries, the United States control over 24.7% of all global book sales. The USA is followed by China, which accounts for 19.4% of all sales, and Germany with 9.2%. As of 2023, the top 5 biggest book markets control 66.71% of all global book sales.

What is the most read book of all time? ›

The most read book in the world is the Bible. Writer James Chapman created a list of the most read books in the world based on the number of copies each book sold over the last 50 years. He found that the Bible far outsold any other book, with a whopping 3.9 billion copies sold over the last 50 years.

Can you make money with a bookstore? ›

Yes, owning a bookstore can be profitable if you have a business plan and some capital up front to launch your bookstore.

Can you get paid to read books? ›

There are a variety of ways to get paid for reading, including writing book reviews, proofreading drafts, and narrating audiobooks. Publishers Weekly, for example, hires book review writers on a freelance basis. ACX is on the lookout for narrators to record audiobooks.

How much can you make per book sold? ›

Self-published authors can earn 40% to 60% royalties for the selling price of a book, while traditionally published authors typically earn 10% to 12% royalties. First-time authors willing to publish traditionally will receive a prepayment. This is usually $10,000 (not so much for first-time authors).

What is BookScouter revenue? ›

BookScouter's revenue is <$5 Million What is BookScouter's SIC code? BookScouter's SIC: 59,594 What is BookScouter's NAICS code?

How profitable are small bookstores? ›

Independent bookselling has never been particularly lucrative. Many bookstores stock their inventory at a 30% to 45% wholesale discount, but after expenses, that translates into a profit margin of 2% to 3% even for the cost-savvy, says Donna Garban, co-owner of Hoboken's Little City Books.

How much profit do bookstores make per book? ›

A: Most bookstores stock their inventory at 30% to 45% wholesale discount, translating to a profit margin of 2% to 3%, after expenses.

What do bookstores sell besides books? ›

Below is a list of some common products that bookstores carry in addition to books:
  • Board games.
  • Educational games.
  • Journals and notebooks.
  • Toys.
  • Movies and albums.
  • Maps.
  • Bookmarks.
Mar 1, 2019

How do you get paid to read books 2023? ›

Booklist pays $15 per review and is part of the American Library Association. Their application window opens in January 2023. If you want to help make school and public library workers' lives easier, write a 150 to 175-word review and get paid to do so!

What company pays $200 for reading books? ›

A research company called WordsRated is looking for help collecting details on NYT bestseller-listed books. Specifically, they're looking for readers to plow through books cover to cover while jotting down detailed information about the characters and plot.

How many books is a good amount to sell? ›

In the book's lifetime

By comparison, the average traditionally published book sells 3,000 copies, but as I mentioned above, only about 250-300 of those sales happen in the first year. For a traditional publisher to think of a nonfiction book as a success, it has to sell more like 10,000 copies over its lifetime.

How many books is a lot to sell? ›

Qualifications aside, if you are a new writer at a big publisher and you've sold more than 10,000 copies of a novel you are in very good shape — as long as you didn't have a large advance. It should be easy for you to get another book contract. If you sold more than 5,000, you are doing pretty well.

How can I sell my book well? ›

How to sell a book from the writing stage:
  1. Know your audience and market.
  2. Find broader appeal via genre.
  3. Build in timelessness.
  4. Play the long game of authenticity.
  5. Ensure your book is well edited and formatted.
  6. Persevere until you find your champions.
  7. Use platforms your target market haunts.
  8. Let readers get to know you.

Is selling low content books profitable? ›

Publishing and selling low content books is a great way to open a lucrative passive income stream. It's a fantastic side hustle for digital nomads or solopreneurs who don't have the time (or perhaps inclination) to write and self publish a 50k word book or ebook.

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