Which platform is best for authors?
Ream vs KU vs Patreon vs Wattpad
The publishing world is changing fast, and the biggest question authors face today is: Where should I publish my stories to earn the most money, reach readers, and keep ownership of my work?
Below is a direct, transparent comparison between the four popular publishing platforms: Ream, Kindle Unlimited (KU), Patreon, and Wattpad. Each platform serves a different purpose. But only one is built entirely around author ownership and long-term stability.
Quick Verdict (TL;DR)
If you want reader ownership, up to 90% earnings, subscription + single sales + print, and a home built specifically for fiction, then Ream is the best choice. If you want retail visibility → KU, creator membership → Patreon, and community exposure → Wattpad, but each has major tradeoffs in royalties, rights, or discoverability.
Side-by-Side Comparison Chart
Feature | Ream | Kindle Unlimited (KU) | Patreon | Wattpad |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Royalties | ~90% | ~35–70% (varies) | ~85–92% | 0% (unless chosen for paid) |
Reader Ownership | Yes — full data + portable audience | No | Partial (emails via CSV; limited data) | No |
Best For | Fiction authors, serialists, comics, audio, romance, multi-format creators | High-volume ebook sales, Amazon ecosystem authors | Broad creators (podcasters, YouTubers, artists) | Community exposure, early fanbase |
Subscriptions | Yes — built-in & fiction-first | No | Yes | No |
Single Sales | Yes (in late 2025) | Yes | Yes, but limited | No |
Print/POD | Yes (in 2026) | Yes (KDP Print) | No | No |
Audio | Yes | Limited (ACX separate system) | Yes | No |
Comics/Webtoons | Yes | No | Yes, but clunky | No |
Discoverability | Shelves (2025), reader tools, profiles, search, advanced filter tools | Strong through Amazon search | Weak for fiction | Yes |
Rights & Exclusivity | Non-exclusive | Exclusive | Non-exclusive | Non-exclusive |
Analytics | Deep story and customer analytics | Limited | Limited | Limited |
Control Over Pricing | Yes, full control | Yes | Yes | No |
Support for Serial Fiction | Yes | No | Limited | Yes |
Community Tools | Reader comments, profiles, shelves | None | Comments, community board | Yes, strong |
So, What Is Each Platform Actually Built For?
Ream
For fiction authors who want control, ownership & high earnings.
Ream was built from the ground up for fiction, serial stories, romance, comics, and audio. It gives authors a direct sales storefront (single sales and subscriptions), deep analytics and reader data that other platforms hide from authors, community tools, up to 90% royalties. No exclusivity or gatekeeping.
Kindle Unlimited
For volume-based ebook authors.
KU is good for ranking, retail visibility, and high-output writers. However, there are multiple tradeoffs; including, mandatory exclusivity, limited earnings control, no reader ownership, pages read can drop randomly, and zero stability if Amazon shifts policy. Overall, KU is powerful but fragile.
Patreon
For creators with mixed media (not fiction-first).
Patreon shines for podcasters, artists, YouTubers, and community memberships. But there is no discovery, it's not built for fiction, there are no single sales, it's has a weak reading interface, there are no reader-specific tools, and people experience high churn. Authors use Patreon as a stopgap and not as a home.
Wattpad
For early-stage writers building a fanbase.
Wattpad is great for exposure, community, and early visibility. But the monetization is extremely limited, there is no reliable way to earn a living, authors can’t sell directly, there is no ownership of readers or email capture, and there is no pricing control. It’s a social platform; not a business platform.