If you publish books and/or audiobooks, you want a review platform that fits your titles, the time you have available as an author, the support you need, and, of course, platform compliance. BookMonty and Bookblaze both help you connect with readers and listeners, but their platform coverage, membership options, and everyday processes differ.
Disclosure: You are reading a comparison published by BookMonty. BookMonty is not affiliated with Bookblaze. Platform details are as of the time of writing. Please confirm current terms before joining any platform.
BookMonty vs. Bookblaze: Features at a Glance
Here's a quick feature comparison between BookMonty and Bookblaze before we dive into details.
| FEATURE | BOOKMONTY | BOOKBLAZE |
|---|---|---|
Book review platforms supported | Amazon; Goodreads; Barnes & Noble; KOBO | Amazon; Goodreads; Apple Books; |
Audiobook review platforms supported | Audible; Spotify | Audible; Spotify; Audiobooks.com |
Pricing | Limited-Time Offer (50% OFF Annual Plans) Unlimited Books → $10 - | Annual Plans - |
Need a published book to sign up? | No | No. But you need to subscribe to a Starter plan ($4.99) |
Reviewer selection process | Zero vetting; zero cherry-picking | Vetting possible |
Friends & Family Reader Network | ✔️ | ❌ |
FREE Author tools and support | ✔️ | ❌ |
FREE Publishing tools and support | ✔️ | ❌ |
Free trial | 10 days | 14 days |
Customer support | 24/7 Support | 24/7 Support |
Book and Audiobook Platforms Supported
Bookblaze supports one book and one audiobook platform more than BookMonty. However, both support the BIGGEST platforms, namely Amazon, Goodreads, Audible, and Spotify.
Fun fact: BookMonty is the first ever platform to offer audiobook review support for Spotify.
For your comparison, an extra supported platform only adds value if you actually use it. If your books and audiobooks primarily reach readers through Amazon, Goodreads, Audible, and Spotify, then both services provide what you need.
Pricing Plans
BookMonty and BookBlaze offer similar plans and rates, with two key differences.
- BookMonty currently offers a limited-time discount of 50% off all annual plans, locked in for as long as you remain subscribed. If you join during this offer, your subscription rate will never increase as long as your subscription remains active.
- BookBlaze offers a Starter (Read & Review-Only) plan for $4.99 per month. With this plan, you can read and review other authors’ work, but you cannot request reviews for your own titles.
Reviewer Selection and Independence
BookBlaze offers an optional request-to-review process: readers answer screening questions, and you decide which requests to accept. Its stated purpose is reader quality and niche fit. BookMonty takes a different approach: you cannot vet, handpick, or cherry-pick the people who review your titles.
At first, having more control can sound reassuring. You want readers who understand your genre, are interested in your subject, and have time to read your book. But before treating reviewer selection as a benefit, ask yourself: Are you choosing for genuine interest, or for the opinion you hope to receive?
There’s a meaningful difference. Choosing someone because they enjoy your genre helps you reach an appropriate audience. Choosing them because their review history suggests they rarely give fewer than five stars shifts your focus toward securing praise. You’re then selecting for an expected verdict, rather than simply reader fit.
Amazon’s KDP guidance says you may provide free or discounted books, but you cannot require a review or attempt to influence it. Screening readers is not automatically a violation; the concern is how you use that control.
With BookMonty, you stay separate from reviewer selection. Readers choose titles that interest them, and you leave their opinions in their hands. That means accepting the possibility of constructive criticism alongside praise. Your goal should be an honest response to your book, not a carefully selected audience likely to approve of it.
A Common Author Grievance: Who Has Time to Review?
If you’re juggling writing, editing, publishing, and marketing, you may struggle to find time to read and review other authors’ books. This is where BookMonty’s Friends & Family Reader Networkgives you a practical advantage.
You can invite friends and family who enjoy reading to discover other authors’ books and earn Hoots that support your own review campaigns. This way, you don’t have to fit every reading task into your already busy schedule!
For example, you might have a friend who loves thrillers or a partner who regularly listens to audiobooks. Through your reader network, they can enjoy titles that interest them (for free) while helping you earn Hoots.
Important KDP Compliance Note: Your friends and family read other authors’ works, not yours. That separation is central to BookMonty's approach and adherence to KDP compliance. You aren’t asking people you know to pick your work. In fact, our strict firewall won't even show your titles to them.
So, when comparing BookMonty and BookBlaze, look beyond platform coverage and monthly fees. If your biggest constraint is time, BookMonty gives you another way to support your review campaigns through people who already enjoy reading.
Customer Support Belongs in Your Comparison
You're not only paying for a dashboard. You're choosing the people and processes you will rely on when a review task becomes confusing, when you have concerns about reviews, your books, or your account, or when you have a question about platform features, and so on.
BookMonty and Bookblaze both advertise 24/7 support, but availability alone does not tell you the tone or quality of a reply.
Tip: During your trial, ask a genuine setup question. Notice whether the response addresses it, explains anything unclear, and treats you respectfully. That gives you more useful evidence than a support badge.
Support for Your Author Success
Your membership can offer more than a way to build book reviews and audiobook reviews. Truth is, you also need practical help with the other aspects of publishing, like developing your author brand, understanding the pros and cons of KDP Select, or starting your own ARC (advanced reader copy) club.
(If you prefer to use 3rd-party services for your ARC campaigns, check out Booksprout + BookMonty. This guide explains how those activities can fit together.)
With BookMonty’s Level Up Your Authorship (LUYA), members get access to free author and publishing tools, plus free courses. You can use the Amazon direct review link generator and QR code generator to quickly add review links to your book. You can follow a free course on how to build your author brand on a budget. You can also learn how to start your own ARC club.
When comparing BookMonty and BookBlaze, consider what you’ll get beyond the review dashboard. With BookMonty, you can work on your reviews while also learning how to strengthen the publishing business behind your books.
BookMonty vs. Bookblaze (formerly Bookbite): Which is Better?
Bookblaze may fit you better if book reviews on Apple Books and audiobook reviews on Audiobooks.com are your main review destinations, if you prefer a request-to-review workflow, and have no use for additional author or self-publishing tools.
BookMonty may fit you better if book reviews and audiobook reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, Audible, and Spotify already cater to your needs, if you don't have time to review others' works, want access to free author tips and tools, and value a process that removes cherry-picking. Its combined monthly plan also costs less than Bookblaze’s listed combined monthly plan at the time of this comparison.
Still undecided? Check out this Pubby and BookMonty comparison to give you another useful reference point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which platform is better for books and audiobooks?
You can use either platform for books and audiobooks. BookMonty may suit you better if you want its reader network and author tools alongside Audible and Spotify support. Bookblaze may suit you if reviews on Apple Books or Audible.com are important to you. Tip for deciding: extra platforms only add value if you actually use them.
Does vetting reviewers automatically violate KDP rules?
Not automatically. You can choose readers based on their interest in your genre, but choosing them because you expect positive reviews raises concerns about influencing the outcome. With BookMonty, you don’t have to navigate that gray area: readers choose your books, and you don’t handpick your reviewers.
Does BookMonty support Audiobooks.com?
No. BookMonty supports Audible and Spotify. Bookblaze supports Audible, Spotify, and Audiobooks.com. Choose based on where your audiobook is available and where you want listener feedback.
Can either platform guarantee five-star reviews?
No. You should expect readers to form their own opinions, including critical ones. Retailers also decide whether submitted feedback meets their rules. Neither a subscription nor participation credits give you control over a rating or its continued publication.
How should you assess customer support?
Use your trial period to ask a real question. Look for a clear answer, respectful communication, and an explanation of what happens next. Published testimonials can provide context, but your own interaction helps you assess the experience.
So, Which One is Right for You?
Your best choice depends on the formats you publish, the destinations you need, and the features that make your review work easier to manage. If BookMonty’s combination of book and audiobook support, reader networks, author tools, and respectful help fits your goals, use the free 10-day trial below to explore it for yourself.
