Pubby Alternative: How BookMonty Compares for Book and Audiobook Reviews
If you're looking for a Pubby alternative, you're not alone.
Book reviews influence a book's visibility, increase reader trust, and help potential buyers feel more confident about making a purchase. And yet, getting reviews remains one of the biggest challenges when publishing a book.
One platform that helped popularize review-focused communities for indie authors is Pubby. Many authors have used it to connect with readers and earn reviews for their books.
However, the self-publishing landscape has evolved dramatically over the past few years.
Today's authors publish in multiple formats (ebook, paperback, hardcover, audiobook) and try to reach readers and listeners on different platforms. As such, they're looking for new ways to generate reviews before and beyond launch week.
Authors who want to adapt to these changing times are exploring newer review platforms. One that aligns better with today's publishing environment.
So, if you're doing your own research on book review platforms and wondering which one might be the best fit for your goals, here's a closer look at how BookMonty compares.
Table of Contents
What Is Pubby?
What Is BookMonty?
Pubby vs. BookMonty Feature Comparison
How BookMonty Supports Growing Opportunities for Self-Published Authors
- 🎧 Audiobook Reviews
- 🤝 Friends & Family Reader Network
- 🧰 Author-Centric Tools & Resources (LUYA)
- 🌎 Multi-Platform Support
Focus on Compliance
Pubby vs. BookMonty: Which One is Right for You?
Final Thoughts
What Is Pubby?
Pubby is one of the first review platforms in the self-publishing space and has introduced many authors to the concept of earning reviews consistently rather than relying solely on friends, family members, or launch teams.
For many authors, Pubby is often the first platform they encounter when searching for ways to increase reviews on Amazon.
What Is BookMonty?
BookMonty is a platform built specifically for self-published authors and the challenges they face today. Its primary goal is to help indie authors connect with readers and earn reviews over time.
However, BookMonty takes a broader approach by supporting both books and audiobooks while maintaining a strong focus on platform compliance.
Beyond helping authors earn reviews, BookMonty provides access to free author tools, publishing resources, training, and educational content that reflect the realities of modern self-publishing. From review generation and audience building to audiobook publishing and author branding, BookMonty aims to support authors throughout their publishing journey, not just during launch week.
Pubby vs. BookMonty Feature Comparison
How BookMonty Supports Growing Opportunities for Self-Published Authors
🎧 Audiobook Reviews
Audiobooks remain an untapped revenue opportunity for many self-published authors. While competition in the ebook market continues to increase, audiobook listening continues to grow at an impressive pace.
According to industry reports, audiobook sales reached approximately $2.43 billion, representing 9% year-over-year growth. Meanwhile, audiobook revenue in the United States has increased by more than 50% over the past five years. (APA.org, Market.us Scoop)
In other words, listeners are consuming more audiobooks than ever before.
Authors who expand beyond ebooks and print books can tap into a rapidly growing audience on platforms such as Audible and Spotify while creating additional opportunities for visibility, reviews, and royalties.
This creates a challenge: finding listeners willing to review audiobooks.
BookMonty was built with audiobook creators in mind and supports reviews for audiobooks distributed through platforms such as Audible and Spotify.
For authors investing time and money into audiobook production, having access to audiobook-focused reviewers can be a valuable advantage.
Did you know?
BookMonty is the first ever platform to support Spotify audiobook reviews.
ACX is limited to authors in the US, UK, Canada, and Ireland. Many authors outside these countries, go to Spotify for Authors for audiobook production and distribution. As such, we built BookMonty to support audiobook creators worldwide, not just those who have access to ACX.
🤝 Friends & Family Reader Network
Many authors have supportive friends, family members, coworkers, and even neighbors who genuinely want to read and review their books.
Unfortunately, Amazon may see them as "close relations" and, as such, consider their reviews biased. Their reviews may even harm your book's standing on Amazon.
BookMonty's Friends & Family Reader Network feature provides an excellent way for authors to involve supportive friends and family without any risk to their own Amazon KDP account.
🌎 Multi-Platform Support
Pubby focuses exclusively on Amazon. While Amazon remains the largest marketplace for self-published books, it's no longer the only place authors sell and promote their work.
In fact, many authors nowadays choose to diversify where they publish, not just because they don't want to rely on a single platform, but also to increase their revenue streams.
BookMonty was built with this broader view of self-publishing. And that's why we support a growing range of review opportunities.
This includes:
- Amazon book reviews
- Audible audiobook reviews
- Spotify audiobook reviews
- Coming Very Soon: Goodreads, Kobo, Google Play, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and more!
Our goal isn't to help authors succeed on just one platform. It's to help authors build credibility, visibility, and social proof wherever readers discover their books.
As the publishing landscape continues to evolve, BookMonty is designed to evolve with it. Rather than being tied to a single retailer, we're focused on supporting self-published authors across the broader publishing ecosystem.
🧰 Author-Centric Tools & Resources
Getting reviews is important, but successful self-publishing requires much more than that.
Today's authors need to understand topics such as branding, audience building, email marketing, audiobook publishing, launch strategies, and long-term career growth. That's why BookMonty includes free access to Level Up Your Authorship (LUYA), a growing collection of indie author-focused tools, resources, guides, and training.
Unlike platforms that focus exclusively on review generation, LUYA was created to help authors develop the skills needed to succeed throughout their publishing journey.
Resources cover topics such as:
- Author branding and positioning
- Building an email list
- Growing an ARC team (from scratch)
- Audiobook publishing
- Book marketing strategies
- Audience growth
LUYA also provides free access to self-publishing tools such as a QR code generator, ISBN bar code generator, SEO keyword checker for book descriptions, and more.
As the self-publishing industry continues to evolve, many authors are looking for more than just reviews. They want practical guidance, tools, and education that help them grow as publishers and entrepreneurs. BookMonty created LUYA with that goal in mind.
🛡️ Focus on Compliance
Amazon KDP's review guidelines change often, making compliance an important consideration for authors.
BookMonty places a strong emphasis on maintaining review practices that align with the policies of major platforms. The goal is simple: help authors earn reviews while avoiding shortcuts or tactics that could put those reviews at risk.
Whether you're publishing ebooks, books, or audiobooks, building reviews the right way is generally the safest long-term strategy.
Pubby vs. BookMonty: Which One Is Right for You?
No doubt about it; Pubby helped pioneer the book review platform space. But it's no longer the only option available. So, if you're looking for a Pubby alternative that offers...
- Multi-platform book review opportunities (not just Amazon)
- Multi-platform audiobook review opportunities (Audible & Spotify)
- Additional ways to involve supportive readers
- Provides helpful self-publishing tools and insider tips
- Features designed for today's publishing landscape
- A strong focus on compliance and long-term review growth
... then BookMonty is worth considering.
Final Thoughts
Pubby played an important role in helping popularize review-focused platforms for self-published authors. But if you're searching for a Pubby alternative, BookMonty offers an updated approach that supports books, audiobooks, and your self-publishing career, all while helping you build reviews consistently over time.
Curious whether BookMonty is the right fit for your publishing goals?
Try BookMonty free for 10 days and see how authors are earning reviews for books and audiobooks while accessing tools and resources designed for long-term author growth.