If you’re an author with a WordPress website, choosing the right plugin to sell books online is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. The right plugin can mean the difference between a professional, high-converting bookstore and a frustrating experience that costs you sales.
In this guide, we’ve reviewed and ranked the 7 best WordPress plugins for authors to sell books online in 2026. Furthermore, we’ve tested each one for ease of use, features, pricing, and most importantly — how well it actually sells books. Whether you want to sell eBooks, physical books, or both, you’ll find the best option for your needs right here.
💡 Quick summary:
Best overall for authors: Books Gallery | Best for eBooks only: Easy Digital Downloads | Best for physical books: WooCommerce | Best free option: Books Gallery (free version)
What to Look for in a WordPress Book Selling Plugin
Before diving into the list, it’s worth understanding what separates a great book selling plugin from a mediocre one. When evaluating each plugin, we looked at the following criteria:
- Ease of setup — can a non-technical author set it up without a developer?
- Book display quality — does it showcase covers and details beautifully?
- Selling flexibility — does it support direct sales, affiliate links, or both?
- WooCommerce compatibility — does it integrate for direct checkout?
- Amazon affiliate support — can you add affiliate links easily?
- Import options — can you add books quickly via ISBN, API, or CSV?
- Mobile responsiveness — does it look great on all devices?
- Pricing — is it good value for what authors actually need?
With those criteria in mind, here are the 7 best WordPress plugins for authors to sell books online in 2026, ranked from best to most specialised.
Quick Comparison: Best WordPress Book Plugins 2026
| Plugin | Best For | Price | Book Display | Affiliate Links |
| Books Gallery | All-in-one authors | Free / $39+/yr | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ✅ Up to 15 links |
| WooCommerce | Direct sales | Free + extensions | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⚠️ Via extensions |
| Easy Digital Downloads | eBook sellers | Free / $99+/yr | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⚠️ Limited |
| MyBookTable | Book showcase | Free / $97 one-time | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ✅ Built-in |
| Gumroad (embed) | Simple eBook sales | 10% per sale | ⭐⭐⭐ | ❌ No |
| Payhip (embed) | Digital downloads | Free + 5% fee | ⭐⭐⭐ | ❌ No |
| Bookly | Bookstores | Freemium | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⚠️ Basic |
#1 Books Gallery — Best All-in-One WordPress Book Plugin for Authors
Best for: Authors, affiliate marketers, bookstores, libraries — all use cases covered | Price: Free / Premium from $39/year | Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (100+ reviews, 5,000+ installs)
- ✅ Purpose-built specifically for book galleries — not a generic eCommerce plugin
- ✅ Up to 15 affiliate or sale links per book — the most flexible option available
- ✅ Beautiful responsive layouts — grid, list, featured, minimal views
- ✅ Google Books API import — add books by ISBN in seconds
- ✅ CSV bulk import for large catalogs (premium)
- ✅ Full WooCommerce integration for direct sales and checkout
- ✅ Built-in search and filter panel — visitors find books fast
- ✅ Book reviews and star ratings built in
- ✅ Free version is fully functional — no time limits
- ✅ 100+ five-star reviews — trusted by 5,000+ websites worldwide
- ❌ Advanced features (CSV import, more layouts) require premium plan
- ❌ Focused on books — not suitable as a general eCommerce store
Verdict: Books Gallery is the clear #1 choice for authors in 2026. It’s the only plugin specifically designed for book selling that covers every use case — direct WooCommerce sales, Amazon affiliate links, beautiful display galleries, and bulk import. Furthermore, it’s the only plugin offering up to 15 sale links per book, making it uniquely powerful for authors who want to sell through multiple channels simultaneously. Consequently, whether you’re a first-time self-publisher or an established author with hundreds of titles, Books Gallery handles everything in one plugin.
📥 Download free: wordpress.org/plugins/wp-books-gallery/
💰 View premium plans: books-gallery.com/pricing-faq/
🎬 Live demo: books-gallery.com/demo/
#2 WooCommerce — Best WordPress Plugin for Selling Books Directly
Best for: Authors who want a full online store with direct checkout and payment processing | Price: Free core plugin (extensions cost extra) | Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5M+ active installs, most popular eCommerce plugin)
- ✅ Most widely used eCommerce plugin in the world — 6.5 million active stores
- ✅ Sell physical books with shipping and digital eBooks with secure downloads
- ✅ Supports every major payment gateway — PayPal, Stripe, credit cards
- ✅ Massive ecosystem of extensions and themes
- ✅ Free core plugin — no upfront cost
- ✅ Full inventory management, order tracking, and customer management
- ❌ Not purpose-built for books — no dedicated book display layouts or ISBN import
- ❌ Requires additional plugins or custom setup for a beautiful book gallery
- ❌ Can be complex to set up for non-technical users
- ❌ Advanced features require paid extensions
- ❌ No built-in Amazon affiliate link support
Verdict: WooCommerce is the best choice if your primary goal is direct book sales with a full shopping cart experience. However, it’s not purpose-built for books — therefore, you’ll need a book display plugin like Books Gallery alongside it to create an attractive, searchable book catalog. In fact, many authors use both: Books Gallery for the beautiful display and affiliate links, and WooCommerce for the checkout. Together, they form the most powerful book selling setup available on WordPress.
#3 Easy Digital Downloads — Best WordPress Plugin for Selling eBooks Only
Best for: Authors selling digital eBooks exclusively, without physical book sales | Price: Free / Premium from $99.50/year | Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (trusted by 41,000+ developers and creators)
- ✅ Purpose-built for digital downloads — streamlined and focused
- ✅ Secure file delivery with expiring download links — prevents piracy
- ✅ Built-in customer management dashboard
- ✅ Lighter and faster than WooCommerce for digital-only stores
- ✅ License key support for authors selling protected content
- ✅ Clean, simple admin interface
- ❌ Digital products only — no support for physical book sales or shipping
- ❌ No built-in book display gallery or ISBN import
- ❌ No Amazon affiliate link support
- ❌ Premium features are expensive — All Access Pass is $499/year
- ❌ Smaller extension ecosystem than WooCommerce
Verdict: Easy Digital Downloads is an excellent choice if you exclusively sell eBooks and want a streamlined, secure download system without the complexity of WooCommerce. Nevertheless, it lacks book-specific features like gallery layouts, ISBN import, and affiliate links. As a result, authors who want both beautiful book display AND eBook selling will find Books Gallery with WooCommerce integration a more complete solution.
#4 MyBookTable — Best Dedicated Book Showcase Plugin (Alternative)
Best for: Authors who want a simple book showcase with Amazon links — no direct selling needed | Price: Free / $97 one-time (Pro) | Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (well-reviewed, established plugin)
- ✅ Purpose-built book display with clean, attractive layouts
- ✅ Easy Amazon affiliate link integration
- ✅ Good search and filtering functionality
- ✅ One-time pricing for the Pro version — no annual fee
- ✅ Simple to set up for non-technical authors
- ❌ No WooCommerce integration for direct book sales
- ❌ Limited to 1 buy link per book — compared to 15 with Books Gallery
- ❌ No Google Books API or CSV import
- ❌ Smaller active install base and community than Books Gallery
- ❌ Pro version is a one-time fee but lacks ongoing updates guarantee
- ❌ No built-in review and rating system
Verdict: MyBookTable is a solid alternative for authors who just want to display books with Amazon affiliate links and don’t need direct selling. However, it falls short compared to Books Gallery in almost every area — fewer sale links per book, no ISBN import, no WooCommerce integration, and a smaller support community. For most authors, Books Gallery’s free version already outperforms MyBookTable Pro.
#5 Gumroad (Embedded) — Simplest Option for Single eBook Sales
Best for: Authors selling 1-5 eBooks who want the absolute simplest setup | Price: Free to start — 10% transaction fee per sale | Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (popular with indie creators)
- ✅ Extremely simple to set up — no WordPress configuration needed
- ✅ Handles payments, delivery, and customer management automatically
- ✅ Embed a buy button on any WordPress page in minutes
- ✅ Good for testing the market before building a full store
- ❌ 10% transaction fee on every sale — expensive compared to WooCommerce (0% fee)
- ❌ No book gallery display — just an embedded buy button
- ❌ No Amazon affiliate link support
- ❌ You don’t own the storefront — Gumroad can change terms at any time
- ❌ Very limited customization and branding options
- ❌ No SEO benefit — book pages don’t live on your domain
Verdict: Gumroad is fine for a quick, low-effort start but it’s an expensive long-term solution. At 10% per sale, you lose $10 on every $100 book sale — indefinitely. Moreover, you get zero book display features, no SEO benefit, and no affiliate link support. As a result, most serious authors quickly outgrow Gumroad and migrate to a proper WordPress setup. Use it only as a temporary starting point.
#6 Payhip (Embedded) — Free Entry-Level eBook Selling
Best for: Budget-conscious authors who want free entry-level eBook selling | Price: Free (5% transaction fee) / Plus $29/month (2% fee) / Pro $99/month (0% fee) | Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (growing platform)
- ✅ Free to start with no monthly fees
- ✅ Handles secure digital delivery automatically
- ✅ Simple embed on any WordPress page
- ✅ Supports discount codes and affiliate programs
- ❌ 5% transaction fee on the free plan — adds up quickly
- ❌ No dedicated book gallery display on your WordPress site
- ❌ No Amazon affiliate link support
- ❌ No ISBN import or book catalog management
- ❌ Zero-fee plan costs $99/month — expensive for most authors
- ❌ Your storefront lives on Payhip, not your own domain
Verdict: Payhip is slightly better than Gumroad for budget-conscious authors because of its lower transaction fee, but it shares the same fundamental limitations. Additionally, it has no book-specific features at all. For authors serious about building a long-term book selling business on WordPress, a proper book plugin like Books Gallery with WooCommerce will always deliver better results.
#7 Bookly — Basic Bookstore Management
Best for: Simple bookstores that need basic catalog management | Price: Freemium — contact for pricing | Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (limited reviews)
- ✅ Basic book catalog management
- ✅ Simple to set up
- ✅ Clean book listing display
- ❌ Limited features compared to Books Gallery and WooCommerce
- ❌ Smaller community and fewer updates
- ❌ No Google Books API import
- ❌ Limited affiliate link options
- ❌ Less documentation and support resources
Verdict: Bookly is a basic option that works for very simple use cases but lacks the depth and features that serious authors need. Given that Books Gallery offers more features for free, there’s little reason to choose Bookly for book selling in 2026.
Which WordPress Book Plugin is Right for You?
With so many options available, choosing the right plugin depends on your specific situation as an author. Here’s a simple guide to help you decide:
Choose Books Gallery if you:
- Want a beautiful, dedicated book gallery on your WordPress site
- Sell books through Amazon affiliate links AND/OR direct WooCommerce sales
- Want to add books quickly via ISBN import
- Have multiple books to showcase with professional layouts
- Want the most features for free — or the best value on a premium plan
- Are an author, bookstore owner, librarian, or affiliate marketer
Choose WooCommerce (+ Books Gallery) if you:
- Want a full shopping cart with direct checkout on your site
- Sell both physical books (with shipping) and digital eBooks
- Need inventory management and order tracking
- Want to combine beautiful book display with direct payment processing
Choose Easy Digital Downloads if you:
- Sell digital eBooks exclusively — no physical books
- Want secure, expiring download links to prevent piracy
- Prefer a simpler, lighter plugin than WooCommerce
- Don’t need a book gallery display — just secure file delivery
Choose Gumroad or Payhip if you:
- Are just starting out and want the absolute quickest setup
- Have only 1-2 books to sell and don’t want to configure WordPress
- Are testing the market before committing to a full store setup
💡 Our recommendation for most authors:
Start with the free Books Gallery plugin. It covers affiliate links, WooCommerce integration, beautiful display, and ISBN import — all in one free plugin. As your book sales grow, upgrade to a premium plan to unlock CSV import and advanced layouts. Only add WooCommerce if you need a full direct checkout experience.
How to Get Started with Books Gallery in 5 Minutes
Since Books Gallery is our top recommendation, here’s how to get started right away:
- Go to your WordPress dashboard → Plugins → Add New
- Search for “Books Gallery” and install the plugin by HM Plugin
- Activate the plugin — you’ll see a new WBG Books menu in your sidebar
- Go to WBG Books → API Import and enter your book’s ISBN to import it automatically
- Add your Amazon affiliate links or set up WooCommerce for direct sales
- Add the shortcode [wbg_gallery] to any page to display your book gallery
- Publish the page — your professional book store is live!
For a complete step-by-step walk-through, read our full guide: How to Sell Books Online with WordPress.
For Amazon affiliate setup specifically, read: How to Create an Amazon Affiliate Book Store with WordPress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to the most common questions about WordPress plugins for authors to sell books:
What is the best free WordPress plugin to sell books?
Books Gallery is the best free WordPress plugin to sell books online. The free version includes Google Books API import, Amazon affiliate link support, multiple gallery layouts, built-in search and filter, and book reviews — all at no cost. No time limits, no feature lockouts on core functionality. Download it free at wordpress.org/plugins/wp-books-gallery/.
Can I sell both eBooks and physical books with the same plugin?
Yes. Books Gallery with WooCommerce integration supports both. You can sell digital eBooks as downloadable files and physical books with shipping options — all from the same gallery. Additionally, you can show Amazon affiliate links alongside your direct sale buttons, giving customers multiple purchase options.
Do I need WooCommerce to sell books on WordPress?
Not necessarily. If you want to sell books directly from your WordPress site and accept payments, WooCommerce is the recommended solution. However, if you only want to earn Amazon affiliate commissions (directing buyers to Amazon), you don’t need WooCommerce at all. Books Gallery works perfectly without it for affiliate-only setups.
Which WordPress book plugin is easiest to set up?
Books Gallery is specifically designed for non-technical users. You can install it, import your first book via ISBN, and have a live gallery page in under 10 minutes — no coding required. In contrast, WooCommerce alone requires more configuration time, especially for setting up payment gateways and product pages.
How do I add Amazon affiliate links to my WordPress book store?
With Books Gallery, it’s simple. Edit any book in your WBG Books dashboard, scroll to the External Links section, paste your Amazon Associates affiliate link, set the button text to “Buy on Amazon”, and click Update. You can add up to 15 different affiliate or sale links per book. For a full walkthrough, read our Amazon affiliate book store guide.
Can I import my entire book catalog at once?
Yes. Books Gallery supports three import methods: manual entry for individual books, Google Books API import using ISBN numbers (which pulls full book data automatically), and CSV bulk import for uploading hundreds of books at once (premium feature). The CSV import is particularly useful for authors with large backlists or publishers managing multiple titles.
Is it worth paying for a premium book plugin?
For most authors, the free version of Books Gallery is sufficient to get started. However, the premium plan is worth it once you need advanced features like CSV bulk import, additional gallery layouts, and priority support. At $39/year, it’s excellent value — especially compared to paying 5-10% transaction fees on every sale with platforms like Gumroad or Payhip.
Final Verdict: Best WordPress Plugin for Authors in 2026
After reviewing all 7 options, Books Gallery stands out as the best WordPress plugin for authors to sell books online in 2026. It’s the only plugin that combines beautiful book display, Amazon affiliate support with up to 15 links per book, WooCommerce integration for direct sales, and Google Books API import — all in a single, author-friendly package.
Above all, it’s the only option on this list purpose-built specifically for books — not a generic eCommerce plugin adapted for books. Consequently, every feature is designed with authors in mind, from the ISBN import to the book review system to the responsive gallery layouts.
Start with the free version today. You’ll have a professional book gallery live in minutes — and when you’re ready to scale, the premium plan unlocks everything you need to grow.
Download Books Gallery Free → wordpress.org/plugins/wp-books-gallery/
View Premium Plans → books-gallery.com/pricing-faq/
👉 Read our full selling guide → books-gallery.com/how-to-sell-books-online-wordpress/