Creating an eye-catching, professional e-book cover is one of the most important steps in self-publishing. It’s the first thing potential readers will notice, and it can make a huge difference in whether or not they decide to click and read more.
But, as an author on a budget, you may not have the resources to hire a top-tier graphic designer or invest in expensive design software.
Don’t worry—there are plenty of affordable solutions to help you create a high-quality e-book cover without breaking the bank.
In this post, we’ll explore 10 affordable ways to create a professional e-book cover that stands out. Whether you’re a first-time author or an experienced writer, these solutions will help you create something that looks great and fits your budget.
1. Use Fiverr to Hire Affordable Freelancers
If you’re looking for a professional design without the hefty price tag, one of the best places to start is Fiverr.
Fiverr is a popular platform where you can find affordable designers who specialize in creating e-book covers. Whether you need something simple or a more intricate design, you can find a freelancer who fits your budget and style.
On Fiverr, you can find a wide range of designers with varying experience levels and prices. For as little as $5–$20, you can hire a freelancer to create a custom e-book cover that looks professional and polished.
Plus, Fiverr allows you to browse designers’ portfolios, read reviews from previous clients, and communicate directly with the designer to ensure your vision is brought to life.
The great thing about Fiverr is the flexibility it offers—whether you’re looking for a minimalistic design or something with bold graphics, you can find someone to fit your needs without spending a fortune.
2. Canva: A User-Friendly Design Tool
If you’re someone who prefers to DIY your e-book cover, Canva is a fantastic tool that can help you create a professional-looking design without any prior graphic design experience.
Canva is a free, online design platform that provides thousands of customizable templates, including e-book covers.
With Canva, you can easily drag and drop elements into your design, adjust fonts, and add images, icons, or illustrations to create a unique e-book cover.
Canva offers a free version, but for even more features, the paid version (Canva Pro) is still affordable and can unlock a broader range of templates, stock images, and advanced tools.
The platform is incredibly user-friendly, making it a great choice for beginners who want to create a stunning e-book cover on a budget.
Plus, Canva has a collection of e-book cover templates specifically designed for different genres, so you can easily find a template that suits your book’s style.
3. Adobe Express: A Free and Simple Alternative
Adobe Express is another great online tool that allows you to create professional e-book covers for free.
Similar to Canva, Adobe Express offers templates for e-book covers, and you can customize them with your own images, text, and branding elements.
What’s great about Adobe Express is that it’s designed for people with no prior graphic design experience. It’s easy to use, and you can create a sleek and polished e-book cover in a matter of minutes.
Plus, you can upload your own images or use Adobe’s free stock photos and icons.
While the free version of Adobe Express offers a lot of functionality, there are paid options if you want access to more advanced features or want to remove watermarks from your final design.
4. BookBrush: Perfect for Authors
BookBrush is a platform specifically designed for authors who want to create professional e-book covers.
With BookBrush, you can easily design e-book covers using pre-made templates and customizable features. The platform offers various genre-specific templates, so you can create a cover that reflects your book’s theme and audience.
What makes BookBrush unique is its “Book Cover Creator” tool, which helps you create stunning e-book covers without any design experience. The platform also includes a library of stock images and illustrations, and you can upload your own images if you prefer.
BookBrush offers a free version with limited features, but for just a small fee, you can access the premium version, which provides access to more templates, high-quality images, and additional customization options. It’s a great choice for authors who want a professional cover at an affordable price.
5. 99Designs: Affordable Packages for Custom Covers
If you’re looking for a higher level of design expertise but still want to stick to an affordable budget, 99Designs is a great option.
Unlike Fiverr, where you can choose from a wide range of designers, 99Designs allows you to create a design contest. You set a budget, and multiple designers submit e-book cover concepts for your approval. You can then choose your favorite design.
99Designs offers a variety of packages, so you can select one that aligns with your budget. Even the basic packages provide you with multiple design options to choose from, giving you a chance to find the perfect cover for your e-book.
While this option is more expensive than Fiverr, it’s still an affordable choice for authors who want to get a custom, professionally designed cover without spending too much.
6. GIMP: A Free Graphic Design Software
For those who want to create their own e-book cover from scratch but don’t have the budget for paid design software, GIMP is a powerful free option.
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a graphic design software that offers many of the features you’ll find in premium programs like Adobe Photoshop.
Although GIMP has a steeper learning curve compared to tools like Canva or Adobe Spark, it’s a great choice for authors who want full control over their design.
There are plenty of free tutorials available online to help you get started with GIMP, and you can create a fully customized e-book cover using your own images and graphics.
Keep in mind that GIMP is more suited for those who have some experience with graphic design, so if you’re new to design software, it may take a bit of time to get the hang of it.
However, it’s a free tool that can help you create a professional-quality e-book cover at no cost.
7. Designhill: Affordable Custom Design Services
Another platform that offers affordable custom e-book cover design services is Designhill.
Similar to 99Designs, Designhill allows you to create a design contest where multiple designers submit their ideas based on your brief. You can choose the design you like the most and request revisions if needed.
Designhill also offers a range of pre-made templates and customization options for authors on a budget. If you’re looking for a simple yet professional e-book cover without having to hire a designer for custom work, the pre-made templates can be a quick and cost-effective solution.
The platform has a pay-as-you-go pricing model, which means you can select the package that fits your budget, ranging from affordable basic packages to more expensive premium options.
8. Placeit: Easy E-book Cover Maker
Placeit is an online design tool that’s perfect for authors who want to create professional e-book covers with minimal effort. With Placeit, you can choose from hundreds of templates, and customize them with your own title, images, and fonts.
Placeit’s e-book cover templates cover a wide range of genres, from fiction to nonfiction, and they’re designed to look professional and polished. The platform is incredibly easy to use, so even beginners can create stunning e-book covers without needing any design experience.
Placeit offers both free and paid options, with the paid versions giving you access to more templates, higher-quality images, and the ability to download your designs without watermarks. It’s a great choice for authors looking for an affordable way to create a professional-looking cover quickly.
9. VistaCreate: Affordable Design with Templates
VistaCreate is another graphic design tool similar to Canva, offering thousands of templates and design elements that you can use to create a professional e-book cover.
With VistaCreate, you can customize the templates to fit your style and preferences, and there’s no need for prior graphic design experience.
The platform is easy to navigate, and the free version includes plenty of features, including stock images, fonts, and icons. If you want access to additional resources, such as premium templates and images, the paid version is still affordable.
VistaCreate is a great option for authors on a budget who want a user-friendly design tool that helps them create a standout e-book cover.
10. Hire a Student Designer
If you want to go the extra mile for a more personalized design at a low cost, consider hiring a student designer. Many graphic design students are eager to build their portfolios and will offer their services at a lower rate than professional designers.
You can find student designers through local universities or online platforms like Craigslist or social media groups.
While student designers may not have the same level of experience as professionals, they are often creative and eager to help bring your vision to life. This can be a great opportunity to get a custom e-book cover for an affordable price while supporting an up-and-coming designer.
Conclusion
Creating a professional e-book cover doesn’t have to be expensive. Whether you choose to do it yourself using tools like Canva or GIMP or hire an affordable freelancer on Fiverr, there are plenty of options to suit your budget and needs.
The key is to find a solution that aligns with your goals, whether that’s a quick DIY design or a custom cover that reflects the unique nature of your book.
By using these 10 affordable solutions, you can ensure that your e-book stands out and catches the attention of potential readers—without breaking the bank. Happy designing!