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Comparison

BookFunnel vs StoryOrigin for ARCs

Both are popular with indie authors for sending advance copies, and they solve different problems. BookFunnel delivers files; StoryOrigin markets books and helps you find readers. Here's how they compare for ARCs, and where ArcRoster fits.

ArcRosterBookFunnelStoryOrigin
Best forRunning and scoring your own ARC teamReliable ebook and ARC deliveryAll-in-one author marketing with review copies
ARC deliveryPer-reader fingerprinted EPUBSecure ARC Delivery on Mid-List and Bestseller plansReview copy campaigns; vetting & follow-up on Standard
Download trackingYes, per readerYesYes
Review tracking & remindersReview links, automatic deadline remindersNot the focusCompletion tracking + automated follow-up (Standard plan)
Reviewer history across launchesReliability tier per reader, permanent CRMNoReview history & completion stats (Standard plan)
Finds new ARC readersNo - public sign-up page per pen nameNoYes - large author and reader network
Pen names1 / 2 / 5 / unlimited by plan1 / up to 4 / up to 6 by planOne account each; extra accounts 50% off yearly
Price for ARC featuresFree plan; $7, $17 or $39/mo$200/yr or $20/mo (Mid-List) and up$10/mo or $100/yr (Standard)

Comparison compiled October 2026 from each product's public pricing and documentation. Features change - verify current details on each vendor's site before deciding.

The short version

Delivery, marketing, or the team itself.

Pick BookFunnel if you already have readers and want the copy to arrive on any device without support emails. Its ARC delivery starts on the Mid-List plan.

Pick StoryOrigin if you also want to find readers, run group promos and newsletter swaps, and have reviewer follow-up handled - for less money.

Pick ArcRoster if your problem is the team itself: knowing who reviews, reminding the ones who haven't, and keeping that record for every reader across every launch.

Questions

Good to know.

BookFunnel or StoryOrigin for ARCs - which is better?
They're built for different jobs. BookFunnel is delivery infrastructure: it gets the file onto any reader's device reliably, and its Secure ARC Delivery (on the Mid-List and Bestseller plans, from $200 a year or $20 a month) sends review copies with download tracking. StoryOrigin is a broader marketing suite: its Standard plan ($10 a month or $100 a year) adds vetting of reviewers' history and completion rate and automated reviewer follow-up, and its network helps you find readers. If you already have readers and want delivery to just work, BookFunnel. If you want to find readers and have follow-up handled, StoryOrigin.
How much do BookFunnel and StoryOrigin cost for ARCs?
As of October 2026: BookFunnel's First-Time Author plan is $30 a year but doesn't include Secure ARC Delivery; that starts with Mid-List Author at $200 a year (or $20 a month) and is also in Bestseller at $300 a year (or $30 a month). StoryOrigin's Basic plan is free; the reviewer vetting and follow-up features are on Standard at $10 a month or $100 a year. Check both pricing pages before deciding.
Where does ArcRoster fit?
ArcRoster is for authors who mainly run their own ARC team. It delivers a fingerprinted copy to each reader, tracks downloads and submitted review links, sends deadline reminders, and keeps a reliability tier for every reader across launches in a CRM you own. It doesn't find readers for you - each pen name gets a public sign-up page instead - so some authors pair it with StoryOrigin or another discovery platform.
Can I use them together?
Yes. A common setup is a discovery platform such as StoryOrigin to meet new readers, and one tool as the home for your own team. Readers who want to keep reading your books can join through your ArcRoster sign-up page, and their review history builds from then on.
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