iUniverse has helped more than 35,000 authors publish their books professionally and affordably since our foundation in 1999. iUniverse represents a great alternative to traditional publishing as we offer a full range of affordable professional self-publishing services—including editorial, marketing, and publicity services. And we have no intention of slowing down when it comes to creating new opportunities for self-published authors.
iUniverse (iuniverse.com) has 386 customer reviews on Five Star Index, with an average rating of 3.9 out of 5.
Also known as
iuniverse.com
Website
iuniverse.com
Category
Media & Information
Location
Bloomington, Indiana
Listed on Five Star Index
2026
About these reviews
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The company replied to 5% of reviews.
Latest
Most recent review: September 2026.
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Fuzzy Ears and the Grocery Store Adventure (Author) Swannee Rivers
I had a great experience. Things progressed in a timely manner, and the finished product was what I expected. This is my third published work with IUniverse and they did not disappoint.
JW
Jim W M.
Iuniverse...someone is supposed to get…
Iuniverse...someone is supposed to get back to me on how many of my books you sold over the last nine years.
IRS # 1-800-829-1040 and Revenue Canada # 1-800-959-5525
what Iuniverse has done is a criminal charge of felony.
Everyone who reads this should be aware of what type of company
you are!!!!!!
EASY MONEY SMARTS....by JIM Mathe
TG
Thornton G.
It's MY BOOK...NOT YOURS! Remember that. GRIN!
I loved your comments, regarding how to NOT get the review flagged. HEHEHEH AHAHAHAHAHAHAH.
I left my previous publishing company because no one there wanted to hear me, regarding the way I wanted my manuscript printed. NO ONE was listening.
As for my experience with iUniverse, the folks I dealt with were great folks. Very professional and understanding. Once I explained my experience with my previous company and made it clear that the manuscript was MY BOOK and I did NOT want just automatic changes made in it, things went very well.
When I submit a manuscript, I want the book printed in the manner in which I submit it. I want it done MY WAY....you know....like at Burger King. I don't want anyone going in and changing things, like eliminating the indentations of the paragraphs. I WANT INDENTED PARAGRAPHS. I don't care if it's OLD FASHIONED!! That's the way I want them done. It's the same with the interior pictures in the Dedication and Appreciation sections. I wanted them visible, not the size of postage stamps. The ones I submit in my original manuscript are virtually the size of the book page. If I didn't want them large, I wouldn't submit them that way.
I was very pleased with the way the art department at iUniverse improved the original design I submitted for the front cover. I was very open to suggestions for improvement. They did a bang-up job. I look forward to working with them again in the near future.
Yes. Once everyone was on the clue bus, the road was nice and smooth. GRIN! I am sure I will be using iUniverse for the other novels I am getting ready to go to print.
RE
René
I wish I did more research about this customer
I wish I did more research before publishing my first book with this company. The entire process was rushed and the cost was beyond me. The quality of my books are usually extremely poor and I always have to call back Content Distributors to let them know about the poor quality and unmarketable books I tend to receive. It sometimes feels like a dream for me and I cannot undo anything about the entire publishing outcome. I wouldn’t suggest anyone purchase from this company. The customer service is fairly okay.. they are super great at pitching sales at you. In the end, the experience is a total waste of money!
SB
SHERLEY B.
I am giddy with excitement
I am giddy with excitement. I found iUniverse to be authentic and reliable. They delivered as promised in a timely manner with exceptional result. They met with my expectations well above and beyond. Could not be any prouder of iUniverse as my publisher?
CJ
customer John H.
Most everything was well done, but I was a little disappointed
Most everything was well done at iuniverse, but I was a little disappointed in one aspect. Editor's Choice. I was told there were some reasons why my book wasn't designated as Editor's Choice . I fixed all of the items and wondered why the book wasn't then re-evaluated. Also, some of the "errors" noted in my evaluation were not errors at all. For instance, adding a comma just before a conjunction in a series of words is old grammar. It was changed decades ago. The comma is still used before the conjunction in a series of phrases.
CU
customer
I honestly believed this process was…
I honestly believed this process was going to take longer. I was very surprised how fast my book was done. I also loved the fact of how much they stayed in contact with me at every step. I never had to call them once because I hadn't heard from them. I would call them with questions, but not because they were not doing their job. I plan on submitting another book this year.
CU
customer
It started out OK, then went downhill fast.
It started out OK, the first person I spoke to gave me a small discount on the base level price. The next person I spoke to gave us a step up discount. We paid a little more, but got the next tier up for the same price as the base level.
Then came the long list of changing people. It seemed every time I called there was a different person, or a different department. I can't count how many times the person I was working with was 'no longer there' and I had to start working with someone else.
As my book progressed through the stages there became other services that they wanted me to use. The first was editing, which was going to be over $1000 for them to go through line by line, because when they did the generic editing supposedly there were many errors. They only pointed out two or three, but claimed there were many more. I did not agree and instead moved forward.
Next was promoting my book/marketing. Which I actually thought was part of the 'better' tier I had purchased according to the person that had sold me the package. But no, it was not. For the first package they tried to sell me it was going to be over $3000. The next was a little cheaper and when I did not go for that they offered a simple press release for $900. A three line paragraph. I say offered...it was a half hour call with me telling them I couldn't afford it, and them giving me all the reasons I should do it anyway. Including being able to adjust the payment date if I was unable to keep to the schedule.
Since I completed the process of before the end of the year they gave me a 'deal' of five extra free books. My package came with six, so I was now up to eleven free copies. They said it would be a few weeks before the book would be ready to print. So I waited. A month later I was wondering where my books were, and called to check on them. I found out the last person I spoke with neglected to add in the part that I still had to pay shipping and handling on these free books, at just over $4 each. Almost $50 later I had my free books ordered and on the way. They did show up fairly quickly and looked nice. Which it should. I paid $300 for a cover copy polish. Which is where they edit the front and back cover to make it more marketable or pleasing to the eye.
Back to the Press Release. It turned out I could not keep up with the payments. I called the finance department, and they said there was nothing they could do. I explained what I had been told, and they suggested I talk to the person that had set up this agreement. She was conveniently not in that day. I called back the next day, and the extension they gave me no longer worked. I talked to an operator, who sent me back to finance again. The persons extension did not work because she 'no longer worked there'. Half an hour later, they decided they could send it to someone else who could maybe authorize a change of payment date. Which they thankfully granted me.
If I end up with another book, I will find a different company to use. I should not have to feel bullied into buying what I can't afford.