ArcBunny vs BookFunnel: which is better for ARCs?
BookFunnel is a subscription ebook-delivery tool, and its ARC delivery starts on the Mid-List plan. ArcBunny is built for the whole ARC campaign: readers apply, you approve them, copies go out on your date, and you trace any leak yourself. You pay only when you launch, every feature is included, and your first launch is free.
By Pratik, founder of ArcBunny · Last updated · BookFunnel facts checked
Where ArcBunny fits: ArcBunny is where indie authors run their whole ARC campaign safely, from reader applications to launch day, with every copy watermarked and traceable to one reader. If your goal is a protected ARC launch rather than general book delivery, it does that one job end to end, and you only pay when you launch.
What does an ARC campaign actually need?
More than a download link. You need to decide who gets your book, when they get it, and what happens if a copy gets out.
Delivery is one step. Before it, readers have to find you and apply, and you have to choose who gets a copy. After it, you need to know who downloaded, resend a link that expired, and trace a copy if it turns up somewhere it shouldn't.
That's the yardstick I use, and the one I built ArcBunny around: everything between “I want reviews” and launch day, not just how the file arrives.
Who decides who gets your book?
On ArcBunny, readers apply and you approve every single one.
You share one application link, ask your own questions, and read each application before anyone sees a page of your book. Readers don’t need an account to apply.
BookFunnel’s Certified Mail sends a unique download link to each member of your ARC team, up to 500 a month on the Mid-List plan.
When do readers get the book?
On ArcBunny, automatically, on the date you pick.
You set the delivery date once and every approved reader gets their copy automatically that day. If a reader’s link expires before they download, you can resend it, up to twice per reader.
BookFunnel lets you schedule a reminder email and a release-day follow-up to everyone who downloaded the book.
What happens if a copy leaks?
On ArcBunny you upload the leaked file and it names the reader, in seconds.
Every ArcBunny copy carries four watermark stages, two a reader can see and two they can’t, personal to that reader. Upload a leaked file in your dashboard and it tells you which reader that copy was sent to. This is the part I care about most, because I built ArcBunny after watching my wife deal with ARC leaks.
BookFunnel watermarks Certified Mail copies too, and adds a visible watermark with the reader’s email from the Mid-List plan up. For tracing, in BookFunnel’s own words, its hidden mark means “we can tell you where it came from.”
What does it cost?
With ArcBunny you pay once, when you launch your book. With BookFunnel you keep paying a subscription, monthly or yearly, whether you are launching or not.
ArcBunny’s first launch is free for up to 10 approved readers, with every feature included. After that, a Launch Pass is $19 for one launch with up to 100 readers, or a Launch Deck is $79 for five, and credits never expire. There are no feature tiers and nothing renews.
BookFunnel’s Certified Mail, watermarked files and visible watermarks start on the Mid-List plan at $200 a year or $20 a month. Its entry plan, First-Time Author at $30 a year, doesn’t list watermarked files or secure ARC delivery.
I think paying per launch is the fairer model for authors. A subscription bills you in the months you aren’t launching, and a monthly plan only helps if you time it around each launch.
| ArcBunny | BookFunnel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | No subscription. First launch free (up to 10 readers); then $19 per launch, or $79 for 5 | Subscription. ARC delivery from Mid-List: $200 a year or $20 a month |
| When you pay | Only when you launch; credits never expire | Every month or year, whether or not you are launching |
| Feature access | Every feature on every plan, including the free launch | Watermarked files and secure ARC delivery from Mid-List up |
| Who gets your book | Readers apply with your questions; you approve each one | Unique link emailed to each member of your ARC team |
| Delivery date | Copies go out automatically on the date you set | Reminder and release-day follow-up emails |
| Watermark | Personal to every reader: two visible marks, two hidden | EPUB watermarked with reader information; visible email watermark from Mid-List up |
| Tracing a leak | Upload the file in your dashboard; it names the reader in seconds | BookFunnel says it can tell you where a shared copy came from |
| ARC team size | Up to 100 readers per paid launch | Up to 500 ARC team members a month on Mid-List |
| Beyond ARCs | Built only for ARC campaigns | Group promos, reader email collection, sales delivery, audiobook add-on |
When BookFunnel is the better choice
If you want one tool for every way you deliver books, or you send ARCs to more than 100 readers per launch, BookFunnel makes sense.
And if you already pay for Mid-List, Certified Mail is included, so you have already paid for it. ArcBunny earns its place when you want readers to apply and be approved, delivery that runs itself on your date, a leak trace you can run yourself, and a bill that only shows up when you launch.
Sources
- BookFunnel plans: First-Time Author $30 a year; Mid-List Author $200 a year or $20 a month; Bestseller $300 a year or $30 a month. Source
- “Watermarked Files” and “Secure ARC Delivery” are listed on the Mid-List and Bestseller plans; the First-Time Author plan lists Group Promos and Author Swaps. Source
- Certified Mail is available on Mid-List plans and above and sends to up to 500 ARC team members a month, with an EPUB watermarked with the reviewer’s identifying information and optional reminder and release-day emails. Source
- Visible watermarks with the reader’s email address are available on Mid-List and above; BookFunnel stores a hidden mark with the reader’s email so that “we can tell you where it came from.” Source
Questions authors ask
Is BookFunnel safe for ARCs?
On Mid-List plans and above, yes: Certified Mail gives each reviewer a unique link and a watermarked EPUB. ArcBunny is built around reader applications, automatic delivery on your date and a leak trace you run yourself, on every plan.
Is BookFunnel worth it just for ARCs?
If you also use it for promos and sales delivery, a subscription can earn its keep. If ARCs are most of what you need, you would be paying in months you are not launching. ArcBunny charges per launch, and your first one is free.
What is the best BookFunnel alternative for ARCs?
If you want readers to apply, to approve each one, to have copies go out on your date and to trace any leak yourself, and to pay only when you launch, that is exactly what ArcBunny is for.
Can I use BookFunnel and ArcBunny together?
Yes. You can keep BookFunnel for promos and sales delivery and run your ARC campaigns on ArcBunny.
Read next
Your first launch is free.
ArcBunny is where indie authors run their whole ARC campaign safely, from reader applications to launch day, with every copy watermarked and traceable to one reader.
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