Pre-Made vs. Custom Book Covers: Pros and Cons

Pre-made book covers are something I come across from time to time on my IG feed and Threads. It’s not a new concept, of course, but I’ve noticed this type of product saw a rise over the last couple of years. So, I decided to look into it again, just to see if anything had changed in any meaningful way within the pre-designed stock cover market.

The short answer: No. It’s still the same cover design sub-niche that positions itself as an affordable option for writers on a tight budget. And it still tries to downplay the fact that the uniqueness and quality of these covers are often questionable.

In this article, I’ll compare pre-made designs with custom book covers and share my thoughts on which option might be the best fit for you as a writer.

What Are PreMade Book Covers

Pre-made book covers are ready-made designs that anyone can buy and instantly use as is. These designs usually have minimal customization options, with the only thing you can do is modify a title and author name. In some cases more adjustments are possible, but they are still limited by predetermined design template.

Pre-built book covers are typically marketed as a budget-friendly solution aimed at self-published writers who need a super affordable cover, and need it quickly. Availability and affordability – that’s the name of the game 🙂

From a stylistic perspective, premade book covers usually come in two types: one based on stock images and fonts, and another featuring a custom illustration. But since neither type is tailored to a specific book, originality can be hit or miss.

How much does a premade cover cost?

The price can vary greatly. The cheapest designs start from $20, with average price sitting around $80. Depending on the store and the quality, the price can easily go above $100.

Pros and Cons of Premade Template Covers

Ready-made book covers do have one thing going in their favor – they are readily available and accessible. But as with anything in life, this affordability comes at a cost of something else. In this case at a cost of exclusivity and often quality.

Of course, it is possible to find a good looking ready-made cover. But if it is a standout design, the chances are more writers would choose to buy it, making that particular cover even less exclusive.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of all the Pros and Cons.

✅Pros:

• Affordable price – Premade designs are some of the cheapest book cover options on the market.
• Instantly available – You don’t need to wait at all, the design is ready-made. Anyone can purchase and use it immediately.
• Large assortment – Premade covers come in different styles and variations. Making it easier for a potential buyer to choose one that fits their specific genre of vibe.

❌Cons:

• No exclusivity/uniqueness – The same pre-made covers are sold to multiple authors. Don’t be surprised if you stumble upon another book with nearly identical design.
• Stock images – Pre-made covers often use generic stock photos that don’t reflect your book’s unique story or themes.
• Overused imagery – Popular stock images might be used in multiple pre-made templates, which reduces their originality even more.
• Lack of customization – Typically, options to tweak the design are very limited.
• Less appealing look – Standardized low-quality designs will hardly stand out in a crowded book market.
• Limited branding potential – It may be challenging to build a brand name with a generic cover.
• Copyright concerns – If design elements (including AI-generated images) of the cover are not properly licensed, this could lead to legal risks.

Pre-Made vs. Custom Book Covers

When comparing pre-made covers to custom ones, it all comes down to price and quality. Custom illustrations and designs win every time, and it’s not even close. They’re created specifically to reflect your book’s story, highlight its unique aspects, and catch a passion viewer eye.

In the hands of a talented artist, such cover can become an essential part of your book and brand. If you’ve spent all that time inventing, writing, editing and perfecting your novel, you probably want as many people as possible to read it. And since most readers judge a book by its cover, you’ll want yours to stand out, right? From the thousands of covers I’ve seen, custom designs do that best.

The one area where pre-made covers have the edge is price. They are indeed cheaper. Some platforms even offer a buy-out option, meaning you’d be the final owner of that particular design. But that can increase the price up by additional 50% to 200%. You’d have to really love that cover to pay such a premium.

Best Option For Tight Budget

Pre-made cover is a solid option for beginner writers, who are just testing the waters of book publishing. If it’s your first release, or maybe you don’t want to spend a few hundred of dollars on a cover, then it’s a viable choice.

But if you are willing to invest $200 – $300, then going with a pre-set design makes little sense. Because at that price it’s no longer the cheapest option. By the way, I’ve covered the best affordable book cover options for indie authors in this article.

For around the same money you can find and hire a specialist who will create a unique cover, based on your specific wishes, tailored to your specific book and its story.

My advice is simple – search for an artist (designer or illustrator) whose style fits your vision best. You’ll get the most band for your buck.

There are several places where to find these specialists, check out this guide for more info: Where to Hire a Professional Book Cover Designer.