In the rapidly evolving world of self-publishing, the promise of quick, easy, and profitable book creation has become more common. But also more questionable. One of the most talked-about companies offering this kind of promise is Publishing.com, also known as Publishing.ai. If you’ve come across their ads or heard their pitch, you’re not alone—our team gets asked about them all the time.
And given our experience helping over 8,000 authors write, market, and self-publish their books over the last 10 years, we always keep a pulse on new emerging companies. Especially those with big promises.
So let’s break it down: what exactly is Publishing.com, what have they been promising, and what should you know before buying into the hype?
What we’ll cover about Publishing.com:
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What is Publishing.com?
Publishing.com (also branded as Publishing.ai) is an education and software company that teaches people how to create and sell books—especially on Amazon KDP and Audible—using a combination of online courses, coaching, and AI-powered tools. Notice the term “create” and not “write”.
Founded by Christian and Rasmus Mikkelsen, the company gained popularity with its “Audiobook Income Academy” before expanding into broader self-publishing through its AI Publishing Academy and the Publishing.ai platform. Their software helps users ideate, outline, and write books with AI assistance, and their programs promise a full-service publishing system with access to weekly coaching and community support.
However, the company has faced serious scrutiny, including an active FTC investigation in 2025. More on that below.
While some users report positive experiences and Publishing.com has earned high ratings from many customers, others cite high costs (upwards of $6,000), poor refund policies, and aggressive sales tactics. It’s a high-reward, high-risk offering—potentially useful for entrepreneurs comfortable investing heavily in AI publishing, but requiring thorough due diligence before signing up.
What Publishing.com offers
This company offers several types of assistance when it comes to getting published. Here’s a quick breakdown of some offers:
- AI Publishing Academy – teaches you how to write, publish, and sell books (KDP and Audible)
- Publishing.ai Tool – AI helps you brainstorm, outline, write, and edit full books
- Audiobook Income Academy – focused training on creating and profiting from audiobooks
- Live coaching 5x/week – get feedback, guidance, and mentorship
- Private community – network with other authors and experts
- Marketing and sales tools – launch strategies, keyword help, cover design tips, and more
- Manuscript credit system – pay-per-book access to AI-generated content
There are various tiers, add-ons, and inclusions to be mindful of when looking at their product sweet. But ultimately, they offer a wide range of book publishing help.
What Publishing.com promised that got them sued
Publishing.com (Publishing.ai) markets itself as a fast-track to income, implying that by using their system—which includes AI-generated content and self-publishing strategies—you can build a profitable book-based business. But recently, that narrative hit a legal roadblock.
The company was sued and forced to add disclaimers to their website, stating that they cannot actually promise the financial outcomes they were advertising. Why? Because no ethical business can guarantee success without acknowledging the work, skill-building, and ongoing effort that actually goes into self-publishing success.
This is in step with other companies like RoyaltyHero needing to add disclaimers.
Here’s the disclaimer from Publishin.com:
Customers of Publishing.com say…
There are always good and bad experiences with any company or product. If it was all bad, companies wouldn’t stay afloat. Here are some real customer insights from both sides.
Positive feedback
On Trustpilot, the company has a strong 4.6/5 rating from over 1,600 reviews. Many users praise the coaching and support while others like the AI specific tools.
“Love the twins and how proactive they are with the “latest” strategies that are proving profitable with our self-publishing. Their passion and excitement are contagious as they empower us to believe that we CAN DO this stuff! The training modules, workshops, and Q and A calls with the coaches and twins are like no other! The Support Team fills in the gaps with any questions we have. The entire team is dedicated to helping us students learn the publishing process and achieve success! I am striving to new levels and learning new things I have never imagined before. And it’s just the beginning!! Thank you, Publishing.com!!!”
“I always receive Excellent Customer service from AIA, with outstanding coaches, staff, and administrative management. It is part of my family!
Salute!
Angela”
Criticisms and concerns
Unfortunately, the unhappy tend to be loud and there is plenty to discover online with upset customers, including:
- Refund issues: Multiple users on Reddit and BBB report difficulty getting refunds. One said, “They are refusing to provide my $1500 refund … it’s designed to get you to keep paying.”
- High-pressure sales: Some customers report aggressive upsells, unclear costs, and feeling pushed into buying. One BBB review cited being surprised by a $1,495 add-on requirement.
- Mixed value: Reddit users frequently describe the program as overpriced for what’s delivered, with some calling it a “scam” or “garbage expensive course.”
- FTC investigation: The Federal Trade Commission is actively investigating the company for potential deceptive marketing and refund practices.
“I listened carefully to the long, powerful, impressive marketing piece. The concept is good and I believe has value. However, after reading reviews the amount of work, time and effort in the marketing looks to be very understated and the easy and quick results appear very overstated. I would be surprised if 1 in 8 succeed and recovers investment. Apparent “member” baiting and later up charging is not a good look.”
Overall, while many customers appreciate the coaching and structured approach, others warn of steep costs, tight refund policies, and misleading marketing.
AI can be a tool—but it’s not a magic wand
Let’s start with a truth that applies across the board: AI can absolutely assist in the book writing process. It can help brainstorm ideas, structure outlines, edit, and even generate content for certain types of books. Used thoughtfully, it can speed up and streamline parts of the creative process.
But here’s where we need to be honest: AI is not built to write entire, high-quality, market-ready books on its own—especially ones that resonate with readers, build a loyal audience, and generate sustainable income. And that’s not even considering the moral and intellectual dilemmas.
Our stance on AI can be found here.
Publishing.com has been one of several companies encouraging people to rely heavily on AI-generated content to pump out books quickly. While that sounds appealing on the surface, it skips over the biggest truth in self-publishing: writing the book is just one piece of the puzzle.
Doing the work of marketing, positioning, and audience building
Here’s the part that doesn’t get advertised in “get rich with AI” programs like publishing.com: even if you had a perfectly written book (whether by you or AI), you still need to know how to get it in front of the right people.
That means:
- Understanding how to position your book in a competitive marketplace
- Learning effective keyword strategies
- Building a launch plan that gets your book noticed
- Developing a long-term strategy to grow your brand and readership
In short, successful publishing isn’t about pressing a button—it’s about building a business. That’s what our team focuses on. Yes, we embrace the efficiencies of technology, including AI.
But we also coach our clients on the parts that actually move the needle: market research, branding, content strategy, and growth tactics that actually work in today’s publishing landscape.
What differentiates the successful from the merely hopeful
If you’re serious about building a publishing business, be cautious of anyone who promises fast cash from books you didn’t really write, edit, or understand. AI can be helpful, but relying on it to do all the work is a risky shortcut—and as the legal actions against Publishing.com show, those shortcuts often lead to disappointing (or even damaging) results.
Instead, look for mentorship that respects your goals, gives you real tools and strategy, and teaches you how to build something sustainable.
Because publishing isn’t just about writing books. It’s about building a brand. That takes more than just software.
Curious what real publishing coaching looks like?
Talk to our team and see how we help writers at all levels turn their ideas into lasting, income-generating assets—with or without AI.
Book Outline Generator
Choose your Fiction or Nonfiction book type below to get your free chapter by chapter outline!
Book Outline Generator
Enter your details below and get your pre-formatted outline in your inbox and start writing today!
CONGRATULATIONS
Thanks for submitting! Check your email for your book outline template.
In the meantime, check out our Book Outline Challenge.
