Most platforms monetize by taking your rights, your revenue, or your attention. We do none of that.
Why We're Sharing This
Other platforms hide their economics. You don't know how much they take, where your money goes, or why they make certain decisions.
We're different. You deserve to know exactly how Nova stays alive—and how creators get paid fairly.
This isn't just transparency. It's a promise: we will never monetize your work without your permission.
Core Philosophy: Three Rules
Before we dive into tiers and pricing, here's what guides every decision:
Rule 1: Publishing Is Always Free
You can publish unlimited stories, forever, for $0. No trial periods. No bait-and-switch. No "upgrade to publish more."
Why? Because the barrier to entry for writers should be zero. Your first story and your hundredth story cost the same: nothing.
Rule 2: You Own Your Work
Nova never claims rights to your content. You can delete it, export it, publish it elsewhere, sell it to traditional publishers—whatever you want.
Why? Because we're a platform, not a publisher. Your stories aren't our product. They're YOUR product.
Rule 3: Creators Keep Most Revenue
When readers pay creators directly (tips, branch access, advanced chapters), creators keep 85-90%. Nova takes a small platform fee to cover costs.
Why? Because the value is in YOUR work, not our infrastructure. We should earn enough to stay alive, not get rich off your labor.
Reader Tiers: Free vs. Supernova
Reader (Free - $0/month)
What you get:
- Read all public stories, poems, and fanfiction
- Create up to 5 reading lists
- Follow up to 50 authors
- Comment on chapters and interact with authors
- Full discovery feed and tag-based search
- Night mode and adaptive reading layout
- Zero ads, forever
Who this is for: Casual readers who want a clean, ad-free experience without paying.
Supernova Reader ($4.99/month)
What you get (beyond free):
- Unlimited reading lists and follows
- 165 monthly Nebulae (tipping currency—more on this below)
- Early access to new discovery and curation features
- Custom reading themes and typography
- Reader analytics (completion rate, engagement time)
- Priority support and feature feedback access
Who this is for: Readers who want to support authors directly and customize their experience.
Why $4.99? It's less than one coffee, but enough to give you meaningful monthly Nebulae to tip creators. You're not just paying for features—you're funding the creator economy.
Author Tiers: Free vs. Supernova vs. Nueva Estrella
Author (Free - $0/month)
What you get:
- Publish up to 3 active works
- 2 branches and 2 sub-branches per work (unpublished branches do not count)
- 5 commits per branch (version control)
- Rich-text collaborative editor with autosave and other writing specific features
- Cover uploads, metadata, and tagging
- Basic analytics (views, applause, bookmarks)
- Public author profile and follow system
- Reader comments and feedback per chapter
- Full access to Nova's discovery algorithm
Who this is for: Writers testing the platform, hobbyists, or anyone who doesn't need unlimited publishing.
Supernova Author ($14.99/month)
What you get (beyond free):
- Unlimited works, branches, and commits
- 350 monthly Nebulae (to tip other authors or use for platform features)
- Advanced analytics (retention, read-through, applause over time)
- Collaboration invites (co-authors and editors)
- Scheduled publishing and draft previews
- Priority visibility in discovery and curation
- Access to early experimental author tools
- Alternate branch publishing (monetize alternate storylines)
- Export works in multiple formats (EPUB, PDF)
- Profile customization and premium badge
Who this is for: Serious writers publishing multiple works, serial authors, or anyone building a catalog.
Why $14.99? You're getting professional-grade tools (version control, collaboration, exports) plus algorithmic boost. Most platforms charge this for basic features—we give you everything.
Nueva Estrella ($17.99/month)
What you get (beyond Supernova Author + Reader):
- All Reader + Author Supernova benefits combined
- 600 monthly Nebulae
- Unified dashboard for both reading and author analytics
- Discovery and profile boost across all categories
- Access to Wave 2 educational tools and workshops (when released)
- Early testing access for Wave 3 semantic assistance
- Personalized reader-author crossover statistics
- Profile highlight on discovery pages
- Community voting rights for curation initiatives
Who this is for: Authors who are also voracious readers, or anyone who wants maximum platform engagement.
Why $17.99? It's cheaper than paying for both tiers separately ($4.99 + $14.99 = $19.98). You save $2/month and get exclusive crossover features.
Quasar Tier (Invitation Only - $0)
Who Gets Invited:
- Moderators and curators
- Community leaders who contribute significantly
- Authors who consistently produce high-quality work
What You Get:
- Advanced moderation dashboard
- Community and content flag management
- Curator-level visibility in discovery and lists
- Internal discussion and review tools
- Beta access to moderation and AI-assisted tools
- Special Quasar profile badge and portal access
Why invitation-only? Because moderation and curation require trust. We don't sell these roles—we earn them through community contribution.
The Nebulae System: How Tipping Works
What Are Nebulae?
Nebulae (plural of Nebula) are Nova's in-platform currency. Think of them like tokens you can give to authors as tips.
Why not just use dollars?
- Transaction fees kill small tips. Sending $0.50 via Stripe costs $0.30+ in fees. That's 60% gone.
- Nebulae batch transactions. You buy Nebulae once, then tip freely. Authors cash out in bulk, so fees are minimal.
How It Works:
-
Readers buy or earn Nebulae
- Supernova Reader: 165 Nebulae/month included
- Nueva Estrella: 600 Nebulae/month included
- Anyone can buy more: 100 Nebulae = $1.00
-
Readers tip authors
- 1-click tip buttons on chapters
- No minimum, no maximum
- Authors see tips in real-time
-
Authors cash out
- 1 Nebula = $0.01 USD when cashing out
- Minimum cashout: 5,000 Nebulae ($50)
- Nova keeps 10-15% to cover platform costs
- You keep 85-90%
When you tip an author with these Nebulae, they receive 90–95% after payment processing costs.
Exchange Rate: 100 Nebulae = $1.00 USD
Minimum Cashout: 5,000 Nebulae ($50)
Monthly Included: Reader (165), Author (350), Nueva Estrella (600)
Why This Works:
- Readers tip freely without worrying about fees eating their generosity
- Authors get paid fairly without losing half to transaction costs
- Nova stays sustainable with predictable revenue from subscriptions + small cashout fees
Creator Monetization: How Authors Make Money
Beyond tips, verified authors can monetize directly:
Branch Monetization (Verified Authors Only)
-
Charge for alternate story branches
- Readers pay once to unlock a branch forever
- You set the price (in Nebulae)
- Example: Main story free, "villain POV" branch costs 500 Nebulae ($5)
-
Revenue split:
- You keep 85%
- Nova keeps 15% (platform fee)
Advanced Chapters (Verified Authors Only)
-
Patreon-style early access
- Publish chapters early for paying readers
- Set your own subscription price
- In-platform subscription management (no external tools needed)
-
Revenue split:
- You keep 90%
- Nova keeps 10% (payment processing + platform)
Why Verification Matters:
We verify authors to prevent scams and ensure quality. Verification is free and based on:
- Consistent publishing history
- Positive reader engagement
- No content policy violations
Once verified, monetization unlocks automatically.
Future Monetization (Waves 3-6)
We're not stopping here. Coming soon:
Wave 3: Commission Marketplace
- Readers request custom content
- Authors set commission rates
- Nova facilitates matching and payment
- You keep 85%
Wave 4: Creator Services Hub
- Hire editors, artists, voice actors
- In-platform freelancer matching
- Escrow payment protection
- Service providers keep 85%
Wave 5: Educational Content
- Premium writing workshops
- Craft masterclasses from successful authors
- Certification programs
- Instructors keep 80%
Wave 6: Professional Publishing Tools
- Pitch generators for agents
- Query letter refinement
- Agent/publisher matching
- Premium tier or one-time purchase
What We'll Never Do
Here's our anti-pattern list—things we will never monetize:
We Will Never:
- Claim rights to your stories
- Force exclusivity
- Sell your data to advertisers
- Show ads (ever, to anyone, even free users)
- Paywall discovery or basic analytics
- Take more than 15% of creator revenue
- Lock core features behind paywalls (publishing is always free)
- Use your content to train AI without permission
We Will Always:
- Keep publishing free
- Let you own and export your work
- Pay creators fairly (85%+ revenue share)
- Show you exactly where money goes
- Let you delete your account and all data anytime
Pricing Comparison: Nova vs. Competitors
Nova
Royal Road
Wattpad
Webnovel
Publishing Access
Creator Revenue Share
85-90% (Platform Native)
100% (External Donations Only)
Invite Only (Paid Stories)
50% (Net after OpEx)
Native Version Control
Advanced Analytics
Ads (Free Tier)
Tipping Currency
165–600 Nebulae (Included)
Coins (Separate Purchase)
Price
$0–$17.99
Free / $4.99 (Premium)
Free / $5.99 (Premium)
Variable (Microtransactions)
Key difference: Nova provides creators with higher revenue share (85–90%), lower reader pricing ($0–$17.99), and maintains a no-ads policy across all tiers.
| Feature | Nova (Free) | Nova (Supernova) | Royal Road | Wattpad | Webnovel |
|---|
| Ad Experience | Ad-Free Forever | Ad-Free Forever | Banner / Rectangular | Video / Interstitial | Banner / Pop-up |
| Revenue Share | N/A | 85–90% | 100% (External only) | Variable (Invite Only) | ~50% (Net Revenue) |
| Version Control | Basic History | Unlimited / Branching | None | None | None |
| Analytics | Basic | Deep Insights | Standard (Views/Folls) | Standard (Engagement) | Standard (Inkstone) |
| Tipping | N/A | 165 Nebulae (Monthly) | External (PayPal/Ko-fi) | Coins (Purchased) | Coins / Gifts |
| Publishing Cost | $0 | $4.99 – $17.99 | Free / $5 (Premium) | Free / $6 (Premium) | Free / Coin-Locked |
The difference: We give creators more, charge readers less, and never show ads.
How Nova Stays Sustainable
You might be wondering: "If publishing is free and you only take 10-15%, how do you stay alive?"
Fair question. Here's the math:
Revenue Sources:
- Subscriptions (Supernova Reader, Author, Nueva Estrella)
- Predictable recurring revenue
- Covers infrastructure costs (servers, CDN, storage)
- Platform fees (10-15% of creator monetization)
- Covers payment processing
- Funds future development
- Premium features (future: workshops, tools, services)
- Optional upgrades for advanced users
Cost Structure:
- Infrastructure (AWS, Cloudflare R2, Postgres): ~40% of revenue
- Payment processing (Polar, Stripe): ~10% of revenue
- Development (engineers, designers, moderation): ~30% of revenue
- Support & community: ~10% of revenue
- Profit margin: ~10% (reinvested into platform)
Bottom line: We're not trying to get rich. We're trying to build something that lasts.
FAQ
"Why charge authors more than readers?"
Authors get professional-grade tools (unlimited publishing, analytics, collaboration, exports). Readers get a simpler experience. The pricing reflects the value delivered.
Also, authors can monetize directly on the platform. Readers can't. So authors have ROI potential—readers don't.
"Can I cancel anytime?"
Yes. No contracts, no lock-ins. Cancel your subscription and it expires at the end of your billing cycle. Your free-tier access remains forever.
"What happens to my Nebulae if I cancel?"
Nebulae stay in your account forever. You can still tip authors or cash out (if you're an author). They don't expire.
"How do I cash out Nebulae as an author?"
Go to your dashboard → Monetization → Request Cashout. Minimum is 5,000 Nebulae ($50). We process cashouts weekly via Stripe/PayPal.
"What if I want to leave Nova?"
You can export all your works anytime (EPUB, PDF, Markdown). Delete your account and all your data is gone within 30 days. No questions asked.
"Will prices ever increase?"
We'll grandfather existing subscribers at their current rate if we ever raise prices. Early supporters shouldn't be punished for supporting us early.
Try It Yourself
Curious about tipping economics? Use our calculator:
When you tip an author with these Nebulae, they receive 90–95% after payment processing costs.
Exchange Rate: 100 Nebulae = $1.00 USD
Minimum Cashout: 5,000 Nebulae ($50)
Monthly Included: Reader (165), Author (350), Nueva Estrella (600)
The Bottom Line
Nova makes money by being useful, not extractive.
- Publishing is free
- You own your work
- Creators keep 85-90%
- No ads, ever
- Transparent pricing
If you want to support the platform, subscribe. If you want to support creators, tip them. If you just want to read, that's free too.
We're building a sustainable creator economy. Not a content farm.
Questions?
Email us → We're happy to explain more.
Want to see how we handle quality? Read about our algorithm →
Fair pay. Fair platform. No bullshit.