Buying your book
From preview to purchase.
There's no subscription — you pay once, per book, when you're ready to unlock it.
Choose digital, hardcover, or both
From your project page, buy the digital PDF, order a printed hardcover, or both. Prices are shown in your selected currency before you pay.
Apply a discount code (optional)
If you have a code, enter it at checkout — it applies to the items it's valid for and the total updates before you confirm.
Pay securely with Stripe
Checkout is handled by Stripe. Paying for the digital or hardcover edition starts full-book generation if it hasn't already finished.
Download or wait for print
The PDF becomes downloadable once every page has finished illustrating — you'll get an email either way. Hardcover orders move to printing once the book is complete.
Share the digital book online
Once your digital book is ready, open the book page and create a gift link — an unlisted URL so loved ones can read it online without signing in. Add an optional personal message, then copy the link or share it by email. This shares the digital edition, not a printed copy. Revoke the link any time to stop it working.
Add a dedication (optional)
The same book page lets you add a short personal dedication for the opening page — or leave it blank for the Onceling colophon. You can edit it until a hardcover locks the project.
Add extras after purchase
From the book page you can also add a digital colouring book — a printed colouring edition is available too.
Screenshot on the way
Digital vs. hardcover
- Digital PDF
- Downloadable from your orders page as soon as full-book generation finishes. Read on any device.
- Printed hardcover
- A premium casewrap hardcover, printed on demand and shipped once the book is complete. If you already bought the digital edition, its price is credited toward the hardcover.
Note: The PDF isn't instant
Payment starts (or confirms) full-book generation — the PDF is ready once every page is illustrated, not the moment you pay. Progress shows on your project page.
Limitation: Full generation can't be cancelled once it starts
An order can't be cancelled after full-book generation has begun. Printed orders can still be cancelled up until printing starts.
Warning: A hardcover order finalises the book
Once a hardcover is ordered, that project's text and illustrations are locked. Start a new project for a different version.
What to expect: Printed delivery takes 14–21 days
Hardcovers are made to order; delivery is an estimate, not a guarantee, and you'll get tracking once it ships.
Note: The gift link is digital, public, but unlisted
A gift link lets loved ones read the digital book online without signing in. Anyone with the link can open it, but it isn't listed in the story gallery or searchable on Onceling — only people you share it with will find it. It does not ship a printed copy. Revoking the link turns it off immediately.
Keep reading
Common questions
- When can I download my PDF?
- Once every page has finished illustrating, not immediately after payment. You'll get an email when it's ready, and it then appears as a download on your orders page.
- What's the difference between digital and hardcover?
- Digital is a downloadable PDF. Hardcover is a premium printed copy shipped to your door. If you already own the digital edition, its price is credited toward the hardcover.
- Can I use a discount code?
- Yes, at checkout. It's applied to the items it's valid for and the total updates before you confirm payment.
- Can I cancel an order?
- A printed order can be cancelled up until printing starts. An order can't be cancelled once full-book generation has begun.
- What happens after I order a hardcover?
- That project's text and illustrations become final — you can no longer edit them. Start a new project for a different version.
- How long does delivery take?
- Hardcovers are made to order; delivery is estimated at 14–21 days depending on destination, and you'll receive tracking once it ships.
- How does the gift link work?
- From the book page, create a gift link once your digital book is ready — an unlisted URL so loved ones can read it online without signing in. It isn't listed in the story gallery or searchable on Onceling, so only people you share the link with can find it, and you can revoke it at any time to stop it working. It shares the digital edition, not a printed copy.
- What extras can I add after purchase?
- You can add a personal dedication to the opening page, or a digital colouring book — a printed colouring edition is also available.