Top 10 Christian Book Publishers Every Author Should Know in 2025

If you’re an author with a Christian book in you — nonfiction, devotional, theology, or faith-driven fiction — choosing the right publisher matters. Some presses are traditional trade publishers (no fees, advance + standard royalties). Others are hybrid or self-publishing houses that charge up front but pay higher royalties. In this guide you’ll find the top 10 Christian publishers authors are choosing in 2025, direct links you can copy, the real pricing or royalty numbers where the publishers make them public, what each imprint specializes in, and quick submission tips.

I focused on publishers authors actually use in the Christian market and included hybrid houses where pricing is public. When a publisher doesn’t publish fees publicly I explain the usual industry practice. All key claims below link to the publishers or public pages so you can verify and follow up.

How this list is organized

For each publisher below you’ll get:

What they publish / focus

Submission basics (agent required? open submissions?)

Fees / royalties / price ranges (where published; otherwise typical practice)

Why an author might choose them

I prioritized publishers with public pricing or clear submission guidelines so you have actionable info.

1) Dove Christian Publishers — Dove & Inscript imprints

Website: https://www.dovechristianpublishers.com.

What they publish: Christian nonfiction (devotionals, memoir, ministry resources), children’s, and Bibles via partners. They run a traditional imprint and a fee-based imprint (Inscript) for different author needs.

Fees / royalties:

Dove (traditional imprint): no upfront charge; royalties paid quarterly. Dove’s public page shows 25% royalties for eBooks and other tiered arrangements; they explicitly say they do not charge authors for publishing services under the Dove imprint.

Why choose them: If you want a Christian press that offers both traditional and author-services paths (no-fee Dove route plus a paid Inscript option), Dove is worth exploring. Their submission pages are practical and author-friendly.

2) Master’s Press / Master Press (Christian self-publishing)

Website: https://www.masterpressbooks.com.

What they publish: Christian self-publishing and print services — targeted at authors who want affordable, quick production.

Fees / pricing:

Master’s Press lists a basic package around $417 for printing and setup essentials (cover, ISBN, proof, basic formatting). They also advertise higher-end packages; small packages begin under $900 in some listings.

Royalties:

Their model emphasizes authors keeping rights; when authors buy copies for resale they can get attractive discounts (and keep the retail margin). Exact royalty depends on package and distribution choices.

Why choose them: Best when you want a low-cost self-publishing route with Christian-market focus and simple, transparent pricing.

3) Equip Press – hybrid/self-publishing with heavy marketing reach

Website: https://equippress.com.

What they publish: Christian nonfiction by ministry leaders, pastors, and church-focused authors. They emphasize distribution through Outreach’s network (ChurchLeaders, SermonCentral, etc.).

Fees / royalties:

Equip Press publicly lists a publishing package around $4,499 that includes cover, editing, ebook conversion, distribution, and a reported 70% royalty on net retail sales under the package terms (their sales page explicitly advertises the package and 70% royalty).

Why choose them: If you have a built-in church/audience and want broad church-focused promotion, Equip connects you to channels most trade publishers don’t (direct church leader networks). The upfront fee is substantial but the reported royalty split and marketing access can make it attractive for established ministry authors.

4) TCK Publishing — hybrid with strong public royalty terms

Website: https://www.tckpublishing.com.

What they publish: Christian nonfiction and faith-driven titles, with hybrid/subsidy packages and licensing.

Fees / royalties:

TCK advertises 50% gross royalties to authors (i.e., 50% of what the publisher actually receives from sales/licensing). Their site explains how gross royalties are calculated and publicizes the 50% figure.

Review: Some reviewers and comparison sites note that hybrid deals need careful reading — gross royalty terms sound high but can be counterbalanced by distribution discounts or recoupable expenses in the contract. Always read the contract and ask about term length and recoupment.

5) Faithway Publishers — small Christian publisher with transparent terms

Website: https://www.faithwaypublishers.com.

What they publish: Christian nonfiction, Bible studies, and ministry resources.

Fees / royalties:

Faithway posts that authors receive 15% royalty on marketplace (print) sales and 20% on digital sales. They discuss typical author recoup scenarios and emphasize marketplace distribution.

Why choose them: Reasonable for authors seeking small-press personalized attention with clear royalty terms and a Christian audience.

6) Thomas Nelson (HarperCollins Christian) — major trade publisher

Website: https://www.thomasnelson.com (part of HarperCollins Christian).

What they publish: Wide range of Christian trade books — bestselling devotions, study Bibles, nonfiction, memoir, and Christian living.

Fees / royalties:

Traditional trade publisher: No fees to authors. Royalties are negotiated (typical trade-book ranges include advances + royalties based on list price or net receipts). Industry standard guides show common ebook royalties around 25% of net receipts, and print royalties often in the 7.5–15% of list range depending on format and status. HarperCollins/Thomas Nelson handles subsidiary rights, global distribution, and big-market publicity.

Why choose them: Best for authors seeking prestige, bookstore distribution, and professional marketing. You typically need an agent and a strong proposal.

7) Zondervan (HarperCollins Christian) — major trade imprint for Bibles & Christian living

Website: https://www.zondervan.com.

What they publish: Bibles, reference works, theology, Christian living, curriculum. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, they offer global reach, licensing, and rights management.

Fees / royalties:

No upfront fees for traditional contracts. Royalties and advances are negotiated; rights and licensing handled by HarperCollins’ rights team. See their Rights & Permissions pages for details and to enquire about projects.

Why choose them: If you want to compete in large-market Christian trade books or Bibles, Zondervan is a top-tier imprint to target — usually via agented submissions.

8) Bethany House (Baker Publishing Group) — market leader for Christian fiction & trade nonfiction

Website: https://bakerpublishinggroup.com/pages/bethany-house.

What they publish: Christian fiction (one of the leading houses for inspirational fiction) and nonfiction.

Fees / royalties:

Traditional trade model — no author fees; royalty/advance deals negotiated (typical trade ranges apply). As part of Baker Publishing Group, Bethany House offers bookstore distribution and a strong back catalogue.

Why choose them: If you write faith-driven fiction (inspirational, historical, contemporary) Bethany House is consistently one of the best-known trade options.

9) Charisma House (Charisma Media) — charismatic / popular Christian market

Website: https://charismahouse.com.

What they publish: Books that perform well in the charismatic / prophetic / church-activism space. Charisma House often reaches a specific market segment via Charisma’s media properties.

Fees / royalties:

Charisma is a trade publisher (authors are typically offered standard contracts rather than paying upfront). For specific deals and royalty info, contact their submissions or rights department. Their catalog and bulk-sales approach make them a strong choice for books that fit their audience.

Why choose them: Good fit if your content aligns with Charisma’s audience (prophetic, revival, charismatic teaching) and you want bulk sales and event tie-ins.

10) Hodder Faith (Hodder & Stoughton / Hachette UK)

Website: https://www.hodder.co.uk / http://www.hodderfaith.com.

What they publish: UK-based faith books, NIV Bibles in the UK market, popular theology and Christian living. Hodder Faith publishes many international authors and can be a doorway into the UK/Europe market.

Fees / royalties:

Traditional trade model — no author fees; royalties negotiated, with the imprint supported by Hachette/Hodder’s global network. If you plan international distribution, Hodder is a key imprint to consider.

Why choose them: Best when you want UK/European distribution and an imprint with history in faith publishing.

How to choose: trade vs hybrid vs self-pub (short guide)

Trade (Thomas Nelson, Zondervan, Bethany House, Hodder, Charisma): No fees, potential advance, distribution into bookstores, but harder to get (often agent required) and lower royalty % on list price compared to hybrid. Use if you want prestige, bookstore placement, and professional marketing.

Hybrid / Self-pub (Equip Press, TCK, Master’s Press, Dove/Inscript): Upfront costs common; higher royalties possible; faster to market and better control. Best if you have a built-in audience and plan to market heavily. Equip, for example, pairs a higher upfront package with church-network promotion and high reported royalty rates.