Free eBook mockups and design resources provide valuable tools for authors, designers, and marketers looking to create professional branding for digital products. CoverVault was a prominent website that offered free Photoshop SmartObject book mockups, including files for eBooks, hard books, box sets, audiobooks, and eReaders. The site allowed users to download mockup files to brand landing pages and promotional materials. Although CoverVault has been reported as shut down, the source files remain accessible through shared community folders. In addition to CoverVault, several alternative platforms offer free and premium mockups for branding and design projects. These resources support the creation of visual assets for landing pages, promotional graphics, and digital product presentations.
CoverVault: Legacy and Current Availability
CoverVault was a widely used source for free book mockups. According to user reports, the site provided a variety of Photoshop files that utilized Smart Objects, allowing designers to easily insert their own cover designs into pre-rendered scenes. The mockups covered a broad range of formats, including eBooks, hardcover books, box sets, audiobooks, and eReaders. These assets were particularly useful for authors and marketers who needed to showcase their books in a realistic, professional manner without incurring the cost of custom photography or advanced 3D rendering.
Following the shutdown of the CoverVault website, a community member compiled and shared approximately 40 of the original CoverVault source files via Dropbox. These files are available for download and are compatible with current versions of Photoshop, including older versions such as CS5. The shared collection includes most of the original mockups, though some have been cropped to reduce file size. Users can access these files through the Dropbox link provided by the contributor, and additional contributions are welcomed via a contact form on the contributor’s site. The shared folder preserves the essential functionality of the original files, including background and detail layers such as shadows, which may be toggled off by default.
Alternative Free and Premium Mockup Resources
For users seeking alternatives to CoverVault, several other websites provide free and premium mockups for branding, web design, and digital projects. These platforms offer a wide range of categories, including stationery, business cards, t-shirts, books, magazines, flyers, posters, frames, packaging, and logo mockups. Users can easily insert their own designs into blank areas of the templates to create realistic product visuals.
Free Mockup World
Free Mockup World offers a broad selection of high-quality mockups for branding and web design projects. The site is designed to help users elevate their designs by providing easily downloadable templates. With daily traffic of approximately 4,050 and an estimated website worth of $9,500, Free Mockup World is a popular destination for designers seeking free resources.
Mckups
Mckups provides free mockups, PSD templates, and design freebies. The platform features handcrafted resources from talented creators, making it a valuable source for unique and professional design assets. Mckups has a daily traffic of about 2,500 and a website worth of $4,200.
APEMockups.com
APEMockups.com specializes in premium device mockups and design resources. It is particularly useful for showcasing apps, websites, and user interface designs in a professional context. The site receives around 1,650 daily visitors and is valued at approximately $3,300.
MockupDen
MockupDen offers a huge collection of best free mockup PSD templates. The platform focuses on digital mockups for various projects, providing designers with a wide array of options for branding and presentation purposes.
Design Tools and Software for Creating Book Covers
In addition to mockup resources, authors and designers have access to a variety of design tools and software for creating book covers. These range from free online tools to professional software suites, catering to different skill levels and budgets.
DIY Book Covers
DIY Book Covers is a free online design tool created by The Master Book Designer. It includes templates and tutorials to help users create bestselling covers. There is also an Epic package available for $87 that offers additional features.
Adobe Photoshop or InDesign
Adobe Photoshop and InDesign are advanced software options for users with superior design and technical skills. These programs are available for $20.99 per month and are suitable for creating high-quality, custom book covers.
Canva
Canva is a free online design tool that is simple to use but includes advanced features and many images that require payment. Templates are free, making it accessible for beginners.
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word can be used to create adequate book covers, though it is not ideal. The software is free if already owned, or available for $150 or a monthly subscription if purchased new.
BookCreative
BookCreative is a downloadable app software for cover design and page formatting. The standard version costs $97, while the deluxe version is $197 and includes tutorials, templates, and critique from a professional designer for three covers.
Professional Cover Design Services
For those who prefer to hire a professional, there are several design services and platforms that connect authors with experienced cover designers. These services vary in price, scope, and specialization.
99 Designs
99 Designs allows users to create a contest where artists submit cover design options based on specified requirements. The contest starts at $299, and users can select their favorite design or receive a refund if no design is chosen. This platform also offers designs for other brand elements such as logos and business cards.
100 Covers
100 Covers offers custom ebook cover designs for $100, with packages up to $300 that include guaranteed promotion on Buck Books or full print cover design for CreateSpace.
MiblArt
MiblArt provides affordable covers in a variety of genres and is noted as a budget-friendly option for custom illustrations.
Upwork
Upwork is a platform where users can post design jobs for free. Freelance designers are hired and rated based on performance, allowing users to filter by job performance, hourly wage, or design type. Designers from around the world are available at various price points.
Deviant Art
Deviant Art is an online community where artists post their work, and it can be used to find cover designers.
Rocking Book Covers
Rocking Book Covers offers over 1,000 fiction premade book covers for sale, priced between $50 and $150. The covers cover genres such as Thriller, Mystery, Romance, Sci-fi, Fantasy, Horror, and Paranormal. Each design is unique and sold only once, with free font and text changes included.
BookCover Cafe
BookCover Cafe, led by Anthony Puttee, provides custom book cover designs, as well as formatting, editing, and typesetting services. Book covers range from $395 to $595.
Other Design Teams
Several other design teams offer custom cover services. For example, a full-service agency designs hundreds of custom book covers for $550 and also offers ghostwriting, editing, proofreading, formatting, book description writing, and audiobook production. Another team provides publishing packages that include author coaching, angel writing, book cover design, editing, online distribution, bestseller promotions, media outreach, and audiobook production, with cover design starting at $499. A small design team creates custom covers and formatting services for $310 to $679. A UK-based team offers tailor-made ebook or print covers for any genre (quote required) or pre-made covers for $99 to $150.
Testing Book Cover Designs
The final step in the cover design process is testing the design. Authors and designers are encouraged to evaluate their covers to ensure they resonate with the target audience and effectively communicate the book’s genre and content. While specific testing methods are not detailed in the source material, the importance of this step is emphasized as part of the overall design workflow.
Conclusion
Free eBook mockups and design resources remain accessible through community-shared files and alternative platforms following the shutdown of CoverVault. Authors and designers can utilize tools such as Free Mockup World, Mckups, APEMockups.com, and MockupDen to obtain professional templates for branding and promotional purposes. Additionally, a variety of design software and professional services are available to create custom book covers, ranging from free tools like Canva and DIY Book Covers to premium services like 99 Designs and BookCover Cafe. Testing cover designs is a critical final step to ensure effectiveness. These resources collectively support the creation of high-quality visual assets for landing pages, digital products, and marketing campaigns.