Publisher Rocket vs Helium 10: Which Is Best for Your Publishing?
By Sam Nguyen
Are you an author or publisher struggling to get your books noticed on Amazon? Tired of spending hours on keyword research with little results?
Publisher Rocket offers a user-friendly interface and affordable pricing, making it a great choice for beginners and budget-conscious authors. On the other hand, Publisher Rocket is a more comprehensive tool with a wider range of features, including in-depth keyword research, listing optimization, and advertising analytics.
Ready to discover which tool is right for you? In this detailed comparison, we’ll dive into the features, pricing, pros, and cons of Publisher Rocket and Helium 10, so you can choose the best tool to boost your book sales on Amazon.
Publisher Rocket vs Helium 10: Overview
Publisher Rocket (formerly KDP Rocket) is a keyword research tool designed especially for authors, providing invaluable insights into reader behavior and search patterns on Amazon. It helps authors understand how readers discover and select books, making it an essential tool for book marketing.
On the other hand, Helium 10 is a comprehensive ecommerce platform catering to Amazon sellers and authors. While it offers a wider range of tools beyond just books, it offers its vast data analysis capabilities to provide high-quality insights for identifying profitable opportunities in the Amazon marketplace.
Publisher Rocket vs Helium 10: Pros & Cons
Before deciding which tool to use, I found it crucial to weigh the pros and cons of each. Here’s a simplified breakdown to help you understand the pros and cons of Publisher Rocket and Helium 10:
Publisher Rocket
Pros
- Exportable results in Excel format
- Fast keyword generation for Amazon ads
- One-time payment with free lifetime updates
- Optimized for Amazon Advertising campaigns
- Uncovers hidden categories for increased book visibility
- Comprehensive data for Amazon books, ebooks, and audiobooks
- Provides monthly search volume data for market demand analysis
- Beginner-friendly interface for easy keyword and category research
- AMS Keywords feature for quick discovery of trending books, authors, and keywords
Cons
- No free trial, only a 30-day refund policy
- The keyword search scope limited to books
- No Linux version, only available for PC and macOS
- Data limited to Amazon US, UK, and DE marketplaces
Helium 10
Pros
- Excellent customer support
- Suitable for all levels (beginners and experienced sellers)
- Frequently updated with new features and enhancements
- Active user community and support forums for assistance and collaboration
- A wide array of tools for product research, keyword research, listing optimization, and PPC advertising
- Providing extensive data and analytics for Amazon and Walmart marketplaces
Cons
- Pricing plans can be expensive, especially for smaller sellers
- Steep learning curve for mastering some of the advanced tools
- Some users report mixed experiences with customer support responsiveness.
Publisher Rocket vs Helium 10: A Detailed Comparison
Using both Publisher Rocket and Helium 10, I’ve found each tool offers unique strengths that cater to different needs. Let’s dive into a detailed comparison of their key features to help you decide which one might be the best fit for you:
Pricing
Publisher Rocket
Publisher Rocket is a one-time purchase of $199, and while it doesn’t offer a free trial, you can try it risk-free for 30 days with their money-back guarantee.
You’ll receive free updates and new features as they’re released, ensuring your tool stays current and valuable.
Helium 10
Helium offers three pricing plans tailored to fit your business needs, whether you’re starting out or an established seller. They also offer a free plan with limited access to certain tools, allowing me to explore the platform before committing to a paid plan.
Watch Out: Explore savings on your Helium 10 subscription with Avada’s exclusive discount codes:
The Verdict
For budget-conscious authors seeking a one-time investment for reliable keyword and category research, Publisher Rocket is the more cost-effective choice. However, Helium 10 offers a wider array of eCommerce tools suitable for users seeking a comprehensive suite, with the added benefit of exclusive Avada discount codes for additional savings.
Ease of Use
Publisher Rocket
I found Publisher Rocket easy to use, and its four main features were a game-changer for my book sales.
First, the Keyword Search Feature helped me quickly identify the best keywords for my book. Then, the Competition Analyzer Feature gave me valuable insights into what my successful competitors were doing.
Additionally, the Category Search Feature made choosing the best categories for my book simple, boosting its visibility. Finally, the AMS Keyword Search Feature saved me valuable time by automatically generating keywords for my Amazon ads.
However, there was a bit of a learning curve at first. It took me a few hours to fully grasp how to use it effectively. But once I got the hang of it, Publisher Rocket proved to be an indispensable tool for my book marketing.
Helium 10
At first, I found Helium 10 a bit overwhelming with the sheer number of tools and features. However, after investing time in their training resources and tutorials, I quickly became comfortable navigating the platform and using its various functionalities.
The interface is generally well-organized, but it took me a while to figure out where everything was and how the different tools interacted. The Chrome extension is particularly handy, as it lets me access Helium 10 data directly on Amazon product pages.
I also found the Helium 10 community to be a valuable resource. Whenever I got stuck, I could usually find answers to my questions in the forums or by reaching out to customer support.
The Verdict
When it comes to ease of use, Publisher Rocket is the clear winner. Its streamlined interface and focus on specific tools for authors make it much easier to learn and navigate than Helium 10’s vast array of features.
However, if you’re an experienced seller or willing to invest time in learning, Helium 10’s advanced features and in-depth data can be highly valuable. It ultimately comes down to your individual needs and preferences.
Keyword Research
Publisher Rocket
The Keyword Search feature in Publisher Rocket is excellent for finding relevant keywords for my book by searching both Google and Amazon. I can start with my book title, genre, or a specific keyword. After choosing whether to focus on ebooks or print editions, I enter the keyword and let Publisher Rocket do its magic.
The results are presented in a table with valuable information, including the number of competing books using each keyword, the search volume on both Google and Amazon to indicate keyword trends, and a competitive score to assess the difficulty of ranking for each keyword.
To get even more details, I can click “Analyze” next to each keyword. This automatically runs a competition analysis for that keyword and takes me straight to the Competition Analyzer feature. This saves me time and helps me quickly compare different keywords before deciding.
Helium 10
Helium 10’s keyword research tools have been game-changers for my Amazon business. I initially struggled to find the best keywords for my products, but Helium 10’s Cerebro and Magnet made the process much easier.
Cerebro, their reverse ASIN tool, has been invaluable. I can easily see the keywords my competitors rank for and use that data to inform my strategy. The historical search data and Amazon keyword ranking features are also beneficial for identifying trends and optimizing my listings.
On the other hand, Magnet is my go-to for finding relevant keywords from a broad seed keyword. The extensive list of related keywords and the filtering options help me narrow down my choices and prioritize the most effective terms.
Using Helium 10, I can see search volumes, trends, and competition levels for various keywords. This allows me to strategically choose the best keywords to optimize my product listings and improve visibility, leading to higher conversion rates.
The Verdict
While both Publisher Rocket and Helium 10 offer valuable tools for keyword research, Helium 10 emerges as the clear winner for those seeking a comprehensive and in-depth approach. Its suite of tools, including Cerebro, Magnet², and Misspellinator, provides unparalleled insights into search volumes, trends, and competition across a wider range of products beyond just books.
Competitor Analysis
Publisher Rocket
Before using Publisher Rocket’s Competition Analyzer, checking out the competition was a long process. I had to manually search Amazon for competitors’ keywords, Bestseller Rank (ABSR), categories, and more by opening each book’s sales page individually.
And the Competition Analyzer in Publisher Rocket makes this much easier. It gives you all the important details about competitors on one screen, including:
- Author name
- Current ABSR
- Book title, subtitle, and covers
- How long the book has been on Amazon (book age)
- Whether the keyword is in the title and subtitle
- Estimated daily and monthly sales
- Direct links to competitors’ Amazon pages
While Helium 10 doesn’t show the exact keywords competitors rank for (a limitation imposed by Amazon), it significantly streamlines my research process. I can quickly verify findings by cross-referencing with Amazon in my browser.
Helium 10
As an FBA seller, I find Helium 10’s Market Tracker tool incredibly helpful for understanding the markets my products are in.
I can create “markets” to track specific product spaces and organize them by choosing which products to focus on. The tool’s analysis capabilities give me valuable insights into trends and potential opportunities to increase my market share.
The Verdict
When it comes to competitor analysis, Helium 10 offers a more comprehensive suite of tools and data, making it the preferred choice for in-depth research. Historical trends, detailed market insights, and daily updates provide a more nuanced understanding of the competitive landscape compared to Publisher Rocket’s quick checks and basic analysis.
Product Research
Publisher Rocket
Publisher Rocket’s Category Search feature simplifies finding the best categories for my book, which is crucial for improving its ranking and visibility. It allows me to drill down through main categories and discover low-competition subcategories where my book can rank higher with fewer sales.
Helium 10
As a new Amazon seller, I found the process of finding a winning product to be quite challenging. However, Helium 10’s Black Box tool has been a game-changer for me. It allows me to explore potential bestsellers in less competitive niches.
The “Products” tab within Black Box is particularly useful, thanks to its easy-to-use filters. With just a few clicks, I can easily find products that not only meet my specific criteria but also demonstrate strong sales potential.
For instance, I discovered three promising products in the baby niche that were already selling well, despite having poorly optimized listings. This is a great opportunity for me to enter the market with a similar product and a more effective listing, potentially outselling the current competitors.
The Verdict
For product research, Helium 10 is the clear winner. Its Black Box tools provide comprehensive data and predictive analytics, making it ideal for sellers looking to find and capitalize on profitable products.
Marketing tools
Publisher Rocket
I found Publisher Rocket’s AMS Keyword Feature to be a real time-saver when creating Amazon ads. By simply entering a phrase describing my book, the tool generated hundreds of relevant keywords, which would have taken much longer to find manually.
This feature focuses explicitly on Amazon, identifying bestsellers, new releases, popular authors, and books that customers often buy together. This information has helped me target the right audience more effectively for my ad campaigns.
AMS Keywords focuses only on Amazon, finding bestsellers, new releases, and popular authors. It also identifies books that customers bought along with these books. This helps you target the right audience more efficiently.
Although the feature generates a table with detailed information about each keyword, I’ve found that I still need to use my own judgment to refine the list and manually add relevant “also bought” books.
Helium 10
Helium 10’s marketing tools are more advanced and suitable for a wide range of eCommerce needs. The Portals feature lets me create custom landing pages to drive external traffic directly to your Amazon product pages, increasing visibility and sales.
Helium 10 also has excellent tools for managing and optimizing PPC campaigns. The PPC software uses AI to maximize my return on investment (ROI) on Amazon ads. It simplifies creating, managing, and optimizing PPC campaigns, allowing me to make informed decisions based on clear and actionable analytics.
The Verdict
When it comes to marketing tools, Helium 10 is the winner. Its advanced PPC software and custom landing pages provide a complete solution for managing and optimizing ad campaigns.
Publisher Rocket’s AMS Keyword Feature is great for authors looking to generate relevant keywords for Amazon ads. However, it lacks the broader marketing tools and automation features that Helium 10 offers.
Customer Support
Publisher Rocket
Publisher Rocket has good customer support. They have a tutorial library and a search tool to help you find answers. If you need technical help, you can fill out a form, and a support engineer will get back to you within 24 hours. The support team is knowledgeable and quick to resolve issues.
Helium 10
Helium 10 offers many support resources to help users with their many tools. They have a Help Center with articles and guides that answer most questions. For quick help, Helium 10 has live chat support on its website. You can also submit a support ticket or email them at support@helium10.com.
From my experience, their support team responds quickly and knows a lot about Helium 10 and Amazon FBA, making it easy to resolve issues.
The Verdict
For customer support, Helium 10 is slightly better. While Publisher Rocket offers good support and quick responses, Helium 10 provides more resources, including live chat for instant help.
Publisher Rocket vs Helium 10: Best for
When deciding between Publisher Rocket and Helium 10, it’s essential to know who each tool is best suited for. Here’s a quick guide to help you:
Publisher Rocket is best for:
- Authors and publishers looking to sell more books
- Self-published and independent authors
- Writers who want to understand reader behavior and optimize keywords
- Authors focused on Amazon book sales and marketing
- Anyone seeking a simple, one-time payment tool with lifetime updates
Helium 10 is best for:
- Sellers looking to scale up their business
- Brands selling their own products on Amazon
- Solo entrepreneurs just starting out on Amazon
- Teams managing multiple products and ad campaigns
- Amazon agencies managing stores for multiple clients
- Established Amazon sellers and private-label merchants
- Sellers who need a comprehensive suite of tools for all aspects of Amazon’s selling
Bottom Line
Choosing between Helium 10 and Publisher Rocket depends on your priorities and budget.
Publisher Rocket is a cost-effective option for authors focused on optimizing book listings and ads, while Helium 10 caters to Amazon sellers requiring a wider range of tools for comprehensive product management and marketing.
Publisher Rocket vs Helium 10: FAQs
Yes, Publisher Rocket is the new name for KDP Rocket. The rebranding was done to better align with the tool's function as a comprehensive resource for authors and publishers and to avoid confusion with Amazon's KDP service.
The current version of Publisher Rocket is regularly updated with new features and improvements. As of the latest information, the most current version is 2.0. For the latest version and update details, it is best to visit the official Publisher Rocket website.
Book Bolt is a one-stop shop for creating and selling low-content books on Amazon. It's designed to simplify the entire process, from finding profitable niches to designing your book and getting it listed. You can research keywords to see what's trending, create eye-catching covers and interiors, and even check out what your competition is doing, leading to increased sales.
No, Book Bolt offers a free trial to new users, allowing them to explore the platform's features before committing to a subscription. To continue using Book Bolt after the trial period, users can choose from various paid plans tailored to their needs.
