The Freedom Shortcut Review (2026): What the $9.80 Book Is Really Selling
On This Page
- The Freedom Shortcut in One Minute
- What the Book Covers
- The Real Costs
- Is Publishing Still Profitable?
- How to Try Publishing on a Budget
- Ebooks, Paperbacks and Audiobooks Compared
- Is The Freedom Shortcut a Scam?
- Pros and Cons
- Our #1 Recommendation for Making Money Online in 2026
- Other Reviews Readers Compare
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Our Verdict on The Freedom Shortcut
The Freedom Shortcut in One Minute
The Freedom Shortcut is a book from Christian and Rasmus Mikkelsen, Danish twins known for teaching self-publishing on Amazon and Audible. It's sold for about $9.80 and explains their approach to publishing books and audiobooks, often with hired writers and narrators. The book works as the entry point to their main course, Audiobook Income Academy, which has been reported to cost $2,000 or more.
The book is cheap and gives a clear overview. Just know that it's the first step of a sales funnel, and the real cost of the business is the course plus the money you'll spend producing books.
| Product | The Freedom Shortcut (book) |
|---|---|
| Authors | Christian and Rasmus Mikkelsen |
| Price | About $9.80 |
| Topic | Publishing books and audiobooks |
| Leads to | Audiobook Income Academy (reported $2,000+) |
| Platforms covered | Amazon KDP and Audible (ACX) |
What the Book Covers
| Topic | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Why publishing | The case for books and audiobooks as assets |
| Niche research | Finding topics readers buy |
| Outsourcing | Hiring writers, cover designers and narrators |
| Publishing | Listing ebooks, paperbacks and audiobooks |
| Next steps | An invitation to their coaching or course |
The Real Costs
| Item | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| The Freedom Shortcut book | About $9.80 |
| Audiobook Income Academy | Reported $2,000+ |
| Ghostwritten book | Often several hundred dollars or more |
| Cover design | Varies |
| Narration | Varies by length and narrator |
Is Publishing Still Profitable?
Self-publishing can still work, but competition is high and many books earn very little. Results depend on choosing niches with demand, producing quality books and marketing them. Our guide on whether Kindle publishing is still profitable goes into more detail.
How to Try Publishing on a Budget
- Read the book or free resources on KDP and ACX.
- Research a niche with steady demand.
- Write or outsource one short book.
- Publish ebook and paperback editions first.
- Add an audiobook once the book sells.
- Build an email list of readers.
An author email list helps every launch. AWeber and Systeme.io both have free plans for collecting reader emails. If you want to narrate audiobooks with AI, ElevenLabs offers AI voices, though check each platform's rules on AI-narrated audiobooks before publishing.
Ebooks, Paperbacks and Audiobooks Compared
Each format has different costs and earning patterns. Ebooks are cheapest to produce and easy to update. Paperbacks add printing costs per copy, which Amazon deducts from royalties, but many readers still prefer print. Audiobooks cost the most to make because of narration, but they can sell steadily on Audible and other platforms once listed.
Many publishers start with an ebook and paperback, check whether a title sells, and only then pay for narration. That keeps the upfront cost of testing each book low.
Is The Freedom Shortcut a Scam?
No. It's a real, cheap book from well-known publishing teachers. It's also a gateway to a much more expensive course, so read it as an introduction and decide about the course separately.
Pros and Cons
What Stands Out
- Cheap introduction to publishing
- Clear overview of outsourcing
- Authors are well-known teachers
What to Weigh Up
- Leads to a course of $2,000+
- Publishing costs add up
- Competition is high
Our #1 Recommendation for Making Money Online in 2026
If The Freedom Shortcut isn't the right fit for you, here's what we suggest instead.
After comparing hundreds of programs over the years, we know what works and what doesn't. In fact, most of the business opportunities are either instant cash grab schemes or scams or they require experience. However, this beginner-friendly system stood out and is our #1 recommendation for 2026.
Other Reviews Readers Compare
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Wrote The Freedom Shortcut?
Christian and Rasmus Mikkelsen.
How Much Is The Freedom Shortcut?
About $9.80.
What Does It Lead To?
Their Audiobook Income Academy course, reported at $2,000 or more.
Do I Need the Course?
No. Many people start with free KDP and ACX resources.
Our Verdict on The Freedom Shortcut
A cheap, useful primer on publishing. Read it, try one book on a budget, then decide whether the course is worth it.
Looking for a Better Starting Point Than The Freedom Shortcut?
Consider our #1 recommendation for making money online in 2026.