Is Self Book Publishing Really Worth It for First-Time Authors?

Hey everyone, I have been thinking about going the self book publishing route for my upcoming project, but I’m a bit unsure where to start. There are so many platforms and mixed opinions out there it’s hard to know which path actually works best. Has anyone here tried self-publishing recently? What challenges did you face, and would you recommend it over traditional publishing? I’d really appreciate your honest insights and advice!