The Best Amazon KDP Alternatives for Self-Published Authors

Amazon KDP is where most self-published authors begin, and it remains the single largest place readers buy books. But depending on one company for your income carries real risks, and KDP's terms aren't always the most generous. This guide compares the main alternatives honestly, using terms checked in September 2026.

Why authors look beyond KDP

• Concentration risk. If all your income comes from one platform, a policy change, an algorithm shift or an account problem can cut it overnight.
• Price bands. KDP pays 70% only on Amazon.com list prices from $2.99 to $12.99 (widened from $9.99 in July 2026); outside that, it pays 35%.
• Delivery costs. The 70% option deducts $0.15 per MB on Amazon.com, which hurts image-heavy books.
• Exclusivity. KDP Select pays from the Kindle Unlimited pool, but only if your ebook is exclusive to Amazon.
• Readers elsewhere. Millions of readers buy from Apple, Kobo, Google and others, especially outside the US.
• Owning the relationship. Direct stores let you build a closer connection with readers.

KDP alternatives at a glance

Checked September 2026; sources at the end of this guide.

Going wide: the retailers

Apple Books for Authors

Apple pays 70% on ebooks at every price, with no delivery fees, and sells in many countries. It is a natural first addition for authors going wide, and particularly strong for romance and other genres with devoted readers on iPhone and iPad.

Google Play Books Partner Center

Google pays 70% of the list price on ebook sales in most of its supported countries. It reaches Android readers worldwide, although its store is more search-driven than browse-driven.

Kobo Writing Life

Kobo pays 70% on ebooks from $2.99 to $12.99 and 45% outside that range, and is strong in Canada, Europe and Australia. It also offers promotional opportunities through its Writing Life team and a Kobo Plus subscription program.

Barnes & Noble Press

B&N Press pays a flat 70% on ebooks at $0.99 and up, and offers print books too. It is the largest US ebook retailer after Amazon and Apple for many genres.

Draft2Digital: going wide with one upload

If managing several retailer accounts sounds like a lot, Draft2Digital distributes your ebook to Apple, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, libraries and many more from a single upload, and formats ebooks for you. It keeps roughly 10% of the list price, so a 70% retailer becomes about 60% for you.

Since 2026, new accounts pay a one-time $20 activation fee, and there is a $12 yearly fee unless you earned $100 or more in the previous twelve months. See KDP vs Draft2Digital for a direct comparison.

IngramSpark: print beyond Amazon

KDP print books rarely reach independent bookshops or libraries. IngramSpark connects your print book to the Ingram network, so shops and libraries can order it. Setup fees were removed, but a market access fee of 1.875% of list price applies from February 2026. Read KDP vs IngramSpark for details.

Flat-fee and direct stores

BooksOasis

BooksOasis is an ebook-first bookstore where you list your books for a flat plan and keep 100% of every ebook sale, with no commission and no processing cut on your ebook royalty.

• Plans: Starter $29.99/yr for 10 books, Growth $179/yr for 100, Publisher $599/yr for 500, or monthly.
• Print: paperbacks and hardcovers on demand; the printing cost plus a 30% handling fee on that cost come out first, and readers pay shipping.
• Promotions: set your own promotional prices with start and end dates.
• Pen names: unlimited author names and imprints.

Books.by

Books.by charges a yearly fee and passes on 100% of sales minus card processing. Its $99 Core plan is paperback-only; ebooks need the $299 Pro plan. It offers daily payouts and shares buyer details with you.

Payhip and Gumroad

General digital stores where you sell ebook files direct. Payhip charges 5%, 2% or 0% depending on plan, plus processing; Gumroad charges 10% plus $0.50 per sale, plus processing. You bring your own readers.

What a $4.99 ebook earns: KDP vs the alternatives

Example calculations before tax and plan fees. Try your own numbers in the royalty calculator.

KDP Select: the exclusivity question

KDP Select is a free, 90-day program for Kindle ebooks. While enrolled, your ebook must be exclusive to Amazon. In return, it can be read in Kindle Unlimited, earning a share of a monthly fund based on pages read, and you get promotional tools such as Kindle Countdown Deals and free book promotion days.

For some authors, especially in fast-reading genres, Kindle Unlimited income is substantial. For others, the exclusivity costs more in lost sales elsewhere than it earns. Exclusivity covers the ebook only; paperbacks and hardcovers can be sold anywhere. Read KDP Select vs going wide before deciding.

Alternatives to KDP Print

KDP Print is convenient and pays 60% of list minus printing on Amazon.com at $9.99 and above. But it mainly sells on Amazon. If you want print copies elsewhere, these are the options:

Many authors keep KDP Print for Amazon and add IngramSpark for bookshops. You can offer print on BooksOasis too, so readers who find your ebook can order the paperback or hardcover from the same page.

Going wide in 90 days: a timeline

How to add alternatives without losing KDP sales

1. Check KDP Select.If your ebook is enrolled, turn off auto-renewal and wait for the 90-day term to end before listing it elsewhere.
2. Start with print.Print books aren't covered by Select exclusivity, so you can list them elsewhere now.
3. Add one retailer at a time.Apple, Kobo or B&N direct, or Draft2Digital for all of them.
4. Add a flat-fee store.List on BooksOasis to keep 100% of the ebook sales you win there.
5. Keep prices consistent.Amazon can price-match lower prices found elsewhere, which can affect your royalty.
6. Point readers to your best-paying store.Your newsletter and website can link wherever you earn most.

Which alternative suits you?

Common mistakes when leaving KDP Select

• Listing elsewhere before the term ends. This breaches the Select terms.
• Expecting instant sales elsewhere. Building an audience on new stores takes months.
• Forgetting library channels. Libraries can be a steady income for wide authors.
• Not updating back matter. Links in your books should point to the right stores for each edition.

Sources

Checked September 2026: KDP list price requirements; KDP delivery costs; KDP Select; Google Play Books revenue split; Apple Books for Authors (Written Word Media); Kobo Writing Life earnings; B&N Press; Draft2Digital; IngramSpark 2026 changes; Books.by; Payhip.

In short

Amazon KDP is too big to ignore, and too important to depend on alone. Keep it, add Apple, Kobo, Google and B&N (directly or through Draft2Digital) for wider ebook reach, IngramSpark if bookshops matter, and a flat-fee store like BooksOasis to keep 100% of the ebook sales you make there.