Self-Publishing on Amazon: Pros, Cons, KDP Select, and Going Wide
Self-publishing on Amazon is still one of the most important ways for independent authors and publishers to reach readers. Amazon gives authors access to a huge book-buying audience, supports Kindle ebooks and print-on-demand, and offers optional programs like KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited.
But publishing on Amazon is not the same as publishing only on Amazon. Authors now have more options: they can publish directly through Amazon KDP, enroll ebooks in KDP Select, distribute to Amazon through a platform like PublishDrive, or use Amazon as one part of a wider strategy across retailers, libraries, subscription platforms, print, and audio.
This guide explains the real pros and cons of self-publishing on Amazon, how KDP Select works, when Amazon-only may make sense, and when wide distribution can give your book stronger long-term reach.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon is still essential. For most independent authors, Amazon should be part of the publishing strategy.
- KDP Select is optional. It can help authors reach Kindle Unlimited readers, but it requires ebook exclusivity during the enrollment period.
- Amazon-only is not the only path. You can publish on Amazon without enrolling in KDP Select, which allows you to distribute your ebook to other stores too.
- Wide distribution reduces platform dependency. A broader strategy can help authors reach readers across retailers, libraries, subscription services, formats, and regions.
- The best strategy depends on your readers. Kindle Unlimited may be powerful for some genres, while other books may perform better with a wider global approach.
Quick Comparison: Amazon KDP, KDP Select, and Wide Distribution
| Publishing Option | Best For | Main Benefit | Main Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon KDP | Authors who want to publish directly on Amazon | Simple access to Amazon’s Kindle and print marketplace | Amazon is only one part of the global book market |
| KDP Select | Authors focused on Kindle Unlimited readers | Access to Kindle Unlimited and Amazon promotional tools | Your ebook must remain exclusive to Amazon during the enrollment period |
| Amazon through PublishDrive | Authors and publishers who want Amazon plus wider distribution tools | Manage Amazon, other stores, reports, metadata, and royalties from one platform | You need to make sure you are not violating KDP Select exclusivity |
| Wide distribution | Authors building long-term reach across formats and markets | Access to more stores, libraries, subscription platforms, and regional markets | More channels can be harder to manage without the right tools |
Is Self-Publishing on Amazon Still Worth It?
Yes, self-publishing on Amazon is still worth it for most authors. Amazon remains one of the most important book sales channels in the world, and readers continue to discover, buy, and read books through Amazon Kindle, Amazon print, and Audible.
The better question is not whether Amazon matters. It does. The better question is whether Amazon should be your only publishing channel.
For some authors, especially those writing in Kindle Unlimited-heavy genres, an Amazon-focused strategy may work well. For others, especially authors building long-term catalogs across ebooks, print, audiobooks, international markets, and libraries, Amazon works better as one part of a wider publishing strategy.
That distinction matters. Amazon can be a powerful sales channel, but a single-platform strategy can also create dependency. If your entire publishing business depends on one retailer, then changes to rankings, account access, policies, categories, advertising costs, or reader behavior can have a major impact.
What Is Amazon KDP?
Amazon KDP, or Kindle Direct Publishing, is Amazon’s self-publishing platform. Authors and publishers can use it to publish Kindle ebooks, paperbacks, and hardcovers directly to Amazon.
With KDP, authors can upload book files, set pricing, choose territories, manage metadata, publish print-on-demand editions, and track sales through Amazon’s dashboard. For many authors, it is the first platform they use because it gives direct access to Amazon’s marketplace.
KDP is especially important for:
- Kindle ebooks
- Paperback and hardcover print-on-demand books
- Amazon product pages
- Reader reviews on Amazon
- Amazon Ads
- Kindle Unlimited access through KDP Select
However, KDP is not the same as KDP Select. You can publish through Amazon KDP without enrolling your ebook in KDP Select. That is the key difference many authors miss.
Pros of Self-Publishing on Amazon
1. Amazon gives authors access to a major reader marketplace
The biggest advantage of self-publishing on Amazon is reach. Millions of readers already use Amazon to search for books, compare options, read reviews, buy print editions, and download Kindle ebooks.
For many independent authors, Amazon is the first place readers expect to find their books. That makes Amazon difficult to ignore, even for authors who also want to sell through other platforms.
2. You can publish ebooks and print books
Amazon KDP supports Kindle ebooks, paperbacks, and hardcovers. That gives authors a direct route into both digital and print formats.
This matters because print has become a stronger opportunity for independent authors. In PublishDrive’s 2025 distribution data, overall print revenue across the network grew by 75% year over year, making it the strongest growth format tracked in the network. Amazon Print also remained one of the key channels behind that momentum.
For authors who have only published ebooks, adding print can create another way for readers to buy, gift, and discover their work.
3. Amazon can be simple to start with
Amazon KDP gives authors a direct upload path. You can create an account, prepare your files, enter your metadata, choose pricing, and submit your book for review.
That simplicity is one reason Amazon is often the first platform authors try. It reduces the initial barrier to publishing and gives authors a clear path from manuscript to live product page.
4. KDP Select can help you reach Kindle Unlimited readers
KDP Select is Amazon’s optional program for Kindle ebooks. When you enroll an eligible Kindle ebook in KDP Select, it is included in Kindle Unlimited and becomes eligible for certain Amazon promotional tools.
This can be useful for authors whose readers are highly active in Kindle Unlimited. It may be especially relevant for authors with series, fast-reading genres, or audiences that already discover books through KU.
5. Amazon supports familiar reader behavior
Amazon readers are used to browsing categories, reading reviews, checking rankings, downloading samples, and buying quickly. That familiar buying experience can help reduce friction between discovery and purchase.
For authors, this means the book page, metadata, cover, description, reviews, and price all matter. Amazon gives access to the audience, but discoverability still depends on how well the book is positioned.
6. Amazon can support multiple publishing goals
Some authors use Amazon to launch a first book. Others use it to sell a large backlist, test print editions, run ads, reach Kindle Unlimited readers, or support a broader global distribution strategy.
Amazon is not just one channel with one use case. It can serve different roles depending on your catalog, format mix, audience, and publishing goals.
Cons of Self-Publishing on Amazon
1. Competition is intense
Amazon gives authors access to a huge marketplace, but that also means a huge amount of competition. Publishing a book on Amazon does not automatically mean readers will find it.
Authors still need strong metadata, a compelling book description, the right categories and keywords, a professional cover, reviews, pricing strategy, and ongoing marketing. Without those pieces, a book can go live and still remain invisible.
2. Amazon-only publishing creates platform dependency
Publishing only through Amazon can make your business dependent on one platform. That can be risky if your visibility changes, your ads become more expensive, your categories shift, your account is reviewed, or your audience starts buying in other places.
This does not mean Amazon is bad. It means Amazon should be understood as a powerful channel, not necessarily the entire business.
3. Royalty rates depend on format, price, and rules
Amazon ebook royalties are not one flat number for every book. KDP offers a 35% royalty option and a 70% royalty option for ebooks, with eligibility depending on factors such as price, territory, delivery costs, and applicable terms.
Print royalties are different again because printing costs are deducted. Audiobook earnings follow another model. This means authors should understand the economics by format rather than assuming every Amazon sale works the same way.
4. KDP Select requires ebook exclusivity
KDP Select can be valuable, but it comes with a major trade-off. During the enrollment period, the Kindle ebook must remain exclusive to Amazon, with limited exceptions such as public library distribution under Amazon’s current terms.
This exclusivity applies to the digital ebook, not necessarily to print or audio formats. Still, for authors who want to sell ebooks through Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play Books, Barnes & Noble, subscription platforms, or other retailers, KDP Select can limit reach.
5. Amazon does not reach every reader
Many readers buy through Amazon. But not all readers do.
Some readers prefer Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play Books, Barnes & Noble, local retailers, library platforms, subscription services, or regional ecosystems. Some markets are also less Amazon-centered than others.
If your readers are outside Amazon-heavy markets, or if your book has strong library, international, educational, or niche potential, an Amazon-only strategy may leave demand untapped.
6. You still need to manage your publishing business
Amazon makes publishing accessible, but it does not remove the work of being an author-publisher. You still need to think about editing, cover design, metadata, pricing, marketing, reader targeting, sales reporting, and long-term catalog planning.
Self-publishing gives authors more control, but that control comes with responsibility.
What Is KDP Select?
KDP Select is Amazon’s optional 90-day program for Kindle ebooks. When an eligible Kindle ebook is enrolled, it is automatically included in Kindle Unlimited and becomes eligible for certain Amazon promotional tools, such as Free Book Promotions and Kindle Countdown Deals.
The important part is exclusivity. During the KDP Select enrollment period, the Kindle ebook must be exclusive to the Kindle Store. That means you cannot sell or distribute that ebook through other ebook retailers during the term.
Amazon states that KDP Select is for Kindle ebooks only. Authors can continue to distribute print, audio, video, or other formats of the title elsewhere, as long as the Kindle ebook follows the KDP Select requirements.
KDP Select Pros and Cons
KDP Select pros
1. Access to Kindle Unlimited
The biggest benefit of KDP Select is Kindle Unlimited. Instead of earning only from ebook purchases, enrolled books can earn from pages read by KU subscribers.
This can be useful for authors with long books, bingeable series, strong genre readership, or an audience already active in Kindle Unlimited.
2. Amazon promotional tools
KDP Select gives authors access to promotional options such as Free Book Promotions and Kindle Countdown Deals where available. These tools can support launch campaigns, series promotions, reader acquisition, or short-term visibility pushes.
3. Simpler focus
Some authors prefer focusing on one ecosystem, especially early on. Managing one platform can feel simpler than managing multiple retailers, dashboards, reports, and promotional calendars.
For a new author testing one book, this simplicity may be appealing.
KDP Select cons
1. Ebook exclusivity limits reach
The biggest downside is that your ebook cannot be sold through other ebook retailers during the enrollment period. That means no Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play Books, Barnes & Noble, or other ebook stores for that edition while it is enrolled.
2. You depend more heavily on one ecosystem
KDP Select can deepen your reliance on Amazon. If most of your sales and page reads come from one platform, then platform changes can have a bigger effect on your income.
3. KU performance varies by genre and audience
Kindle Unlimited is not equally important for every type of book. Some genres perform strongly in KU, while others may have readers who prefer buying directly, reading in print, borrowing through libraries, listening to audio, or using other stores.
4. Auto-renewal can catch authors off guard
KDP Select enrollment can automatically renew unless you opt out. If you plan to go wide after one term, make sure you cancel automatic renewal before the next 90-day period begins.
Can You Publish on Amazon and Other Platforms?
Yes. You can publish on Amazon and other platforms as long as your ebook is not enrolled in KDP Select.
This is one of the most important distinctions for authors. Amazon KDP itself does not require exclusivity. KDP Select does.
That means you can sell your book on Amazon while also distributing to Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play Books, Barnes & Noble, libraries, subscription platforms, and other retailers, provided the ebook is not currently locked into KDP Select.
If you already have your book on Amazon, you can still use PublishDrive for wider distribution. If you are not in KDP Select, you can upload your book to PublishDrive and choose the stores you want to reach. If you want to keep managing Amazon directly, you can switch Amazon off during the PublishDrive upload process and distribute to other stores instead.
If your ebook is currently in KDP Select or Kindle Unlimited, you need to wait until the current 90-day exclusivity period ends before distributing that ebook widely. You should also cancel automatic re-enrollment if your plan is to move wide after the term.
Learn more in PublishDrive’s Help Center: I have my books on Amazon. Can I distribute through PublishDrive?
What PublishDrive’s 2025 Amazon Sales Data Shows
Amazon remains a major force in independent publishing, but the details are changing.
In PublishDrive’s aggregated 2025 distribution data, Amazon.com and Amazon Print together accounted for 77% of total book sales revenue across the PublishDrive ecosystem. That shows how important Amazon remains for many independent authors and publishers.
But the same data also shows why authors should look beyond a single Amazon-only view. Print-on-demand accelerated quickly, Amazon’s internal format mix shifted, and meaningful growth also appeared across other channels, formats, and regions.
Inside Amazon sales through PublishDrive, ebooks remained the largest format, but print became a stronger growth engine. Amazon Print-on-Demand represented 24% of total PublishDrive Amazon sales revenue in 2024 and increased to 30% in 2025. Overall print revenue across PublishDrive grew by 75% year over year.
That means authors should not think about Amazon only as a Kindle ebook channel. Amazon can matter for ebooks, print, and audio, but each format behaves differently.
Read the full analysis here: Amazon Book Sales Trends on PublishDrive.
Amazon-Only vs Wide Distribution: Which Is Better?
Amazon-only is not automatically wrong. Wide distribution is not automatically better. The right choice depends on your book, your audience, your catalog, your format strategy, and your risk tolerance.
If most of your readers are Kindle Unlimited subscribers, KDP Select may be worth testing. If your book is part of a fast-moving genre series where KU page reads can support strong earnings, Amazon exclusivity may make business sense for a period of time.
But if your readers buy across multiple stores, borrow from libraries, listen to audiobooks, read in print, live outside Amazon-dominant markets, or discover books through regional ecosystems, wide distribution may give you more long-term opportunity.
Publishing beyond Amazon does not mean excluding Amazon. It means putting Amazon in context. Amazon remains an important retailer and discovery channel, but it does not need to define the whole business.
Why Publishing Wide Still Matters
Wide distribution gives authors access to more parts of the reading market. That includes ebook stores, print networks, audiobook platforms, libraries, subscription reading services, regional retailers, and international channels.
The main benefits of publishing wide include:
- More reader access: Your book can appear where different readers already buy, borrow, or listen.
- Reduced platform dependency: Your income is not tied only to one retailer or one algorithm.
- More format flexibility: You can build a strategy across ebooks, print, and audio.
- International growth: Different markets have different dominant retailers and reading habits.
- Better catalog learning: Sales data across stores, regions, and formats can help you understand where your books are gaining traction.
This is especially important for authors and publishers building a long-term catalog. One book can be manageable on a few platforms. Ten, twenty, or fifty books can become much harder to update manually across every store.
Back matter changes, metadata updates, price adjustments, new covers, corrected files, and format expansions can quickly become time-consuming. A centralized distribution platform can make catalog management easier as the business grows.
Video: How PublishDrive Helps Authors Go Wide
For a deeper discussion, watch this independent interview with PublishDrive Community Manager Danica Favorite on Self-Publishing with Dale: watch the video on YouTube.
When Amazon-Only May Make Sense
An Amazon-only strategy may make sense if:
- Your readers are highly active in Kindle Unlimited.
- You write in a genre where KU page reads are a major discovery and revenue driver.
- You want to test one platform before expanding.
- You have a short-term launch strategy built around KDP Select promotions.
- You are comfortable with the risks of relying heavily on one ecosystem.
For some authors, Amazon exclusivity can be a useful experiment. The important thing is to treat it as a strategic choice, not the default option.
When Wide Distribution May Make Sense
Wide distribution may make sense if:
- You want to sell through Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play Books, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers.
- You want access to library platforms and subscription reading services.
- You publish in formats beyond ebooks, such as print and audio.
- You have readers in multiple regions or countries.
- You want to reduce dependency on one retailer.
- You have a growing catalog and need easier management across stores.
- You want to build a long-term publishing business rather than optimize for one platform only.
For many authors, the strongest approach is not Amazon or wide. It is Amazon and wide, with KDP Select used only when the exclusivity trade-off clearly supports the book’s goals.
How PublishDrive Helps Authors Publish on Amazon and Beyond
PublishDrive helps authors and publishers distribute books to Amazon while also reaching a wider global network of stores and libraries.
With PublishDrive, you can distribute ebooks, audiobooks, and print-on-demand books to Amazon, while also managing broader distribution from one platform. PublishDrive also supports authors with metadata tools, sales analytics, royalty reporting, promotional opportunities, Amazon Ads support, and royalty splitting through Abacus.
This can be especially useful for authors with larger catalogs, publishers managing many titles, or writers who want to treat publishing as a long-term business with predictable systems.
Another difference is the business model. Many distributors use a revenue-share model, where they take a percentage of royalties. PublishDrive uses subscription-based pricing, so authors and publishers can keep 100% of their net royalties from stores while paying a predictable platform fee.
Explore Amazon distribution here: Distribute books to Amazon with PublishDrive.
Final Verdict: Should You Self-Publish on Amazon?
Yes, most independent authors should consider publishing on Amazon. It remains one of the most important book sales channels and can play a major role in ebook, print, and audiobook strategy.
But Amazon should not automatically be your only channel.
The real decision is how Amazon fits into your wider publishing goals. If Kindle Unlimited is central to your audience, KDP Select may be worth testing. If you want to reach readers across multiple stores, formats, libraries, and countries, wide distribution may be the stronger long-term strategy.
Amazon is valuable. Wide distribution is valuable. The strongest publishing strategy starts with understanding your readers, your formats, your catalog, and your risk tolerance.
FAQs About Self-Publishing on Amazon
Is self-publishing on Amazon worth it?
Yes, self-publishing on Amazon is worth it for most authors because Amazon is one of the largest book sales channels. However, Amazon does not have to be your only channel. Many authors publish on Amazon while also distributing to other stores and libraries.
What are the main pros of self-publishing on Amazon?
The main pros are access to a major reader marketplace, ebook and print-on-demand options, control over your book listing, potential access to Kindle Unlimited through KDP Select, and a familiar buying experience for readers.
What are the main cons of self-publishing on Amazon?
The main cons are high competition, dependency on one platform, royalty rules that vary by format and price, changing policies, and ebook exclusivity if you enroll in KDP Select.
What is KDP Select?
KDP Select is Amazon’s optional 90-day program for Kindle ebooks. It gives eligible ebooks access to Kindle Unlimited and certain Amazon promotional tools, but the ebook must remain exclusive to Amazon during the enrollment period.
Can I publish on Amazon and other platforms?
Yes. You can publish your book on Amazon and other platforms as long as your ebook is not enrolled in KDP Select. If your ebook is enrolled in KDP Select, you need to wait until the current 90-day term ends before distributing that ebook widely.
Does KDP Select apply to paperbacks and hardcovers?
No. KDP Select applies to Kindle ebooks. Physical formats such as paperbacks and hardcovers can generally be distributed through other channels even if the ebook is enrolled in KDP Select.
Should I choose KDP Select or wide distribution?
KDP Select may make sense if your readers are heavily concentrated in Kindle Unlimited. Wide distribution may make more sense if you want to reach readers across Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play Books, Barnes & Noble, libraries, subscription platforms, and international stores.
Can I use PublishDrive if my book is already on Amazon?
Yes, if your ebook is not enrolled in KDP Select. You can use PublishDrive to distribute to other stores while keeping Amazon switched off during the upload process, or you can distribute to Amazon through PublishDrive after removing the direct Amazon version and following the correct process.
Is Amazon KDP better than PublishDrive?
Amazon KDP and PublishDrive serve different purposes. KDP lets you publish directly to Amazon. PublishDrive helps authors and publishers distribute to Amazon and many other stores, libraries, and platforms from one dashboard. The better option depends on whether you want Amazon only or a wider distribution strategy.
Start Publishing on Amazon and Beyond
Amazon can be a powerful part of your publishing business, but it does not have to be the whole strategy. With PublishDrive, you can distribute to Amazon and reach readers across a wider global network of stores, libraries, and platforms.