What is the first platform that comes to mind when authors think of self-publishing? More often than not, it is the book retailer giant, Amazon KDP. In fact, statistics show that “Amazon releases over 1.4 million self-published books through its Kindle Direct Publishing every year.” That’s a huge number! But unfortunately, with huge numbers like this one, many downsides start to appear (like getting your books overlooked and finding it hard to compete).
Now what should you do if you are an author looking to self-publish your book (whether print or digital), but don’t want to choose just any unknown platform? Well, there are a number of KDP alternatives out there that can get the job done for you (maybe even with more advantages than KDP offers). In this article, we will explore each of them in great detail, including their features and the royalties they offer.
Why Publish on a KDP Alternative?
There is no doubt that Amazon KDP has some perks, such as having a huge user base and a preordering option. However, there are several drawbacks that many self-published authors have complained about.
For example, if you choose to publish on KDP Select, you’ll have to agree not to publish anywhere else for a 90-day period. It is also a highly competitive marketplace that might not give your book the attention it deserves. Another drawback is that you might not always get the maximum royalties (which is 70%) if your book is priced above $9.99 or is sold in certain territories.
Important read: Self-Publishing on Amazon Pros and Cons
Choosing a KDP alternative, on the other hand, can come with several benefits. While each platform offers different advantages to authors, here are the general ones:
- Broader distribution: Using KDP alternatives can help get your work to readers across different markets and regions.
- Higher royalties: You can find some platforms that offer higher royalties than Amazon KDP does, which means more profit for you!
- Reduced competition: Not all platforms are as over-saturated as KDP. What’s more, some platforms cater to niche audiences, making it easier to stand out.
- Increased sales opportunities: If you decide to publish on multiple platforms and not limit yourself to KDP, you will be able to increase your book’s visibility and hence its sales.
- More services: While KDP offers a few services (such as print-on-demand), some of its alternatives offer full design and marketing packages, which can be a great help if you’re a new author.
Top 10 KDP Alternatives
While the market is full of publishing platforms, only a few of them can be considered comparable to Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). Below, you’ll find a list of some platforms worthy of such a title and the features that make each of them stand out.
1. Kotobee Books
This platform offers numerous benefits for both first-time and experienced authors. Not only is it incredibly user-friendly, but it also provides the highest royalty rate available on the market today—100%! Plus, it’s completely free to use, and the publishing process takes just a few minutes. Once you hit “publish,” your book will be available to thousands of readers worldwide.
You might be thinking to yourself now: what’s the catch? Well, there aren’t any. You just need to seize this opportunity because the 100% royalty is for a limited time.
Why Publish with Kotobee Books:
- Get to keep 100% of your book royalties.
- Publish interactive EPUBs for a more engaging reading experience.
- Access Kotobee’s other services, such as ebook consultation, design, conversion, and scripting.
- Kotobee Books doesn’t require exclusivity, so you can publish on other platforms as well.
2. Apple Books
Apple Books can be a great option if you are looking to target Apple users. Since this KDP alternative doesn’t require exclusivity, you can easily reach people with iPads, iPhones, and Macbooks through Apple Books, and then use other platforms to get to the rest of your target audience. Just keep in mind that in order to publish directly to Apple Books, you should be a Mac user; otherwise, you can use an aggregator to get the job done for you.
Why Publish on Apple Books:
- No matter what the price of your book is or where you’re selling it, you get 70% royalties.
- Track your book sales with detailed reports.
- Turn your book into an audiobook with Apple Books digital narrations.
- There aren’t any hidden fees for publishing on this platform–publishing on Apple Books is completely free.
3. Google Play Books
Now what if you want to publish on a platform with a huge online presence but don’t want to limit yourself to Apple users? Then you might like to consider Google Play Books. Once you publish your book on this platform, it’ll be available to over 2.29 billion Google Play users worldwide! Additionally, your book will be indexed on Google, so it will have better visibility and appear in search results.
Why Publish with Google Play Books:
- This platform offers authors 70% royalties on their book sales.
- Publishing on Google Play Books is free of charge and no exclusivity is required.
- Add DRM to protect your book from piracy while selling it on Google Play Books.
- Publish your ebook as an EPUB or a PDF file.
4. Barnes & Nobel Press
If you live in the US, then you most probably know about Barnes & Noble, one of the largest book retailers on this side of the world. As an alternative to KDP, publishing on B&N Press allows you to have your book available at their online stores as well as their physical ones. And with a print-on-demand option, you can reach a far wider audience.
Why Publish on B&N Press:
- Get a flat royalty of 70% on all your book sales.
- Publish on multiple platforms besides B&N Press as no exclusivity is required.
- Have access to their various paid book services, including cover design, book editing, and marketing tools.
- Publish your ebook as an EPUB or PDF file format.
5. Kobo Writing Life
This is probably the closest KDP alternative on this list. Based in Canada with availability in over 190 countries, Rakuten Kobo’s self-publishing platform helps independent authors publish their ebooks and audiobooks and reach millions of users worldwide. Moreover, this platform is easy to use, so you can get your book published in just a few clicks.
Why Publish with Kobo Writing Life:
- Just like KDP, Kobo offers 70% royalties on all books over $2.99.
- Publish your ebook on as many other platforms as you please, since they don’t require exclusivity.
- The interface is available in multiple languages, including English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, and Chinese.
- Have access to their free promotional and sales tracking tools.
- Publish your ebook in any of the following formats: EPUB, MOBI, PDF, DOC/DOCX, or ODT.
6. Draft2Digital
Are you tired of looking for multiple platforms to publish your book on to maximize your profit and reach a wider audience? Then you might want to consider publishing with an aggregator such as Draft2Digital. This platform helps you distribute your book to over 15 major book retailers.
While there aren’t any upfront fees, you’ll be charged about 10% of your book’s list price. For instance, if the retailer takes a 30% royalty, Draft2Digital takes an additional 10%, leaving you with 60% of your book’s list price.
Why Publish with Draft2Digital:
- Free access to multiple services, including book formatting and conversion.
- Draft2Digital offers powerful sales-tracking tools to stay informed on how your book is performing.
- Publish your book in a variety of formats, such as EPUB, MOBI, PDF, DOC/DOCX, RTF, and ODT.
7. Publish Drive
This book aggregator operates in a slightly different way than normal ones; instead of taking 10% of your royalties, Publish Drive offers a subscription-based model. This way, you can pay a monthly fee and keep 100% of your royalties. In addition to ebook and audiobook distribution, they also offer print distribution services if you want your book to be available in brick-and-mortar stores.
Why Publish with Publish Drive:
- Select the plan that matches the number of titles you wish to publish, ranging from $16.99/month to $99.99/month.
- Publish Drive distributes to over 20 channels and 400 stores.
- Make use of their built-in marketing and promotional tools to boost your books’ visibility.
- Use their AI-powered tools to create metadata and design a cover for your book.
8. IngramSpark
This is the self-publishing destination for authors looking to print their books rather than just sell e-copies. With that said, it is important to note that IngramSpark is an aggregator that distributes not only printed books but ebooks as well. To help authors understand their potential earnings, the platform offers a handy calculator that factors in all costs and provides a clear estimate of your final profit.
Why Publish with IngramSpark:
- Pay as little as $25 per published title.
- Have your ebook converted to the required format, and use their paid marketing service.
- Access detailed sales reports to track your book’s performance.
- Get a free ISBN for easier distribution.
- IngramSpark distributes to 6 regions and 36 different channels, making it the widest distribution available for printed books.
9. BookBaby
BookBaby is much more than just a KDP alternative; it is a full-service self-publishing company dedicated to helping independent authors publish their books in both print and digital formats. As both a book retailer and an aggregator, you can choose to sell your books directly through the BookBaby Bookshop or use their distribution services to reach other retailers.
Why Publish with BookBaby:
- Get competitive royalty rates, especially for ebooks, which can go up to 85%.
- Access a wide range of paid services, including editing, cover design, ebook conversion, and print-on-demand.
- Enjoy personalized support and guidance throughout the publishing process.
- No exclusivity requirements, so you can publish on multiple platforms as you wish.
10. Blurb
This platform also acts as both a book retailer and an aggregator. What makes Blurb stand out is its ability to help you sell more than just printed books; its free book creation software can help you create and distribute ebooks as well as magazines and photo books. Additionally, it offers on-demand printing, with options for large-volume printing as well.
Why Publish with Blurb:
- Customize your book’s layout and design using their free advanced tools.
- Reach wider audiences with their distribution services through Ingram.
- Get a free ISBN when you use their book creation tools.
- Let your reader enjoy one of the highest-quality print books on the market.
Wrapping Up
Nowadays, finding a KDP alternative has never been easier. With so many platforms to choose from, you can pick the one that fits your needs—or even publish with a few of them to maximize your profits and get your book in front of more readers. After all the effort you’ve poured into your book, it deserves the best chance to shine!
.
Read More
How Much Does It Cost to Publish a Book: Full Breakdown
Book Royalties: What They Are and How to Earn the Best Rates
