The Amazon KDP Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Amazon KDP in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Amazon KDP
The Insider’s Guide
Amazon's free self-publishing for ebooks and print-on-demand books
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among print-on-demand and dropshipping services, read from Amazon KDP’s own pages.
Made by Amazon · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Amazon KDP’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Amazon KDP’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 11 of the 30 other print-on-demand and dropshipping services we grade
Kindle Direct Publishing is Amazon's self-publishing service for ebooks, paperbacks and hardcovers. Authors upload a manuscript and cover, set a list price, and Amazon prints paperbacks and hardcovers when a customer orders them. There is no sign-up fee; Amazon takes a share of each sale and deducts the printing cost on print books.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Amazon KDP, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You still format the manuscript and cover and set prices that clear the minimum.
- 1
Best for publishing ebooks and paperbacks on Amazon
Kindle Direct Publishing puts your ebook or paperback on Amazon, and it costs nothing to join.
- 2
It is free
Amazon KDP has no paid plan at all. Free to join and publish. Amazon pays a royalty on each sale: up to 70% on ebooks and up to 60% on print books, with printing cost deducted on print.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Ebooks and print books
One account publishes Kindle ebooks, paperbacks and hardcovers, and KDP says books appear on Amazon stores in more than 10 countries within 72 hours.
- 5
Printed when ordered
Paperbacks and hardcovers are printed when a customer orders them and shipped by Amazon, so there is no inventory to hold.
- 6
Royalty options
Ebooks offer a 70% or 35% royalty depending on content and country. Paperbacks pay 50% or 60% of list price, set by price and marketplace, less printing cost.
- 7
A 2.4 GPA, above 11 of 30
That is against the other print-on-demand and dropshipping services we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Amazon KDP is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Amazon KDP at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Amazon
- Category
- Print on Demand & Dropshipping
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for publishing ebooks and paperbacks on Amazon
Kindle Direct Publishing puts your ebook or paperback on Amazon, and it costs nothing to join. Amazon keeps the printing cost and a share of each sale, and royalties through Expanded Distribution drop to 40%.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | No fee, but Amazon's cut is the price: up to 70% on ebooks and 60% on print, with the printing cost taken off. Its own example is $5.00 for a 333-page black-and-white paperback. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Joining and publishing are free, with no trial needed, and one author could live on that. The costs come out of each sale. |
| Features | B | Ebooks, paperbacks and hardcovers, a royalty calculator, KDP Select and Expanded Distribution. The listing shows no gap in the core job of publishing a book. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You still format the manuscript and cover and set prices that clear the minimum. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web only, with no API or integrations on the listing. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Amazon KDP is for
- Fits if you want to publish on Amazon with no upfront cost
- Makes sense if you sell mainly ebooks and want a 70% royalty option
Who it is not for
- Watch out: Expanded Distribution pays 40% of list price minus printing cost, and royalties arrive about 30 days after the month ends
- Tight if you price low: a minimum list price applies so the royalty covers printing
- Not for you if you want per-page-read income without KDP Select, as Kindle+ needs ebook enrolment
- Skip it if you also use IngramSpark, as the two should not both distribute the same title
Good to know
Good for
- Authors who want their book on Amazon with no upfront cost
- Writers publishing an ebook and a paperback from one account
- Anyone who prefers to keep ownership of the content and set their own list price
Worth knowing
- Printing cost comes off each print sale: KDP's own example is $5.00 for a 333-page black-ink paperback sold on the US marketplace.
- Sales through Expanded Distribution pay a lower 40% rate, and those royalties appear about 30 days after the month ends.
- A minimum list price applies so that the royalty always covers printing cost.
- Per-page-read royalties through Kindle+ require enrolling the ebook in KDP Select.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Amazon KDP is free to use.
Joining and publishing are free, with no trial needed, and one author could live on that.
KDP (royalty-based)
$0
No fee to publish. Ebooks earn a 70% or 35% royalty; paperbacks earn 50% or 60% of the list price minus printing cost, and 40% minus printing cost through Expanded Distribution.
The free plan
Free to join and publish. Amazon pays a royalty on each sale: up to 70% on ebooks and up to 60% on print books, with printing cost deducted on print.
Read from kdp.amazon.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Amazon's free self-publishing for ebooks and print-on-demand books. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: digital downloads, print on demand, amazon selling.
Ebooks, paperbacks and hardcovers, a royalty calculator, KDP Select and Expanded Distribution.
- Ebooks and print books
- One account publishes Kindle ebooks, paperbacks and hardcovers, and KDP says books appear on Amazon stores in more than 10 countries within 72 hours.
- Printed when ordered
- Paperbacks and hardcovers are printed when a customer orders them and shipped by Amazon, so there is no inventory to hold.
- Royalty options
- Ebooks offer a 70% or 35% royalty depending on content and country. Paperbacks pay 50% or 60% of list price, set by price and marketplace, less printing cost.
- Printing cost and royalty calculator
- KDP provides a calculator for estimating printing cost and royalty. Printing cost depends on the marketplace, page count and ink type, not on trim size or cover finish.
- KDP Select
- Enrolling an ebook in KDP Select makes it eligible for Kindle+ and earns royalties for pages read.
- Expanded Distribution
- Paperbacks can be offered through other channels, with a royalty of 40% of the list price in that channel minus printing cost. Japanese-language paperbacks cannot join.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Amazon KDP is made by Amazon.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
11/30
Other print-on-demand and dropshipping services it is graded above
Amazon KDP's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 11 of the 30 other print-on-demand and dropshipping services we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on features (B, above 20 of 30) and worst on value for money (C, above 0).
Amazon KDP has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 31 print-on-demand and dropshipping services we grade, cut by the letter each got. Amazon KDP’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 0 of 30
- BFree plan and trialAbove 10 of 30
- BFeaturesAbove 20 of 30
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 30
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 30
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 31 print-on-demand and dropshipping services. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Amazon KDP is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Amazon KDP is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could make
- Digital downloads: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Printers that make and ship each order.
- Data from Amazon's seller tools and years of sales estimates.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Amazon KDP’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
IngramSpark, Lulu Direct, Blurb and Merch by Amazon
The 4 tools Amazon KDP is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
IngramSpark
Free
Print-on-demand and wholesale distribution for self-published books.
- Amazon KDP also covers amazon selling.
- 2.2GPA
Lulu Direct
Free
Print API that prints and ships books to your customers.
- Amazon KDP also covers digital downloads and amazon selling.
- Lulu Direct also covers online store and shipping labels.
- 2.4GPA
Blurb
Free
Print-on-demand photo books, books, magazines and wall art.
- Only Blurb lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Amazon KDP also covers digital downloads and amazon selling.
- Blurb also covers online store.
- 2.2GPA
Merch by Amazon
Free
Amazon program for uploading designs and earning royalties.
- Amazon KDP also covers digital downloads.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Amazon KDP free?
Yes. Amazon KDP is free to use.
How much does Amazon KDP cost?
Amazon KDP lists one plan. KDP (royalty-based): $0.
What platforms does Amazon KDP work on?
Amazon KDP is available on Web.
Does Amazon KDP have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Amazon KDP is listed for Web.
Does Amazon KDP have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Amazon KDP is listed for Web.
Is Amazon KDP open source?
Amazon KDP is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Who makes Amazon KDP?
Amazon KDP is made by Amazon.
What are the alternatives to Amazon KDP?
The closest alternatives to Amazon KDP in our directory are IngramSpark, Lulu Direct, Blurb and Merch by Amazon.
How does Amazon KDP compare with other print-on-demand and dropshipping services?
Amazon KDP's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 11 of the 30 other print-on-demand and dropshipping services we grade, and level with 5.
Is Amazon KDP good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Amazon KDP C for value for money. Amazon KDP has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Amazon KDP?
Amazon KDP is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Amazon KDP’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Amazon's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Amazon. Prices change, so check kdp.amazon.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Amazon KDP, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/kdp
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Amazon KDP: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/kdp
Know someone choosing between print-on-demand and dropshipping services?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/kdp/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded print-on-demand and dropshipping services after Amazon KDP, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Print on Demand & Dropshipping Insider's GuideEvery one of the 31 print-on-demand and dropshipping services we grade, compared
- Printify Insider's GuidePrint-on-demand marketplace with 2,000+ products and 70+ printers3.4 GPA
- CJdropshipping Insider's GuideDropshipping supplier and sourcing agent with factory-price products3.2 GPA
- Printful Insider's GuidePrint-on-demand company that makes and ships orders in-house3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Amazon KDP’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Amazon KDP is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Amazon. Prices and plans change: check kdp.amazon.com before you buy.