The Engineering Problem
KDP Select gives you Kindle Unlimited page reads. Going wide gives you every other store.
This guide treats distribution as an optimization problem. The right answer depends on your genre, your goals, and the math.
By Ameen A. Mohiyuddin - I've tested both. The profit difference is massive, but not in the direction you'd expect.
KDP Select: The Amazon Exclusive
You give Amazon exclusivity. In return, you get Kindle Unlimited page reads.
✅ Benefits:
- • Kindle Unlimited page reads (~$0.004/page)
- • Countdown Deals (temporary price drops)
- • Free Book Promotions (5 days every 90 days)
- • 70% royalty on $2.99-$9.99 books
❌ Costs:
- • Can't sell on Apple, Kobo, Google Play, Barnes & Noble
- • 90-day commitment (auto-renews)
- • All eggs in Amazon's basket
Going Wide: Multi-Platform Distribution
You sell on Amazon + Apple + Kobo + Google Play + Barnes & Noble.
✅ Benefits:
- • Diversified income (not dependent on Amazon)
- • Access to international markets
- • Apple Books pays 70% royalty (no delivery fees)
- • Protection from Amazon algorithm changes
❌ Costs:
- • No Kindle Unlimited page reads
- • More platforms to manage
- • Slower sales growth (initially)
The Math: KU Page Reads vs Wide Sales
Example: 300-Page Novel at $4.99
KDP Select (KU Read)
• 300 pages × $0.004/page
• = $1.20 per KU read
vs $3.43 per sale
Going Wide (Sale)
• $4.99 × 70% - delivery
• = $3.43 per sale
No KU reads
The Break-Even Question
If 70% of your Amazon traffic is KU reads, you need wide sales to make up the difference.
Scenario:
• KDP Select: 100 KU reads/month × $1.20 = $120
• Going Wide: Need 35 sales on other platforms to break even
→ If you can't get 35 sales/month on Apple/Kobo, stay in KU
When to Choose KDP Select
You Write in KU-Dominant Genres
Romance, LitRPG, Reverse Harem = 70-80% KU reads
You're a New Author
KU gives you visibility. Readers try you for "free" (with their subscription)
You Release Frequently
3-5 books/year = constant KU page reads from backlist
You Want Amazon's Promotional Tools
Countdown Deals and Free Book Promos are KDP Select exclusive
When to Go Wide
You Write in Wide-Friendly Genres
Thriller, Mystery, Non-Fiction = lower KU penetration
You Have a Backlist
10+ books = diversified income across platforms
You Want Platform Independence
Amazon algorithm changes won't kill your income
International Readers
Apple Books dominates in UK, Canada, Australia
Wide Distribution Tools
Draft2Digital
Best For: Beginners going wide
PublishDrive
Best For: International distribution
Direct Upload
Best For: Authors with time
5 Common Mistakes
❌ Going Wide Too Early
New authors with 1-2 books should stay in KU. Build audience first.
❌ Staying in KU Forever
If you have 10+ books and KU reads are declining, test going wide.
❌ Not Tracking the Math
Calculate KU page read income vs potential wide sales. Use data, not feelings.
❌ Ignoring Genre Trends
Romance = stay in KU. Thriller = test wide. Know your genre's KU penetration.
❌ Forgetting the 90-Day Lock
KDP Select auto-renews. Set a calendar reminder to opt out if testing wide.
Decision Framework
Start in KDP Select If:
- ✓You have fewer than 5 books published
- ✓You write in Romance, LitRPG, or Reverse Harem
- ✓You release 3+ books per year
Go Wide If:
- ✓You have 10+ books published
- ✓KU reads are <50% of your Amazon income
- ✓You want platform independence
The Right Answer is in the Math
KU vs Wide isn't ideology. It's optimization. Track your numbers, test, and choose what maximizes profit. Use our Royalty Calculator to run the numbers yourself.