--- source_url: "https://books.by/guides/kdp-select-vs-going-wide?utm_source=openai" title: "KDP Select vs Going Wide: The Complete Decision Guide [2026] | Books.by" mirrored_at: 2026-08-14T01:05:40.805Z host: books.by cited_in_42a: true mirror_canonical: "https://index.42a.ai/books.by/guides/kdp-select-vs-going-wide__q__utm_source_openai" --- > **Original source:** https://books.by/guides/kdp-select-vs-going-wide?utm_source=openai 30–40% of self-published ebook revenue now comes from **outside Amazon** for wide-distributed authors — and growing every year This is the single most consequential distribution decision you'll make as a self-published author. It determines where readers can find you, how you earn money, and how much control you have over your author business. There's no universally right answer. It depends on your genre, catalogue size, and long-term goals. This guide breaks down every factor with real data, income scenarios, and an interactive calculator so you can make an informed decision. ## 1\. What Is KDP Select? KDP Select is Amazon's exclusivity programme for ebooks. When you enrol a book, you agree to sell the ebook **only on Amazon** for a 90-day renewable period. In return, you get: - **Kindle Unlimited (KU) inclusion:** Your book is available to KU subscribers (estimated 4+ million globally) who can read it at no additional cost. You're paid per page read. - **Kindle Owners' Lending Library:** Prime members can borrow one book per month. You earn a share of the KDP Select Global Fund. - **Promotional tools:** Kindle Countdown Deals (timed price drops with a "was/now" badge) and Free Book Promotions (make your book free for up to 5 days per 90-day period). **⚠️ The exclusivity requirement is absolute:** While enrolled in KDP Select, your ebook cannot be available on any other retailer, distributor, or your own website. This includes Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Books.by, and anywhere else. Print books are NOT restricted — only ebooks. ### How KU Revenue Works Kindle Unlimited doesn't pay per book. It pays per page read from a shared global fund. Here's the mechanics: 1. **Amazon sets a monthly fund** — typically $500–550 million globally (as of 2025). 2. **Pages are standardised** using KENPC (Kindle Edition Normalized Page Count), not your book's actual page count. A 70,000-word novel is roughly 450–500 KENPC pages. 3. **Rate per page fluctuates** — historically $0.004–$0.005 per page, or roughly $0.0045 average. This means a 480-KENPC novel fully read earns about **$2.16**. 4. **Partial reads count** — you're paid for every page actually read, not just completions. If a reader stops at 50%, you earn 50%. **📊 The maths on a typical KU read:** 70,000-word romance novel = ~480 KENPC pages × $0.0045/page = **$2.16 per full read** Compare to a $4.99 sale at 70% royalty = **$3.44 per sale** KU pays ~63% of what a direct sale pays — but many KU readers would _never_ have purchased the book at full price. ## 2\. What Does "Going Wide" Mean? "Going wide" means distributing your ebook across multiple retailers and platforms simultaneously. Instead of being exclusive to Amazon, your book is available everywhere readers shop: Platform Market Share Royalty Rate Key Audience **Amazon KDP** ~65–70% 35–70% Largest ebook market globally **Apple Books** ~10–12% 70% iOS/Mac users, international **Kobo** ~5–8% 70% Canada, international, Kobo Plus **Barnes & Noble** ~4–6% 65% US Nook users **Google Play** ~3–5% 52% Android users, international **Books.by (Direct)** Your audience 100% Your readers, your relationship Going wide also includes selling **direct to readers** through your own website using a platform like Books.by. More than 70% of Books.by authors also sell on Amazon — going wide doesn't mean abandoning Amazon, it means not being dependent on it. Direct sales are the highest-margin option in self-publishing — you keep 100% of the retail price with no middleman taking 30–70%. ### Aggregators vs Direct Upload Wide authors use two strategies to get on multiple platforms: 📦 Aggregators - **Draft2Digital, Smashwords, PublishDrive** - Upload once, distribute to 10+ retailers - Take 10–15% of the retail price - Less control over pricing/promotions - Best for: authors who want simplicity 🎯 Direct Upload + Books.by - **Upload directly to each retailer + Books.by** - More work but no aggregator fee - Full control over pricing, promotions, metadata - Higher royalties on every platform - Best for: authors who want maximum earnings ## 3\. Revenue Models Compared The core question is: will you earn more from KU page reads (exclusive) or from sales across multiple platforms (wide)? ### KDP Select Revenue Formula **📐 Monthly Revenue =** (Amazon Sales × Royalty per Sale) + (KU Pages Read × $0.0045) Example: 200 sales at $4.99 (70% = $3.44) + 150,000 KU pages × $0.0045 \= $688 + $675 = **$1,363/month** ### Wide Revenue Formula **📐 Monthly Revenue =** Amazon Sales + Apple Sales + Kobo Sales + B&N Sales + Google Sales + Direct Sales (Books.by) Example: 200 Amazon ($688) + 60 Apple ($209) + 30 Kobo ($105) + 20 B&N ($65) + 15 Google ($39) + 40 Books.by ($200) \= **$1,306/month** In this example, exclusive narrowly wins — but the wide author owns their reader relationships and isn't dependent on a single platform. And that Books.by revenue? 100% royalties, no algorithm changes, no KU page rate fluctuations. ### The Hidden Cost of Exclusivity What KDP Select's revenue numbers don't show (and what Amazon will never tell you): - **Platform risk:** Amazon can change KU payout rates, algorithms, or terms at any time — and they do. In 2023, they reduced page rates by ~8% with zero notice. Your entire business income can shift overnight based on decisions made in a boardroom you'll never enter. - **No reader data:** Amazon doesn't share email addresses. You can't contact your KU readers directly. - **Audience lock-in:** Readers who find you on KU expect to read you on KU. If you leave, they may not follow. - **Lost international revenue:** Apple Books and Kobo are dominant in many non-US markets. ## 4\. Real Income Scenarios Let's model three realistic author profiles to see how exclusive vs wide plays out: ### Scenario 1: Romance Author, 5-Book Series Metric KDP Select Going Wide Amazon ebook sales 800/month 500/month KU page reads 600,000 pages N/A Apple/Kobo/B&N sales N/A 180/month Books.by direct sales N/A 80/month Amazon revenue $2,752 $1,720 KU revenue $2,700 $0 Other retailer revenue $0 $630 Books.by revenue $0 $400 **Total monthly** **$5,452** **$2,750** **Verdict: KDP Select wins for voracious-reader genres like romance.** KU subscribers read 8–12 books/month and rarely buy. The page read revenue is massive. ### Scenario 2: Non-Fiction Author, Single Book Metric KDP Select Going Wide Amazon ebook sales 120/month 90/month KU page reads 25,000 pages N/A Apple/Kobo/B&N sales N/A 50/month Books.by direct sales N/A 35/month Ebook price $9.99 $9.99 Amazon revenue $827 $620 KU revenue $113 $0 Other retailer revenue $0 $350 Books.by revenue $0 $350 **Total monthly** **$940** **$1,320** **Verdict: Going wide wins for non-fiction.** Non-fiction readers buy selectively, rarely subscribe to KU, and the higher price point makes each sale more valuable. Direct sales through Books.by add significant margin. ### Scenario 3: Literary Fiction, 2 Books Metric KDP Select Going Wide Amazon ebook sales 60/month 40/month KU page reads 15,000 pages N/A Apple/Kobo/B&N sales N/A 35/month Books.by direct sales N/A 20/month Amazon revenue $354 $236 KU revenue $68 $0 Other retailer revenue $0 $183 Books.by revenue $0 $139 **Total monthly** **$422** **$558** **Verdict: Going wide wins for literary fiction.** LitFic readers browse bookstores, use Apple Books, and are more likely to buy directly from an author they admire. ## 5\. Income Comparison Calculator Model your own scenario. Adjust your ebook price, estimated sales, and KU reads to see how exclusive vs wide compares for your situation. ### 📊 Exclusive vs Wide Income Calculator Enter your numbers to compare estimated monthly revenue Ebook Price: $4.99 Monthly Amazon Sales (Exclusive): 300 Monthly KU Pages Read: 200000 Monthly Amazon Sales (Wide): 200 Monthly Other Retailer Sales (Wide): 80 Monthly Books.by Direct Sales: 40 KDP Select (Exclusive) $1,932 per month estimated Going Wide + Books.by $1,586 per month estimated KU rate: $0.0045/page. KDP: 70% ($2.99–$9.99), 35% otherwise. Apple/Kobo: 70%. Books.by: 100%. B&N: 65%. Google: 52%. ### Going wide? Keep 100% of direct sales Books.by gives wide authors their highest-margin sales channel. Sell ebooks and print books direct to your readers — no commissions, no royalty share, no algorithms to fight. [Start Your Books.by Store — $99/yr →](https://books.by/) **From our team:** "In 2023, Amazon reduced KU page rates by ~8% with no notice. Authors in KDP Select had no recourse — their income just dropped. Wide authors with direct sales channels barely noticed. That single event convinced more authors to go wide than anything we could have said." — Ash Davies, Founder ## 6\. Genre-by-Genre Advice Your genre is the single biggest factor in this decision. Here's data-driven advice for the major genres: 💕 Romance **Lean exclusive.** Romance readers are the heaviest KU users. Series authors with 5+ books can earn $3,000–$10,000+/month in KU page reads alone. The read-through effect is massive. Go wide only if you have a huge email list driving direct sales. 🔪 Thriller / Mystery **Test both.** Thrillers do well in KU but also have strong wide audiences. Start exclusive, build reviews, then test going wide after book 3. Many thriller authors do a hybrid: series starters in KU, backlist wide. 🚀 Science Fiction **Lean exclusive for series, wide for standalones.** Space opera and LitRPG crush in KU. Hard SF and standalones perform better wide. Tech-savvy readers also buy direct, making Books.by a strong option. 🐉 Fantasy **Exclusive for epic series, wide for literary fantasy.** Fantasy series with 4+ books thrive in KU. Standalone literary fantasy or short series earn more wide. Kobo has a strong fantasy readership — don't ignore it. 📚 Literary Fiction **Go wide.** Literary readers buy selectively, use diverse platforms (Apple Books especially), and support authors directly. KU barely moves the needle for literary fiction. Books.by is ideal for building direct relationships. 📖 Non-Fiction **Go wide.** Non-fiction readers search for specific topics across all platforms. Higher price points ($9.99+) make each sale more valuable than KU reads. Direct sales through Books.by pair perfectly with courses, coaching, and email funnels. 👶 Children's Books **Go wide.** Picture books and early readers are bought by parents who shop everywhere. KU's page-read model undervalues short, illustrated books. Print is dominant. Books.by is perfect for direct sales with colour POD. 📝 Memoir **Go wide.** Memoir readers discover books through recommendations, podcasts, and social media — not KU browsing. These readers follow links to wherever you send them. Direct sales are your highest-margin channel. ## 7\. Decision Flowchart Answer these questions in order to find your recommended strategy: ### 🔀 Should You Go Exclusive or Wide? 1\. Is your genre romance, thriller, LitRPG, or space opera with a series of 4+ books? Yes → Lean KDP Select No → Continue ↓ 2\. Is your book non-fiction, literary fiction, memoir, children's, or a cookbook? Yes → Go Wide No → Continue ↓ 3\. Do you have an email list of 1,000+ engaged readers? Yes → Go Wide No → Continue ↓ 4\. Is this your first book with no existing audience? Yes → KDP Select (build reviews first) No → Continue ↓ 5\. Is long-term independence from Amazon important to you? Yes → Go Wide + Books.by No → KDP Select 🔒 KDP Select — Best for KU-heavy genres with series 🌍 Go Wide — Best for long-term control & diverse audiences ## 8\. Pros & Cons at a Glance 🔒 KDP Select Pros - Access to 4+ million KU subscribers - Higher visibility in Amazon's algorithm - Kindle Countdown Deals & Free Promos - Simpler to manage (one platform) - Can be very profitable for fast-release series 🌍 Going Wide Pros - Multiple revenue streams reduce risk - Access to Apple, Kobo, B&N, Google audiences - Sell direct & own reader relationships - No dependence on Amazon's algorithm or rates - International reach (Kobo, Apple dominate outside US) 🔒 KDP Select Cons - 100% dependent on Amazon - KU page rate can drop without warning - No reader email addresses or data - Locked in for 90-day terms - Miss out on 30–40% of the ebook market 🌍 Going Wide Cons - Takes 6–18 months to build non-Amazon income - More platforms to manage and optimise - Lower Amazon visibility without KU boost - Requires more active marketing - Initial revenue dip when leaving KDP Select "KDP Select is renting your audience. Going wide — especially with direct sales — is owning it. Both can be profitable, but only one gives you a business you control." — Joanna Penn, author & publishing educator ## 9\. How to Transition from KDP Select to Wide Leaving KDP Select is scary. Your KU income will drop and it takes time to build revenue on other platforms. Here's a step-by-step transition plan: Month 1: Preparation #### Set up accounts & build your foundation Create accounts on Apple Books, Kobo Writing Life, Barnes & Noble Press, and Google Play. Set up your Books.by store. Prepare your book files for each platform. Start building an email list if you haven't already — this is critical for wide success. Month 2: Test with one book #### Take your first book wide as a test Uncheck auto-renewal on your oldest or first-in-series book. When the 90-day term expires, upload to all wide platforms. Keep your other books in KDP Select for now. This limits risk while you learn the wide ecosystem. Months 3–4: Promote wide #### Drive traffic to your wide listings Use your email list, social media, and BookBub to promote your wide book. Create a Books.by landing page. Use universal book links (Books2Read) so readers find their preferred store. Run promotions on Apple and Kobo — both have their own promotion systems. Months 5–8: Evaluate & expand #### Measure results and move more books wide Compare your wide revenue against what the book earned in KDP Select. If it's within 70–80%, you're on track — wide revenue grows over time. Start transitioning additional books as their terms expire. Focus on building your Books.by direct sales. Months 9–12: Full wide #### Complete the transition By now you should have most or all books wide. Your Amazon sales will have stabilised (usually 60–70% of what they were in KDP Select), but your total revenue from all platforms combined should be approaching or exceeding your exclusive-only income. **💡 Pro tip:** Many successful authors use a hybrid approach. They put their latest series in KDP Select (to leverage KU for visibility) while keeping their backlist wide. Once a series is complete and has established readership, they move it wide. This combines the best of both worlds. ## Frequently Asked Questions ## Own your reader relationships Going wide with Books.by means 100% royalties on direct sales, daily payouts, and a bookstore you control. No algorithms, no exclusivity — just your books and your readers. [Start Your Books.by Store — $99/yr →](https://books.by/) Daily payouts · Cancel anytime ### Related Guides