Our KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited strategy service helps you decide whether exclusivity on Amazon is right for your book, and then manages enrolment, timing and renewal for you. We explain the trade-offs plainly, so you choose with open eyes and not on a hunch.
KDP Select suits some books very well and others poorly. The decision affects where your eBook can be sold and how you are paid. This service is part of our Amazon book publishing services.
What KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited are
KDP Select is an optional Amazon programme for your eBook. In return for making the eBook exclusive to Amazon during the enrolment term, your book can be borrowed through Kindle Unlimited, and you gain access to Amazon’s promotional tools. Authors in Kindle Unlimited are paid based on the pages that readers read. Amazon sets and can change the terms, so we confirm them before you enrol.
The trade-off: exclusivity
While your eBook is enrolled, you cannot sell or distribute it digitally anywhere else, including your own website. Your print edition is not affected. For some genres, such as series fiction with avid readers, Kindle Unlimited can bring a large audience. For others, selling across many stores works better. Our book distribution services cover the wide route.
Is KDP Select right for your book?
- Series fiction and fast-reading genres often do well in Kindle Unlimited
- Standalone non-fiction may earn more by selling widely and through other channels
- A new author with no readers may benefit from the extra visibility
- An author who already sells well in other stores may prefer to stay wide
We look at your genre, your goals and your plans, then give you a clear recommendation.
Enrolment, timing and renewal
Enrolment runs in fixed terms, and it renews unless you turn off auto-renewal. We time your enrolment around your launch, set reminders for renewal and plan the move if you decide to go wide later. We also explain how Amazon’s promotional tools work and when to use them.
How readers and authors are paid
Kindle Unlimited readers pay a monthly subscription and borrow books at no extra cost. Authors in KDP Select are paid from a shared fund based on how many pages of their book are read, not on the number of borrows. The size of the fund and the value of each page change from month to month, so earnings are not fixed. We help you estimate what a typical reader would bring in before you decide.
Promotions inside KDP Select
Books in KDP Select can use certain promotional tools, such as discounted deals and limited free days, when Amazon makes them available. These can help a launch or a series push. They are one of the main reasons authors choose exclusivity, so we plan the promotions before you enrol.
Leaving later and going wide
Enrolment lasts for periods of 90 days, and it renews automatically unless you switch that off. Exclusivity applies to the digital eBook only, so your print and audiobook editions can be sold elsewhere. If you plan to move to other stores, we help you time the exit so you do not overlap by accident.
Which books suit it best
Readers of some genres, such as romance, fantasy and thrillers, often read many books a month and use Kindle Unlimited heavily. Non-fiction and short reference books often sell better through other channels. We look at your genre, length and series plans before we recommend a route.
Three questions to ask before you enrol
First, do your readers use Kindle Unlimited? Look at similar books in your genre and see how many carry the Kindle Unlimited label. Second, can you give up other eBook stores for each 90-day period? If you have an existing audience on other retailers, you may lose them. Third, do you plan to write more books soon? A series makes page reads more valuable because readers move from one book to the next. If the answers point two ways, we can model a trial period.
Questions about KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited
Can I leave KDP Select?
Yes. You can turn off auto-renewal and go wide when the current term ends.
Does KDP Select affect my paperback?
No. The exclusivity applies to the digital edition only.
How are Kindle Unlimited authors paid?
Authors are paid from a fund according to the pages readers read. Amazon sets the details and may change them, and we explain the current model.
Can I use KDP Select and Draft2Digital together?
Not for the same eBook during the enrolment term. See our Draft2Digital publishing services for when you go wide.
Will you tell me honestly if I should stay out?
Yes. We recommend what suits your book, even when that means not enrolling.
Can I sell my eBook on other stores while in KDP Select?
No. During enrolment the digital eBook must be exclusive to Amazon. Print and audio editions are not affected.
Can I leave KDP Select any time?
You can turn off auto-renewal at any time, but the current period must run to its end before you can sell elsewhere.
Is Kindle Unlimited better than selling wide?
Neither is better for every book. Exclusive can be easier to manage and wide can reach more readers. We compare both for your book.
Does enrolment affect my print book?
No. The exclusivity rule covers only the digital eBook. Your paperback and hardcover can still be sold anywhere.
Can I run promotions for a book that is not in KDP Select?
Yes. You can change your price, run newsletter promotions and use ads on any book. The promotional tools tied to KDP Select are only available inside the programme, so the choice depends on whether those tools matter more to you than selling on other stores.
Related services
- Amazon book publishing services
- Kindle eBook publishing services
- eBook distribution services
- Book distribution services
Why authors work with us
- You keep your rights, your royalties and your accounts
- You receive a written scope and a fixed price before any work starts
- You approve every file before it moves to the next step
- One project manager keeps you informed at every stage