KDP Select is Amazon’s programme that puts your eBook in Kindle Unlimited and gives you promotional tools in return for selling that eBook only on Amazon for the enrolment period. Going wide means selling the eBook in many stores, such as Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, Google Play and libraries. Neither is better for everyone: Select suits some new authors and series, and going wide suits authors who want reach, resilience and library readers.
This guide explains how each option works, compares them side by side, shows when each makes sense and describes how some authors combine them over time. Rules change, so check the current KDP terms before you enrol. Our KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited service helps you decide. For the basics of publishing on Amazon, see how to publish a book on Amazon KDP.
Key takeaways
- KDP Select requires eBook exclusivity on Amazon for each enrolment period
- Select authors earn from sales and from pages read in Kindle Unlimited
- Going wide reaches more stores, libraries and countries but needs more setup
- Paperback and hardcover editions are not affected by Select exclusivity
- You can change your mind between enrolment periods, so you are not locked in forever
In this article
What is KDP Select?
KDP Select is an optional programme for Kindle eBooks. When you enrol, you give Amazon exclusive rights to the eBook for a term, currently 90 days at a time, and the book is available in Kindle Unlimited. Authors are paid from a monthly fund according to pages read, as well as from normal sales. Select also unlocks promotional tools, such as temporary discounts and free days. The details change, so read the current terms. Print editions can be sold anywhere.
What does going wide mean?
Going wide means selling your eBook through many retailers instead of only Amazon. You can upload directly to each store or use an aggregator, such as PublishDrive or Draft2Digital, to reach several at once. Wide authors also reach library readers through library distribution and international markets through stores such as Google Play Books. The benefit is reach and independence from one platform. The cost is more setup, more reports and more prices to manage.
How do the two options compare?
| Factor | KDP Select | Going wide |
|---|---|---|
| Where the eBook is sold | Amazon only | Many stores and libraries |
| How you earn | Sales plus pages read in Kindle Unlimited | Sales and library lending, store by store |
| Promotions | Amazon tools such as discounts and free days | Store promotions and deal sites |
| Reader reach | Large Amazon and Kindle Unlimited audience | Wider across stores, libraries and countries |
| Risk | Depends heavily on one platform’s rules and fund | Spreads risk, with more upkeep |
| Setup effort | Low | Higher |
When does KDP Select make sense?
Select often suits authors who write series in genres with heavy Kindle Unlimited readership, such as romance, thriller and fantasy, who release often and whose readers already use Amazon. It can suit new authors who need visibility fast and want one dashboard. If your readers are mostly in the United States and use Kindle devices, the exclusivity may cost you little. Test it for one enrolment period and measure the pages read and sales before you decide.
When does going wide make sense?
Going wide often suits authors with international readers, library audiences, non-fiction and backlists that sell steadily in several stores. It also suits authors who want independence from one company’s rules. Building a wide presence takes patience, because other stores have different audiences and respond to different promotions. If you plan to use deal sites that favour wide books, going wide can also help.
Can I switch between Select and wide?
Yes. Many authors start in Select to build momentum on Amazon, then go wide after a period, or the reverse. Because Select terms run in blocks, you can choose not to renew, but you must remove the eBook from other stores before enrolment and wait for the term to end before you republish elsewhere. Plan the timing so you do not lose launch momentum or break the exclusivity terms. Our series page setup service helps keep a series tidy through any switch.
How should I decide?
- Look at where your readers buy, using your newsletter, social posts and early sales
- Test Select for one term with a new release and record pages read and sales
- Test wide for a comparable term and compare income and reviews
- Consider libraries, international markets and risk, not just the first month
- Choose the option that fits your genre, your release schedule and your tolerance for risk
What are the risks of each option?
Select concentrates your income on one platform, so a change in the programme’s rules, the monthly fund or the way pages are counted can affect you quickly. Going wide takes longer to build, and some stores sell little at first, which can discourage authors who expected instant results. Neither is risk-free. A balanced approach is to keep print editions on every channel, collect your readers’ emails through a newsletter and watch your numbers each month, so you can change course early.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell my paperback elsewhere if my eBook is in KDP Select?
Yes. Select applies to the eBook only, so print editions can be sold anywhere.
How long is a KDP Select term?
Currently 90 days, and it can renew automatically unless you turn that off. Check the current terms.
Do I have to remove my eBook from other stores before joining Select?
Yes. The eBook must not be available elsewhere during enrolment, including on your own website.
Is Kindle Unlimited income reliable?
It depends on pages read and the monthly fund, which changes. Treat it as variable, and track your own numbers.
Can I go wide after being in Select?
Yes. Turn off auto-renewal, wait for the term to end and then publish in other stores.
Which is better for a first book?
There is no single answer. Many first-time authors test Select for one term, then compare it with a wide release.
Does KDP Select guarantee more readers?
No. It gives you access to Kindle Unlimited readers and tools, but results depend on your genre, cover, description and reviews.
Can I use my own website to sell an eBook in KDP Select?
No. Selling or giving away the eBook elsewhere, including on your own site, breaks the exclusivity terms, so check the rules before you enrol.
Services that can help
- KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited
- PublishDrive consultancy
- Library distribution services
- Google Play Books consultancy
- Amazon series page setup
This guide is part of our amazon publishing guides and connects to our amazon publishing services.