What it's for
It's the zero-upfront-cost route to Amazon's book buyers, used in three of our notes.
- Self-publishing ebooks and print books
- Low-content books (journals, coloring)
Plans and prices
| Plan | Price (USD unless shown) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| eBook royalty | 35% or 70% option | The 70% option has eligibility rules |
| Paperback and hardcover | Royalty on list price minus printing costs | See KDP help |
Read on the official pricing page on . Prices change; check before you buy.
Free plan in real output
Free to publish. You earn royalties per sale.
- 35% option: a $0.99 ebook earns 0.35 × $0.99 = $0.35 per sale (KDP's own example at 0% VAT).
- 70% option on a $4.99 ebook: 0.70 × $4.99 = $3.49 before delivery costs (KDP deducts delivery costs on the 70% option; see help page).
Cost at your stage
| Plan | Monthly cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Month 1 (testing, low volume) | Free | $0 |
| Month 12 (working volume) | Free | $0 |
Break-even: No fixed cost. Your costs are covers, editing and ads.
Month-12 plan is our estimate of what a solo seller at steady weekly output needs, based on the plan limits above. Costs exclude tax.
Commercial use and output rights
Not a content generator. You keep your rights. KDP requires you to tell it about AI-generated content when you publish (see the content guidelines).
Your data and AI training: Not applicable.
This is a summary of public terms, not legal advice. Terms change; re-read the clause before client work.
First-hour setup
- Create a KDP account and complete tax info.
- Prepare a manuscript and cover at the correct trim size.
- Disclose AI-generated content when asked.
- Set price and royalty option.
- Order an author proof before launch.
Competitors compared
| Tool | Pricing model | Free plan | Starting price | Difficulty | Output rights | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon KDP | Free to join, fee per sale | Yes | 35% or 70% option | 2/5 | Not a content generator | Publishing books with no upfront cost |
| Google Play Books auto-narration | Free | Yes | Free | 1/5 | – | A free audiobook version of your ebook |
| Atticus | One-time purchase | No | See official site | 2/5 | – | Formatting books for KDP without Vellum |
| Vellum | One-time purchase | Trial only | See official site | 2/5 | – | Professional book formatting on Mac |
| Etsy | Free to join, fee per sale | Yes | $0.20 per listing | 2/5 | Not a content generator | Printables and handmade goods with built-in buyers |
| Merch on Demand | Free to join, fee per sale | Yes | Free to join (invite/approval) | 2/5 | Not a content generator | Reaching Amazon shoppers with designs |
| Flippa | Free to join, fee per sale | Yes | $499 upfront + 10% success fee | 2/5 | Not a content generator | Selling or buying small online businesses |
Learning difficulty
2/5: Forms are simple; formatting and covers take care.
When not to use it
Not a traffic source by itself; without keywords and ads, books often don't sell.
Cheaper or free alternatives:
- Google Play Books auto-narration: A free audiobook version of your ebook (yes free plan)
- Atticus: Formatting books for KDP without Vellum (no free plan)
- Vellum: Professional book formatting on Mac (trial only free plan)
Which of our hustles use it
- AI children's picture books: Printing and distributing the book on Amazon
- Coloring books on KDP: Printing and selling the books
- Self-publish books with AI help: Publishing ebook and print
Price history
Each monthly check adds rows here. Older rows are never edited, so you can see when prices changed.
Sources
- KDP eBook royalties (read 17 October 2026)
- KDP content guidelines (read 17 October 2026)
Last verified . Anything we couldn't confirm on an official page is marked "not published", "not shown" or "not verified".