The Remarkable Amazon KDP Alternative You Need To Know

Part 3: Tired of using Amazon KDP for your self-publishing? Or want to extend your reach outside of Amazon? Let's learn together!

May 14, 2025

Are you considering an Amazon KDP alternative? Maybe you’re tired of the rules, found yourself in trouble, or simply dislike the way Amazon has been doing things. Or maybe you like Amazon, but don’t want to tie yourself down to one platform—you want to try something new to see if you can reach a new set of readers.

In this article, I’ll be introducing a concept called, “Going Wide” which covers how to expand your reach beyond Amazon KDP.

This is the third post in a series, so be sure to check out the first two posts.

If you’ve been following along with the series, you now understand the big picture of the publishing landscape and the potential advantages of Amazon KDP Select.

But what if I told you there’s another path that might better align with your values and goals as an independent author?

Let’s learn together.

Want to watch the video instead? Here you go!

Going Wide: The Amazon KDP Alternative

Going wide simply means distributing your books beyond the Amazon ecosystem. Instead of putting all your eggs in the Kindle basket, you’re spreading your books across multiple retailers and platforms.

I want to look at Draft2Digital (D2D) because it’s an aggregator. If you remember in my previous posts, I talked about D2D:

Draft2Digital (D2D) is what’s known as an “aggregator”—a service that distributes your book to multiple platforms through a single dashboard. Rather than creating separate accounts, formatting different files, and tracking sales across numerous retailers, D2D handles it all for a small percentage of your sales.
Their user-friendly system converts your manuscript to various formats, distributes it to your selected platforms, consolidates royalty payments, and provides unified reporting. For busy non-fiction authors, this streamlined approach can save countless hours of administrative headaches.

Draft2Digital (D2D) is a supportive distribution partner that helps you reach readers wherever they prefer to buy books. They’re the middleman who takes your manuscript and delivers it to Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, libraries, and dozens of other platforms—all while you sit back and focus on writing your next masterpiece.

And while that sounds amazing (right?), there are a few things you should consider when you go decide to go wide because it’s not without its drawbacks.

Let’s look at some considerations for and against going wide with Draft2Digital.

Why Consider Going Wide with D2D?

1. Reach Readers Where They Are

Not everyone is an Amazon shopper (shocking, I know!). Apple users often prefer Apple Books, and international readers might favor local retailers like Kobo (huge in Canada) or Tolino (popular in Germany). Going wide acknowledges that readers have preferences, and you’re meeting them where they already are.

2. True Business Independence

Remember when I mentioned passive visibility? Going wide embodies this philosophy perfectly. Instead of constantly playing the Amazon algorithm game, you’re building a sustainable author business across multiple platforms. If one platform changes its rules (and they will), you won’t watch your entire income disappear overnight. Think of wide distribution as a fail-safe solution for your income and book sales.

3. Steady, Long-Term Growth

Wide authors often report more consistent, predictable sales patterns. While KDP Select might give you those exciting spikes during promotions, wide distribution typically offers steadier growth over time. It’s the tortoise approach—slower initially but potentially more sustainable. And if you know me, I’m all about growing slowly and making your efforts count.

4. Global Royalty Advantages

Here’s something eye-opening we’ll explore more in Part 5: on many platforms, you’ll earn 70% royalties regardless of price point (unlike Amazon’s 35% royalty for books priced below $2.99 or above $9.99). And in certain international markets, going wide can significantly increase your take-home pay.

5. Libraries: The Overlooked Revenue Stream

D2D gives you easy access to library distribution through platforms like OverDrive and Hoopla. Libraries purchase your ebooks at full price, and each library sale potentially introduces you to dozens of new readers who might buy your other books.

Amazon kdp alternative - being found by more people

Get Found by More People with D2D

From Amazon Select to Going Wide

If your books are already living exclusively on Amazon, here are some key things to consider before making the leap to wide distribution:

KDP Select Commitments

First things first—check if you’re currently enrolled in KDP Select. Remember, this program requires 90-day exclusivity periods. You’ll need to either wait until your current term expires or manually opt out (though I don’t recommend the latter as it can violate your agreement with Amazon).

Mark your calendar for your KDP Select renewal date. That’s your freedom day to expand beyond Amazon without breaking any rules.

When you are on the KDP Dashboard, go to the ebook you want to view. Click on the three dots to the right of the screen. Then select KDP Select Info to view your details.

Amazon KDP Alternative - KDP Select Info

The “Cliff” Effect

Many authors experience what I call the “enrollment cliff”—when you remove your book from Kindle Unlimited, you’ll likely see an immediate drop in income as those page reads disappear. This can feel scary! Your overall income might dip before it begins to climb again on other platforms.

Be prepared mentally and financially for this adjustment period, which can last anywhere from 3-6 months as you build presence on new stores.

Find D2D as an Amazon KDP alternative, I’ve decided to test an older book and see how it goes. I’m not making much on Amazon anyway, so the switch won’t be a significant loss. You can also think about making a variation of a book that is already on Amazon. For instance, I could change my Pinterest books to focus on only Authors which would change the audience focus and the way the copy is written. This would be an easy way to get more life out of my book.

Keyword and Category Research—Again

Just because your book found its sweet spot on Amazon doesn’t mean those same keywords and categories will perform identically on Apple Books or Kobo. Each platform has its own ecosystem and reader behaviors.

Before going wide, take some time to research category trends across different retailers. For example, romance readers on Kobo often have different subgenre preferences than those on Amazon.

ISBN & Review Decisions

If you’ve been using Amazon’s free ASINs, you’ll need to consider ISBN options when going wide. Draft2Digital offers free ISBNs, or you can purchase your own through Bowker (in the US) for complete ownership.

While D2D’s free ISBNs work perfectly fine for most distribution needs, owning your own ISBN provides several advantages:

You’re listed as the official publisher of record (not D2D)
Complete portability if you switch distributors in the future
Potential credibility boost with bookstores and libraries
No restrictions on how you use the ISBN

Just remember that reviews don’t transfer between platforms regardless of ISBN ownership. Each retailer (Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, etc.) maintains their own separate review ecosystem, so you’ll be starting fresh on each new platform.

Consider reaching out to your most engaged readers and asking if they’d be willing to post their reviews on other platforms once your book is available there.

Pricing Strategy Reconsideration

Going wide opens up pricing possibilities that might not have made sense in the Amazon-only ecosystem. With the 70% royalty across all price points on many platforms, you can experiment with price points under $2.99 or over $9.99 more profitably.

Many wide authors find success with first-in-series permanently free books (something not allowed on Amazon), or with international pricing strategies tailored to specific markets.

Link Management with an Amazon KDP Alternative Platform

Instead of sharing a single Amazon link, you’ll now want to use universal book links (services like Books2Read, which D2D conveniently provides) that direct readers to their preferred store. Note: Universal links are also available through a Story Origin account.

Consider updating your website, email signature, social media profiles, and back matter in your books with these universal links.

The Patience Factor

Perhaps the most important consideration: going wide requires a different mindset. While Amazon often delivers quicker results, building your presence across multiple retailers is a slower burn with potentially greater long-term stability.

Think of it as planting an orchard versus growing annual vegetables. It takes longer to establish, but once those trees start producing fruit, they’ll keep bearing year after year with less intervention.

Many successful wide authors report that it took 6-12 months before their wide income matched or exceeded their previous Amazon-exclusive earnings.

The question becomes: are you willing to play the long game?

Is Going Wide Right for YOU?

If you are like me, you aren’t just writing books for sales. You want to reach people with your message, grow your website traffic and email list, and open up your world to new opportunities. If you are only focused on book sales, then going wide might be a hindrance to you.

Finding an Amazon KDP Alternative or “going wide” isn’t just about sales strategies—it’s about alignment with your values as an author. If you believe in:

Building genuine connections with readers across different platforms
Creating a stable, diversified business that isn’t dependent on a single retailer
Having complete control over your pricing, promotions, and distribution
Finding readers who might never discover you on Amazon

…then the wide approach might resonate with your author spirit.

As a side rant, I see a lot of authors on YouTube claiming they made thousands of dollars on Amazon. Take a closer look and they are profiting from a low-content book strategy where they create coloring or activity books that don’t contain a lot of text and benefitting from those purchases. Amazon is now cracking down on a lot of that stuff. You’ll see stories of them getting banned and having to prove they own the copyright.

I’m not about that! And I’m not here to create coloring pages. I want to spread a message that matters not target those wanting to get rich quick with strategies that will get them banned. So don’t be fooled by some of these influencers. They are taking the path of least resistance, which is fine, but they aren’t telling you how they REALLY made that much money.

The Reality Check

I wouldn’t be serving you well if I didn’t mention the challenges:

Going wide typically requires more patience than KDP Select
You’ll need to track sales across multiple platforms
Marketing becomes more complex when targeting different ecosystems
You’ll miss out on Kindle Unlimited page reads

But don’t worry! In Part 4, we’ll dive deep into how D2D makes the wide journey much easier than going it alone. We’ll explore their specific tools, formatting options, and how their distribution system works step-by-step.

Until then, take some time to reflect on what truly matters to you as an author. Are you seeking quick visibility, or are you in this for the long haul? Are you comfortable with Amazon dependency, or does the idea of a diversified author business feel more aligned with your goals?

Remember, there’s no “right answer” here—just the path that feels most authentic to YOU.

Note: This post was originally published on Tell the Trees.

Explore the Series:

Part 1: Amazon KDP Select: Is Exclusivity a Surprisingly Good Offer?

Is Exclusivity A Surprisingly Good Offer?

Michelle Buck

Apr 14

Is Exclusivity A Surprisingly Good Offer?

Over the past few months, I’ve been interested in using something other than Amazon KDP Select for my book distribution. I’ve done a lot of research already, but today I’m kicking off a new series th…

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Part 2: The Amazon KDP Select Advantage

What is the Advantage of Using KDP Select?