Amazon KDP or IngramSpark? Where to publish your book

Guides for authors › Amazon KDP or IngramSpark?

Amazon KDP and IngramSpark are the two services most independent authors use to print and sell their books. They do different jobs, and they work well together.

Amazon KDP

Kindle Direct Publishing is Amazon's own service. It puts your book on sale in Amazon's shops around the world, as a paperback, a hardback and a Kindle ebook.

Cost to set up: free.
Print royalties: a share of the list price (60% for most prices on Amazon UK) minus the cost of printing that copy.
Ebook royalties: 70% for Kindle ebooks priced within Amazon's standard range (less a small delivery charge), or 35% outside it.
Best for: reaching Amazon's readers, which is where most online book sales happen.

IngramSpark

IngramSpark is part of Ingram, one of the world's largest book distributors. It makes your book available for bookshops, libraries and other online stores to order, in the UK and abroad.

Cost to set up: free, and since February 2026 changing your files is free too. A small market access fee applies to books enabled for distribution.
Royalties: the list price minus the discount you offer shops, minus printing. Bookshops expect a discount, so you usually earn less per copy than on Amazon.
Best for: getting your book into bookshops and libraries, and for print options Amazon doesn't offer.

Why many authors use both

A common approach is to sell on Amazon through KDP and use IngramSpark for everywhere else. That way you get the best royalty on Amazon and still let your local bookshop or library order your book. If you do this, use your own ISBN rather than Amazon's free one, because Amazon's can't be used elsewhere.

A worked example

For a £10.00 paperback sold on Amazon UK with a printing cost of £2.50, the royalty would be 60% of £10.00 (£6.00) minus £2.50: £3.50 a copy. Our royalties page walks through it.

Getting it set up

Setting up either platform properly means correctly sized files, the right trim size and paper, a cover with the right spine width, good categories and keywords, and a sensible price. SoulScriptz handles Amazon KDP setup, print on demand, IngramSpark or equivalent distribution and metadata as part of its packages, and tells you plainly which shops and markets your book will reach.

Platform rates, fees and printing costs change. We check the current figures for your own book with you.

Questions authors ask

Is IngramSpark better than Amazon KDP?

Neither is better: they do different jobs. KDP is best for Amazon; IngramSpark is best for bookshops and libraries. Many authors use both.

Can bookshops order a book published with Amazon KDP?

KDP has an expanded distribution option, but many bookshops prefer to order through Ingram. Using IngramSpark makes your book easier for shops and libraries to order.

Do I need my own ISBN to use both?

It is the simplest way. Amazon's free ISBN can only be used on Amazon, so for the same edition elsewhere you need your own.

Ready to publish your book?

First-time authors get 50% off their first publication with SoulScriptz. Your manuscript stays yours, and the price is agreed in writing before any work starts.

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Figures in this guide were checked in October 2026. Platform prices and rules change, so check the current figures before you rely on them. This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice.