If you’ve ever self-published, or even just thought about it, you’ve probably run into the question: “Should I enroll my book in KDP Select or go wide?” It’s one of those decisions that can change how your book earns, how far it reaches, and even how you market it. But what works for one author could be a total flop for another.

Let’s have a look at the pros and cons and what the royalties of Kindle Unlimited are to figure out if it’s worth it or just a say.

Key Takeaways

1. KDP Select Means Exclusivity for Perks – KDP Select requires you to keep your ebook exclusive to Amazon for 90 days, but in exchange, you get access to Kindle Unlimited readers, promotional tools like Free Days and Countdown Deals, and potential algorithm boosts. It’s a trade-off: wider reach through KU on Amazon versus losing sales opportunities on other platforms.
2. Kindle Unlimited Royalties Work Differently – In Kindle Unlimited, you’re paid per page read, not per book sold. The rate changes monthly, often around $0.004–$0.005 per page. This means your income can vary depending on how many of your book readers finish. Short books can earn less per reader than regular sales, but KU’s large audience can drive higher total reads.
3. KU Shines in Binge-Read Genres – Kindle Direct Publishing Select works best for high-volume genres like romance, fantasy, sci-fi, and thrillers, where readers consume books quickly. In these markets, KU’s subscription model encourages readers to try more authors, often boosting their page reads and reviews. If your genre isn’t common in KU, your book may get little traction.
4. Going Wide Can Build Long-Term Stability – While KDP Select can deliver quick bursts of visibility, publishing wide gives you access to more diverse audiences and income streams. Platforms like Kobo, Apple Books, and Barnes & Noble can perform well over time, especially if you market to those reader bases. A hybrid approach lets you benefit from KU’s launch boost while protecting your long-term growth.
5. Success Stories and Cautionary Tales Exist – Authors have found both wins and losses with KDP Select. Some debut authors have used KU to build a readership fast, while others in niche genres lost sales opportunities due to exclusivity. Case studies show that results depend heavily on genre, audience location, and marketing. Avoid blindly following other authors’ strategies. Instead, test it with one book or series.

What Is KDP Select?

It is an optional program inside Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform. When you self-publish through KDP, you can put your book up for sale on Amazon without any exclusivity. That’s the default option.

But if you tick the Kindle Direct Publishing Select box, you’re agreeing to something big: for 90 days, your ebook will be exclusive to Amazon. That means no selling it on Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play, or even your own website in ebook form during that period.

So why would a KDP Select want you to go exclusive? Simple — Amazon rewards exclusivity with perks.

What You Get with Amazon Kindle Select

Features are what authors fall for. The more they get, the more they want to use that platform. Read below the kind of advantages authors prefer Amazon:

Kindle Unlimited (KU)

Kindle Unlimited is Amazon’s ebook subscription service. For a flat monthly fee, subscribers can borrow and read as many books as they like from the catalog. You can also borrow yours only if you are enrolled in KDP Select.

To simplify things for you, here is a basic breakdown. There are two things that matter the most on KU. Its sales rank and, of course, your earnings. So when someone borrows your book through KU, that borrow counts towards your sales rank right away (even if they have not started reading yet). Your earnings, however, depend on the number of pages they have actually read.

Now you must be wondering how would Amazon know how many pages a reader has read. They know through Amazon’s KENP. It is the Kindle Edition Normalized Page System.

This is why many people prefer using KU because even if you are not getting enough pay (let’s say if you have not read many pages), it will still give you visibility, which eventually will boost your future income potential.

Promotional Tools

KDP Select gives you two powerful promo features every 90 days. With Kindle Countdown Deals, you can temporarily discount your ebook while showing a timer that creates urgency, and you still earn royalties on the original list price. With Free Book Promotions, you can offer your book free for up to five days, encouraging mass downloads and reviews.

These tools can dramatically spike your ranking, visibility, and discoverability on Amazon, especially when paired with advertising or newsletter swaps.

Algorithm’s Favor

Books enrolled in KDP Select often get more visibility in Amazon’s recommendation system. The algorithm loves activity—sales, page reads, reviews—and KU books tend to generate more of it because they’re easy for subscribers to “try.”

This can land your book in “Customers Also Bought” carousels, “Recommended for You” lists, and genre-specific bestseller charts. The extra exposure compounds over time while creating an effect that can keep your book selling long after your promotional period ends.

How Kindle Unlimited Royalties Work

This is the part that confuses most authors. In KU, you don’t get paid a flat rate for the book sale. Instead, you get paid per page read.

Here’s the short version:

• Amazon sets a monthly “Global Fund” for KU.
• Your share of that fund is based on how many KENP (Kindle Edition Normalized Pages) readers finish.
• The rate changes monthly. Sometimes it’s around $0.0045 per page, sometimes higher, sometimes lower.

Example:

If your book is 300 KENP and someone reads it cover-to-cover at a $0.0045 rate, that’s $1.35 from that reader. If you priced your ebook at $2.99, the royalty from a regular sale would be about $2.04.

So, KU can pay less per reader, but you might get more readers overall.

The Pros of KDP Select

Let’s see why some authors swear by this program.

1. Big Access to KU Readers

Kindle Unlimited has millions of active subscribers who pay monthly to read as much as they want. For binge-worthy genres like romance, sci-fi, fantasy, and thrillers, this can be like opening a direct line to an eager audience.

KU removes the cost barrier for readers to try new authors, meaning they’re more likely to give your book a chance. If you hook them early, they may read multiple titles, increasing both your page reads and your Kindle Unlimited royalties.

2. Boosted Visibility on Amazon

Amazon’s recommendation system favors books that keep readers on the platform longer. Since KU encourages ongoing reading, titles in KDP Select often get more visibility in “Customers Also Bought,” “Recommended for You,” and Kindle genre lists.

This extra exposure can lead to more organic traffic, where readers discover your book without direct advertising. For authors, this means less money spent on marketing while still gaining consistent discoverability. Over time, better placement in Amazon’s ecosystem can significantly improve your sales momentum.

3. Built-In Promotional Tools

KDP Select gives you two powerful tools to boost rankings: Kindle Countdown Deals and Free Book Promotions. A Countdown Deal lets you discount your book for a set period while keeping higher royalty rates, often creating urgency with a visible timer.

Free Book Promotions allow up to five free days per 90-day term. This way, you can attract new readers. Both tools can push your book up Amazon’s charts, improving discoverability and generating post-promo sales from curious readers who missed the free period.

4. Easier for New Authors

Managing distribution across Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play, and Barnes & Noble can be overwhelming, especially for first-time publishers. KDP Select simplifies things by letting you focus on one platform while still reaching a massive audience.

You can spend more time improving your craft and marketing instead of juggling multiple retailer accounts. With all your ebook activity centralized, tracking sales and page reads becomes simpler, and your promotional efforts are easier to plan, test, and adjust for better results.

5. Potential for More Reviews

Because Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read your book at no extra cost, they’re more likely to take a chance on unfamiliar authors. This can lead to a larger number of readers—and with it, more opportunities for reviews. KU readers often read fast and leave feedback, especially in high-engagement genres.

More reviews help boost your book’s credibility, improve click-through rates, and signal quality to Amazon’s algorithm. In the long run, this review momentum can help sustain your book’s visibility and sales.

6. Page Reads Can Outperform Sales in Some Cases

For longer books, Kindle Unlimited page reads can sometimes earn more than a single ebook sale. If your story keeps readers turning pages, you might see higher income through KU than from standard royalties.

This is especially true for series, where readers binge multiple volumes in one go. The per-page-read model rewards engagement, so authors with page-turning plots can benefit from having their work in KU, even if the upfront per-sale amount seems lower at first glance.

7. Increased Global Reach Through KU

KDP Select can boost visibility in Amazon’s international stores, especially in regions where KU is popular, such as the UK, Germany, and India. Even if you’re marketing primarily in the U.S., KU readers overseas can discover your book without you having to run separate promotions.

These global page reads still count toward your Kindle Unlimited royalties, which gives you a broader audience without additional distribution or technical setup. This built-in international exposure can be a valuable advantage for authors targeting growth.

8. Better Discoverability for Series

For authors with a series, KDP Select can work like a discovery engine. Making the first book in a series free during a promotion can attract KU subscribers who then binge the remaining volumes, generating more page reads and royalties.

Since KU readers are often series-oriented, this approach can turn casual browsers into long-term fans. The combination of Amazon’s recommendation engine and KU’s low barrier to entry makes Select especially powerful for building momentum across multiple connected titles.

9. Better Data Tracking and Marketing Analysis

When all your ebook activity happens on one platform, it’s much simpler to monitor results and refine your marketing strategy. KDP’s dashboard shows KU page reads, royalties, and sales in one place, allowing you to quickly see which promotions worked.

This can help new authors avoid the overwhelming task of juggling multiple retailer dashboards. Simplified data tracking means you can make faster, more informed decisions about pricing, ads, and promotions without guessing where your sales are actually coming from.

If this all sounds hard to you, take guidance from the best Amazon book publishing service providers. They can help you with designing a cover, formatting your ebook, and optimizing your metadata to make the most of KU.

10. Short-Term Exclusivity Allows Flexible Testing

Because Kindle Select runs in 90-day cycles, you can experiment with exclusivity without locking yourself in long-term. This makes it ideal for authors who want to test Kindle Unlimited performance before committing.

If the KU page reads and sales spike, you can re-enroll for another term; if the results aren’t worth the trade-off, you can pivot to wide distribution. This built-in flexibility lets you trial the program with minimal risk, while still benefiting from all the perks during your test period.

The Cons of KDP Select

Where there are pros, there are always cons associated with it, such as:

1. Exclusivity Can Hurt Your Growth

When you join KDP Select, your ebook is locked to Amazon for 90 days, meaning you can’t sell it on Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play, or even your own site. This limits your ability to reach readers who prefer other platforms, which can slow your overall audience growth.

2. You’re Tied to Amazon’s Rules

Enrolling in KDP Select means your income and visibility depend entirely on Amazon’s policies. If they change payout rates, adjust algorithms, or alter promotional tools, your earnings could shift overnight. This heavy reliance on one company gives you little control over your own publishing stability and future.

3. KU Rates Fluctuate

Kindle Unlimited royalties are based on a per-page-read rate that changes monthly—often around $0.0045 per page. These fluctuations can make income unpredictable, especially if most of your sales come from KU. You have no influence over these rates, so planning consistent revenue becomes a real challenge.

4. Not All Genres Thrive in KU

Kindle Unlimited works best for bingeable genres like romance, fantasy, or thrillers. If you write niche nonfiction, poetry, or literary works, KU’s audience might not be a strong match. Exclusivity could mean your book never reaches the readers who are actually interested in your topic.

5. Short-Term Wins vs. Long-Term Strategy

KDP Select can give you a burst of visibility and sales in the first 90 days, but going wide often provides more stable, long-term income. By diversifying across multiple platforms, you reduce dependence on Amazon and build a broader, more resilient readership over time.

Tips for Authors Using KDP Select

If you do try KU:

Plan Promotions Strategically

Don’t burn through your Free Book Promotion or Kindle Countdown Deal days without a plan. Schedule them around other marketing efforts—like newsletter swaps or ad campaigns—to maximize downloads, visibility, and reviews. A coordinated approach will give you far better results than random, unplanned promo days.

Track KU vs. Sales Revenue

Regularly check your KDP dashboard to compare income from Kindle Unlimited page reads with direct ebook sales. Tracking this data helps you see which channel is more profitable for your book. Over time, these numbers will guide whether you stay exclusive or switch to going wide.

Re-Evaluate Every 90 Days

KDP Select runs in 90-day terms, so use that as a natural checkpoint. At the end of each term, assess your income, visibility, and reader feedback. If results are slipping or if you’re ready to expand, consider leaving KU and testing other platforms to grow your audience.

Consider Professional Help

If KDP Select setup, optimization, or marketing feels overwhelming, you can hire Amazon book publishing services to handle it for you. The best Amazon e-book publishing services can format your book, optimize keywords, manage promotions, and even run ads, saving you time and boosting results.

KDP Select vs. Going Wide

Before you decide which one is worth it, you need to look at the alternative: going wide. It means publishing your ebook on multiple platforms — Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Google Play — either directly or via aggregators like Draft2Digital.

Benefits of Going Wide

• Diversified income streams.
• Access to international readers in markets where Amazon isn’t dominant.
• Build a stronger long-term author brand.
• Hybrid Strategies Exist

Some authors start in KU for the first 90–180 days to get visibility, then go wide once the initial launch buzz slows. If you’re also releasing paperbacks, pairing KU with the best Amazon print-on-demand service gives you one dashboard for both ebook and print formats.

How to Decide If KDP Select Is Right for You

Here’s a simple checklist:

• Do you write in a KU-friendly genre? (Romance, thriller, fantasy)
• Are you okay with being exclusive for 90 days at a time?
• Do you want to keep marketing simple in the short term?
• Are you willing to experiment best and track results?
• If most answers are yes, KU might be worth testing.

If you want maximum reach, reader diversity, and control over your distribution, going wide might be the better play — but for that, you’ll need to work with the Amazon book publisher services.

Case Studies of Indie Authors

Some writers who started alone are making a lot of money with their published books through Kindle Select. Have a look at their path:

P.J. Sharon and Savage Cinderella

P.J. Sharon is a romance and young adult author who decided to give Kindle Select a real shot with her novel, Savage Cinderella. She shared her honest takeaways on her blog after completing her first 90-day term.

Her experience in her own words? Mostly positive.

What Went Well

• She loved that all her sales were in one place. No juggling multiple dashboards, no guessing where the money was coming from.
• She joined cross-promotional events with other Kindle Select authors, which gave her book a lift.
• She ran five free promotion days, which generated a big spike in downloads and helped her gain visibility.
• Every Prime Lending Library borrow brought in around $2, an easy income boost she didn’t expect.

What Didn’t Work So Well

• Exclusivity cut her off from readers on Nook, iPad, and other non-Kindle devices.
• She felt uneasy about contributing to Amazon’s growing market dominance.
• The exclusivity rules also made it harder to post excerpts elsewhere for promotional purposes.

But she was very pleased with the outcome of my KDP Select. For her genre and stage in her career, it worked.

Joshua aka Alfageek

Nicholas C. Rossis mentioned Joshua, an indie author who blogs under the name “alfageek,” tried both sides of the publishing coin: starting in Kindle Select, then going wide.

The “go wide” experiment didn’t go as planned.

• On platforms like iBooks, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble? Not a single sale.
• Even his print editions—available outside Amazon—failed to sell through those other channels.

What got him was the workload. Going wide meant creating 75 different files to meet different platforms’ formatting requirements. For that much extra work, he expected a decent return… but it never came.

The result? He re-enrolled in KDP Select, stayed there, and focused on the audience that bought his books.

Chautona Havig and Thomas Umstattd on Author Media

In a candid Author Media conversation, novelist Chautona Havig and publishing coach Thomas Umstattd broke down their views on KDP Select.

Chautona’s advice was simple: try it for one 90-day quarter. She’s found it particularly useful for genres like Christian fiction, where readers often binge series through Kindle Unlimited. KU borrows can be a powerful discovery tool, especially for lesser-known authors.

Thomas added a key reminder: KU only pays you for pages read—if someone borrows your book but never opens it, you get nothing. But, in his experience coaching indie authors, many see higher income and greater sales from KDP Select than they do from going wide, especially in those first few books.

Both agreed: It’s worth testing, tracking results, and making the choice based on hard numbers instead of assumptions.

Is KDP Select Worth It?

It depends. For some authors, KU can be a launchpad to visibility, reviews, and solid income. For others, it can be a box that’s too small for their goals. The trick is to know your audience, test your approach, and make decisions based on hard data, not just hype.

Consider your genre, marketing capacity, and long-term career plans before committing. Don’t be afraid to experiment for a 90-day term and reassess. Remember, you’re the publisher here, and you can’t blame anyone for choosing right. So, choose wisely as to whether you stick with Amazon Kindle Select, go wide, or try a hybrid strategy; the power is in your hands.

FAQs

Can I change the price of my book while it’s on Kindle Select?

Yes. You can update your ebook’s price anytime while enrolled in KDP Select, except during an active Kindle Countdown Deal. Price changes usually take 24–48 hours to reflect across Amazon’s sites. Keep in mind that if your book is in Kindle Unlimited, pricing changes don’t affect KU royalties since those are based on page reads, not sales. Strategic pricing adjustments can help boost visibility, attract bargain hunters, or position your book for a planned promotion.

Does KDP Select affect paperback or hardcover distribution?

No. KDP Select’s exclusivity applies only to your ebook version. You can still publish and sell your paperback or hardcover editions through other retailers or print-on-demand services, even while the ebook is in it. This allows authors to combine KU’s benefits for ebooks with broader physical book distribution. However, any ebook format—including digital copies for giveaways—must remain exclusive to Amazon during the 90-day term to avoid breaching.

Can I use parts of my ebook for marketing while in KDP Select?

Yes, but only within Amazon’s guidelines. You can share up to 10% of your book’s content publicly, such as on your blog, in newsletters, or on social media, while enrolled in KDP Select. This can be useful for teasers, excerpts, or “look inside” previews. Sharing beyond this limit may violate the exclusivity agreement. If you want to provide larger samples to readers or influencers, consider creating a bonus chapter or related content that isn’t part of that ebook.

Can I enroll a box set in Kindle Direct Publishing Select if the individual books are wide?

No. If you enroll a box set in it, the ebooks inside that set must also be exclusive to Amazon. Amazon’s exclusivity clause covers the content of the enrolled book, whether it appears alone or as part of a collection. This means you can’t sell the same material on other platforms while the box set is in Select. If you want to try KU with a bundle, you’ll need to remove the standalone ebooks from wide distribution first.

What happens if I remove my book from Kindle Select before 90 days?

You can’t opt out early. Once you enroll in it, your ebook must remain exclusive to Amazon for the full 90-day term. You can choose not to re-enroll after that, but the exclusivity requirement lasts until the cycle ends. If you accidentally list the ebook elsewhere during this period, Amazon can remove your book from sale or suspend your KDP account. Always plan your publishing calendar carefully with your hired Amazon book publishing services to avoid conflicts.

Can Kindle Direct Publishing Select help me qualify for the Amazon bestseller lists?

Yes, indirectly. While its enrollment alone doesn’t guarantee bestseller status, the program’s promotional tools and KU page reads can boost your book’s rank in its category. Free promotions can drive a surge in downloads, which may temporarily push your book into Amazon’s free bestseller charts. Countdown Deals can do the same in the paid rankings. Because the KU page reads count toward sales rank, high KU activity can help you stay visible longer.

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About Author

Hi, my name is Zachary Stone I’m a book marketing nut — or, as I like to call myself, a “Shelf Marketer.” No, I don’t sell wooden shelves; I market the books that are left forgotten on them. If you want your book to be the next bestseller, I am your go-to person. I am here to remind you that it’s not just about writing a great story — it’s about building a buzz among people with great campaigns.