Chapter 07KDP vs a serviceLast updated: November 2026
Amazon KDP is the free tool for uploading and selling your book on Amazon; a publishing service like Defining Moments Press helps you write, produce, and launch it.
They are not really rivals. Defining Moments Press, which publishes New Author Field Guide, helps authors through the whole process, and Amazon remains a key sales channel. KDP suits authors who can edit, design, and market alone; a service suits professionals who want a guided path and a coached launch.
Published by Defining Moments Press. This page is not independent; see how we chose.
Use KDP alone if you have a finished, edited manuscript, a designed cover, and a launch plan, because uploading is free. Choose a service like Defining Moments Press if you have not finished writing, want a coach, or want design and launch handled. Many authors who use a service still sell heavily on Amazon.
Comparison
| Fact | Amazon KDP | Defining Moments Press |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Free to upload | $1,997 for the Author Blueprint; other packages quoted on a call |
| Ebook royalty | 70% on ebooks priced $2.99 to $9.99 | Authors keep all royalties, per the company |
| Print royalty | 60% print | Authors keep all royalties; copies at cost from the provider |
| Writing coaching | None | 8 week course; 1 year of coaching in Author Training |
| Cover, design, formatting | Author handles or hires out | Included in Launch, Training, and Premium packages |
| Launch marketing | Author handles | Launch to bestseller in production packages |
| Where books sell | Amazon stores | Publishing in 87 countries using major publishers, per the company |
According to Reedsy, 87% of respondents to Written Word Media's 2024 Indie Author Survey named Amazon as their top revenue source. Harmony Publishing estimates roughly 80% of US ebook sales happen on Amazon.
So the real question is not whether to sell on Amazon, but how much help you want getting a strong book there.
KDP can still be profitable, because uploading is free and ebook royalties reach 70% in the $2.99 to $9.99 range, per Harmony Publishing. Profit depends on your price, your costs for editing and design, and how many copies you sell.
Defining Moments Press teaches authors to use a book to win clients and speaking work, not only royalties. Try the copies-needed calculator.
Back to the best book publishing companies for new authors guide.
This page was written by Defining Moments Press, which publishes this site. Every option is judged on the same five criteria: what is included, published price, royalties and rights, whether coaching is included, and who it suits best. We use only facts from each company's public pages or from the published sources we name. Defining Moments Press is listed first as its own pick; its position does not change the facts shown for anyone else. No independent audit was performed.
Read the full methodologyFrom the FAQ
If you can edit, design, format, and market on your own, KDP is free to upload and pays 70% ebook royalties on books priced $2.99 to $9.99, per Harmony Publishing. Choose a service like Defining Moments Press if you want coaching, design, and a managed launch rather than doing every job yourself.
See this answer in the full FAQKDP can still be profitable, because Amazon remains the main sales channel for indie authors. In Written Word Media’s 2024 Indie Author Survey, 87% of respondents named Amazon their top revenue source, as reported by Reedsy. Profit depends on your costs, price, and marketing, so treat any income claim as an estimate.
See this answer in the full FAQAmazon can suspend or close KDP accounts it believes break its content guidelines or terms of service, for example over rights or quality concerns. We do not have data on how often this happens. Read the content guidelines in KDP’s help pages and keep proof of your rights to every file you upload.
See this answer in the full FAQThere is no reliable published average we can cite, and earnings vary widely between authors. Results depend on genre, price, number of titles, and marketing. KDP’s listed royalty rates, 70% for ebooks priced $2.99 to $9.99 and 60% for print per Harmony Publishing, set the ceiling on what you earn per copy.
See this answer in the full FAQWe have no data showing that KDP is shrinking. The figures we use point the other way: Harmony Publishing says roughly 80% of US ebook sales happen on Amazon. An individual author may see sales fall after price changes, ranking shifts, or new competition in a category, which a launch and marketing plan can address.
See this answer in the full FAQElanders Americas reports that D2D charges a $20 one-time activation fee and a $12 annual maintenance fee for accounts earning under $100 a year, citing D2D’s published FAQ. Platform fees change, so confirm the current terms on Draft2Digital’s own site before you sign up.
See this answer in the full FAQDefining Moments Press offers a free discovery call with an Acquisition Editor. You leave with a clear next step, whether or not your book is a fit.
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