⚖ Free Tool

Wide vs Amazon:
Which Earns More?

Enter your sales data, KENP reads, and platform split — see in seconds whether KDP Select exclusivity or wide distribution puts more money in your pocket.

📚 Amazon KDP 🍎 Apple Books 📚 Kobo 📚 Barnes & Noble ▶ Google Play 🔗 Aggregators
Earnings Comparator

Model your income — both strategies

Adjust any input and results update instantly. All royalty rates reflect current platform policies.

Your Sales & Pricing
KDP Select (Kindle Unlimited)
Wide Distribution — Platform Split Sliders must total 100%
Adjust your estimated sales split Total: 100%
📚 Amazon (wide) 40%
Royalty: 70% of list price
🍎 Apple Books 20%
Royalty: 70% of list price
📚 Kobo 15%
Royalty: 70% of list price
📚 Barnes & Noble 8%
Royalty: 65% of list price
▶ Google Play 7%
Royalty: 70% of list price
🔗 Other / D2D 10%
Royalty: 70% net (via aggregator)
📚
Amazon KDP Select
Exclusive — includes Kindle Unlimited
Ebook sales royalties —
KENP page read royalties —
Monthly —
Annual estimate —
🌐
Going Wide
Multi-platform — no exclusivity
Amazon (wide, 70%) —
Apple Books (70%) —
Kobo (70%) —
Barnes & Noble (65%) —
Google Play (70%) —
Other / aggregator (70%) —
Monthly —
Annual estimate —
Strategy Guide

When to go wide — and when to stay exclusive

The calculator gives you the numbers. Here's the context behind the decision.

📚 KDP Select makes sense if…
  • Your readers are heavy Kindle Unlimited subscribers
  • You publish in romance, thriller, or other KU-heavy genres
  • You have high KENP page reads that offset exclusivity loss
  • You want access to KDP countdown deals and free promotions
  • You are just starting and Amazon is your primary discovery channel
🌐 Going wide makes sense if…
  • You have an established readership on Apple Books or Kobo
  • You write in non-fiction, literary fiction, or niche categories
  • You want income diversification and platform risk reduction
  • You publish in international markets where Amazon is weaker
  • You prefer not to be locked into a 90-day exclusivity window
See Your Actual Earnings

This calculator estimates. ScribeCount shows reality.

Whether you go wide or stay on KDP Select, ScribeCount pulls in your actual royalty data from every platform — Apple Books, Kobo, B&N, Google Play, and 35+ more — so you see exactly where your money comes from.

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📚 Amazon KDP35% / 70%
🍎 Apple Books70%
📚 Kobo Writing Life70%
📚 Barnes & Noble Press65%
▶ Google Play Books70%
🔗 + 35 more platformstracked
Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

What does "going wide" mean for authors?
Going wide means publishing your ebook on multiple retailers — Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and through aggregators like Draft2Digital — rather than exclusively on Amazon KDP Select.
Does Amazon KDP Select pay more than going wide?
It depends on your audience. KDP Select gives access to Kindle Unlimited readers (KENP page reads) and promotional tools, but locks you in exclusively. Wide distribution gives you royalties from multiple platforms and protects you from Amazon policy changes. Use this calculator to model your specific situation.
What royalty rate does Apple Books pay?
Apple Books pays 70% of the list price you set, with no delivery fee and no exclusivity requirement. Many authors find Apple readers are willing to pay full price, making it a strong revenue channel.
Can I switch from KDP Select to wide publishing?
Yes — KDP Select enrollment is 90-day rolling. You can opt out at the end of any enrollment period and then publish wide when the period ends. Do not upload your ebook to other platforms until the KDP Select term has fully expired.
More Free Tools
📚 KDP Royalty Calculator 📚 KENP Estimator 🌐 Platform Comparison 🔗 Series Tracker
Know Your Real Numbers

ScribeCount tracks your actual royalties across 40+ platforms — automatically.

Stop guessing which strategy is working. Connect your stores once and see every royalty, every sale, and every trend in one dashboard. Free 14-day trial, no credit card required.

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