KDP vs IngramSpark — Which Self-Publishing Platform Is Best?

TL;DR — Quick Answer

KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) and IngramSpark are the two leading self-publishing platforms. KDP is best for ebooks and Amazon sales — it is free, easy to use, and dominates the ebook market. IngramSpark is best for print books and wide distribution — it reaches bookstores, libraries, and retailers worldwide that KDP cannot. Many successful self-published authors use both: KDP for Amazon and ebooks, IngramSpark for bookstore and library distribution. The right choice depends on your goals for reach, format, and distribution.

For self-publishing authors, the choice of platform shapes everything that follows — where your book can be sold, how much you earn per copy, what it costs to produce, and who can discover it. Two platforms dominate the serious self-publishing landscape: Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and IngramSpark. Understanding the difference between them is one of the most important decisions an independent author makes.

The two platforms are often presented as competitors, but they are better understood as serving different purposes. KDP excels at one thing; IngramSpark excels at another. Many of the most successful self-published authors use both strategically. This guide explains what each platform does, where each is strongest, and how to decide which is right for your book.

What Is KDP?

Kindle Direct Publishing is Amazon’s self-publishing platform. It allows authors to publish ebooks and print books that are sold through Amazon — by far the largest book retailer in the world. KDP is free to use, requires no upfront costs, and is designed to be accessible to authors with no publishing experience.

KDP’s dominant strength is the ebook market and Amazon distribution. Amazon controls the overwhelming majority of ebook sales globally, and KDP is the gateway to that market. For ebooks, KDP is close to essential — there is no comparable route to the dominant ebook retailer.

KDP also offers print-on-demand paperback and hardcover books sold through Amazon, with no inventory required — books are printed when ordered. This eliminates the upfront cost and risk of traditional print runs.

What Is IngramSpark?

IngramSpark is the self-publishing platform of Ingram, the largest book distributor in the world. Its defining strength is distribution reach. Through Ingram’s distribution network, IngramSpark can make your print book available to bookstores, libraries, universities, and retailers worldwide — distribution that KDP cannot match.

When a bookstore or library wants to order a book, they typically order through Ingram’s catalogue. A book published through IngramSpark appears in that catalogue and can be ordered by any retailer or library in Ingram’s network across many countries. This is the route to physical bookstore and library presence that serious print authors need.

IngramSpark also offers ebook distribution to a range of retailers beyond Amazon, including Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and others — useful for authors who want presence beyond the Amazon ecosystem.

KDP vs IngramSpark — The Core Differences

Royalties and Earnings

The two platforms calculate author earnings differently, and understanding this is important for pricing decisions.

KDP ebook royalties are generous — authors can earn 70% of the list price for ebooks priced within a certain range, which is among the highest ebook royalty rates available. This is a major reason KDP dominates ebook self-publishing.

KDP print royalties are calculated as the list price minus printing costs minus Amazon’s share. For books sold on Amazon, KDP generally offers higher print royalties than IngramSpark.

IngramSpark print royalties are calculated as the list price minus a wholesale discount (typically 55% for full bookstore distribution) minus printing costs. The wholesale discount is what makes the book attractive to bookstores to stock — but it reduces the author’s earnings per copy compared to direct Amazon sales through KDP.

This difference leads to a common strategy: use KDP for Amazon sales (higher royalties there) and IngramSpark for everything else (bookstores, libraries, other retailers).

The Both-Platforms Strategy

Many experienced self-published authors do not choose between KDP and IngramSpark — they use both, strategically. The most common approach works like this:

Use KDP for: Your ebook (to access the dominant Amazon ebook market with high royalties) and your print book sold on Amazon (where KDP offers better print royalties than IngramSpark).

Use IngramSpark for: Print distribution to bookstores, libraries, and retailers outside Amazon (the wide distribution KDP cannot provide) and potentially ebook distribution to non-Amazon retailers.

To use both for print, you publish the print book on KDP for Amazon sales, and on IngramSpark for wider distribution — being careful to manage the setup so the two do not conflict. Many authors set the IngramSpark version for distribution while letting KDP handle Amazon directly.

This combined approach captures the strengths of both platforms: KDP’s high royalties and Amazon dominance, plus IngramSpark’s bookstore and library reach.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose KDP Only If:

Your primary goal is Amazon and ebook sales. You are publishing primarily an ebook. You want the simplest possible publishing process. You do not need bookstore or library distribution. You are publishing your first book and want to start simply.

For many independent authors — particularly those publishing ebooks or selling primarily through Amazon — KDP alone is sufficient and is the easiest starting point.

Choose IngramSpark (or Both) If:

You want your print book available in bookstores and libraries. You need wide international print distribution. You want hardcover options and premium print finishes. You are publishing an academic, professional, or institutional book that libraries might stock. You want presence beyond the Amazon ecosystem.

For authors publishing serious print books intended for bookstore and library distribution — including many academic and professional books — IngramSpark, usually in combination with KDP, is the stronger choice.

As Dr. Madhuri Kanojiya, Founder of Empire Research Press, advises: “For most serious authors, the question is not KDP or IngramSpark — it is how to use both. KDP gives you Amazon and ebooks with excellent royalties. IngramSpark gives you the bookstores and libraries that Amazon cannot reach. Used together, they provide the widest possible reach for your book. Used alone, each leaves part of the market uncovered.”

Practical Considerations

Ease of use. KDP is significantly easier for beginners. Its interface is straightforward and the process is forgiving. IngramSpark is more complex, with stricter file requirements and a steeper learning curve. First-time authors often start with KDP and add IngramSpark once they are more experienced.

File requirements. IngramSpark has more demanding technical requirements for print files — precise specifications for covers, bleed, spine width, and interior formatting. Getting these right requires more care than KDP. Professional formatting becomes more important when publishing through IngramSpark.

ISBN. For wide distribution and a professional publishing presence, using your own ISBN (rather than a free platform-assigned one) is advisable. This gives you ownership and consistency across platforms. In India, ISBNs are available free through the official agency.

Returns. IngramSpark offers a returns option that makes bookstores more willing to stock your book, but returns carry financial risk for the author. Understanding the returns policy before enabling it is important.

Conclusion

KDP and IngramSpark are not really competitors — they are complementary tools serving different parts of the self-publishing market. KDP dominates ebooks and Amazon print with high royalties and ease of use. IngramSpark provides the bookstore and library distribution that KDP cannot.

For ebook-focused or Amazon-focused authors, KDP alone is often sufficient. For authors who want print books in bookstores and libraries worldwide, IngramSpark — usually alongside KDP — is the stronger approach. Understanding what each platform does best allows you to choose the combination that gives your book the reach it deserves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between KDP and IngramSpark?

KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) is Amazon’s self-publishing platform, best for ebooks and Amazon sales — it is free, easy to use, dominates the ebook market, and offers high ebook royalties. IngramSpark is the self-publishing arm of the world’s largest book distributor, best for print books and wide distribution to bookstores, libraries, and retailers worldwide that KDP cannot reach. KDP excels at Amazon and ebooks; IngramSpark excels at physical bookstore and library distribution. Many authors use both strategically.

Q: Should I use KDP or IngramSpark for my book?

Choose KDP if your primary goal is Amazon and ebook sales, you want the simplest process, and you do not need bookstore or library distribution — it is ideal for first-time authors and ebook-focused publishing. Choose IngramSpark, usually alongside KDP, if you want your print book available in bookstores and libraries, need wide international print distribution, or want hardcover and premium print options. Many serious authors use both: KDP for Amazon and ebooks with higher royalties, IngramSpark for bookstore and library reach.

Q: Can I use both KDP and IngramSpark for the same book?

Yes — many experienced self-published authors use both platforms for the same book. The common strategy is to use KDP for the ebook and for print copies sold on Amazon (where KDP offers higher print royalties), and IngramSpark for print distribution to bookstores, libraries, and retailers outside Amazon. When using both for print, you manage the setup carefully so the platforms do not conflict — typically letting KDP handle Amazon directly while IngramSpark provides wider distribution. This combined approach captures the strengths of both platforms.

Q: Which platform pays higher royalties?

For ebooks and for print books sold on Amazon, KDP generally offers higher royalties — its ebook royalty rate of up to 70% is among the highest available. IngramSpark print royalties are lower because they are calculated after a wholesale discount (typically 55% for full bookstore distribution), which is what makes books attractive for bookstores to stock. This is why many authors use KDP for Amazon sales to maximise royalties there, and IngramSpark for the wider distribution that KDP cannot provide, accepting the lower per-copy earnings on those distribution channels.

Q: Is IngramSpark worth it for self-published authors?

IngramSpark is worth it for authors who want their print book available in bookstores and libraries, need wide international print distribution, or want hardcover and premium print options — distribution that KDP cannot provide. It is particularly valuable for academic, professional, and institutional books that libraries might stock. For authors focused only on ebooks or Amazon sales, KDP alone may be sufficient and is easier to use. IngramSpark is more complex with stricter file requirements, so many authors start with KDP and add IngramSpark as they gain experience and want wider reach.

Article reviewed, edited, fact-checked and approved before publication. — Empire Research Press Editorial Standard