Amazon KDP
Kindle Direct Publishing — the dominant self-publishing storefront for ebooks and print-on-demand. Optional KDP Select exclusivity unlocks Kindle Unlimited. Essential for most indies; not the only store if you go wide.
Barnes & Noble Press
What it is
Barnes & Noble’s free self-publishing platform (formerly NOOK Press) for ebooks and print-on-demand on BN.com and NOOK. No platform fee and no exclusivity. Official payment terms state a 70% ebook royalty and a 55% print royalty of list price minus printing cost. From 22 April 2026, print books listed for sale need a retail price of at least $14.99. UK and Irish authors can open accounts, but the shop is Barnes & Noble in the US and author copies ship only within the United States. A free print ISBN is limited to B&N Press distribution and shows Barnes & Noble Press as publisher — UK authors who want their own imprint should buy from Nielsen. The ISBN also cannot already have been used at another retailer.
Pricing model
Free — Free platform; ebook 70% of list, print 55% minus print cost. Always confirm on the vendor site before buying; plans change.
Regions
UK, Global
Affiliate
Affiliate link: none yet.
Honest note: IndieShelf blurbs are written from public positioning. We do not republish vendor marketing copy wholesale and we do not claim rankings we did not earn.
Related tools
Draft2Digital
Wide ebook (and print) aggregator that sends files to multiple retailers and libraries for a distribution commission. Includes automated formatting from Word. A common companion to KDP for authors who want Apple, Kobo, l…
IngramSpark
Print-on-demand and ebook distribution via Ingram’s trade network — the channel bookshops and libraries often use to order. Higher bar for files and metadata than KDP Print; valuable when you want bookstore- and library-…
Kobo Writing Life
Direct self-publishing to Kobo’s ebook and audiobook stores, with no exclusivity. Kobo’s help centre describes a 70% share of list price (excluding tax) when an original ebook meets published price thresholds — including…