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.
Bookvault
What it is
UK print-on-demand printer based in Peterborough, run by printondemand-worldwide. Bookvault prints single copies, distributes to retailers including Amazon, Gardners, and Alibris, and connects to your own online shop so print orders are fulfilled automatically. Its Bespoke options add sprayed edges, foiling, endpapers, and ribbons even on one-off copies, which makes it popular for special editions. A strong UK-based alternative or complement to KDP Print and IngramSpark, especially for direct sales.
Pricing model
Freemium — Free MyBookvault plan with a £19.95 set-up fee per title; paid Bookvault Indie (£4.95 per title) and Pro (no set-up fee) monthly plans — check the site for current monthly prices. You pay print cost per copy; royalties paid within 90 days.. 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…