How to self-publish without Amazon in 2026→ Apple Books, Kobo, B&N Press, Google Play, Draft2Digital, IngramSpark and BookMarket, with royalties compared.
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Amazon sells more ebooks than anyone in the US, but publishing only there means one company controls your income, your prices and, if you enroll in KDP Select, your ebook's exclusivity. “Going wideˮ means selling everywhere else too. Here's every major option, what each pays and when it makes sense.
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How to self-publish a book in 2026, step by step: editing, covers, formatting, ISBNs, platforms, pricing and launch, with real costs and royalty math.
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What self-publishing really costs in 2026→ editing, cover, formatting, ISBNs, copyright and platform fees, with budget, mid-range and premium totals.
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How ebook royalties really work in 2026→ KDP's 70% band and delivery fee, Apple, Kobo, Google and BookMarket, with worked examples at every price.
Read articleFootnote BookMarket assumes a 2.9% 30¢ card fee. Retailer figures are from each platform's published terms; exact earnings vary by territory and file size.
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70% of list price on every ebook, regardless of price. Strong in the US and with iPhone and Mac readers. Upload through Apple Books for Authors.
Strong outside the US (Canada, Europe, Japan) and in libraries through OverDrive partnerships. Kobo Plus is an optional subscription program.
70% of the price you set for ebooks, plus print-on-demand paperbacks and hardcovers sold through B&N.
70% in the US once you accept the current terms. Huge reach on Android devices; its catalog tools are less author-friendly than the others.
Upload once and reach many retailers and library services, for about 10% of the retail price. Since a February 2026 partnership, it also feeds ebooks to Bookshop.org, which launched ebook sales in January 2025.
The route to bookstores and libraries for print. Ingram removed revision fees and added a 1.875% market access fee from February 1, 2026.
An independent bookstore and publishing platform where you keep 100% of net royalties on digital sales: about $9.40 on a $9.99 ebook. Ebooks, audiobooks, and print on demand through Lulu, all on one page. It's non- exclusive, so it adds to everything above. Publish your book on BookMarket/publish.
Selling direct through a shop tool keeps the most margin but makes you responsible for delivery, tax and customer service.
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It depends on your genre. Kindle Unlimited page reads matter most in romance, LitRPG and thrillers. Many authors test one series wide before moving everything.
Per sale, direct storefronts like BookMarket. For reach, Amazon. Most authors use both.
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Apple Books for Authors. https://authors.apple.com/ B&N Press, Royalty and Payment Terms. https://help-press.barnesandnoble.com/hc/en- us/articles/5359736229531Royalty-and-Payment-Terms Google Play Books, revenue split FAQ. https://support.google.com/books/partner/answer/9331459 Draft2Digital FAQ. https://www.draft2digital.com/faq ALLi on IngramSpark's 2026 pricing changes (Apr 22, 2026).
https://allianceindependentauthors.substack.com/p/what-ingramsparks-2026-pricing-changes Publishing Perspectives on Bookshop.org Draft2Digital (Feb 4, 2026).
https://publishingperspectives.com/2026/02/bookshop-org-draft2digital-partner-to-make-self-published- ebooks-available-through-indie-bookstores/ Kirkus Writers' Center, “Self-Publishing Without Amazonˮ (June 25, 2026).
When your files are ready, BookMarket gives you one place to publish digital and print editions without giving up your rights.
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