Last reviewed by Robert Prime — July 2026
Verdict: Use both. KDP for Amazon sales (70% ebook royalty, UK-printed paperbacks, fastest listing). Draft2Digital for wide distribution (Apple Books, Kobo, libraries via OverDrive) with a single upload. Choosing one over the other leaves money on the table. The only scenario where D2D alone makes sense is if you refuse to deal with Amazon — and even then, you’re giving up the UK’s dominant ebook marketplace.
Draft2Digital vs KDP at a glance
| KDP | Draft2Digital | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free |
| Ebook royalty | 70% (£1.77–£12.99 as of July 2026) or 35% | ~60% net after retailer cuts |
| Print-on-demand | Yes — prints in UK/EU | Limited — primarily US printing |
| Amazon distribution | Direct (best terms) | Via KDP (slightly worse terms) |
| Wide distribution | No — Amazon only | Yes — Apple, Kobo, B&N, Google Play, libraries |
| UK library access | No | Yes — OverDrive, Bibliotheca |
| ISBN | Free (Amazon as publisher) or own | Free (D2D as publisher) or own |
| File conversion | Manual (EPUB or DOCX upload) | Automatic (converts for each retailer) |
| Tax handling | You manage UK Self Assessment | D2D handles cross-border VAT |
| Best for | Amazon sales (ebook + print) | Wide distribution beyond Amazon |
Why most comparisons get this wrong
Most “D2D vs KDP” articles frame it as an either/or choice. It isn’t. These platforms serve different channels, and the smartest UK authors use both.
KDP is your Amazon channel. Amazon dominates UK ebook sales — the exact share is debated, but it’s comfortably the majority. KDP gives you the highest royalty rate on Amazon, the fastest listing, and print-on-demand that actually prints in the UK (fast delivery, lower cost).
Draft2Digital is your everything-else channel. One upload distributes your ebook to Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play, Barnes & Noble, Scribd, OverDrive (libraries), and more. D2D handles format conversion, metadata, and cross-border tax.
The question isn’t “which one?” — it’s “do I need D2D in addition to KDP?” For most UK authors, the answer is yes.
Royalties compared — worked GBP examples
Ebook: £7.99 list price
| KDP | D2D (via Apple Books) | D2D (via Kobo) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty rate | 70% | 70% (Apple) × ~90% (D2D share) = ~63% | 70% (Kobo) × ~90% = ~63% |
| Delivery cost | ~£0.05 (file-size dependent) | Included | Included |
| Your royalty | ~£5.54 | ~£5.03 | ~£5.03 |
KDP pays more per sale on Amazon. D2D pays slightly less per sale on other retailers — but those are sales you wouldn’t get at all if you were Amazon-only.
Ebook: £2.99 list price
| KDP (70% tier) | KDP (35% tier) | D2D (Apple) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your royalty | ~£2.04 | ~£1.05 | ~£1.89 |
At £2.99, KDP’s 70% tier applies and beats D2D. Below £1.99, KDP drops to 35% — where D2D’s net royalty can actually be comparable.
Print: 250-page B&W paperback at £9.99
| KDP Print | D2D Print | |
|---|---|---|
| Print cost | ~£3.35 (UK print) | Higher (US-based print, variable) |
| Your margin | ~£2.64 | Lower — plus shipping delay for UK buyers |
KDP wins print decisively for UK authors because it prints in the UK. D2D’s print service routes through US facilities, meaning slower delivery and higher costs for UK customers.
Distribution reach
| Channel | KDP | D2D |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon UK | ✅ Direct (best terms) | ✅ Via Amazon (worse terms) |
| Apple Books | ❌ | ✅ |
| Kobo | ❌ | ✅ |
| Google Play | ❌ | ✅ |
| Barnes & Noble | ❌ | ✅ |
| Scribd | ❌ | ✅ |
| UK public libraries | ❌ | ✅ (OverDrive, Bibliotheca) |
| Tolino (Germany) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Print-on-demand | ✅ (UK print, excellent) | ⚠️ (US print, limited) |
D2D’s library distribution via OverDrive is a genuine advantage. UK public libraries process over 100 million loans annually, and digital lending is growing. Getting your ebook into that system via D2D costs nothing extra.
KDP Select — the exclusivity trade-off
KDP Select (and its reader-facing brand, Kindle Unlimited) offers enrolled titles access to:
- Kindle Unlimited — readers with a £9.49/month subscription can read your book for free; you’re paid per page read from a shared fund
- Kindle Owners’ Lending Library — similar model for Prime members
- Countdown Deals and Free Book promotions — promotional pricing tools exclusive to Select
The catch: 90-day exclusivity. Your ebook can only be sold on Amazon during enrolment. No Apple, no Kobo, no libraries, no D2D.
Is Select worth it? For genre fiction authors in popular KU categories (romance, thriller, sci-fi, LitRPG), the page-read income can exceed traditional sales royalties. For non-fiction, literary fiction, or authors building a long-term catalogue, wide distribution usually wins.
The decision is strategic, not absolute. Some UK authors launch in KDP Select for 90 days (to leverage Kindle Unlimited visibility), then go wide via D2D after the initial push.
UK-specific considerations
ISBNs
Buy from Nielsen (nielsenisbnstore.com) — £93 single, £174 for a block of ten. Free ISBNs from KDP or D2D list the platform as your publisher, which looks unprofessional to UK trade buyers and limits flexibility. Own your ISBNs.
VAT
- Ebooks: zero-rated for UK VAT (since May 2020) — no VAT to factor into pricing.
- Print books: zero-rated.
- Audiobooks: 20% standard-rate VAT — this affects pricing if you distribute audiobooks via D2D or ACX.
KDP handles VAT on Amazon sales. D2D handles cross-border VAT across all its retailers — a genuine time-saver if you sell across multiple territories.
Tax reporting
Both platforms require a W-8BEN form for US tax purposes (you’re a non-US author receiving US-source royalties). This isn’t an HMRC form — it’s an IRS form that reduces US withholding tax. You still report your self-publishing income on your UK Self Assessment tax return.
Print-on-demand
KDP prints in the UK. D2D’s print service is US-based and more limited. For UK print sales, KDP is the clear choice. For bookshop and library distribution of print books, pair KDP with IngramSpark (not D2D) — see our KDP vs IngramSpark vs Lulu comparison.
The recommended UK author stack
| Channel | Platform | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon ebook | KDP | Best royalty, fastest listing |
| Amazon print | KDP Print | UK printing, best Amazon margin |
| Wide ebook | Draft2Digital | One upload to Apple, Kobo, Google, libraries |
| UK bookshops + libraries (print) | IngramSpark | Feeds Gardners/Bertrams, UK printing |
| Audiobook | ACX or Voices by INaudio | Separate channel — neither KDP nor D2D handles this well |
This four-platform approach covers every major sales channel. It sounds complex, but setup is one-time — once your files are uploaded, each platform runs independently.
Common mistakes
- Going Amazon-only. KDP is essential, but Amazon-only means no Apple Books, no Kobo, no libraries. D2D fills the gap with one upload.
- Using D2D for Amazon distribution. D2D can distribute to Amazon, but the terms are worse than going direct via KDP. Always publish directly on KDP for Amazon sales.
- Using free ISBNs. Both platforms offer free ISBNs that list them as your publisher. Buy from Nielsen for professional credibility and flexibility.
- Ignoring libraries. UK public libraries are a substantial market for digital lending. D2D’s OverDrive distribution is free to enable — turn it on.
- Choosing KDP Select without thinking. The 90-day exclusivity means no D2D, no Apple, no libraries. That trade-off makes sense for some genres and not others. Decide based on your genre and audience, not on a blog post that says “always go exclusive.”
Frequently asked questions
Should I use Draft2Digital or KDP?
Both. KDP for Amazon (best royalty and print), D2D for everywhere else (Apple, Kobo, Google Play, libraries). They’re complementary, not competing.
How much does Draft2Digital vs KDP cost in the UK?
Both are free to use — no setup fees, no monthly charges. The cost difference is in royalty rates: KDP pays up to 70% on Amazon ebooks; D2D pays ~60% net after retailer cuts on other platforms. Print costs vary — KDP prints cheaper in the UK.
Can I use KDP and Draft2Digital at the same time?
Yes, but don’t distribute the same ebook to Amazon via both. Publish directly on KDP for Amazon, and use D2D for all non-Amazon retailers. Disable Amazon distribution in D2D to avoid conflicts.
Is KDP Select worth it for UK authors?
It depends on your genre. Romance, thriller, and sci-fi authors in active Kindle Unlimited categories often earn more from page reads than from wide sales. Non-fiction and literary fiction authors typically do better going wide. Test it for one 90-day cycle and compare the numbers.
What are the UK tax requirements for KDP and D2D?
Complete a W-8BEN form on both platforms to reduce US withholding tax. Report all royalty income on your UK Self Assessment tax return. Both ebooks and print books are zero-rated for UK VAT. D2D handles cross-border VAT; KDP handles VAT on Amazon sales.
Whichever platform you choose, getting the formatting right is what separates amateur from professional. Run a free KDP Readiness Score to check your file, or let us format it for you from £69.
