Amazon KDP in 2026: Still Worth It for Authors?

About this video

Dale’s comprehensive 2026 review of Amazon KDP asks who the platform still works for. He traces its history from the 2007 launch through Kindle Unlimited in 2014, the shift to per-page payouts in 2015 after scammers gamed the original completion rule, the 2018 CreateSpace merger, hardcover beta in 2021, and invite-only AI Virtual Voice in 2023. On royalties he states the rules he describes: ebooks pay 70% at $2.99–$9.99 minus delivery fees (about 15 cents per MB in the US), 35% otherwise; Select unlocks 70% in Brazil, Japan, India and Mexico and pays from the Global Fund — he reports the fund grew from $2.5 million in July 2014 to $61.7 million in February 2026, yet the per-page rate fell, so he advises testing Select for one 90-day term, then going wide if it does not pay. Print now pays 60% at $9.99 and above but only 50% at $9.98 or below in the US, always minus print costs. He criticises declining paperback quality, padded-mailer shipping, hardcover bowing and glue residue, and expanded distribution, recommending IngramSpark, Lulu or Draft2Digital direct instead. Free tools he urges authors to use include Author Central, indexed A+ Content, and Kindle Deals/Prime Reading nominations.

Key takeaways

• Test KDP Select for one 90-day term with real marketing, then judge it on page-read income
• KU’s per-page payout has shrunk even as the Global Fund grew — volume is now essential
• Print pricing cliff: $9.98 or below pays 50%, $9.99+ pays 60%, minus print costs either way
• Skip expanded distribution; go direct to IngramSpark/Lulu/Draft2Digital for wider reach and better terms
• Use the free leverage: Author Central, indexed A+ Content, and deal nominations

Episode details: published April 15, 2026 · 40:26 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Dale L. Roberts’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

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