Harmony Publishing vs Amazon KDP Alone
Amazon KDP is the free starting point for many authors. The difference is how much of the work you do yourself.
Short version. Amazon KDP is free to upload to and pays 70% or 35% on eBooks and 50% or 60% on paperbacks sold on Amazon, but editing, cover design and formatting are yours to do, and its only route to bookshops and libraries is the optional Expanded Distribution for paperbacks. We produce the book, set up KDP and wider distribution, and take no share of your royalties. If you can produce a finished book yourself and only need Amazon, KDP alone is a sound route.
Side by side
| Harmony Publishing | Amazon KDP alone | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A full-service self-publishing company that produces your book and handles the KDP and distribution setup | Amazon's free self-publishing platform: you supply finished files and manage the listing yourself |
| Upfront price | From $699 (Essentials), bundling design, layout, ISBN and distribution | Free to upload and publish; Amazon earns from its share of each sale |
| eBook royalties | You keep 100% | Two options: 35% of list price, or 70% of list price minus delivery costs (70% applies in eligible territories only) |
| Print royalties | You keep 100% | 50% or 60% of list price on Amazon marketplaces, minus printing cost; Expanded Distribution pays 40% of list price minus printing cost |
| Editing, cover and formatting | Included from the relevant tier upward | Do it yourself: KDP offers a Cover Creator tool but no editing or design service |
| ISBN | Registered in your name or your own imprint | Optional: KDP can assign a free ISBN, or you can use your own |
| Bookstore and library reach | Worldwide distribution set up in your name | Amazon marketplaces, plus optional Expanded Distribution for paperbacks: free, not guaranteed, up to 8 weeks, hardcovers not eligible |
| KDP Select | Not applicable | An optional, free 90-day program for Kindle eBooks that includes the book in Kindle Unlimited |
| Support model | One team across editing, design, print and distribution | Self-serve help pages |
| Best for | Authors who want the whole route handled | Authors who will do the editing, cover and formatting themselves and mainly want Amazon |
Amazon figures come from the KDP help pages (kdp.amazon.com) on eBook royalties, paperback royalties, KDP Select and Expanded Distribution, checked 4 October 2026, and may change. Check the current KDP terms directly. Our package prices are on the packages page.
Three questions to ask any provider
Including us. The answers decide more about value than the headline price:
- Ask who the publisher of record will be. If it is not you or your imprint, understand why before you sign.
- Ask what royalty share they take. Any percentage of your sales is a cost that compounds over the life of the book.
- Ask whether you receive your editable source files. If you cannot take your book elsewhere later, you are locked in.
On all three, our answer is: you are the publisher of record, we take no royalties, and you receive your print-ready and editable files.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amazon KDP cheaper than Harmony Publishing?
KDP is free to upload to, so it has the lower upfront price. What it does not include is editing, cover design or formatting, so the real comparison is between the price of a service package and the time (or the separate fees) of doing that work yourself. Our package prices are on the packages page.
Can I use KDP and Harmony Publishing together?
Yes. Our packages include eBook and paperback publishing through KDP, and an ISBN is non-exclusive, so you can also list the book through other channels. There is no conflict.
Do I keep my royalties if Harmony Publishing publishes on KDP for me?
Yes. We take no share of your royalties and you keep your rights. Amazon's own royalty terms still apply to sales on Amazon.
Will KDP get my book into bookshops and libraries?
Not by default. Amazon's Expanded Distribution is an optional free setting for paperbacks that makes them available to distributors so bookshops and libraries can order. Amazon states it is not guaranteed, can take up to 8 weeks, and does not cover hardcovers.
What is KDP Select?
A free 90-day program for Kindle eBooks that includes the book in Kindle Unlimited and makes it eligible for Kindle Free Book Promotions and Kindle Countdown Deals. Read Amazon's current KDP Select terms before you enrol.