At Create & Blossom, we believe every author deserves to publish with confidence—and part of that confidence comes from understanding your options. Two of the most popular self-publishing platforms are Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and IngramSpark. While they might seem similar on the surface, they serve very different purposes.

If you’ve ever asked, “Which platform is better?” the honest answer is: It depends on your goals.

In this post, we’ll break down the key differences—so you can make the best decision for your book.

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🔍 What Are Amazon KDP and IngramSpark?

Amazon KDP is Amazon’s free self-publishing platform. It’s easy to use and gives authors instant access to Amazon’s massive marketplace for both print and ebooks.

IngramSpark, on the other hand, is a publishing service from Ingram, one of the largest book distributors in the world. It offers broad access to bookstores, libraries, and international markets.

🔍 What Are Amazon KDP and IngramSpark?

Amazon KDP is Amazon’s free self-publishing platform. It’s easy to use and gives authors instant access to Amazon’s massive marketplace for both print and ebooks.

IngramSpark, on the other hand, is a publishing service from Ingram, one of the largest book distributors in the world. It offers broad access to bookstores, libraries, and international markets.

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🧾 Print Cost Comparison

Here’s a real-world look at what you might pay for author copies:

Platform	Example Print Cost (Paperback, 300 pages, B&W)	Shipping/Handling	Notes
Amazon KDP	~$8.25	Low	Ships from Amazon centers
IngramSpark	~$9.61 + $1.99 handling	Higher	Slower delivery time

✅ KDP is cheaper and faster for author copies
❗ IngramSpark costs more but may offer better consistency in some cases

💰 Royalties and Compensation

Amazon KDP:

• Ebook Royalties: 70% (on books priced $2.99–$9.99)
• Print Royalties: 60% of list price minus print cost
• Payouts: Monthly

IngramSpark:

• Ebook Royalties: Varies by channel (often 40–50%)
• Print Royalties: 45% (standard wholesale discount) minus print cost
• Payouts: Monthly or quarterly, depending on region

✅ KDP pays higher ebook royalties
❗ IngramSpark gives you bookstore/library access—but takes a larger cut

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🌎 Distribution Reach

Platform	Where Your Book Goes
Amazon KDP	Amazon.com + Kindle Stores in multiple countries
IngramSpark	40,000+ retailers: bookstores, libraries, B&N, Kobo, etc.

✅ KDP dominates online retail
❗ IngramSpark gives you global bookstore access (including library systems)

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🎨 Print Quality

Print quality can vary between both platforms, but here’s what authors report:

• Amazon KDP: Print quality is good, but proofs and customer copies may come from different printers. Some issues with misaligned pages or inconsistent cuts have been noted.
• IngramSpark: Slightly more consistent across global printers. Some authors prefer IngramSpark’s color reproduction and paper quality.

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🆔 ISBN & Metadata Control

• KDP gives you a free ISBN (but Amazon will be listed as the publisher)
• IngramSpark requires you to provide your own ISBN (you retain full publisher credit)

Tip: You can publish the same book on both platforms with the same ISBN—as long as the content and format are identical.

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📦 Returns and Bookstore Readiness

Want to get your book into a local indie bookstore? Here’s a key difference:

• KDP books are not returnable, which is a turn-off for bookstores.
• IngramSpark allows you to make books returnable—a big plus for retail and libraries.

✅ If bookstores are part of your goal, IngramSpark is a must

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🧠 So… Should You Use One or Both?

Here’s a quick cheat sheet based on your publishing goals:

Your Goal	Recommended Platform
Fast, easy Amazon access	KDP only
Bookstores, libraries, global reach	IngramSpark (or both)
Maximizing ebook royalties	KDP for ebook + Ingram for print
Looking professional with full control	IngramSpark with your ISBN

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✨ Final Thoughts from Create & Blossom

Publishing isn’t one-size-fits-all—and that’s okay.

In fact, many authors use both:

• KDP for Amazon print and ebook distribution
• IngramSpark for wholesale print distribution and library/bookstore access

At Create & Blossom, we can help you manage both platforms, optimize your metadata, and ensure your files meet the specific specs each platform requires.

Need help deciding what’s right for your book?
Let’s talk! We’re here to guide you every step of the way.