Smashwords vs KDP: Which Self-Publishing Platform Is Better

I’ve published on both KDP and Smashwords (and I’ve fixed the formatting messes that come with each). So if you’re stuck choosing, you’re not alone. You’re probably weighing the same stuff I did: where your book will actually show up, how painful the upload/formatting process is, and whether it’s worth spreading your sales across multiple stores.

Here’s what I found after going through the setup on each platform, plus a few decision rules you can use right away.

Which Self-Publishing Platform Is Better: Smashwords or KDP?

1. Main Focus: Distribution and Reach

Understanding where your ebook will actually show up

When you publish on KDP, your ebook is primarily listed in Amazon. Amazon is the biggest ebook marketplace in the U.S. and many other regions, and it’s commonly cited that Amazon accounts for roughly 70%+ of ebook sales volume (figures vary by year and country; one widely referenced source is Publishers Weekly reporting on industry data). Translation: if a reader is already searching Amazon, you’re right there.

When you publish through Smashwords, you’re aiming for wide distribution. Your ebook can go to retailers like Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and libraries. In practice, this is helpful if your audience buys from places other than Amazon—or if you’re targeting library/retailer discovery that doesn’t rely on Amazon’s ecosystem.

My take on wide distribution (Smashwords) vs “Amazon first” (KDP)

Wide distribution sounds great on paper, and it is. But here’s what I noticed after publishing: the first couple weeks often feel slower outside Amazon. Not because the book is “bad,” but because every retailer has its own ingestion timeline and formatting acceptance checks.

Smashwords can also be a little more hands-on. Each store can be picky about things like margins, font embedding, and how your ebook handles images and tables. If your file is messy, you’ll feel it during review.

Smashwords wide distribution mini-checklist (what I double-check before uploading):

• File cleanup: Make sure your Word/EPUB isn’t carrying weird spacing from headers/footers.
• Images: Don’t upload giant cover images—use the recommended cover size and keep the aspect ratio.
• Tables and formatting: If your book uses lots of tables, test a preview on multiple devices.
• Links: External links should work and internal bookmarks should be consistent (especially for TOCs).
• Time for review: Expect formatting review + propagation time across stores.

KDP advantages for speed and visibility (and what can go wrong)

KDP is the platform I usually recommend when you want to move quickly. The dashboard is straightforward, and after uploading a clean file, I’ve seen titles go live in around 24–48 hours. Amazon also has a huge built-in discovery engine—recommendations, browsing categories, and the fact that readers are already there.

But there’s a tradeoff: your sales can become concentrated. If Amazon’s promos, category ranking, or policy changes affect your listing, it can hit your income harder than a diversified setup.

KDP “fast launch” mini-checklist (the stuff that saved me re-uploads):

• Cover: Use a high-resolution cover that meets KDP’s requirements (no stretched text).
• Metadata: Check title/subtitle spelling and series info before you publish.
• ISBN/edition settings: Don’t guess—double-check whether you’re using your own ISBN for print.
• Preview: Always use the KDP previewer (I catch formatting issues here that don’t look obvious in the editor).
• Pricing: Pick a price you can live with for at least a week or two—frequent changes can confuse tracking.

2. Royalties and Pricing Control

What the royalty math looks like (and why it matters)

On KDP, ebook royalties can reach 70% for eligible price ranges (commonly $2.99–$9.99 in many markets, depending on delivery costs and regional rules). The big win for most authors is monthly payouts once you hit the payment threshold.

On Smashwords, royalties are typically around ~60% depending on the retailer and the terms of distribution partners. Payments are usually quarterly, which is fine if you’re planning long-term—but it’s slower if you’re trying to see results quickly.

In my experience: royalty percentage isn’t the whole story. If one platform gets you 10 sales at a slightly lower rate and the other gets you 2 sales at a higher rate, the “better” platform is usually the one that drives more conversions for your audience.

Pricing control: changing your mind without starting over

KDP makes it easy to adjust ebook pricing. I’ve used quick price changes to test a promotion window and then revert back. It’s not magic, but it’s handy when you’re experimenting.

Smashwords also supports promotions and discounts (and you can run free promos). The key difference is that with wide distribution, you’re coordinating multiple storefront timelines. So if you’re doing a short promo, you’ll want to plan for when each retailer picks it up.

Promos and Kindle Unlimited vs “free” elsewhere

Here’s the part people miss: on KDP, enrolling in Kindle Unlimited (KU) can change how readers access your book (borrow-based payment per page read). That can be great for certain genres, but it’s not the right fit for every title—especially if your audience prefers buying outright.

Smashwords’ free promos are more straightforward in concept: you’re giving the ebook away to build readership and potentially earn reviews. Just don’t expect every retailer to convert equally. Some stores don’t move as fast as Amazon.

5. Print on Demand and Additional Publishing Options

Smashwords + Draft2Digital for print (how it usually works)

Smashwords itself isn’t the print engine. In real life, many authors use Draft2Digital to set up print-on-demand (POD) while still leveraging Smashwords’ wide ebook distribution.

What this means for you: you can publish paperbacks and hardcovers so they can show up through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, independent bookstores, and other channels (depending on the setup and partner availability).

Where authors get stuck (and what to do): print formatting. POD is far less forgiving than ebook formatting. Trim size, margins, bleed, and cover wrap requirements matter. If your PDF doesn’t match the specs, you may get rejected or end up with ugly cropping.

My “don’t waste a day” checklist for POD via Draft2Digital:

• Confirm trim size first (don’t design the interior for one size and upload another).
• Check bleed requirements for full-bleed images.
• Use the correct spine/case layout for the cover (paperback vs hardcover is different).
• Upload a test interior PDF if your book has lots of images or special formatting.
• Expect costs to affect margin (printing + distribution fees aren’t “free,” so price accordingly).

KDP for paperback and hardcover (the simpler path)

KDP is also a solid option for print. Once your manuscript is formatted to KDP’s specs, you upload your files and choose pricing directly in the dashboard. I like this part because it feels more “all in one.”

KDP print options let you pick from multiple trim sizes, paper types, and cover finishes. You can also use programs like “Look Inside” to improve visibility (especially when readers are deciding whether to buy).

And yes—POD avoids inventory risk. You’re not paying for boxes of books sitting in your garage. Still, you’re paying printing and shipping costs through the system, so your margin depends heavily on your retail price and interior length.

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