The complete guide to wide book distribution for self-published authors in the USA, Canada & beyond — platforms, royalties, timelines, and exactly what to do first
⚡ Quick Answer — How to Get Your Book on Barnes & Noble, Apple Books & Kobo: To distribute your book beyond Amazon KDP in 2026, you have two main routes: (1) Direct publishing — submit individually to Barnes & Noble Press, Apple Books for Authors, Kobo Writing Life, and Google Play Books, each with their own upload portal and requirements. (2) Aggregator services — use a distributor like Draft2Digital, IngramSpark, or Smashwords (now part of Draft2Digital) to upload once and distribute to all major retailers simultaneously. Most self-published authors going wide in 2026 use IngramSpark for print distribution and Draft2Digital for eBook distribution — combined with direct KDP for Amazon. The process takes 3 to 10 business days per platform for your book to go live after submission.
◆ Why Going Wide Is the Smartest Move Self-Published Authors Are Making in 2026
If your book is only on Amazon right now, you are reaching approximately 67% of the US eBook market — and missing the other 33% entirely.
That 33% represents millions of readers on Apple devices reading on Apple Books, Kobo subscribers across Canada and Europe, Barnes & Noble customers in the USA, Google Play users globally, and library patrons accessing books through OverDrive and Hoopla. These are real readers with real money who will never find your book because it does not exist on the platform they use.
The self-publishing community calls it going wide — distributing your book beyond Amazon to every major retail platform simultaneously. And in 2026, it has become one of the most discussed and fastest-growing strategies among serious independent authors.
Here is what most guides do not tell you: Amazon’s share of the global eBook market has been declining since 2022. Apple Books, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble have collectively grown their combined market share by over 18% in the past three years. The authors who positioned themselves on all platforms are now reaping the benefit.
This guide gives you the complete, step-by-step picture of every major distribution platform outside Amazon — what they pay, who they reach, how to get your book live, and the smartest strategy for going wide without sacrificing your Amazon earnings.
◆ The Amazon KDP Select Problem — What Nobody Tells Authors Before They Enroll
Before we get into the other platforms, there is something critical you need to understand about Amazon KDP Select — because it directly affects your ability to go wide.
KDP Select is Amazon’s exclusivity program. When you enroll a book in KDP Select, you receive access to Kindle Unlimited page-read royalties and promotional tools like Kindle Countdown Deals and Free Book Promotions. In exchange, you agree that your eBook will be available exclusively on Amazon for 90-day enrollment periods.
This means: if your book is currently enrolled in KDP Select, you legally cannot list the eBook version on Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, or any other platform until you opt out and the 90-day period expires.
📌 KDP Select exclusivity applies to eBooks only — your paperback and hardcover can always be distributed widely
📌 You must opt out before the 90-day renewal date — KDP Select auto-renews if you do not manually opt out
📌 After opting out, wait for the full 90-day period to complete before uploading your eBook elsewhere
📌 Kindle Unlimited income is real and significant for some authors — going wide means losing KU page reads
📌 The wide vs KU decision depends on your genre, audience, and income goals — there is no universal right answer
The most common mistake authors make when going wide: they upload to other platforms while still in KDP Select. This is a Terms of Service violation that can result in Amazon removing your book entirely. Always opt out and wait for your enrollment period to end first.
◆ Every Major Book Distribution Platform Beyond Amazon — Full 2026 Breakdown
Here is a complete breakdown of every platform worth your attention, what they offer, who they reach, and exactly how to get your book listed:
Platform 1: Barnes & Noble Press
📗 Barnes & Noble Press
GLOBAL REACH: 30 million+ customers across the USA — the second largest book retailer in America — both eBook (Nook) and print
ROYALTY RATE: 70% royalty on eBooks priced $2.99 to $9.99 | 55% royalty on print after printing costs
BEST FOR: US-focused authors, fiction and non-fiction, authors who want print presence in B&N physical stores (via IngramSpark partnership)
💡 PRO TIP: B&N Press is direct and free. For the best chance of physical store placement, pair B&N Press digital publishing with IngramSpark print distribution — B&N stores order from Ingram’s wholesale catalogue.
How to get started: Go to press.barnesandnoble.com and create a free account. Upload your manuscript (epub format for eBook, PDF for print), cover file, and book details. Review time is typically 24 to 72 hours. Your book goes live on BN.com and the Nook store within 3 to 5 business days.
Platform 2: Apple Books for Authors
🍎 Apple Books
GLOBAL REACH: Over 1 billion Apple devices worldwide — iPhone, iPad, Mac users across USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and 50+ countries. Apple Books users are high-income, high-engagement readers.
ROYALTY RATE: 70% royalty on all sales globally — no minimum price requirement, no exclusivity
BEST FOR: Authors targeting premium readers, non-fiction professionals, business books, self-help — Apple users skew toward higher-priced, higher-quality content
💡 PRO TIP: Apple Books readers pay more per book than any other platform — average sale price is 35% higher than Amazon. Price your book at $4.99 to $9.99 on Apple Books rather than matching your Amazon price.
How to get started: You need a Mac and iTunes Connect account OR you can use a distributor like Draft2Digital to submit without a Mac. Direct submission requires Apple’s free Book Creator tools. Upload your epub file, set your price, and select your territories. Apple typically takes 1 to 3 business days to approve and 24 to 48 hours to go live after approval.
Platform 3: Kobo Writing Life
🟠 Kobo Writing Life
GLOBAL REACH: 40+ million users across Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan — Kobo is the dominant eReader in Canada and has significant market share across all non-US English-speaking markets
ROYALTY RATE: 70% royalty on books priced $1.99 and above in most markets | 45% on lower-priced books
BEST FOR: Canadian authors, authors targeting European and international markets, romance and genre fiction authors — Kobo Plus (subscription service) reaches 3 million subscribers
💡 PRO TIP: Kobo Writing Life offers promotional opportunities through their Kobo Plus subscription program. Enroll your book in Kobo Plus to earn page-read royalties similar to Kindle Unlimited — but without the Amazon exclusivity requirement.
How to get started: Create a free account at kobowritinglife.com. Upload your epub and cover files, fill in your book metadata, set your price, and choose your markets. Kobo is one of the fastest platforms to go live — most books appear within 24 to 48 hours of submission. Kobo also accepts direct CSV bulk uploads for authors with large backlists.
Platform 4: Google Play Books
🔵 Google Play Books
GLOBAL REACH: 3 billion Android devices globally — the largest potential reach of any book platform on earth, particularly strong in emerging markets, South Asia, and Latin America
ROYALTY RATE: 52% royalty after Google’s 30% platform fee — lower than other platforms but unmatched global reach
BEST FOR: Authors targeting international audiences, non-fiction with global relevance, authors with existing Google ecosystem presence
💡 PRO TIP: Google Play Books is an underused opportunity — most self-published authors ignore it entirely, which means far less competition for visibility. If your book has global appeal, Google Play is where you find readers no other platform reaches.
How to get started: Apply for a Google Play Books Partner Center account at play.google.com/books/publish. Google requires approval before you can publish — the process takes 1 to 2 weeks. Once approved, upload via the partner dashboard. Books typically go live within 3 to 7 business days after submission.
Platform 5: Libraries — OverDrive, Hoopla & Bibliotheca
📚 Library Distribution (OverDrive / Hoopla / Bibliotheca)
GLOBAL REACH: 55,000+ public libraries across USA and Canada — library ebook lending has grown 40% since 2020 and is now a significant discovery channel for new authors
ROYALTY RATE: Authors earn per-checkout royalties — rates vary by platform and arrangement, typically $1 to $4 per checkout depending on your pricing
BEST FOR: Non-fiction authors, authors building long-term audience, authors whose readers are heavy library users — library discovery often converts to paid sales
💡 PRO TIP: You cannot submit directly to OverDrive or Hoopla as an indie author — you must go through an aggregator. IngramSpark and Draft2Digital both offer library distribution. It is the most underutilized channel in self-publishing and your competition there is minimal.
How to get started: Sign up with IngramSpark or Draft2Digital and opt into library distribution during your setup process. Your book will be made available to libraries across the OverDrive and Hoopla catalogues. Library pickup can be slow — 30 to 90 days — but once a library system adds your book, it can generate steady royalties for years.
Your book took months to write. Getting it in front of every reader who would love it should not be the hard part. That is exactly what we do at Innovacia Publishers.
◆ Aggregators vs Direct Publishing — Which Strategy Is Right for You in 2026?
You have two ways to get your book on multiple platforms: publish directly to each one, or use an aggregator service that distributes to all of them from a single upload. Here is the honest comparison:
| Factor | Direct Publishing | Draft2Digital | IngramSpark |
| Cost | Free | Free (10% of royalties) | $49 setup per title |
| Platforms Reached | 1 per submission | 40+ retailers | 40,000+ retailers & libraries |
| Royalty Rate | Full platform rate | Platform rate minus 10% | Full rate minus Ingram margin |
| Print Distribution | B&N Press only | No print | Full print distribution |
| Library Access | No | Yes (OverDrive, Hoopla) | Yes (widest library reach) |
| Best For | High-volume authors | eBook-focused authors | Authors wanting print + library |
| Time to Live | 3-5 days per platform | 3-7 days all platforms | 6-8 weeks print / 3-5 days eBook |
| Price Control | Full control per platform | Set once, applied everywhere | Full control per channel |
The 2026 wide distribution sweet spot: Use KDP for Amazon, Draft2Digital for all major eBook retailers, and IngramSpark for print distribution and library access. This three-platform combination gives you maximum reach with minimum duplication of effort.
◆ Step-by-Step — How to Go Wide in 2026 Without Losing Your Amazon Sales
Step 1: Decide Between Wide and KDP Select
If you are currently in KDP Select, decide whether the Kindle Unlimited income justifies the exclusivity. For romance, fantasy, and genre fiction series — KU income can be substantial and going wide may reduce total earnings. For non-fiction, business, and most standalone titles — going wide almost always increases total income over 12 months.
Step 2: Opt Out of KDP Select and Wait
Log into your KDP dashboard, go to your book’s KDP Select enrollment, and turn off automatic renewal. Wait for your current 90-day enrollment period to fully expire. Set a calendar reminder for the exact opt-out date. Do not upload to other platforms until the period has officially ended.
Step 3: Prepare Your Files for Wide Distribution
Each platform has slightly different technical requirements. Your epub file should be validated using the free EPUBCheck tool before submitting anywhere. Your cover file should be a minimum 2,500 pixels on the longest side, saved as a high-resolution JPG or PNG. Your book metadata — title, subtitle, author name, description, categories, keywords — should be finalized before you begin submitting, as consistency across platforms improves discoverability.
Step 4: Submit Directly to Priority Platforms
Submit directly to Barnes & Noble Press, Apple Books, and Kobo Writing Life first — these are the highest-traffic platforms and direct submission gives you better royalty rates than going through an aggregator. Create accounts on each platform, complete your author profile, and upload your book files and metadata.
Step 5: Set Up Draft2Digital for Remaining eBook Retailers
Create a free Draft2Digital account and upload your book once. Select all retailers except Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and Kobo — since you are already publishing there directly. Draft2Digital will distribute to Google Play, Scribd, Tolino (major in Germany), Vivlio, and dozens of other platforms simultaneously. Also opt into library distribution through Draft2Digital for OverDrive and Hoopla access.
Step 6: Set Up IngramSpark for Print and Library Distribution
Create an IngramSpark account and pay the $49 per title setup fee. Upload your print-ready PDF interior and cover files following IngramSpark’s specific templates. Set your wholesale discount at 55% to maximize library and bookstore ordering. Enable library distribution. Your print book will become available to order at Barnes & Noble physical stores, independent bookshops, and library systems across the USA and Canada.
Step 7: Monitor, Adjust, and Price Strategically
After going wide, give each platform 60 to 90 days before evaluating performance. Different platforms have different peak sales periods — Kobo sales spike in Canada around holidays, Apple Books sees strong January sales when users set up new devices. Experiment with platform-specific pricing: many wide authors price slightly higher on Apple Books and Kobo than on Amazon to maximize royalties from premium readers.
◆ Frequently Asked Questions — Book Distribution Beyond Amazon (2026)
Q: Can I sell my book on Barnes & Noble and Amazon at the same time?
A: Yes — for paperback and hardcover books, you can always sell on both platforms simultaneously with no restrictions. For eBooks, you can sell on both Barnes & Noble and Amazon only if your book is NOT enrolled in KDP Select. If you are in KDP Select, your eBook must remain Amazon-exclusive for the duration of each 90-day enrollment period. Once you opt out of KDP Select and your enrollment expires, you can freely list your eBook on Barnes & Noble Press and all other platforms.
Q: How long does it take to get a book on Apple Books?
A: Getting a book live on Apple Books takes 3 to 7 business days from submission. The process involves: creating an Apple Books for Authors account or using an aggregator like Draft2Digital, uploading your validated epub file and cover image, completing your book metadata, and submitting for Apple’s review. Apple typically reviews and approves within 1 to 3 business days, then the book goes live within 24 to 48 hours after approval. Total timeline from submission to live: 3 to 5 business days in most cases.
Q: Is it worth publishing on Kobo if I am a US-based author?
A: Yes, absolutely. Kobo is the dominant eReader platform in Canada — the second-largest English-language book market in North America — and has significant market share across the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and most of Europe. US authors who ignore Kobo are missing a substantial international audience. Kobo Writing Life is free to use, pays 70% royalties, and offers promotional opportunities through the Kobo Plus subscription service. Many US authors report Kobo as their second or third highest-earning platform after going wide.
Q: What is the difference between Draft2Digital and IngramSpark?
A: Draft2Digital is primarily an eBook distributor — free to use, takes 10% of royalties, distributes to 40+ eBook retailers and library platforms, and is best for authors who want wide eBook distribution with minimal setup. IngramSpark handles both eBook and print distribution, charges $49 per title setup, distributes to 40,000+ retailers, bookstores, and libraries worldwide, and is the industry standard for getting print books into physical stores and library systems. Most serious wide authors use both: Draft2Digital for eBooks and IngramSpark for print.
Q: How much do authors make on Barnes & Noble compared to Amazon?
A: Barnes & Noble Press pays 70% royalty on eBooks priced between $2.99 and $9.99 — identical to Amazon’s 70% tier. For print books, B&N Press pays 55% of the list price minus printing costs, similar to Amazon KDP’s print royalty structure. The difference is volume — Amazon typically generates 4 to 8 times more unit sales than Barnes & Noble for most authors. However, B&N earnings are additive — going wide to B&N does not reduce your Amazon sales, it simply adds a new income stream on top of existing revenue.
◆ How Innovacia Publishers Makes Going Wide Simple
Going wide sounds straightforward in a guide like this. In practice, every platform has its own file requirements, metadata specifications, account setup process, and technical quirks that consume hours of an author’s time — time most authors do not have and do not want to spend.
At Innovacia Publishers, we handle the entire wide distribution process for our authors — from KDP Select opt-out timing to file preparation, platform submissions, metadata optimization, and ongoing distribution management. Our authors focus on writing. We handle everything that happens after the manuscript is finished.
✅ Professional epub formatting that passes validation on every platform first time
✅ Cover files prepared to each platform’s exact technical specifications
✅ Metadata optimization — title, description, categories, keywords — for maximum discoverability on each platform
✅ Account setup and submission on Barnes & Noble Press, Apple Books, Kobo Writing Life, and Google Play
✅ Draft2Digital setup for remaining retailers and library distribution
✅ IngramSpark setup for print distribution to bookstores and libraries
✅ Ongoing distribution management — price updates, metadata revisions, promotional enrollment
✅ Royalty tracking across all platforms consolidated into clear monthly reporting
Going wide is not a one-time task — it is an ongoing distribution strategy. Authors who partner with Innovacia Publishers go wide once and then focus entirely on writing their next book. We manage the distribution so the income keeps growing without the administrative burden.
◆ Your Book Belongs Everywhere Your Readers Are
The readers who love your genre are not all on Amazon. Some of them read exclusively on their iPhone using Apple Books. Some of them live in Canada and use Kobo. Some of them borrow books from their local library through OverDrive. Some of them shop at Barnes & Noble.
Every platform where your book does not exist is a reader who will never find it — and a sale you will never make. In 2026, with distribution tools better than they have ever been and the process more streamlined than ever before, there is no strategic reason to stay Amazon-exclusive if your book has broad appeal.
Going wide is not abandoning Amazon. It is expanding beyond it. Your Amazon earnings stay exactly as they are. Everything else is new income from readers you were previously invisible to.
Your book took months to write. Getting it in front of every reader who would love it should not be the hard part. That is exactly what we do at Innovacia Publishers.