How to Sell Ebooks Without Amazon in 2026 📚

You can sell ebooks without Amazon — and keep up to 95% of every sale instead of 30–65%. Authors who sell direct earn roughly twice the revenue per book compared to those who rely on Amazon alone.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• 7 proven platforms for selling ebooks outside Amazon
• How to set up direct sales from your own website
• The royalty math that makes going wide worth it
• A step-by-step launch strategy for your first non-Amazon ebook

Here’s everything you need to start selling on your own terms.

Why Sell Ebooks Without Amazon?

Amazon KDP dominates the ebook market with roughly 65–70% market share. But that dominance comes at a steep cost to you as an author.

When you sell exclusively through Amazon, you hand over 30–65% of every sale in fees. You never get your reader’s email address. And one algorithm change or policy update can tank your income overnight.

In June 2025, KDP lowered royalty rates on paperbacks and hardcovers below certain thresholds — from 60% down to 50%. Authors who had built their entire business on Amazon watched their margins shrink with zero warning.

Selling ebooks without Amazon fixes these problems. You keep more money, build direct reader relationships, and reduce your dependency on a single platform.

The Royalty Math

Here’s what happens to a $14.99 ebook on different platforms:

The difference adds up fast. Sell 1,000 copies through your own site instead of Amazon’s 35% tier, and you keep an extra $9,000.

How to Sell Ebooks Directly From Your Own Website

Selling ebooks directly from your website gives you the highest margins and full ownership of your customer relationships. You collect email addresses, control your pricing, and build a brand that doesn’t depend on any marketplace.

Here’s how to set it up:

Step 1: Create Your Author Website

If you don’t have one yet, build a simple author website with a homepage, an about page, and a book sales page. You don’t need anything fancy — a clean landing page with your book cover, description, and a buy button is enough to start.

Platforms like Squarespace, WordPress, or Carrd make this easy even without technical skills.

Step 2: Add a Payment Processor

Connect a payment tool to handle transactions. The simplest options:

• Payhip — Embed a buy button on your site. Handles delivery, tax, and payments.
• Gumroad — Similar embed option with a clean checkout experience.
• Stripe + SendOwl — More control, slightly more setup. Stripe processes payments, SendOwl delivers the file.
• Shopify — Full ecommerce store if you plan to sell multiple products.

Step 3: Set Up Automated File Delivery

Your readers need to receive the ebook file immediately after purchase. Every platform above handles this automatically — they email a download link the moment payment clears.

Format your ebook as both EPUB and PDF to cover all devices. EPUB works on most e-readers, while PDF is universal for desktops and tablets.

Step 4: Build Your Email List

This is the real advantage of direct sales. Every buyer becomes a subscriber you can reach again — for your next book launch, a sequel announcement, or a special promotion.

Set up an email marketing system that automatically adds buyers to your list. Tools like ConvertKit, MailerLite, or Mailchimp integrate directly with Payhip, Gumroad, and Shopify.

Over 10,000 authors have used Chapter to write and publish books, and the most successful ones all share one trait: they own their audience through email lists rather than relying on marketplace algorithms.

7 Best Platforms to Sell Ebooks Without Amazon

Each platform below serves a different need. Pick one (or combine several) based on your goals.

Our Pick — Chapter

Before you can sell an ebook, you need to write one. Chapter helps you write, outline, and complete your book using AI — then export publish-ready files you can sell anywhere. Over.

Best for: Writing and producing your ebook before you sell it Pricing: $97 one time, 2 books included (fiction or nonfiction), 30-day money-back guarantee Why we built it: Most authors stall at the writing stage. Chapter gets you from idea to finished manuscript so you actually have something to sell.

1. Payhip — Best for Direct Sales With Zero Upfront Cost

Payhip lets you sell ebooks directly with no monthly fee on the free plan. You upload your file, set a price, and share your link or embed a buy button on your website.

Best for: Authors who want to start selling today without paying a subscription.

Payhip handles VAT/tax compliance automatically, which saves you a massive headache when selling internationally. The free plan takes a 5% transaction fee, while the paid plans ($29/month and $99/month) drop that to 2% or 0%.

You also get built-in affiliate marketing, coupon codes, and email integration — features that usually require separate tools.

Pricing: Free plan (5% fee) | Plus $29/mo (2% fee) | Pro $99/mo (0% fee)

2. Gumroad — Best for Simplicity

Gumroad is the simplest way to sell an ebook online. Create an account, upload your file, set a price, and share the link. The entire setup takes less than 10 minutes.

Best for: Authors who want a no-fuss selling experience with a built-in audience.

Gumroad’s discovery features mean some buyers find your book through the platform itself — not just your own marketing. The trade-off is a 10% flat fee on every sale, which is steep compared to alternatives like Payhip.

Pricing: 10% per sale (no monthly fee)

3. Draft2Digital — Best for Wide Ebook Distribution

Draft2Digital distributes your ebook to Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Scribd, and dozens of other retailers — all from a single dashboard. If you want to go wide without managing multiple accounts, this is your tool.

Best for: Authors who want maximum retailer reach without Amazon exclusivity.

Draft2Digital also offers free ebook formatting, a universal book link, and an author pages feature. Their print distribution through D2D Print competes with IngramSpark.

Pricing: Free to upload | They take a percentage from each retailer’s royalty (typically you keep 60% of list price)

4. Apple Books — Best for Reaching Mobile Readers

Apple Books gives you access to readers across every iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Apple pays a 70% royalty regardless of price — no minimum price threshold like Amazon’s 70% tier requires.

Best for: Authors targeting readers who prefer reading on Apple devices.

Apple Books is the second-largest ebook retailer globally. You can publish directly through Apple Books for Authors or use an aggregator like Draft2Digital if you prefer.

Pricing: 30% commission (you keep 70%)

5. Google Play Books — Best for Global Reach

Google Play Books reaches readers in over 75 countries through the Google Play Store. Google offers a 52% royalty by default, with the option to earn up to 70% in their partner program.

Best for: Authors who want international visibility, especially in markets Amazon underserves.

Google Play’s integration with Google Search means your book can show up directly in search results — a unique discovery advantage no other platform offers.

Pricing: 48% commission default (you keep 52%) | Up to 70% in partner program

6. Kobo — Best for Canadian and International Readers

Kobo Writing Life lets you self-publish ebooks directly to Kobo’s global network. Kobo is especially strong in Canada, Australia, and parts of Europe where Kindle market share is lower.

Best for: Authors targeting non-US English-speaking markets.

Kobo’s promotions team actively features indie authors, and their Kobo Plus subscription service provides additional revenue streams. Royalty rates mirror Amazon’s structure: 70% for books priced $2.99–$12.99, 45% outside that range.

Pricing: 30% commission (you keep 70%) for most price points

7. Sellfy — Best for Authors Selling Multiple Product Types

Sellfy lets you build a complete storefront where you sell ebooks, print-on-demand products, and digital downloads from one place. If you plan to sell courses, audiobooks, or merchandise alongside your ebooks, Sellfy handles it all.

Best for: Authors building a brand with multiple revenue streams.

The built-in storefront means you don’t need a separate website — though embedding Sellfy products on your existing site works too.

Pricing: Starter $29/mo | Business $59/mo | Premium $119/mo

Quick Comparison: Non-Amazon Ebook Platforms

Direct sales platforms (Payhip, Gumroad, Sellfy) give you customer emails and the highest royalties. Retailers (Apple, Google, Kobo) give you discoverability and built-in audiences. Most successful authors use both.

How to Market Your Ebook Without Amazon’s Algorithm

Amazon’s biggest advantage isn’t royalties — it’s built-in traffic. When you sell outside Amazon, you need to bring your own readers. Here’s how.

Build an Email List Before You Launch

Your email list is the single most valuable marketing asset you own. Start collecting subscribers months before your book launches by offering a free chapter, a short story, or a writing resource as a lead magnet.

When launch day arrives, you have an audience ready to buy. Authors with engaged email lists routinely see launch-day revenue that exceeds months of passive Amazon sales.

Create a Book Marketing Plan

A structured book marketing plan keeps your launch organized and your promotional efforts consistent. Map out your pre-launch, launch week, and post-launch activities so you’re not scrambling.

Focus on three channels maximum. Trying to be everywhere dilutes your effort. Pick the platforms where your target readers actually spend time.

Use Social Media Strategically

BookTok on TikTok and Bookstagram on Instagram drive massive ebook sales — often more effectively than Amazon ads. Create short-form content about your writing process, share excerpts, or discuss your book’s themes.

The key difference from Amazon marketing: social media builds your brand and audience directly. Every follower is a potential direct buyer for your current book and every future book.

Leverage Your Existing Content

If you have a blog, podcast, or YouTube channel, your existing audience is your first customer base. Mention your ebook naturally in your content, add links in your bio and show notes, and create content related to your book’s topic.

This approach works especially well for nonfiction authors. A book on productivity, writing, or business becomes a natural extension of the content you already create.

How Much Money Can You Make Selling Ebooks Without Amazon?

The revenue potential depends on your audience size, pricing, and marketing consistency. But the per-sale math strongly favors direct sales.

Data from BookBaby shows that even though authors sold roughly twice as many print books on Amazon, they earned about twice as much money from direct sales through their own storefront. The higher margins offset the lower volume.

A 2025 survey found that roughly 30% of indie authors already sell directly from their own websites. Among authors earning $10,000 or more per month, that number jumps to nearly 50%.

The global ebook market generates over $15 billion annually, and about 32% of ebook sales happen outside Amazon. That’s nearly $5 billion in non-Amazon ebook revenue you can tap into.

Here’s a realistic scenario: sell 500 copies of a $9.99 ebook through your own website at 95% margins, and you keep $4,745. The same 500 copies through Amazon’s 70% tier would net you roughly $3,350 — a difference of nearly $1,400.

Should You Leave Amazon Completely?

Not necessarily. The smartest strategy for most authors is selling wide — using Amazon for its discovery engine while building direct sales channels that you own.

Here’s the framework:

• Use Amazon for visibility, reviews, and reaching readers who exclusively shop there
• Use direct sales (Payhip, Gumroad, your website) for your highest-margin sales and email capture
• Use wide distribution (Draft2Digital, Apple, Kobo, Google) for incremental reach in non-Amazon markets

The goal isn’t to abandon Amazon entirely. It’s to make sure Amazon isn’t your only income stream. When you diversify, a single platform policy change can’t destroy your business.

Authors who build multiple income streams — direct ebook sales, courses, speaking, and marketplace royalties — create sustainable careers that outlast any single platform’s algorithm.

Common Mistakes When Selling Ebooks Outside Amazon

• Skipping email collection. If you’re not capturing buyer emails, you’re losing the biggest advantage of direct sales. Every customer should join your list automatically.
• Pricing too low. Without Amazon’s race-to-the-bottom pricing pressure, you can charge what your book is worth. Direct buyers expect to pay $9.99–$19.99 for quality ebooks.
• Ignoring ebook formatting. A poorly formatted ebook kills your credibility. Use proper ebook formatting to ensure your book looks professional on every device.
• Not marketing consistently. Direct sales require ongoing promotion. Create a content calendar and stick to it — one viral post doesn’t sustain a business.
• Trying every platform at once. Start with one direct sales platform and one wide distributor. Master those before adding more.

How Long Does It Take to Build Direct Ebook Sales?

Building a profitable direct sales channel typically takes 3–6 months of consistent effort. The timeline depends on whether you already have an audience.

If you’re starting from scratch, focus on building your email list first. Even 500 engaged subscribers can generate meaningful launch-day revenue.

If you already have a blog, social following, or email list, you can start selling direct immediately. Set up a Payhip or Gumroad account, upload your book, and announce it to your existing audience.

The compounding effect is real: each book you sell directly adds a subscriber to your list, which makes your next launch bigger, which adds more subscribers.

What’s the Best Ebook Format for Non-Amazon Sales?

For maximum compatibility across all platforms and devices, offer your ebook in both EPUB and PDF format.

EPUB is the standard format for e-readers like Kobo, Apple Books, and Google Play Books. It reflows text to fit any screen size, which makes it ideal for phone and tablet readers.

PDF works on every device but doesn’t reflow — it’s best for desktop reading and ebooks with complex formatting, images, or fixed layouts.

When you write your book with Chapter, you can export your manuscript in multiple formats ready for distribution across every platform.

Check out our full EPUB vs PDF comparison to decide which formats to offer.

FAQ

How do I sell ebooks without Amazon?

Sell ebooks without Amazon by using direct sales platforms like Payhip or Gumroad, distributing through wide retailers like Apple Books, Kobo, and Google Play, or selling directly from your own website with a payment processor like Stripe. Most successful authors combine direct sales with wide distribution for maximum reach and revenue.

Is it worth selling ebooks outside Amazon?

Yes — selling ebooks outside Amazon is worth it because you keep 90–97% of each sale compared to 35–70% on Amazon. You also own your customer relationships through email capture, which means you can market future books directly to readers without depending on Amazon’s algorithm.

What is the best platform to sell ebooks without Amazon?

The best platform to sell ebooks without Amazon depends on your goals. Payhip offers the highest margins for direct sales with no monthly fee. Draft2Digital is best for wide retail distribution. Apple Books reaches the largest non-Amazon audience. For maximum control and profit, sell from your own website using Stripe or PayPal.

Can you make a living selling ebooks without Amazon?

You can make a living selling ebooks without Amazon. A 2025 survey found that nearly 50% of authors earning $10,000+ per month sell directly from their websites. The key is building an email list, pricing appropriately ($9.99–$19.99), and maintaining consistent marketing across 2–3 channels.

How much does it cost to sell ebooks without Amazon?

Selling ebooks without Amazon can cost $0 to start. Platforms like Payhip and Gumroad have free plans that charge only a small transaction fee (5–10%). If you build your own storefront, payment processors like Stripe charge approximately 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction — far less than Amazon’s 30–65% cut.