Which platform pays the highest royalty for eBook sales?

Gumroad pays 90% (after the 10% platform fee on the free plan, or 100% on the $10/month paid plan). Amazon KDP pays 70% in the £1.99-£9.99 price band and only 35% outside that band. Google Play Books, Apple Books, and Kobo all pay 70%. Payhip pays 95%. Direct-to-audience platforms (Gumroad, Payhip) almost always pay more — but Amazon's traffic often makes up for the lower royalty.

Should I publish on Amazon KDP exclusively?

Almost never. Amazon's KDP Select program requires exclusivity for 90-day periods in exchange for marketing perks (Kindle Unlimited access, Countdown Deals). For most creators with an existing audience, the exclusivity cost is too high — you lose Gumroad, Google Play Books, and direct sales. KDP Select makes sense only if you're starting from zero audience and need Amazon's algorithmic boost.

Can I sell the same eBook on multiple platforms at once?

Yes, and you should. Multi-platform publishing is standard practice for non-Select creators. Upload the same EPUB and cover to Gumroad (highest margin, direct audience), Google Play Books (global discoverability), Apple Books (premium audience), Kobo (Canadian/European audience), and Amazon KDP without Select. Each platform reaches a different audience with different price expectations.

What's the simplest setup for a beginner creator?

Start with two platforms: Gumroad (for your existing YouTube audience — direct, easy, high margin) and Amazon KDP non-exclusive (for cold discovery). Get the workflow right with these two before adding Google Play Books, Apple Books, and Payhip. Most creators take a couple of months to refine cover design, metadata, and pricing before they're ready to scale to five-plus platforms.

Where to Sell eBooks Created from YouTube Content: Platform Comparison

Once you've converted your YouTube content into a well-formatted eBook, the distribution decision is where most creators spend more time thinking than they need to. The honest answer: the platform matters less than the product quality and the marketing. But the platforms do have real differences worth understanding.

What's the core trade-off between eBook platforms: margin vs. discovery?

Every platform you sell through represents a trade-off between revenue per sale and discoverability to new readers.

Direct platforms (Gumroad, Payhip, your own website) give you more of the revenue — typically 90%+ — but only reach people you send there yourself. Your existing audience, your email list, your social following.

Retail platforms (Amazon KDP, Google Play Books, Apple Books) take a larger cut (30-65% depending on price and territory) but expose your book to buyers you'd never reach through direct channels — people browsing the platform's catalogue who don't know you exist.

The practical implication: use direct platforms for your existing audience, retail platforms for organic discovery from new readers.

Should you sell your eBook on Gumroad?

Revenue split: 10% platform fee, no monthly cost; or