Your KDP edition stays
Print and Kindle on Amazon stay in your own account, with their own ISBN. Only KDP Expanded Distribution is switched off for that edition.
Comparison 2027
Amazon KDP vs ShelfPublisher
Both put your paperback on Amazon. The difference is who publishes it, whose ISBN it carries and where bookstores can order it.
The short answer: on Amazon KDP you are the self-publisher of your book. With ShelfPublisher a publishing house publishes it: Orbita Media GmbH, with more than 1,000 titles and 2 million books sold, is the publisher of record, gives the paperback an ISBN from its own block and lists it in the wholesale catalogs that more than 50,000 bookstores in 18 countries order from, Amazon included, for €20 to €35 per book. Your own KDP edition may stay.
Invitation only · Our publishing team reviews every request personally
Row by row
Amazon KDP vs ShelfPublisher for your paperback
What you get
Amazon KDP
ShelfPublisher
Publisher of the book
You, as a self-publisher
Orbita Media GmbH, an international publishing house with more than 1,000 titles
Imprint shown with the free ISBN
“Independently published”
The imprint of the publishing house
ISBN
Free KDP ISBN, usable only on KDP; your own costs 125 USD at Bowker (US)
Included, from the publisher's own block, registered with complete metadata
Where bookstores can order it
Amazon; Expanded Distribution offers the paperback to distributors, and KDP states that this does not guarantee it will be accepted by distributors or ordered by a bookseller
Listed as a publisher's title in the wholesale catalogs that more than 50,000 bookstores in 18 countries order from, Amazon included
Who decides whether the book stays on sale
Amazon: KDP states it will “reject or remove content” that does not adhere to its guidelines and reserves the right to remove content from sale if it determines it creates a poor customer experience
Your publisher, under a publishing contract with you: the book is checked before release, and no personal seller account is involved
What it costs
Free to upload
€20 to €35 per book, once; publisher, ISBN and listing included (pricing)
As of 7 November 2026, from Amazon's own pages: KDP ISBN and imprint, KDP Expanded Distribution, KDP content guidelines, Bowker ISBN prices. KDP and ShelfPublisher calculate the author's share on different bases (list price minus printing, or net revenue after the trade discount and printing), so their percentages cannot be compared side by side. Terms change: check the platform before you decide. Amazon, Kindle Direct Publishing and KDP are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates; Bowker is a trademark of its owner. ShelfPublisher is not affiliated with Amazon.
Use both
Keep KDP, add a publisher
You do not have to choose one. Most authors who come to us keep their KDP edition.
A second edition, from a publisher
ShelfPublisher publishes a paperback edition under the imprint of Orbita Media GmbH, with an ISBN from the publisher's block.
Where bookstores order
That edition is listed in the wholesale catalogs that more than 50,000 bookstores in 18 countries order from, Amazon included.
Nothing to buy on the side
No ISBN to buy, no printing costs, no stock. One price per book, paid once.
What the reader and the bookseller see
Self-published title or publisher's title
A bookseller who looks up a paperback sees its publisher first. With a free KDP ISBN that field reads “Independently published”, and the book is a self-published title.
With ShelfPublisher the field names the imprint of a publishing house with more than 1,000 titles. The ISBN comes from the publisher's own block, the metadata is reported by the publisher, and the book is listed where bookstores order from publishers they know.
- More platforms in one table: Self-publishing platforms compared
- Why authors add a publisher to KDP: KDP alternative
- Every comparison on one page: Compare platforms
Also with ShelfPublisher
What else comes with a publisher
Earn by recommending
Recommend ShelfPublisher and earn 10% of the book royalties of the authors you bring, on every statement, with no time limit. Their own royalties stay untouched; you join in the portal.
A subscription for series
Publishing every month? A subscription gives you a fixed number of slots each month, cheaper per book than single slots (pricing).
One portal for every title
Status, quarterly sales statements, earnings and support tickets for each of your books in one place.
Bonuses and challenges
Weekly challenges, a league every season and a goal all authors reach together bring prizes: vouchers and Jokers. You redeem them at checkout as a discount on your next slots; with a subscription new bonuses arrive every week.
Book tracking in every subscription
Every subscription follows your books on Amazon: sales rank and stars every day, and an alert as soon as a 1- or 2-star review comes in.
Questions
Amazon KDP vs ShelfPublisher, answered
What is the difference between Amazon KDP and ShelfPublisher?
On KDP you publish the book yourself; with a free KDP ISBN the imprint reads “Independently published”. With ShelfPublisher, Orbita Media GmbH, an international publishing house with more than 1,000 titles, is the publisher of your paperback, gives it an ISBN from its own block and lists it in the wholesale catalogs that more than 50,000 bookstores in 18 countries order from, Amazon included.
Can I use Amazon KDP and ShelfPublisher at the same time?
Yes. Your own KDP edition may stay on Amazon, in print and on Kindle; switch off KDP Expanded Distribution for it. ShelfPublisher adds a publisher's edition with its own ISBN for the bookstore trade.
How much does ShelfPublisher cost compared with KDP?
Uploading to KDP is free. ShelfPublisher costs €20 to €35 per book, paid once, VAT included; the publisher, the ISBN and the listing in the wholesale catalogs are part of that price. A KDP ISBN can only be used on KDP; an ISBN of your own costs 125 USD at Bowker in the US.
My book is already on Amazon KDP. Can I publish it with you too?
Yes. Your own KDP edition, in print and on Kindle, may stay; switch off KDP Expanded Distribution for the book. It keeps its own ISBN, the free one from KDP or one of yours: the ISBN we allocate belongs to our edition only and may not be used on KDP or anywhere else. Editions with other services, such as another platform, distributor or wholesaler, end within 3 months after you start with us; if a contract binds you for longer, tell us. Name every current edition in your access request. We check each book before we promise anything.
Will my book still be on Amazon?
Yes. Amazon is one of the retailers that order from the wholesale catalogs, so your book can be bought there as well. You do not need a KDP account for that edition.
Who owns the ISBN?
The ISBN comes from the block registered to Orbita Media as publisher, and it stays with Orbita Media. Under the ISBN standard an ISBN identifies the publisher of an edition, so it cannot move with the book.
It costs you nothing. If you publish the book elsewhere after the contract ends, the new edition needs a new ISBN. The article ISBN for self-published books explains why.
Read on
Guides on Amazon KDP
How do you publish a book on Amazon KDP?
To publish a book on Amazon KDP, create an account, upload your files, set a price and submit. Here are the steps, ISBN options and royalties.
Read the article
Amazon KDP vs a traditional publisher: which is right for your book?
Amazon KDP vs a traditional publisher: who pays, who decides, what authors earn, how bookstores order and why reviews matter on Amazon, with sources.
Read the article
KDP account terminated: what happens to your book
KDP account terminated or suspended? What the KDP terms say about your books and royalties, why an appeal often goes nowhere, and how a publishing house helps.
Read the articleWant a publisher behind your paperback?
ShelfPublisher works by invitation. Request access and tell us about your book.
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