Demystifying KDP Select Kindle Unlimited

KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited (often referred to as KU) are two distinct but related programs offered by Amazon for authors and readers:

1. Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) Select: This is a program that authors can enroll in to make their eBooks exclusive to the Kindle Store for a period of 90 days at a time. During this exclusivity period, authors cannot sell their eBooks through other eBook retailers (e.g., Apple Books or Barnes & Noble). In return for this exclusivity, authors can take advantage of promotional opportunities like Kindle Countdown Deals and Free Book Promotions. Authors earn royalties based on the number of eBook sales during this period.

2. Kindle Unlimited (KU): Kindle Unlimited is a subscription service for readers that allows them to borrow and read an unlimited number of eBooks from the Kindle Unlimited catalog for a monthly subscription fee. Readers can download and read these books on their Kindle devices or through the Kindle app on various devices. The KU catalog includes a wide range of books, including many self-published titles through KDP Select.

The connection between the two programs is that eBooks enrolled in KDP Select are automatically included in the Kindle Unlimited catalog. So, if an author enrolls their eBook in KDP Select, it becomes available to Kindle Unlimited subscribers for borrowing at no additional cost beyond their subscription fee. Authors then earn royalties based on the number of pages read by Kindle Unlimited subscribers.

In summary, KDP Select is the program authors use to make their eBooks exclusive to the Kindle Store and access promotional tools, while Kindle Unlimited is a subscription service for readers that allows them to borrow and read books, including those enrolled in KDP Select, as part of their subscription.