This is one of the most common questions independent authors ask once they understand how KDP works: now that the book is live on Amazon, do I also need IngramSpark? The honest answer is that it depends on what you are trying to achieve, and treating it as a compulsory second step can add cost and complexity without a clear benefit for every book.
This guide sets out what each platform genuinely adds, so you can make a decision based on your own goals rather than a general assumption that "more distribution is always better".
What KDP already provides
Amazon KDP lets you publish an ebook for Kindle, and paperback and hardcover editions that are printed on demand and sold directly through Amazon’s own retail storefronts, in the various countries where KDP operates. For a large number of independent authors, particularly those writing genre fiction or non-fiction aimed at readers who habitually shop on Amazon, this alone covers the majority of realistic sales.
KDP is tightly integrated with Amazon’s search, recommendation and advertising systems, which matters because a large share of discovery for many independently published books happens through Amazon search results, "customers also bought" recommendations, and Amazon Ads, rather than through browsing a physical shop. If your target reader is an Amazon shopper, KDP’s reach into that specific audience is considerable on its own.
What IngramSpark adds on top
IngramSpark’s main additional contribution is access to Ingram’s wider trade network: independent bookshops, some chain bookshops, libraries and international distributors that generally do not source stock through Amazon’s own systems. It also offers print-on-demand paperback and hardback options with returnability and wholesale discount settings designed to appeal to trade buyers rather than direct consumers.
For an author whose ambitions include being findable by a local independent bookshop, being requested through a library, or reaching international markets that Amazon does not serve as directly, this wider trade reach is the specific problem IngramSpark is built to solve. It does not solve it by guaranteeing sales, but by removing the technical barrier of a bookshop or library not being able to source the book at all.
When an Amazon-focused approach may be enough
If your realistic reader base is people browsing genre fiction categories on Amazon, following Amazon recommendations, or finding your book through Amazon Ads and Kindle Unlimited, then setting up solely through KDP may already reach the vast majority of people who would ever buy the book. Adding a second platform in this scenario increases administrative overhead without necessarily reaching many additional readers.
For example, an author publishing a fast-paced thriller series primarily to readers who discover new titles through Kindle Unlimited browsing and Amazon’s recommendation algorithm may find that KDP alone, used well, generates the bulk of achievable sales, and that the time spent setting up and maintaining a second platform would be better spent on cover quality, blurb writing or advertising within Amazon’s own systems.
When wider trade distribution matters more
Some books have a natural audience that is less Amazon-centric: a local history book aimed partly at readers who will discover it through their local independent bookshop, a memoir intended for a book club or reading group market, or a book designed to be requested by libraries and used in schools or community settings. For these kinds of books, being genuinely absent from the trade network that bookshops and libraries actually use to source stock is a real limitation.
For example, an author of a regional local-history book who wants their local independent bookshop to be able to order copies for a launch event, or to keep a few copies on a local-interest shelf, would generally be better served by having the title available through IngramSpark’s trade network, because that is the system many independent bookshops actually use to order stock they do not already hold.
Bookshops specifically
Independent bookshops vary in whether and how they source books that are only available through Amazon’s own systems; many are reluctant to buy stock through a competing retailer for resale, for both practical and principled reasons. This means that a book distributed solely through KDP’s expanded distribution options (where available) may still be harder for some independent bookshops to source than one carried through Ingram’s trade catalogue, which many shops already use for ordering from traditional publishers.
Because KDP’s expanded distribution terms and coverage can change, and because bookshop sourcing habits vary by shop and by country, this is genuinely a case where checking current KDP documentation, and talking to a specific bookshop you care about, will tell you more than a general rule.
Libraries specifically
Library suppliers commonly use catalogues like Ingram’s to identify and order titles, which is one of the more concrete reasons an author hoping for library availability might consider IngramSpark specifically, rather than relying on KDP alone. As with bookshops, availability through the correct catalogue removes a technical barrier but does not itself generate library orders; that still depends on demand, reviews and the library’s own acquisition process.
ISBN considerations when using both
One of the more technical decisions when using both platforms concerns ISBNs. Some authors use a free KDP-assigned ISBN for their Amazon paperback edition and a separately purchased ISBN for the IngramSpark edition, effectively treating them as two distinct editions of the same book. Others purchase their own ISBN and use the same edition consistently across both platforms where each platform’s rules allow it.
Each approach has trade-offs around publisher-of-record listings, long-term flexibility and how reviews and sales history accumulate against a given ISBN. Because ISBN policy on both platforms can be updated, this decision should be checked against current KDP and IngramSpark documentation, and against guidance from your national ISBN agency, before finalising a setup.
Print settings and matching editions
If you do decide to use both platforms, it generally helps readers and reviewers if the editions match closely in trim size, cover design and interior formatting, even if the underlying files are uploaded separately to each platform. A reader who buys the paperback on Amazon and later recommends it to a friend who orders through a local bookshop should ideally be recommending, in effect, the same book.
Keeping print specifications consistent also reduces the administrative burden of managing two sets of files, since updates (a corrected typo, a revised cover) generally need to be pushed to both platforms separately.
Cost and complexity of running two platforms
Using both KDP and IngramSpark roughly doubles the amount of account administration: two sets of metadata to keep updated, two pricing calculations to check, two places to look for sales reports, and potentially two ISBNs to track. For an author self-managing their publishing, this is a real time cost, not just a financial one, and it is worth weighing honestly against the likely benefit for your specific book.
Any costs specific to IngramSpark, such as title setup or revision charges, should be checked on IngramSpark’s current pricing pages, since this article does not quote figures that could become outdated.
Practical tips for managing two platforms
Keeping KDP and IngramSpark aligned
- Keep a single master document recording which ISBN is used on which platform and edition.
- Update both platforms whenever you make a correction to the interior file or cover.
- Check pricing on both platforms periodically, since currency conversions and print costs can drift out of alignment over time.
- Note the metadata (title, subtitle, description, categories) used on each platform so they stay consistent.
- Order a physical proof from each platform separately, since print specifications and print facilities differ.
When KDP alone may genuinely be enough
KDP alone is likely to be sufficient if your marketing efforts and realistic reader base are concentrated on Amazon, if you do not have a specific plan to pursue bookshop or library placement, and if you would rather keep your administrative workload to a single platform while you build experience with your first book or two.
When adding IngramSpark may genuinely help
Adding IngramSpark is more likely to be worthwhile if you have a specific plan to approach independent bookshops (for example around a local launch event or a regional-interest book), if you are hoping for library availability, if you are targeting international markets that Amazon does not serve as fully in your genre, or if you simply want the option available even if you are not yet actively pursuing it.
For a fuller side-by-side comparison of the two platforms, see our guide on KDP vs IngramSpark, and if you are already leaning towards using both, our guide on using KDP and IngramSpark together covers the practical setup in more depth.
Common mistakes
- Assuming you automatically need both. Adding IngramSpark without a specific reason can create extra admin with little added benefit for a book aimed squarely at Amazon shoppers.
- Assuming KDP alone reaches every bookshop. Some independent bookshops are reluctant to source stock through Amazon’s systems, which can limit reach if bookshop placement matters to you.
- Letting the two editions drift apart. Different cover files, prices or blurbs on each platform can confuse readers and reviewers comparing editions.
- Ignoring ISBN implications. Choosing ISBNs without understanding publisher-of-record implications can create confusion later if you want to consolidate editions.
- Overestimating what either platform delivers. Neither platform guarantees sales, shelf placement or library orders; both simply provide the means to be ordered.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start with KDP only and add IngramSpark later?
Yes, this is a common approach. Many authors launch through KDP first, then add IngramSpark once they have a specific reason, such as a bookshop event or library interest.
Does using IngramSpark affect my Kindle ebook on Amazon?
Not directly. Most authors keep their ebook on KDP for the Kindle store and use IngramSpark mainly for print, though wider IngramSpark ebook distribution options exist and should be checked against current documentation.
Will adding IngramSpark automatically get my book into bookshops?
No. It makes the book technically orderable through the trade network; actually being stocked still depends on a bookshop buyer choosing to order it.
Is it more expensive to use both platforms?
There can be additional costs and time associated with running two platforms; check IngramSpark’s current pricing and weigh it against your specific distribution goals.