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IngramSpark vs KDP Print: Which Should You Use?

2026-10-06 · 6 min read

Plan, draft, edit and pitch the same book in one project.

When you print on demand as a self-published author, two services dominate the conversation: Amazon's KDP Print and IngramSpark. They serve overlapping but distinct purposes, with different strengths in distribution, bookstore access, and reach. Choosing between them — or, as many authors do, using both — significantly affects how widely your print book is available. Understanding how they compare helps you set up your print distribution effectively. (Specific terms, fees, and features change over time, so verify current details on each platform.)

The two main POD options

KDP Print (Amazon's print-on-demand service) and IngramSpark (Ingram's POD and distribution platform) are the two primary print-on-demand options for indie authors, and they're best understood by their core strengths:

KDP Print is Amazon's own service, tightly integrated with Amazon — it's the simplest, lowest-cost way to get your print book on Amazon (the dominant book retailer), with no upfront fees.
IngramSpark is built on Ingram's vast distribution network — its strength is wide distribution, making your print book available for order through bookstores, libraries, and many retailers beyond Amazon, via the channels the broader book trade uses.

So at a high level: KDP Print excels at Amazon (cheaply and simply), while IngramSpark excels at everywhere else — the wider bookstore, library, and retail distribution. This complementary difference is the key to choosing. (Exact fees, royalty rates, and features vary and change; check current specifics.)

Distribution and reach

The biggest practical difference is distribution reach:

KDP Print primarily serves Amazon — it's the best way to sell print books on Amazon, where most indie print sales happen, but its distribution beyond Amazon is limited.
IngramSpark reaches the broader book trade — its distribution network makes your book orderable by bookstores, libraries, and retailers worldwide, because Ingram is the wholesaler the book industry actually uses. If you want your book available to physical bookstores and libraries (which order through Ingram, not Amazon), IngramSpark is essential.

This is why the bookstore and library question is central: bookstores generally won't order from Amazon (a competitor) but will from Ingram. So if reaching beyond Amazon — into bookstores and libraries — matters to you, you need IngramSpark's distribution. For Amazon-only sales, KDP Print suffices. Reach is the deciding factor for many authors.

Why many authors use both

A common and often-recommended strategy is using both services together, leveraging each one's strength:

KDP Print for Amazon. Use KDP Print to handle your Amazon print sales — it's cheaper and simpler for Amazon, where most print volume comes from.
IngramSpark for wide distribution. Use IngramSpark for distribution everywhere else — bookstores, libraries, and non-Amazon retailers — via Ingram's network.

This combination maximizes both your Amazon economics (KDP Print) and your broader availability (IngramSpark), getting the best of each. The main consideration is avoiding conflicts (e.g., managing which service handles which channel, and expanded-distribution settings) so the two don't overlap problematically — a setup detail authors learn to handle. For authors who want both strong Amazon presence and wide bookstore/library distribution, using both services is a popular approach. (Verify current best practices, as platform policies evolve.)

Cost and other factors

Beyond reach, the services differ on cost and details that change over time (so verify current specifics):

Fees. KDP Print typically has no upfront fees; IngramSpark has historically charged setup/title fees in some cases (these change, and there have been promotions/waivers). Factor current fees into your decision.
Royalties and pricing. The two calculate author earnings and allow pricing/discounts differently, affecting your per-book royalties and bookstore-friendliness.
Bookstore-friendly terms. IngramSpark allows the wholesale discounts and returnability that bookstores expect (important for getting into stores), which KDP's Amazon-centric model handles differently.
Quality and options. Both offer quality POD; available trim sizes, formats, and options may differ.

These factors shift over time, so check the current fees, royalty structures, and features when deciding. The durable point is the distribution difference (Amazon vs wide); the cost details are secondary and changeable.

Which should you use?

Your choice depends on your distribution goals:

Just selling on Amazon? KDP Print alone may suffice — simplest and cheapest for Amazon.
Want wide distribution (bookstores, libraries, non-Amazon retail)? You need IngramSpark for that reach — and often both (KDP Print for Amazon, IngramSpark for everywhere else).
Serious about bookstores and libraries? IngramSpark is essential, with its bookstore-friendly terms and trade distribution.

For most authors who want both strong Amazon sales and broad availability, using both is the common recommendation. If you only care about Amazon, KDP Print alone works. The decision flows from how widely you want your print book available. (Always verify current platform terms, which change.) Match your setup to your reach goals — and recognize that the two services are more complementary than competing.

The bottom line

KDP Print and IngramSpark are the two main print-on-demand options, with complementary strengths: KDP Print excels at selling print books on Amazon (simplest, cheapest, where most indie print volume is), while IngramSpark excels at wide distribution — making your book orderable by bookstores, libraries, and the broader book trade through Ingram's network (bookstores order from Ingram, not Amazon). The distribution reach difference is the deciding factor: Amazon-only sales need only KDP Print, while reaching beyond Amazon requires IngramSpark. Because they're complementary, many authors use both — KDP Print for Amazon, IngramSpark for everywhere else — maximizing both economics and availability. Cost and feature details (fees, royalties, terms) differ and change, so verify current specifics. Choose based on how widely you want your print book available — and for broad reach, the two together are the common, powerful approach.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between IngramSpark and KDP Print?

KDP Print is Amazon's own print-on-demand service, best for selling print books on Amazon simply and cheaply, but with limited distribution beyond Amazon. IngramSpark is built on Ingram's distribution network, making your book orderable by bookstores, libraries, and retailers worldwide. KDP Print excels at Amazon; IngramSpark excels at wide distribution everywhere else.

Should I use IngramSpark or KDP Print?

It depends on your distribution goals. For Amazon-only sales, KDP Print alone may suffice (simplest and cheapest). For wide distribution — bookstores, libraries, non-Amazon retail — you need IngramSpark's reach. Many authors use both: KDP Print for Amazon and IngramSpark for everywhere else, maximizing both Amazon economics and broad availability.

Why do authors use both IngramSpark and KDP Print?

To leverage each service's strength: KDP Print handles Amazon print sales cheaply and simply (where most print volume is), while IngramSpark handles wide distribution to bookstores, libraries, and non-Amazon retailers through Ingram's trade network. Using both maximizes both your Amazon economics and your broader availability, getting the best of each — a popular recommended strategy.

Which is better for getting into bookstores?

IngramSpark, by a wide margin. Bookstores order through Ingram (the wholesaler the book industry uses), not Amazon (a competitor they generally won't order from), and IngramSpark allows the wholesale discounts and returnability bookstores expect. If reaching physical bookstores and libraries matters, IngramSpark's distribution is essential. (Verify current terms, which change over time.)