Book Royalty Calculator
See exactly what you keep per ebook sale — on Amazon versus selling direct. Change the numbers to match your book.
That’s $5,286 more a year selling direct on Readfeed than on Amazon KDP (35%).
Every channel, side by side
| Channel | Per sale | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon KDP (35%) | $3.50 | $350 | $4,196 |
| Amazon KDP (70%) | $6.99 | $699 | $8,392 |
| Gumroad | $8.40 | $840 | $10,082 |
| Readfeed | $7.90 | $790 | $9,482 |
| Payhip | $8.90 | $890 | $10,681 |
| Your own site + Stripe | $9.40 | $940 | $11,280 |
Assumes Stripe processing of 2.9% + $0.30 on direct channels. Amazon figures are all-inclusive; the 70% tier excludes Amazon’s per-megabyte delivery fee and only applies to books priced $2.99–$9.99. Estimates for planning, not a guarantee.
Create a free author account to save your projection and start selling direct.
Keep more of every sale
List your ebook on Readfeed free, keep ~85%, connect Stripe for direct payouts, and reach readers, book clubs, and live-event audiences built for books.
Frequently asked questions
How much do authors make per ebook sale?+
It depends on where you sell. On Amazon KDP you keep 35–70% of the list price. Selling direct — via Readfeed, Payhip, Gumroad, or your own site — you keep roughly 80–95% after payment processing. On a $9.99 ebook that is the difference between about $3.50 and roughly $8–9.40 per sale.
How is the royalty calculated?+
Amazon’s royalty is an all-inclusive percentage of list price (35% or 70%). Direct platforms take a smaller platform fee and then payment processing (about 2.9% + $0.30 with Stripe) applies. This calculator uses those rates; Amazon’s 70% figure excludes its per-megabyte delivery fee.
Does Readfeed have a monthly fee?+
No. Readfeed charges 15% on ebook sales (5% on signed copies, 10% on reader gifts) and nothing monthly. Payouts go directly to your Stripe account.
Why would I pick Readfeed over a lower-fee checkout?+
A lower-fee tool like Payhip is a checkout with no audience — you must bring the traffic. Readfeed’s fee is higher because your book enters a reader community with book clubs and live events, so the sale comes with discovery attached. For authors without a big list, that traffic is worth more than the fee difference.