---
title: "What Is KDP Select? Exclusivity Explained"
description: "What enrolling an ebook in KDP Select means: the 90-day exclusivity, what you can still sell elsewhere, Kindle+ (formerly Kindle Unlimited), promotions."
url: "https://www.superebook.ai/glossary/kdp-select"
updated: "2026-10-23"
---

# KDP Select

**Definition.** KDP Select is an optional, free program for Kindle ebooks and audiobooks. Enrolling makes the ebook exclusive to Amazon for a 90-day term that renews automatically unless you opt out. In return the book is included in Kindle+, formerly Kindle Unlimited, paid by pages read, and the ebook can run Free Book Promotions or Kindle Countdown Deals.

Sources checked October 23, 2026.

## How it works

To enroll, you must hold exclusive rights to the ebook's primary content, so public-domain works can't join, and the ebook must be sold only through the Kindle Store for the whole term. KDP allows it to be distributed through public libraries too, and print, video and other formats can be sold anywhere. You can enroll from the Bookshelf while the book is a draft, or from the Marketing page once it is published; an audiobook made with virtual voice is enrolled with its ebook. The term renews every 90 days unless you turn off automatic renewal under Manage KDP Select. Kindle Countdown Deals run only on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, and audiobooks can't use either promotion.

## An example

An author enrolls a new novel's ebook and keeps selling the paperback through Expanded Distribution: that is allowed, since exclusivity covers the ebook, not print. What is not allowed is also selling the same ebook from their own website during the term, or handing it out there as a free download: until the term ends, KDP allows the ebook to be distributed only through KDP and public libraries.

## Common mistakes

Forgetting that enrollment renews by itself, then finding the ebook locked in for another term. Enrolling while the ebook is still live on another store or a direct sales page. And assuming that unpublishing ends the term: KDP says unpublishing pauses it, and the remaining days resume once the book is republished.

## Questions

**Can I sell the paperback elsewhere while the ebook is in KDP Select?** Yes. KDP Select's exclusivity applies to the ebook. KDP says print, video and other formats can be distributed elsewhere during the term.

**Do I have to join KDP Select to publish on KDP?** No. It is optional. Without it, your ebook is sold on Amazon as usual and can be sold in other stores too, but it isn't in Kindle+.

## Sources

- [KDP: KDP Select](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200798990): A free 90-day program for Kindle ebooks and audiobooks; automatic Kindle+ inclusion; Free Book Promotions and Kindle Countdown Deals, the latter on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk only, and neither for audiobooks.
- [KDP: KDP Select Enrollment](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GD9PMU58BV24QFZ7): Rights and exclusivity requirements, public-domain exclusion, public libraries, other formats, virtual-voice audiobooks, enrolling, pausing on unpublish and automatic renewal.

## Related terms

- [Kindle+ (formerly Kindle Unlimited)](https://www.superebook.ai/glossary/kindle-unlimited.md)
- [KENP (Kindle Edition Normalized Pages)](https://www.superebook.ai/glossary/kenp.md)
- [KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)](https://www.superebook.ai/glossary/kdp.md)
- [Public domain](https://www.superebook.ai/glossary/public-domain.md)

## Read next

- [KDP Select vs going wide](https://www.superebook.ai/guides/kdp-select-vs-going-wide.md)
- [KDP vs Gumroad vs Etsy for selling ebooks](https://www.superebook.ai/guides/kdp-vs-gumroad-vs-etsy.md)
- [How to sell an ebook on your own website](https://www.superebook.ai/guides/sell-ebooks-on-your-own-website.md)
- [KENP calculator](https://www.superebook.ai/tools/kenp-calculator.md)
- [All glossary terms](https://www.superebook.ai/glossary.md)