Where to sell an AI-written book besides Amazon KDP (2026 comparison)

Quick comparison

The platforms, one by one

Amazon KDP

KDP is the baseline. Its content guidelines ask you to tell Amazon about AI-generated text, images or translations. The 70% royalty applies between $2.99 and $12.99 on Amazon.com: "Effective July 7, 2026, the 70% royalty option price band is $2.99-$12.99 on Amazon.com" (price requirements).

That 70% is "less delivery costs (average delivery costs are $0.06 per unit sold...)" (royalties). KDP also limits new books to "Up to 2 titles per book format each week" (title setup).

Google Play Books

Google's content policies have no AI rule for ebook text. They do ban "gibberish, nonsensical, or repetitive text that provides no narrative or educational value."

Google pays a "70% revenue split on ebook sales in most Google Play Books supported countries" once you accept its 2019 terms, and 52% otherwise (Revenue Split FAQ). "An ISBN isn't required" (ISBN help). Our full Google Play Books guide goes deeper.

Apple Books

Apple promises "70% royalties on every ebook, regardless of price," "No file delivery fees" and "No price matching" (Apple Books for Authors).

On AI, Apple is clear. If "a material portion of the content is generated by an AI-based tool," the book "must be labeled as such using 'AI Generated by' artist role and declaring the AI-generated creation method in the description" (formatting guidelines §1.13).

Kobo Writing Life

Kobo has the strictest wording we found. Its content policy says Kobo reserves the right to reject content "that is wholly or partially created by digital text-generation algorithms." It doesn't offer a disclosure option.

For original works, Kobo pays "70% of the list price" at $2.99 USD or more, and 45% below that (earnings help). Its service agreement adds that the ebook "must be priced at least twenty (20%) percent below the SRP of all physical editions." It also says "Works will not be used to train generative AI technologies."

You can publish without an ISBN, but Kobo's own ID "is not accepted for distribution through our all partner sites (Indigo, FNAC, etc.)" (ISBN help).

Barnes & Noble Press

B&N allows AI content but asks about all of it. During setup, "you will be asked to confirm if Generative AI was used," and you then choose AI-Assisted or AI-Created. The disclosure "is required before a project can be published" (AI help page).

Ebooks earn "a 70% author royalty off the List Price" (Royalty and Payment Terms). "B&N Press is non-exclusive," but "We do require that you provide a unique, never-used ISBN" (Getting Started).

IngramSpark

Ingram's content guidelines list "Works created solely using generative AI" as unacceptable. They accept works with "significant and material human editorial review and contribution with proper attribution," and say "Proper attribution of creation must accompany all works."

For ebooks, "You earn 85% of the net revenue received by IngramSpark with each sale, regardless of retailer" (pricing).

Draft2Digital

Draft2Digital sends your ebook to many stores at once. Its FAQ lists "Amazon (invite only)," Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and more.

Its content guidelines say it is not for "individuals who seek to publish 100% AI-generated books." It does "not accept content that has been generated entirely by AI/LLMs that has not gone through extensive editing from a human." It "does not accept noncredentialled nonfiction content produced by AI and may require further documentation of subject matter expertise."

There is "a non-refundable, one-time activation fee of $20 (USD)" plus "an annual maintenance fee of $12 (USD) for accounts that earn less than one-hundred dollars a year" (FAQ).

Gumroad and Payhip (selling direct)

These sites let you sell an ebook file straight to readers. Gumroad's prohibited list bans "AI services," meaning access to AI tools. It also bans reselling ebooks you didn't create. We found no rule against an ebook you wrote with AI help. Gumroad charges "10% + $0.50 fee + sales tax per transaction," or 30% on its marketplace (fees).

Payhip's pricing has three plans: free with a 5% fee, $29/month with 2%, or $99/month with no fee. "PayPal and Stripe will still charge at their standard rates."

Lulu and Royal Road

Lulu's terms bar content "generated primarily using automated tools or artificial intelligence (AI) without meaningful human review, editing, or original contribution" if it "results in spam, low-quality, repetitive, or deceptive publications." You must be "at least sixteen (16) years old" to register.

Royal Road is a free web-serial site. Its AI policy allows AI-generated stories, but "You must tag your story as 'AI-Generated'."

Which platforms reject purely AI-generated books, and which require disclosure

Platforms that may reject a purely AI-generated book:

• IngramSpark: "Works created solely using generative AI" are unacceptable.
• Draft2Digital: no content "generated entirely by AI/LLMs that has not gone through extensive editing from a human."
• Kobo: reserves the right to reject content "wholly or partially" created by text generation.
• Lulu: bars low-quality or spammy content made without "meaningful human review, editing, or original contribution."

Platforms that accept AI-generated books but require you to say so:

• Amazon KDP: you must disclose AI-generated content. KDP says content counts as AI-generated "even if you applied substantial edits afterwards."
• Apple Books: add the "AI Generated by" credit and say so in the description.
• Barnes & Noble Press: declare both AI-Created and AI-Assisted use.
• Royal Road: tag the story "AI-Generated."

What this means for a Shadow Writer book. Let's be straight about it. Shadow Writer drafts the actual text of your book. Under KDP's definitions, that makes it AI-generated, not AI-assisted, and you should disclose it. The same applies to Apple's and B&N's labels.

Platforms that reject purely AI-generated books may reject a Shadow Writer book. That's especially true of IngramSpark, Draft2Digital and Kobo. The exception would be if you substantially rewrite it yourself and it meets their human-contribution standards. Read each policy and follow it honestly. If a store doesn't want this kind of book, choose a store that does.

KDP Select vs going wide, and the price-match trap

KDP Select is optional, but it is exclusive. "During the 90-day enrollment period, the Kindle eBook can only be distributed through KDP and public libraries" (KDP Select). Print and audio aren't covered: "you can continue to distribute print, video, audio, or other formats of your title elsewhere."

So you have to choose. Either your ebook stays in Select, or you "go wide" to Google, Apple, Kobo, B&N and the rest. You can't do both with the same ebook during a term.

The price-match trap. Going wide means your ebook price can drift between stores. KDP says that if it matches a lower price, "you will receive 70% of our sale price" (KDP royalties). That means a discount elsewhere can cut your Amazon royalty.

Google adds to the risk because it "has the discretion to set prices," though it pays you on your list price (how to sell). Other stores have parity rules too. B&N's ebook price must be "no greater than the eBook's List Price at any other retailer." Kobo's must be "less than or equal to the lowest price provided by you to any third party."

The simple fix is to keep your list price the same everywhere. Check your Amazon page after any promotion.

Where this comes from

Checked October 2026. Every rule and number below comes from each platform's own help pages, terms or pricing pages, which we checked in October 2026. Platforms change their policies often, so please confirm on the linked pages before you publish. Shadow Writer is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of these platforms.

Checked October 2026 against each platform's official help, terms and pricing pages. Shadow Writer is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Amazon, Google, Apple, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, Gumroad, Payhip, Lulu, Royal Road or any other platform named here. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Last updated 16 October 2026.