How to Sell Digital Products on Amazon: A Step-by-Step Guide

Selling digital products on Amazon gives US creators access to Amazon's vast international customer base. Independent sellers based in the US averaged annual sales of more than $290,000 on Amazon in 2024, and more than 55,000 of them generated over $1 million.¹ Whether you're a designer, writer, or developer, opening an Amazon store offers massive potential for growth.

This guide explains how to sell digital products on Amazon and how you can maximize your sales.

If you plan to sell internationally, consider managing your Amazon store with a Wise Business account. As Wise participates in Amazon's Payment Service Provider Program, it can handle your payments with ease. You can manage 40+ currencies with low fees.
Recieve payments with Wise Business

What Digital Products Can Be Sold on Amazon?

You can sell certain digital products on Amazon, although not all formats are accepted. You can list e-books, artworks, printables and more through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) or bundle products like software with a physical product, such as a USB drive or printed guide.

E-books

E-books are among the most common digital products sold on Amazon. You can self-publish digital books as well as paperbacks on KDP in more than 10 countries in over 45 languages to reach millions of customers with Kindle e-readers.²

KDP supports file formats such as .mobi, .epub, and .docx. You upload your e-books and Amazon pays monthly royalties of 35% or 70% on each sale, depending on your pricing and distribution choices. When a customer makes a purchase, they can download the e-book immediately.

In addition to long-form writing, textbooks and comics, you can sell low-medium content books, such as journals, puzzle books and coloring books, as well as educational content such as courses. You can publish an unlimited number of e-books and even use different pen names from the same account.

There are no upfront inventory or startup costs, and you retain control over your book’s design, pricing and rights.

Digital Art and Printables

Creators can sell digital art on Amazon in two ways. You can package printables like planners, worksheets and templates into e-books and list them on KDP, or you can upload designs to Amazon’s Merch on Demand service to sell them as prints on t-shirts, bags, phone cases, and other products.

When a customer places an order, they receive their digital download immediately. If they order printed merchandise, Amazon prints and ships the product then pays you a royalty based on the category.

Software

Amazon has a Software & Apps category where developers can sell desktop software, mobile apps (via the Amazon Appstore), video game codes, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) product licenses (depending on format and delivery).

The Amazon Appstore allows you to distribute your app or game on Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Fire tablets in over 230 countries. It’s important to note that Amazon has discontinued support for the Appstore on Windows and will no longer support the Appstore on Android devices after August 20, 2025.³

To sell software on Amazon, you’ll need a free Amazon Developer account to gain access to Amazon’s API and a Professional Amazon Seller Account. Your licensing should comply with Amazon’s digital product guidelines.

Can You Sell PDFs on Amazon?

Not directly. Unlike platforms such as Etsy, Amazon doesn’t allow sellers to upload PDFs to sell as standalone digital downloads. However, you can reformat PDFs into e-books or sell them as part of a physical product, such as a planner or workbook, via KDP.

How to Sell Digital Products on Amazon: Key Steps

Before you start selling on Amazon, you should understand how the platform works, plan your strategy, and make sure you comply with its policies. You should also research the types of content that are likely to perform well. You can do this by looking at top-performing listings and customer reviews to learn what works and what to avoid.

Create an Amazon Seller or KDP Account

To create digital products to sell on Amazon, you’ll first need to sign up to the platform. The type of Amazon account you’ll need depends on the digital products you want to sell. For e-books, you should create a KDP account. For print-on demand and software you should register an Amazon Seller account.

It is free to sign up for KDP. You can publish in Kindle and physical book formats for global distribution and earn royalties on each sale.

Seller Central is free for an Individual account, while there is a $39.99 monthly charge for a Professional account.⁴ A Professional account is recommended as it gives you access to broader product categories (including software) as well as advanced analytics and advertising tools.

Format and Upload Digital Files to Amazon

You should follow the specific formatting guidelines for each type of digital product.

To sell e-books you should format the manuscripts in .docx, .epub, or .mobi formats. Use tools like Kindle Create to ensure the layout appears as you want it and include a cover image in .jpeg or .tiff format sized 1,000x625 pixels minimum. You can then upload your file to the KDP dashboard.⁵

For software you need to follow Amazon’s security and compatibility standards, and provide licensing information and support details. Use an Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) for tracking.

To sell digital art via KDP, combine printables into a single e-book and use templates provided by KDP or third-party tools to format and optimize the layout.

Before you upload your files, add watermarks or digital rights management (DRM) to protect them from copyright theft. Provide tutorials or customer support to discourage customers from claiming refunds, which incur Amazon fees.

Once your content is formatted and ready to go, upload it to your Amazon account and create your listings. E-books are published on KDP in as little as 72 hours.

Develop Your Amazon Digital Pricing and Marketing Strategy

Developing a strong pricing strategy for digital products on Amazon involves balancing competitiveness, perceived value, Amazon’s royalty structures, and long-term goals (visibility vs. profit).

First, you should understand Amazon's pricing rules. Then, research your competitors’ listings and factor in perceived value, which may allow you to justify higher prices.

When pricing e-books for Amazon, keep in mind that prices between $2.99 and $9.99 qualify for 70% royalties (minus delivery fees), whereas prices below $2.99 or above $9.99 earn only 35% royalties.⁶ Books must meet certain requirements, such as availability in certain countries, to qualify for 70%. Pricing for software is more flexible, but Amazon takes a commission of around 30% of each sale.

Use tiered pricing based on value to serve different segments and upsell effectively. Introductory or launch pricing can help you to gain visibility. Amazon offers several promotional tools, such as Kindle Countdown Deals or Kindle Unlimited to temporarily reduce prices, free promotions and sponsored ads. This helps you test different price points and assess how price affects revenue.

Review your sales data regularly to optimize pricing.

Marketing your digital products to get them in front of the right buyers is just as important as creating great products. Effective marketing is essential to ensure that your products don’t get lost among the many millions of items listed on Amazon.

To build a robust marketing plan:

• Write SEO-friendly titles and descriptions that include clear information and keywords.
• Select relevant categories to make your products easier to find.
• Encourage customers to leave early reviews to boost visibility.
• Use Amazon Advertising to target customers based on behavior, search terms, and related products.
• Use built-in analytics in KDP Reports or Seller Central to monitor conversion rates, keyword performance and return on investment (ROI) for ad spending.

Marketing on Amazon is an ongoing process. Analyze what works and what doesn’t and make use of Amazon’s tools.

Do You Need a Seller Account to Sell E-books?

To sell e-books, you only need a KDP account unless you plan to sell other types of digital products, like software, or physical merchandise.

If you want to sell a range of product, having both a KDP and Seller Accounts will allow you to expand your business into multiple product categories.

Tips for Success with Digital Sales on Amazon

Creating a successful digital product business on Amazon depends on standing out in a crowded marketplace. Here are some strategies to increase your visibility and sales.

Use Amazon SEO and Keywords for Visibility

Optimizing your product listings to show up in search results is key to customers finding them. Amazon’s search engine algorithm, known as A9, ranks product listings based on their relevance and performance metrics like click-through rates and sales conversion rates.

Research the terms that customers type into Amazon’s search bar when they look for products like yours. Use keyword research tools like Publisher Rocket, Helium 10, Google Keyword Planner, or Amazon’s autocomplete feature to identify relevant terms.

Your product title, subtitle description, bullet points, and keyword fields should include terms your target audience is actively searching for. Incorporating relevant keywords naturally and avoiding keyword stuffing helps your listing appear in more search results.

Monitor how your keywords perform and adjust them regularly based on trends, product updates, and competitor activity to maintain your products’ visibility over time.

Leverage Amazon Promotions and Advertising

Making use of Amazon’s promotions and advertising tools can boost your digital products’ visibility and sales, especially when you're getting started.

Consider signing up to the free KDP Select program for Kindle e-books to participate in exclusive marketing opportunities.⁷ Strategic promotions, including Kindle Countdown Deals for temporary price reductions promoted by Amazon and free book giveaways allowing customers to download an e-book for free during a five-day window, can help drive traffic. This can also improve your Amazon search rankings.

Spending on Amazon Ads, especially Sponsored Products, allows you to target specific keywords and customer interests, so your listings are more likely to appear before the right potential buyers.

Make sure you have a well-defined budget and track the performance of your ads to maintain profitability. Effective advertising can generate consistent exposure and sales, helping your business gain momentum.

Other promotional strategies include:

• Building an email list to notify subscribers of new releases.
• Encouraging customers to submit reviews by including a call to action in your digital products
• Using social media and author profiles to build brand presence

How Do You Make Money With Digital Downloads on Amazon?

Creating high-quality, in-demand products and leveraging Amazon’s tools to drive sales can generate scalable income for your business. Once you create digital downloads, you can sell unlimited copies without increasing production costs, making it a highly profitable model for creators and small business owners.

With the right pricing, SEO, and marketing strategy you can make digital products to sell on Amazon that generate consistent revenue over time.

Here are some tips to optimize your Amazon profits:

• Price your products strategically to maximize earnings while remaining attractive to customers.
• Bundle related digital files (e.g. a planner and journal) to increase order value without additional marketing costs.
• Use professional cover designs, keyword-rich titles, and persuasive descriptions to attract sales
• Create e-book series to generate ongoing interest
• Schedule recurring Amazon Ads campaigns to automate promotions
• Cross-promote your Amazon listings on social media, blogs, or email newsletters to increase sales and rankings organically.
• Use KDP Reports and Seller Central dashboards to track sales and identify trends
• Stay updated on Amazon’s policies on pricing, content, metadata and promotions to avoid penalties.

Discover Wise: Smart Currency Management for International Amazon Sellers

Managing payments in multiple currencies can quickly become complex and expensive for international Amazon sellers. But a Wise Business account can simplify your international business and save you money.

Wise is not a bank, but a Money Services Business (MSB) provider and a smart alternative to banks. You can receive payouts from Amazon in different currencies using local account details, all in one place. Your Wise account can hold the funds without immediate currency conversion, helping you avoid unfavorable exchange rates and excessive bank fees.

Wise Business allows you to hold over 40+ currencies and convert or make payments at mid-market exchange rates without hidden fees. By centralizing your global Amazon earnings in one place, you can take control over your business cash flow and reduce hidden costs, boosting your profit margins.

	Editor & Business Expert:
	Panna is an expert in US business finance, covering topics from invoicing to international expansion. She creates guides and reviews to help businesses save time and make informed decisions. You can read more useful business articles on her author profile.

	Author:
	Nicole is a professional journalist with two decades of experience in writing and editing, she has also run her own freelance business for the past five years. Her expertise spans the financial and technology industries, including payment processing and small business banking.

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Sources:
¹Amazon selling stats
²https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/
³Upcoming changes to Amazon Appstore for Android devices and other programs
⁴Amazon's Individual vs Professional selling plan: Which is right for you?
⁵Cover Image Guidelines
⁶eBook Royalties
⁷KDP Select Benefits
All sources checked September 2025