Amazon KDP vs Smashwords:Which is searched more?
In August 2026, Amazon KDP had more branded searches than Smashwords among self publishing platforms worldwide. Amazon KDP was estimated to have 3M branded searches compared to Smashwords’ 27.1K, and held a 94.9% Share of Search versus Smashwords’ 0.86%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, Amazon KDP or Smashwords?
Compare the platforms authors publish books through. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for Amazon KDP, Smashwords. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Amazon KDP | Smashwords |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 94.3% | 1.3% |
| Nov 2025 | 93.1% | 1.5% |
| Dec 2025 | 94.3% | 1.3% |
| Jan 2026 | 93.7% | 1.6% |
| Feb 2026 | 93.4% | 1.3% |
| Mar 2026 | 94.3% | 1.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 94.2% | 1% |
| May 2026 | 94.5% | 1% |
| Jun 2026 | 94.7% | 1.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 94.3% | 1.3% |
| Aug 2026 | 94.9% | 0.86% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — |
How has the Amazon KDP and Smashwords comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Amazon KDP was ahead of Smashwords in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Amazon KDP’s estimated Share of Search among self publishing platforms worldwide moved from 94.3% to 94.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.4M to 3M.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Smashwords’ estimated Share of Search among self publishing platforms worldwide moved from 1.3% to 0.86%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 33.1K to 27.1K.
How did search popularity change for self publishing platforms worldwide in August 2026?
2 changes
In August 2026, Amazon KDP gained estimated Share of Search among self publishing platforms worldwide, from 94.3% to 94.9%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Smashwords worldwide fell 18.1% over 11 measured months, from 33.1K to 27.1K in August 2026.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Amazon KDP’s and Smashwords’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Amazon KDP
2 branded search terms
- amazon kdp
- amazonkdp
Smashwords
1 branded search term
- smashwords
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.