Publishers and authors using Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) can now choose to sell their books as DRM-free EPUB and PDF downloads, rather than locking them exclusively to Kindle apps and devices.
On paper, it’s a huge shift. Digital Rights Management (DRM) has long tied Kindle purchases to Amazon’s ecosystem.
This means books bought on the Kindle Store could only be read through Amazon’s apps or hardware. However, by allowing DRM-free options, Amazon is opening the door for readers to download standard EPUB and PDF files. These files work across a much wider range of e-readers, apps and platforms.
That said, the change won’t be obvious straight away. While the option is now live for publishers, no major publishers have enabled it yet. Titles from well-known names currently don’t offer EPUB or PDF downloads. There’s no visible difference on Kindle devices or apps just yet. Amazon reportedly notified publishers via a single email. This email outlined how they can convert existing titles or enable DRM-free formats for new releases.
Crucially, opting out of DRM doesn’t affect how authors get paid. Royalty rates and payment structures remain the same. This removes one of the biggest barriers for indie authors and smaller publishers considering the switch. For readers, the benefit is flexibility. Books aren’t tied to one storefront or one device, and they can be backed up, transferred or read elsewhere without workarounds.
Amazon isn’t abandoning DRM altogether. The decision still sits entirely with publishers and authors, and many are likely to stick with locked-down formats, at least initially. However, simply offering the option marks a meaningful change in how the Kindle Store operates.
If larger publishers follow suit, this could fundamentally reshape how people buy and own e-books on Amazon. For now, it’s a slow-burn update – but one that signals a rare shift towards reader freedom in the Kindle ecosystem.
