KDP vs Etsy for Puzzles: Which Platform Helps You Earn More?

If you love creating word searches, sudoku books, or printable puzzle packs using WordGenFree, choosing where to sell them is key to building real income. The two most popular options are Amazon KDP and Etsy. Both can generate passive income — but each works differently when it comes to profit margins, royalties, and marketing. Let’s break down the pros and cons of each for puzzle creators.

Amazon KDP: Print-on-Demand Simplicity

Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) lets you sell printed puzzle books worldwide. Once uploaded, Amazon handles printing, shipping, and customer support. You earn royalties on each sale — but the key is how those royalties are calculated.

KDP gives you 60% of your book’s list price after subtracting printing costs. That means the formula is:

(List Price - Printing Cost) × 60% = Royalty

Example:

• List Price: £4.99
• Printing Cost: £3.99
• Profit Left: £1.00
• Your Royalty: £1.00 × 60% = £0.60

So, if your puzzle book is priced at £4.99, you’ll earn around £0.60 per sale. If you price it higher, say £6.99, your earnings per book increase — but you might attract fewer buyers. The challenge is finding the perfect balance between price and sales volume.

Etsy: Digital Downloads and High Margins

Etsy allows creators to sell digital downloads like printable puzzle packs, worksheets, and activity sheets. There’s no printing or shipping cost — you simply upload your PDF and earn each time someone buys it.

Etsy charges small listing and transaction fees (about 5–6%), but since you’re selling digital goods, your profit margins are far higher. Here’s an example:

• Price: £4.00
• Etsy Fees: ~£0.25
• Your Profit: ~£3.75 per sale

Unlike KDP, you don’t need to worry about printing costs. And you can sell the same digital file infinitely. However, Etsy relies heavily on marketing and SEO. You’ll need great product titles, tags, and thumbnail images to stand out from the competition.

Profit Comparison: KDP vs Etsy

Which Platform Should Puzzle Creators Choose?

Choose KDP if you want a hands-off system that automatically reaches buyers through Amazon. It’s ideal for beginners who want steady, passive income from physical puzzle books.

Choose Etsy if you prefer control, higher margins, and digital flexibility. It takes more effort to promote, but your profit per sale can be several times higher than KDP’s.

Many creators use both — uploading puzzle books to KDP and repurposing them as printable PDFs on Etsy. This hybrid approach creates two income streams from one set of puzzles.

Finance Tip: Pricing and ROI Strategy

Both platforms benefit from pricing strategy. Lower prices attract more buyers, while higher prices give larger margins. For example, a £4.99 KDP book might earn £0.60 but sell 10 times per week (£6 total), while a £2.99 Etsy file could sell 20 times and earn £60 total. Testing and adjusting pricing helps you find the sweet spot.

Conclusion

Whether you choose KDP, Etsy, or both, you can turn your puzzle-making skills into a long-term online income stream. KDP offers global reach and print-on-demand ease, while Etsy delivers higher profits through digital downloads. The best approach for WordGenFree users? Use your free puzzle generators to create, test, and sell across both platforms — building your own creative brand one puzzle at a time.