Last updated: July 2026. Written by Josh Hutcheson, OnlineCourseing editor. See our review methodology.
QUICK VERDICT
Bottom line: Self-publishing success is a good book plus the mechanics of Amazon KDP plus real marketing — and the best courses cover the last two honestly. The standout is How to Become an Amazon Best Seller (4.5★), with Kindle Launch (4.4★) a solid companion. We steer clear of the “get rich on KDP” courses.
Self-publishing has genuinely democratised getting a book into readers' hands, and Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is the centre of it. But the platform has its own mechanics — keywords, categories, pricing, reviews, and ads — and marketing a book is a real skill. The best courses teach those honestly. We have deliberately avoided the schemes promising passive riches from low-content books.
1. Best overall — How to Become an Amazon Best Seller
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A practical, well-rounded course on publishing and marketing a book on Amazon — keywords, categories, launch strategy, and reviews. It focuses on the mechanics that actually move a book rather than hype. At 4.5★ across more than 1,100 ratings it is the reliable, honest pick.
Best for: authors who want the real KDP publishing and launch mechanics. Worth knowing: a good book still comes first — marketing amplifies quality, it does not replace it.
2. Best launch companion — Kindle Launch
A focused course on launching a Kindle book well — the launch window matters a lot on Amazon, and getting it right builds early momentum. At 4.4★ it is a good, targeted complement to a broader publishing course.
Best for: authors who want a strong, structured book launch. Worth knowing: narrower in scope — pair with a full publishing course.
3. Best write-to-publish path — Fiction Writing: Write, Polish & Publish Your First Novel
If you are writing your first novel and want the whole journey through to publishing in one place, this course connects the writing and self-publishing steps. At 4.0★ it is a smaller course, but useful for first-time authors who want an end-to-end path.
Best for: first-time novelists who want writing plus publishing together. Worth knowing: smaller review base — treat as a roadmap, supplement the marketing side.
self publishing courses compared
| Course | Best for | Rating | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| How to Become an Amazon Best Seller | Publishing + marketing | 4.5 | Udemy |
| Kindle Launch | Book launch | 4.4 | Udemy |
| Fiction Writing: Write, Polish & Publish | Write-to-publish | 4.0 | Udemy |
How to choose a self-publishing course
Match it to your gap. If you have a finished manuscript and need the platform and marketing know-how, a KDP publishing-and-marketing course is the priority. If launching well is your worry, a launch-focused course is the targeted spend. If you are still writing, a course that spans writing through publishing gives you the whole map. Whatever you pick, prioritise honest coverage of marketing and Amazon ads — that is where most self-published authors struggle, and where the value is.
Be wary of KDP get-rich hype
Self-publishing is real and empowering, but the corner of it that promises passive income from “low-content” books or churned-out titles is mostly hype, and Amazon has cracked down on low-quality and AI-spam content. The authors who do well write books people actually want and market them consistently — there is no shortcut. Choose courses that teach sustainable publishing and honest marketing, and be skeptical of any promising quick riches. Most self-published books earn modestly; treat it as a long game.
Related: our fiction writing courses, creative writing courses, and freelancing courses.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best self-publishing course?
How to Become an Amazon Best Seller (4.5 stars, 1,100+ ratings) is the best all-round pick, covering KDP publishing and marketing honestly. Pair it with Kindle Launch (4.4 stars) for a strong book-launch strategy.
Can you make money self-publishing on Amazon?
Some authors do, but it takes a book people genuinely want plus consistent marketing – not the passive-income schemes some courses sell. Most self-published books earn modestly; treat it as a long game and be wary of get-rich-quick KDP courses.
Do you need a course to self-publish?
Not strictly – KDP is designed to be accessible – but a good course saves you costly mistakes on keywords, categories, pricing, and especially marketing, which is where most authors struggle. The mechanics have real depth worth learning.
Is Amazon KDP still worth it in 2026?
Yes for genuine authors – KDP remains the largest self-publishing platform and a real path to readers. What has changed is that Amazon has cracked down on low-quality and AI-spam content, so success increasingly rewards real books and honest marketing.