Goodreads

Goodreads is Amazon's reader community and review site where authors can claim a profile and run paid Kindle or print book giveaways.

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At a glance

Price

Free tier, paid from $119 one-time (Author Program is free. Giveaways cost $119 (Standard) or $599 (Premium) per giveaway, per Amazon's KDP setup guide; print copies and postage are extra.)

Platforms

Web

Outputs KDP-ready files

No

Touches your KDP account

Not stated

Amazon marketplaces

us, ca

Categories

Reviews & ARC, Ads & Promotion

Last checked

2026-11-09

Summary

Goodreads is owned by Amazon. Authors can join the free Author Program to claim their profile, and run Giveaways in Kindle or print format before or after publication; every entrant adds the book to their Want to Read shelf. Kindle giveaways require linking your KDP account and are open to US entrants only, while for print giveaways you mail the books yourself to winners in the US and/or Canada. Goodreads sends winners a review reminder; any review request of your own must stay optional, since Amazon allows free copies only when a review is not required or influenced.

Best for

• Building pre-launch Want to Read shelves for a new release

Pros

• Kindle giveaways deliver copies automatically, with no shipping
• Entrants must shelve the book as Want to Read, and Goodreads emails your followers and those shelvers

Cons

• Kindle giveaways are open to US entrants only
• Entrants are giveaway hunters; many never read or review

Alternatives

• NetGalley: NetGalley is a digital review copy platform for publishers and authors that offers advance copies to librarians, booksellers, media and reviewers.
• Booksprout: Booksprout is an advance reader copy platform for authors that distributes review copies to its reader community and sends automatic review reminders.
• BookBub Partners: BookBub Partners is a book marketing platform for authors that sells curated Featured Deal emails and self-serve auction ads to BookBub's readers.
• Amazon Ads: Amazon Ads is Amazon's on-platform advertising console, used by KDP publishers to promote books with sponsored ads.

Sources

Facts on this page come from the vendor and these pages. Prices change; confirm on the vendor site.

• https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/about
• https://m.media-amazon.com/images/G/01/kindle-publication/webinars/Goodreads_Giveaways_Author_PrintAndKindle_SetupGuide_v41.pdf
• https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G202101910

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