Do Authors Know Who Buys Their Books on Kindle?

The Short Answer: No, Authors Can’t See Who Buys Their Books

If you’ve ever purchased a Kindle book and wondered whether the author knows it was you, the answer is simple: no, they don’t. Amazon maintains strict privacy protections for customers, and authors receive no personally identifiable information about their readers.

This is true whether you’re a first-time indie author or a bestselling traditional publisher. Amazon’s data policies treat all authors the same when it comes to customer privacy.

What Data Do Kindle Authors Actually See?

Through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) dashboard, authors have access to aggregate sales data, but nothing that could identify individual buyers. Here’s what authors can see:

Sales Reports

• Total units sold – Daily, monthly, and historical sales figures
• Royalty earnings – How much they’ve earned from each book
• Sales by marketplace – Whether books sold on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, etc.
• Kindle Unlimited page reads – How many pages were read through the subscription program

What Authors Cannot See

• Customer names or email addresses
• Shipping addresses (not applicable to ebooks anyway)
• Reading habits or completion rates for individual readers
• Whether a specific person bought or read their book
• Customer reviews before they’re posted publicly

Why Amazon Keeps This Information Private

Amazon’s decision to keep buyer information confidential serves multiple purposes:

Customer trust: Readers expect privacy when making purchases. Knowing that authors can’t see their buying habits encourages more open exploration of different genres and topics.

Preventing harassment: Unfortunately, some authors have been known to respond poorly to negative reviews. By keeping buyer information private, Amazon prevents potential conflicts between authors and readers.

Competitive advantage: Amazon’s customer data is one of its most valuable assets. Sharing this with millions of authors would compromise their business model.

Can Authors See Kindle Unlimited Reading Data?

Kindle Unlimited adds another layer to this question. When readers borrow books through KU, authors receive payment based on pages read. However, they still cannot see who is reading their books.

Authors can see:

• Total Kindle Edition Normalized Pages (KENP) read
• Which of their books are being read through KU
• General trends in their KU readership over time

But they cannot identify individual KU subscribers or their reading patterns.

What About Reviews and Ratings?

When you leave a review on Amazon, your public display name becomes visible to the author and everyone else. This is the only way an author might know you’ve read their book – if you choose to tell them through a public review.

Some reviewers use pseudonyms for this reason, maintaining their privacy while still sharing their opinions about books they’ve read.

Do Traditional Publishers Have More Access?

Traditional publishers who sell through Amazon don’t have any additional access to customer data either. They receive the same aggregate sales information that indie authors see through KDP.

However, publishers may gather reader information through other channels:

• Newsletter sign-ups on their websites
• Book registration programs
• Social media engagement
• Author events and book signings

How Authors Build Reader Relationships

Since authors can’t identify their readers through Amazon, many develop alternative ways to connect with their audience:

Email newsletters: Authors offer bonus content, early access, or exclusive material in exchange for email sign-ups. This creates a direct communication channel with readers who voluntarily share their information.

Social media: Platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok allow authors to interact with readers who choose to engage publicly.

Reader groups: Facebook groups and Discord servers create communities where readers can discuss books and interact with authors.

Patreon and similar platforms: Some authors offer subscription-based content where readers voluntarily identify themselves in exchange for exclusive access.

Privacy Considerations for Readers

If you’re concerned about your reading privacy on Kindle, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Authors cannot see your purchases – Your buying habits remain private
• Reviews are optional – You’re never required to share your opinion publicly
• Reading progress is private – Authors don’t know if you finished their book or abandoned it on page 10
• Wish lists are private – Authors can’t see if their book is on your “to read” list

The Bottom Line

Amazon has built strong privacy walls between authors and readers. While this can be frustrating for authors who want to understand their audience better, it protects readers and maintains the trust that makes Amazon’s marketplace function.

If you want an author to know you bought their book, the best way is to tell them directly – through a review, social media mention, or email to their public contact address. Otherwise, your Kindle library remains entirely your own business.

For authors looking to better understand their readership, the solution lies in building direct relationships through newsletters, social media, and reader communities – channels where readers voluntarily share their information and preferences.