The book is now complete. It took many months of writing, re-writing, and getting it to that point where you can take pride in what you have done. You’re now at the stage where you want to publish, but then something comes up called the ISBN. 

Do I need an ISBN to publish my book? But is it free? Do I need to pay for it? What is it, anyway? These are just some of the questions that every author wonders about when deciding to publish their work, and the answer might not be as clear-cut as you would imagine because it depends on how you are planning to publish your book. 

This publication will answer every aspect of that question in terms that are understandable and straight to the point. No jargon. No technicalities. Just clear information that will help you make the right decisions about your book. 

What Is an ISBN and What Does It Actually Do 

Before all else, it makes sense to get acquainted with the concept of ISBN and why it actually exists. 

The acronym ISBN means International Standard Book Number. ISBN is a 13-digit code that is issued to a certain version of the book. Consider the ISBN a fingerprint of your book – there is no such thing in the world as two different versions of the book having one. 

This code is used by bookstores, libraries, distributors, and wholesalers to search for your book, order it, register it, and put it in the company’s database. The library will be able to add your book to its collection, and the bookstore will be able to add your book to the shelves only with the help of the ISBN. 

Do I Need an ISBN to Publish My Book as an eBook on Amazon 

This is the very first thing that almost everyone asks about when becoming an author, and the solution is much easier than what you probably think. 

If your book will be sold solely as an ebook on Amazon KDP through the Kindle Direct Publishing program, you don’t even need an ISBN at all. This is because Amazon has its own unique internal identification number for books, which it calls an ASIN. Every time you upload a new book, Amazon assigns an ASIN to your book automatically. 

Thus, for a Kindle-only book, an ISBN is not required at all since it won’t affect sales, search, or anything else. Many bestselling authors have published hundreds of books using only Kindles and have not purchased an ISBN. 

What Changes When You Publish a Paperback Book 

Physical books are a completely different conversation, and this is where book ISBN requirements become much more important to understand. 

An ISBN is necessary for every printed book, whether it is softcover or hardcover. There are no exceptions to this rule. In order for your book to go live on any platform, it will need to have an ISBN. 

The good news is that if you want to get your paperback published by Amazon KDP, then you will not need to purchase an ISBN. An ISBN from Amazon KDP is offered for free when creating your paperback. All you have to do is select the free option, and your book will be assigned an ISBN. 

It does sound simple enough — and it is. But there is a cost involved, which you should consider before proceeding with this route. 

Free ISBN vs Your Own ISBN — What Is Really the Difference 

This is one of the most important decisions a self-published author makes, and it is worth understanding clearly before you commit to either path. 

When you use a free Amazon KDP ISBN, it works perfectly well within the Amazon ecosystem. Your book gets published, it gets a barcode, it goes live, and readers can buy it. No problems there. 

However, this ISBN is associated with Amazon and not with you. It shows Amazon as the publisher in industry directories. Your book will be seen on publishing systems as published by “Independently Published” and not under your name or your publishing imprint. And the surprising bit is that once you get an ISBN from Amazon, you cannot then go and publish your book via any other retailer using this Amazon-given ISBN. It is unique to Amazon only. 

When you buy an ISBN for a book through Bowker, which is the official US ISBN registration agency, that ISBN belongs entirely to you. The publisher is always your name or the publishing house name. You can use the same ISBN on Amazon, through IngramSpark, through bookstores, through libraries, through anyone distributing in the world. It goes with your book wherever you want to go with it. 

ISBN for Self Publishing — When Buying Your Own Is the Right Move 

However, it is not necessary that every writer has to buy their own ISBN right away. However, there are situations when having one’s own ISBN right from the start is definitely a wiser decision.

In case you plan to sell your paperback version in any physical stores, you will surely need your own ISBN. In most cases, the retailer or distributor will want the publisher not to be associated with Amazon. In case you have an ISBN assigned by Amazon, no one would consider your book in such stores.

When you plan to use IngramSpark, in order to reach thousands of retailers, libraries, and wholesalers around the world, having your own ISBN will be necessary since IngramSpark doesn’t allow books with Amazon’s ISBN to be distributed via them.

When you want to develop your own publishing house, imprint, or to be the publisher yourself, you should purchase your own ISBN.

For example, in America, one ISBN purchased through Bowker will cost $125. For a block of ten, it will be $295, thus reducing the average cost per ISBN to around $29.50. This means that if you plan to publish more than one book or in various formats, purchasing a block is the way to go. 

Does Every Format of Your Book Need a Separate ISBN 

Yes, and this surprises a lot of authors when they first learn about it. 

Each format of your book is treated as a separate edition under the book ISBN requirements. Your ebook, your paperback, and your hardcover will be treated as distinct products; each of them must have its own separate ISBN. Using the same ISBN for different versions of the same title is not possible.

It is also valid when you release an edition of your book, be it minor or not, as both editions must have their own ISBN numbers; while the old edition keeps its original ISBN, the new one has another one. 

Knowing this will help you in budgeting if you decide to purchase ISBNs yourself and publish in various forms. 

Self Publishing ISBN Guide — What About Ebooks on Other Platforms 

Your book distribution and marketing plan will determine whether your ISBN choice becomes more complex. If you wish to list your book at Kobo, Apple Books, Barnes and Noble, or any other retail site besides Amazon, you may have to choose differently. 

Draft2Digital and Smashwords both provide free ISBNs for books uploaded to their platforms. Just as Amazon provides, these are not ISBNs in the name of the individual publisher but of the distributor of the ebook. For many writers, they are fine choices because they offer easy and convenient distribution. 

In case you want to have your name as the publisher of your ebook listed on all platforms, you have to buy an ISBN of your own. You will then upload it separately to each platform you wish to distribute your book to. With such a process, you are in full control. 

If you are writing your first ebook, using a platform’s free ISBN will be very practical indeed. 

ISBN Registration — What It Means and How It Works 

Getting an ISBN is only half the process. The second part is ISBN registration, filling in your book’s details so it shows up correctly in industry databases. 

When you buy an ISBN via Bowker’s MyIdentifiers service, you are required to log in to your account and add the book data to the ISBN. The data includes the title of the book, the author’s name, the publisher’s name, publication date, format, price, and description.

Once the data is uploaded, it goes into databases where the information about the book is accessed by distributors, retailers, and libraries when they wish to locate or order the book. A properly registered ISBN allows your book to be accessible to all publishers, not just the customers of Amazon.

If you get the free ISBN from Amazon KDP or other platforms, then you do not have to worry about registration. 

The Part Most ISBN Guides Skip — Your Book Still Has to Be Ready 

And here’s something to keep in mind as you navigate the ISBN part of the process. Securing an ISBN is only part of the puzzle. 

ISBN facilitates the identification and distribution of the book, but its presence doesn’t necessarily guarantee the success of the book. People do not purchase a book on the grounds that it has an ISBN; rather, people purchase books based on their expectations from the contents, cover, description, and presentation of the book. Prior to worrying about ISBN options, ensure your manuscript is ready. 

An ISBN will get your book registered. The professionally edited book will make readers happy and give them all the reasons to leave positive reviews. 

The Real Benefits of Owning Your Own ISBN 

For many first-time authors, going with a free ISBN might appear to be the easy way out. In certain instances, this could actually be fine. But for those authors whose ambitions lie outside of simply creating an Amazon product, the fact that they own the ISBN becomes relevant once their book gets listed at new places. While this doesn’t matter much at the outset, it does gain relevance as your book gets picked up by other venues. 

For authors who plan to publish multiple books, build a publishing brand, or expand beyond Amazon, owning an ISBN can offer several long-term advantages: 

• YOUR NAME or YOUR BOOK IMPRINT is always listed as the publisher 

• YOUR book is available in any bookstore, library, or wholesaler without limitation 

• YOU have control over the book metadata in all industry databases 

• You build a reputation as a pro publisher right away 

• Should you change platform or distributor, your ISBN stays with YOU 

• You create an asset that will always belong to YOU. 

For those authors who intend to write multiple books or establish themselves as a publisher, having your ISBNs right from the start is one of the easiest ways to invest in yourself. 

Think about two different authors who publish independently. Author A uses the free ISBN offered by Amazon and only sells through Amazon. It seems straightforward until they decide to sell through bookstores or other channels where an ISBN might be necessary. 

Author B buys the ISBN from the start. When it becomes possible to distribute through IngramSpark, go to libraries, and even have an independent publishing imprint, the ISBN remains with the book. The publication details stay the same. 

Both ways have advantages, and neither is better than the other. Your publishing plan will determine the best way to go. Authors who see publishing as a business find it more helpful to buy their ISBN. 

How Kinetic Digital Publishers‘ ISBN Assistance Helps You Get This Right 

If you are still working through whether you need an ISBN, which type makes sense for your situation, or how to get everything set up correctly before you publish, you do not have to figure it out alone. 

Kinetic Digital Publishers’ ISBN Assistance supports first-time and independent authors through every part of the book publishing process. Such assistance includes ISBN choice, registration, design, and complete publishing arrangements. Regardless of whether you have just one query or require complete assistance right from the beginning until the end of your project, the entire process will be made clear to you without causing any confusion. 

Right from ISBN registration to publishing, Kinetic Digital Publishers’ ISBN Assistance makes the entire process easy for you, so that you can concentrate on what you do best – write. 

Conclusion 

Do I need an ISBN to publish my book? Here is the simplest version of the answer. 

Kindle ebook on Amazon – no need for an ISBN. For paperback in general – yes, ISBN required, and Amazon will provide it free for you. To publish elsewhere, to retain the publishing credit, to distribute via bookstores and libraries – buy your ISBN from Bowker. 

It depends on what you aim to achieve in your publishing journey. Spend a couple of minutes contemplating your publishing aspirations and who should be credited as the publisher. And then the ISBN choice will become obvious for you. 

When you are ready to receive advice to make things easier for you, Kinetic Digital Publishers’ ISBN Consultation Service is waiting for you. 

FAQs 

Q1. Do I need an ISBN to publish my book on Amazon KDP as an ebook?

No. Do I need an ISBN to publish my book as a Kindle ebook on Amazon? The answer is no. Amazon gives each eBook an ASIN, and that’s all that you need to publish on the Kindle platform. An ISBN will be necessary if you are publishing the print version or distributing your eBook on other platforms aside from Amazon. 

Q2. What is the difference between Amazon’s free ISBN and one I purchase myself? 

Amazon’s free Amazon KDP ISBN works only within Amazon’s system and lists Amazon as the publisher of record. The ISBN purchased from Bowker will be registered under your name and will have you listed as the publisher, and hence can be used on any platform or retailer in the world without limitations. Authors should go for their own total control. 

Q3. How much does it cost to buy an ISBN for self publishing in the USA? 

A single ISBN through Bowker costs $125. A block of ten costs $295, bringing the per-unit cost to around $29.50. For ISBNs for self publishing across multiple books or formats, buying a block is significantly more affordable than purchasing individual ISBNs one at a time. 

Q4. Does my paperback need a different ISBN than my ebook? 

Yes. Under standard book ISBN requirements, each format in which you publish your book is considered a different edition and will need its own ISBN number. The ISBNs for your ebook, your paperback, and your hardcover editions will all be different numbers. 

Q5. What is ISBN registration, and do I need to do it myself? 

ISBN registration is the process of assigning your book’s details. ISBN includes title, author, publisher, format, and publish date – along with your ISBN number – in industry databases. This is done automatically if you obtain an ISBN from Amazon KDP or another distribution company for free, but if you buy an ISBN from Bowker, then you must enter this information yourself via the MyIdentifiers site.