Should I Buy an ISBN for My Self-Published Book?

Whether or not to buy an ISBN is a common concern among independent authors. Every format of every book needs one, including self-published books. But how important is it to own your own ISBN, and should you use a free one if your publisher or distributor offers it?

This post looks at the pros and cons of free and paid ISBNs and outlines the path that will give you the most control and flexibility over your books.

Topics Covered in “Should I Buy an ISBN for My Self-Published Book?”:

What Is an ISBN and When Do I Need One?
Buy an ISBN or Use a Free One?
Buying an ISBN: Pros and Cons
Using a Free ISBN: Pros and Cons
How to Buy an ISBN
Publish Your Book with Spoonbridge Press

What Is an ISBN and When Do I Need One?

ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. As the name implies, this is a unique number that identifies your book globally. The ISBN record for your book includes important details, including title, author name, and publisher. This will typically be printed on the back cover near the bar code, and it will be coded into your book’s metadata.

Think of your ISBN like a digital fingerprint for your book: no two are alike, and once it’s on record, it always points back to your book. 

So does every author need to worry about ISBNs? Technically, no. If you’re only publishing a Kindle ebook directly through KDP, you don’t need an ISBN. Amazon will assign you a unique identifier called an ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number). If you’re just dipping your toes into publishing, this situation might be suitable for you.

However, assuming you plan to create a print version or distribute your ebook outside of Amazon, you’ll need an ISBN. Major retailers, libraries, and gift shops require ISBNs for every book they stock.

What’s more, you’ll need a separate ISBN for every format of your book. That includes paperback, hardcover, ebook, and audiobook. And if you republish your book as a new edition, you’ll need another batch of ISBNs for each format.

Buy an ISBN or Use a Free One?

If you’re an independent author on a budget, you may see the word “free” and decide it’s the best choice for you. In some cases, it might be. But before you self-publish your book using a free ISBN from your publisher or distributor, there are a few things you should know.

(Note: While free ISBNs are available from a variety of places, this post focuses on those offered by IngramSpark and KDP.)

Buying an ISBN: Pros and Cons

Regardless of your immediate distribution plan, there are several reasons to bring your own ISBNs to the table.

Pro: Flexibility

If you publish on multiple platforms—now or any time in the future—owning your own ISBNs gives you that flexibility.

Pro: Ownership

If a bookstore or library looks up your book in the Ingram catalog, they’ll see you or your imprint as the publisher on record. More importantly, they won’t see IngramSpark’s or KDP’s imprints, both of which mark you as a self-published author.

Pro: Professionalism

When potential readers look at your book listing, they’ll see that it was published under your name or imprint. Whether or not you plan to pursue getting your book on physical shelves, this is an important mark of professionalism. 

Con: Cost

Yes, buying your own ISBN will cost money (unless you’re in Canada, where ISBNs are free). However, compared to cover design, professional editing, and book marketing, the cost of ISBNs is quite low.

For a single ISBN from Bowker, you’ll spend $125—but because you’ll need an ISBN for every format, it’s usually best to buy a block of 10 for $295. That’s just $29.50 for each ISBN, and you’ll have plenty left over for your next title or edition.

Using a Free ISBN: Pros and Cons

Spoiler alert: the pros and cons of using a free ISBN are the direct inverse of those of buying your own. (Spoiler alert: we don’t recommend it!)

Pro: No Cost

It’s right there in the name: if you use a free ISBN from KDP, IngramSpark, or anyone else, there is no cost involved. This makes it easier for authors on a tight budget to bring their books to market.

In our opinion, this is the only benefit to using a free ISBN. 

Con: Lack of Flexibility

According to KDP, “The free ISBN from KDP can only be used on KDP for distribution to Amazon and its distributors.” IngramSpark has a similar note: “Not purchasing your ISBN yourself may also limit where you can print and distribute your own title.”

This means you won’t be able to use your KDP ISBN on IngramSpark or vice versa. It’s important to use the same ISBN on both platforms, so this is a problem if you plan to publish your book with both companies.

Con: Lack of Ownership

While it’s technically possible to make your book available to bookstores and libraries with a free ISBN, that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. It’s certainly possible to self-publish a beautiful, professional book that’s comparable to traditionally published books—it’s what we do—but there is still a stigma surrounding books that are obviously self-published.

IngramSpark [PDF] puts it best: “While retailers may not recognize your imprint specifically, they recognize that of self-publishing platforms (IngramSpark and Amazon KDP) and may make stocking decisions based on this information.”

Con: Lack of Professionalism

When a reader looks at your book listing, they’ll be able to see who published your book. If you use IngramSpark’s free ISBN, “Indy Pub”—IngramSpark’s imprint—will be listed as the publisher on record. Use KDP’s free ISBN and “Independently Published” will be listed in the imprint field. Neither are great for reader optics, and both are a missed opportunity to strengthen your own brand.

How to Buy an ISBN

For publishers based in the United States, Bowker is the official source of ISBNs. Just set up an account, purchase your ISBNs, and add one to the copyright page, bar code, and metadata for each of your formats.

(But purchasing the ISBN isn’t enough. When you publish your book, you’ll need to assign each ISBN you’re using to the corresponding format. To do this, log back in to Bowker, click on Assign Title, and enter the metadata for each format.)