How does the free Amazon KDP ISBN stack up against having your own ISBN? Let’s compare the two options and find out!
We’re often asked, ‘Should authors use the free Amazon KDP ISBN or get their own?’ It’s a fair question that any new author just entering the self-publishing world would want to know the answer to. When you first start searching for self-publishing services near me, you’ll discover that one of the responsibilities of a self-published author is obtaining ISBNs for each format of their books.
When you first self-publish your book, it can be quite a steep learning curve. Because of this, Amazon’s KDP attempted to make it as easy as possible. However, they also want authors to use their platform exclusively over other book platforms. One way they achieve this is by offering authors who self-publish on Amazon a free ISBN.
They’ll then register your book with Bowker using this ISBN, which will be listed in the register as ‘self-published.’ However, this free ISBN can only be used to self-publish your book on Amazon. You can’t then self-publish your book on other platforms such as IngramSpark or Smashwords.
Before we answer whether authors should use the free Amazon KDP ISBN, let’s look at what an ISBN is.
For Canadian authors still considering whether or not Amazon KDP is the best self-publishing platform for them, check out The Complete Guide to Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing for Canadian Authors, where we cover everything you’ll need to know about getting started on Amazon KDP for the first time.
What Is An ISBN?
An International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a 13-digit number that identifies each edition of your manuscript and is used by various people, including booksellers, publishers, and librarians. It’s 100% unique to your book.
For Canadian authors, whether published or self-published, ISBNs are available for free via Libraries and Archives Canada. However, you need to register an account with Libraries and Archives Canada before obtaining your ISBN, so make sure you don’t leave it too late if you’re working to a publishing deadline.
If you live in the USA or you are an American author, you can purchase your ISBN from Bowker Identifier Services.
You need one ISBN per format, so your ebook, paperback, hardcover, or audiobook will all require an individual ISBN. So, if you’re getting ISBNs, ensure you get enough for each format. If you want to learn more about ISBNs, check out our complete guide to ISBNs article, Do I Need an ISBN for My Book in Canada?
If you have been considering self-publishing your book on IngramSpark, check out the Complete Guide to IngramSpark Publishing for Canadian Authors, where we cover account setup, title uploading, royalties, pricing, and much more!
Comparing the Free ISBN from KDP to Getting Your Own ISBN
Below, you’ll be able to see the difference between using the free ISBN provided by Amazon KDP and getting your own ISBN.
To learn more about the Amazon KDP ISBN, check out this ISBN help topic by KDP.
For authors considering using Apple Books to self-publish their ebooks, The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing on Apple Books for Authors covers everything you’ll need to know about Apple Books, including account setup, royalties, distribution, uploading titles, and much more!
Should Authors Use the Free Amazon KDP ISBN or Get Their Own? | Conclusion
As you can see from the table above, using your own ISBN will give you a lot more freedom to self-publish your books on other platforms. However, it can be expensive, depending on where you live.
If you have any questions about self-publishing or ISBNs, please don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us at Indie Publishing Group. Our friendly and professional team is here to make your dream of publishing your book a reality.
What’s your experience been using the free Amazon KDP ISBN? We’d love to hear from you, and your advice could help a new author avoid costly and time-consuming mistakes.
If you are writing a book and need any assistance with paperback or ebook formatting, cover design, professional editing, uploading to self-publishing sites such as Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, or Amazon KDP keyword and category research, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We also offer children’s book illustrations and formatting services.
Our experienced and professional self-publishing team is standing by to assist you with your self-publishing dreams.
2 Responses
Earlier in the year I published a book – the first in a series of three – on Amazon, Kindle and PoD Paperback, using a third party to ‘host’ the books on their Amazon account but clearly showing me as the author and publisher. On completing the second book in the series. I decided to open and use a KDP account in my own name. My third party, who have been heldpful throughout, unpublished ‘their’ version of book 1 as Amazon assured me I would be able to republish on my own account using the same ISBN no. That is important to me as the book is also in print and selling in bookshops under its original ISBN, which of course appears on the back cover and inside the book. When I tried to republish book 1 on my account account Amazon rejected the ISBN as ‘Already Assigned to Another Book’. Amzon suggest I use a new ISBN, either one of my own or one of their freebies. We arrived at this position after many mutually contradictory emails via KDP’s message centre. Has anyone else experienced similar? I have pointed out to KDP that using a new ISBN would mean the book would then be in circulation with two different numbers and my third party, a company with many years of experience in dealing with KDP, is just as puzzled as I am by this.
Hi David, unfortunately Amazon KDP can be very hit and miss with their customer service, especially the answers and advice you receive. Sometimes it’s just a matter of persisting with them until you get the right person on the end of the email. Have you tried again recently to republish the book? It may have just needed time to clear their system.