The ISBN Mistake That Could Cost You Ownership of Your Book

That "free" ISBN your publishing platform offers isn't actually yours—it belongs to them. Here's how ISBNs really work, what they cost, and how to make sure you keep full control of your book.

What an ISBN Actually Does

Your ISBN communicates your book's title and edition, who published it, and what country the publisher is from. It's what lets bookstores, libraries, schools, and distributors find and stock your book, and once assigned, it never expires. Because ISBNs are issued to publishers, and you're your own publisher now, the ISBN is registered in your name (or your publishing company's), not a platform's.

How Many ISBNs Do You Actually Need?

You need a separate ISBN for every format of your book: one for print (paperback and hardcover) one for ebook, and one for audiobook. Future editions of the same book will need new ISBNs too. The good news: ISBNs never expire, so buying in bulk now covers you for books you haven't written yet.

Free vs. Paid ISBNs

Several platforms, Kindle Direct Publishing, Lulu Press, Barnes & Noble Press, IngramSpark (U.S. only), Draft2Digital, and Smashwords will assign you a free ISBN. The catch: that ISBN is still owned by the platform, not you. If you publish through KDP, for example, your book gets registered under "Independently Published," and your Ebook gets an Amazon-only ASIN instead. If you ever want to move your book to a different platform or sign a traditional publishing deal later, you'll need a brand-new ISBN.

Bottom line: if you want full ownership and flexibility, buy your ISBN independently. If you're committed to staying on one platform long-term, the free option can work fine.

Where to Buy an ISBN

Bowker (isbn.org) is the only authorized ISBN provider for U.S. publishers. Pricing typically runs:

• 1 ISBN — around $125

• 10 ISBNs — around $295 ($29.50 each)

• 1,000 ISBNs — around $1,500

  
  

If you're publishing on Amazon KDP specifically, purchasing your ISBN through KDP's link can get you a discounted rate. Pricing changes over time, so check Bowker's current rates before buying.

You'll also want to decide whether you need a barcode. Skip it for Ebooks, since they don't need one, but most platforms (KDP, Lulu, B&N Press, IngramSpark) provide a free barcode for print books if you don't want to purchase one separately.

The Two Steps You Can't Skip

Buying an ISBN isn't the finish line; you also have to register your book title so it shows up in the Books in Print database:

1. Buy an ISBN for each format your book will be published in.

2. Register your title with that ISBN through Bowker's "My Identifiers" portal, filling out either the short or expanded title form.

   
   

Once that's done, your book's official title is tied to its ISBN and that's the number you'll use on your copyright page and when uploading to any publishing platform.

Getting Started

If you're buying independently: create an account at isbn.org, choose your ISBN (or ISBN + barcode) package, complete checkout, then head to myidentifiers.com to register your title under "My Identifiers." If you're using a platform's free ISBN instead, you can skip the purchase step entirely, just know the tradeoff going in.

Want the full step-by-step system? ISBNs are just one piece of self-publishing your book completely on your own — no outsourcing required. Grab the free Ultimate Self-Publishing Checklist to see all 7 steps at a glance, or check out Notebook to Real Book, the complete course that walks you through every stage of self-publishing from first draft to published author.