Amazon KDP Free ISBN vs Your Own ISBN
If you’re publishing a paperback through Amazon KDP, you’ll be offered a free ISBN. So why would anyone pay for one?
The short answer: KDP’s free ISBN is fine if your book will only ever be printed and sold by Amazon. It’s locked to KDP, though. If you want to print with IngramSpark, use a local printer, or sell a print run to bookshops and at events, you’ll need an ISBN you can take with you. Switching later means republishing the book as a new edition.
This guide explains the difference, when the free ISBN is enough, and when it’s worth paying £40 for your own.
What KDP’s free ISBN actually is
When you set up a paperback or hardback on KDP, you can either enter your own ISBN or let Amazon assign one for free. If you take the free one:
- It only works on KDP. Amazon’s help pages say it can be used only with KDP. You can’t use the same number with IngramSpark, another print-on-demand service or a printer you hire yourself.
- The publisher is listed as “Independently published”. That’s the imprint Amazon registers for every free ISBN, and it appears on your book’s Amazon page and in book trade databases. You can’t change it.
- It’s for print only. KDP doesn’t give free ISBNs for Kindle e-books, because Kindle books don’t need one (more on that below).
None of this affects your copyright. You own the rights to your writing, whichever ISBN you use. The question is how much freedom you have over where your book is printed and sold.
Your options compared
|
KDP free ISBN |
ISBN from us |
Nielsen direct |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost (one ISBN) |
Free |
£40 |
£93 |
| Publisher shown |
Independently published |
Independent Publishing Network |
Your own imprint name |
| Use on Amazon KDP |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Use on IngramSpark or another printer |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Sell your own print run to shops and at events |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Listed in Nielsen BookData |
Not by us |
Yes, included |
Yes, you register it |
| Keep the same ISBN if you leave KDP |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Nielsen is the official UK ISBN agency. Buying direct makes sense if you want your own imprint name on the record or plan to publish many books (a block of ten costs £174). For a single title, an ISBN from us gives you the same portability for much less.
When the free ISBN is fine
We sell ISBNs, but we’ll be honest: you don’t always need one. KDP’s free ISBN is a reasonable choice if:
- your paperback will only ever be sold on Amazon
- you’re publishing for family, friends or a small audience
- you don’t mind “Independently published” appearing as the publisher
- you’re happy to republish as a new edition if your plans change
When you need your own ISBN
Get your own ISBN before you publish if any of these apply:
- You want your book in UK bookshops. Most shops order through wholesalers rather than from Amazon. Authors usually reach them through IngramSpark, which needs an ISBN that isn’t locked to KDP.
- You’re ordering a print run. If you’re getting copies printed locally to sell at events, signings, or to shops on sale or return, the books need an ISBN, and you can’t use a KDP one.
- You want to use KDP and IngramSpark together. Many self-publishers use KDP for Amazon and IngramSpark for everything else. With your own ISBN, the same paperback carries the same number on both.
- You want libraries to find it. UK bookshops and libraries look up titles in Nielsen BookData. Every ISBN from us is registered there.
- You’d rather decide once. Switching from the free ISBN later means a new ISBN, a new edition and a new Amazon listing.
How to use your ISBN on KDP
- In your KDP paperback setup, go to the ISBN section and choose to use your own ISBN instead of the free one.
- Enter your 13-digit ISBN with no spaces or dashes.
- Set the imprint to Independent Publishing Network, exactly as written. KDP checks the imprint against the ISBN record and won’t publish if they don’t match.
- Put the same ISBN on your cover barcode and copyright page.
If you also publish with IngramSpark, use the same ISBN and imprint there for the same edition.
What about Kindle e-books?
You don’t need an ISBN to publish a Kindle e-book. Amazon gives it its own identifier, called an ASIN.
If you also want to sell the e-book through other stores, such as Apple Books or Kobo, or to libraries, give it its own ISBN. Never reuse your paperback’s ISBN for it. Each format (paperback, hardback, e-book, audiobook) needs a separate number.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amazon’s free ISBN a real ISBN? Yes. It’s a valid ISBN, but it’s registered to Amazon’s “Independently published” imprint and can only be used with KDP.
Can I use my KDP free ISBN with IngramSpark? No. KDP’s free ISBN can’t be used with any other publishing or printing service. For IngramSpark, you need an ISBN that isn’t tied to KDP.
Will Waterstones or an independent bookshop stock my KDP book? It’s possible, but difficult. Bookshops normally order through trade wholesalers, not from Amazon. Most self-publishers who want to be in bookshops use IngramSpark or sell copies directly, and both need your own ISBN.
Can I switch from the KDP ISBN to my own later? Yes, but you can’t swap the number on an existing book. You’ll publish it again on KDP as a new edition with the new ISBN. Reviews may not carry over to the new listing, so it’s easier to decide before you publish.
Does using KDP’s free ISBN mean Amazon owns my book? No. You keep the copyright either way. The free ISBN affects who appears as publisher and where the ISBN can be used, not who owns the writing.
Can I use an ISBN from you on Amazon KDP? Yes. Choose “use my own ISBN” in KDP and enter Independent Publishing Network as the imprint.
Do I need a separate ISBN for my paperback and e-book? Yes, if you assign an ISBN to the e-book. Every format needs its own number. Kindle e-books don’t need an ISBN.
Keep your options open
An ISBN from us costs £40, is registered with Nielsen BookData, and works on Amazon KDP, IngramSpark and any printer you choose.
Already have one? See how to list your book on Amazon.