01 · Format first
Do I need an ISBN?
Kindle ebooks on KDP do not require an ISBN. A paperback or hardcover generally does, although KDP lets eligible low-content books publish without one. Eligible KDP print editions can use a free ISBN supplied during setup or an ISBN you provide.
Each print format needs its own ISBN. An ISBN is tied to a particular format and edition, so you cannot reuse one ISBN for both a paperback and hardcover or for a new edition with significant changes. If you include your own ISBN in the print interior, make sure it matches the number entered in KDP title setup. For a hardcover, the interior ISBN must match the ISBN in the hardcover book details when it appears in the file.
KDP's requirements can change. Review its current ISBN and imprint guidance and hardcover file requirements before submitting your files.
02 · Control and cost
Should I own my ISBN or use a free one?
KDP's free ISBN
For eligible KDP print books, the free ISBN has no upfront purchase price. It can only be used on KDP and cannot be transferred to another publishing platform. KDP says the imprint appears as “Independently published”; some industry databases may display a platform name instead. You do not choose your own imprint for that identifier.
This is a print-book option. Kindle ebooks on KDP need no ISBN, so you do not need to buy one just to publish an ebook there.
An ISBN you buy
A U.S. author can buy ISBNs from Bowker and register a publisher or imprint name. An ISBN you own can be assigned to the matching edition on KDP or another platform or distributor. Keep the title, author, format, and imprint details consistent with Bowker's record; each format or substantially changed edition still needs its own ISBN.
The advisory research snapshot dated September 26, 2026 listed one ISBN at $125 and 10 ISBNs at $295 ($29.50 each). These are snapshot figures, not a promise of today's price. Confirm the live price with Bowker's official ISBN pricing page before buying.
For current KDP details on free and author-provided ISBNs, read KDP's ISBN setup guidance.
03 · Distribution choices
Where can my book be sold?
KDP on Amazon
You can publish a Kindle ebook and print editions for Amazon stores through KDP. The specific marketplaces depend on your rights and the format. A free KDP ISBN is limited to KDP.
KDP Expanded Distribution
KDP's current rules describe Expanded Distribution for eligible paperbacks, not hardcovers. The paperback must be available on Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk, and its ISBN must not have been submitted for distribution through another service. KDP says distributors, bookstores, and libraries decide whether to accept, list, or order a book; enrollment does not guarantee any of those outcomes. Read the current Expanded Distribution requirements before enrolling.
IngramSpark and other distributors
An author with an ISBN they own can set up a print edition with IngramSpark and make it available through Ingram's distribution network. IngramSpark describes its distribution as non-exclusive, subject to its current agreement and the rules of other platforms. A wholesaler listing can make a title orderable; it does not ensure that a particular store or library will stock, display, or buy it. It also does not guarantee sales or international reach.
04 · Compare the routes
KDP versus IngramSpark: What's the difference?
KDP
- One setup can put Kindle ebooks and print editions on Amazon.
- Eligible print books can use KDP's free ISBN or an ISBN you own.
- Expanded Distribution can offer eligible paperbacks to outside distributors.
- Expanded Distribution currently requires that the ISBN has not been submitted to another distributor and that the paperback is available on Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.
IngramSpark
- It offers a separate print setup and distribution route.
- IngramSpark says an author who owns an ISBN can use its distribution network and can also use other printers, distributors, or fulfillment services.
- Its current FAQ says a book published directly through KDP should not also select KDP Expanded Distribution.
- Broader wholesale availability can support bookstore and library ordering, but does not guarantee placement, orders, sales, or reach in a particular country.
The advisory report flagged a blanket claim that KDP Expanded Distribution always prohibits simultaneous IngramSpark use as unverified. Current IngramSpark guidance confirms a narrower rule: it says you can use KDP and IngramSpark together with an ISBN you own, as long as you do not select KDP Expanded Distribution. KDP's own current eligibility rule also says the ISBN must not have been submitted to another service. Check both platforms' current requirements for your ISBN and edition before setup; do not treat the report's broader exclusivity claim as a universal ban on using both services.
See IngramSpark's current FAQ on using KDP and other distributors and its current KDP Expanded Distribution rules. Review the terms in your publishing accounts before you make a final choice.
05 · Choose what fits
Quick decision guide
A free KDP ISBN may fit if…
- This is your first book and you want to keep upfront costs low.
- Your main focus is Amazon and Kindle readers.
- You plan one Amazon-focused print edition and/or a Kindle ebook.
- You do not have a current bookstore, library, or wholesaler distribution goal.
An ISBN you own may fit if…
- You plan multiple books or formats, including paperback, hardcover, or ebook editions on platforms that use ISBNs. Kindle ebooks on KDP do not require an ISBN, so you do not need to buy one solely for that format.
- You want to choose the publisher or imprint name associated with the ISBN.
- You want to use a broader distributor such as IngramSpark for print editions intended to be orderable by retailers or libraries.
- You value being able to choose or change distribution platforms over time.
A possible hybrid path
Some authors use a free KDP ISBN for an Amazon print edition and buy a separate Bowker ISBN for a distinct IngramSpark edition aimed at broader wholesale availability. Each format or edition must use the ISBN assigned to it, and the KDP print edition should not be enrolled in Expanded Distribution if it is also being set up through IngramSpark. Confirm the current rules and metadata requirements with both platforms first. This path can create another route to order a book; it does not promise bookstore or library orders, placement, sales, or international availability.