I know Amazon assigns one to your book when you upload it, but do I need one for B&N, Kobo, and iTunes?
ISBN for EBooks?
- Thread starter Sarah M
- Start date
That depends on a lot of things. If you're doing traditional publishing, that'll all be decided by the publisher.
If you're self-publishing (which it sounds like you are), it depends on how you're going about it. Is it an ebook only? If so, you'll only need one if you're using IngramSpark over KDP. If you're using KDP, I don't think they require one. If they do, however, I think they'll probably provide one for you. IngramSpark, however, I can 100% confirm they require one for ebooks. Print editions will require an ISBN basically with any company you use, but based on the context, it sounds like you only mean ebooks.
This may be more info than you need, but it's everything I know from personal experience as a self-published author. Hope this helps!
--A.T.C.
If you're self-publishing (which it sounds like you are), it depends on how you're going about it. Is it an ebook only? If so, you'll only need one if you're using IngramSpark over KDP. If you're using KDP, I don't think they require one. If they do, however, I think they'll probably provide one for you. IngramSpark, however, I can 100% confirm they require one for ebooks. Print editions will require an ISBN basically with any company you use, but based on the context, it sounds like you only mean ebooks.
This may be more info than you need, but it's everything I know from personal experience as a self-published author. Hope this helps!
--A.T.C.
No. B&N provides an ISBN for ebooks as well as print books you publish through them. Kobo provides an ISBN for ebooks. (They don't do print.) I go to iTunes through Draft2Digital and they provide an ISBN for that. So not 100% positive for if you go direct with them but I don't believe you need one there either.
I self-published for five years in print and ebook without ever needing to buy an ISBN. Only reason I finally broke down and did so was because I was publishing print books through IngramSpark and they require that you have your own. (And do not use IS for ebooks, BTW.)
Okay, thanks. Also, is iTunes the same as Apple books? Because I didn't see iTunes listed as a distributor on D2D.
D2D does distribute to Apple Books.
https://www.draft2digital.com/partners/
It is to your benefit to know about ISBN requirements, notwithstanding any free offerings from publishers/distributors/etc. These sites may help . . .
https://www.isbn-international.org/content/guidelines-assignment-e-books
https://www.myidentifiers.com/get-your-isbn-now
https://www.draft2digital.com/partners/
It is to your benefit to know about ISBN requirements, notwithstanding any free offerings from publishers/distributors/etc. These sites may help . . .
https://www.isbn-international.org/content/guidelines-assignment-e-books
https://www.myidentifiers.com/get-your-isbn-now
No, no. I know they do. I was asking about iTunes because I didn't see it on the list.
Okay. Thanks.
Yeah just go through D2D, then you will be covered. One ISBN, free, and it works for all the sales channels you choose to port to.
From what I can tell from online info you can buy books through both the iTunes app and the Apple Books app, but the book comes from publisher Apple Books as AW Admin says.
https://www.apple.com/apple-books/
https://books.apple.com/us/genre/books/id38
The difference seems to be that thru Apple Books app you get only books, thru ITunes app you can get books and music and video and etc.
https://www.apple.com/apple-books/
https://books.apple.com/us/genre/books/id38
The difference seems to be that thru Apple Books app you get only books, thru ITunes app you can get books and music and video and etc.