What’s an ISBN?
An ISBN, or International Standard Book Number, is a unique 10- or 13-digit number assigned to every published book. An ISBN identifies a title’s edition, publisher, and physical properties such as trim size, page count, and binding type.
How are ISBNs used?
Bookstores, retailers, and libraries identify books by their ISBNs. Createspace prints an ISBN barcode on the lower back right corner of every book we manufacture.
What are my ISBN options?
You have four ISBN options: you can either use a CreateSpace-Assigned ISBN, a Custom ISBN*, a Custom Universal ISBN*, or you can use your own ISBN. Both custom ISBN options are offered through an agreement with Bowker®.
Price | Imprint | Distribution | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CreateSpace-Assigned ISBN | Free | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | CreateSpace | |
| Custom ISBN* | $10 | You choose | CreateSpace | |
| Custom Universal ISBN* | $99 | You choose | You choose | |
| Provide Your Own ISBN | Existing ISBN Required | You choose | You choose |
CreateSpace-Assigned ISBN: FREE
- CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform is your book’s imprint of record. If you select Amazon.com or Amazon’s European websites as distribution channels, this imprint will be reflected on your book’s detail page.
- You can sell your book through Amazon.com, Amazon’s European websites, a CreateSpace eStore, and all Expanded Distribution channels.
- This ISBN can only be used with the CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
- Your book’s ISBN information will be registered with BooksInPrint.com®
Custom ISBN*: $10
- You choose your book’s imprint of record. If you select Amazon.com or Amazon’s European websites as distribution channels, this imprint will be reflected on your book’s detail page.
- You can sell your book through Amazon.com, Amazon’s European websites, a CreateSpace eStore, and some† Expanded Distribution channels
- This ISBN can only be used with the CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
- Your book’s ISBN information will be registered with BooksInPrint.com®
Custom Universal ISBN*: $99
- You can use this ISBN with any publisher.
- You choose your book’s imprint of record. If you select Amazon.com or Amazon’s European websites as distribution channels, this imprint will be reflected on your book’s detail page.
- You can sell your book through Amazon.com, Amazon’s European websites, a CreateSpace eStore, and some† Expanded Distribution channels.
- Your book’s ISBN information will be registered with BooksInPrint.com®
Provide Your Own ISBN: Approx $125 to purchase a single ISBN directly through Bowker.
- You can purchase your own ISBN from Bowker or through your local ISBN agency.
- If you are reprinting your book, the title, author name, and binding type must remain the same. A new edition requires a new ISBN.
- Your book’s imprint must match what’s on file with your ISBN.
- You can sell your book through Amazon.com, Amazon’s European websites, an eStore, andsome† Expanded Distribution channels.
What appears to be the difference between the $10 and $99 option is that Createspace says you can use the $99 ISBN with another publisher. So as I noted in one of your other threads, My suggestion would be to either: (a) select the $10 option — or if you’re thinking of printing through multiple services or publishing more than one book, (b) register as a publisher with Bowker and buy your own block of ISBNs from them.
Information provided by: Createspace. Visit Createspace.com for more information on self-publishing.
Want to watch a step-by-step video on ‘How to publish and sell a book using the Createspace platform?’ Click Here!
