Books.by supplies free ISBNs to authors, and imposes no restrictions on how they're used. We offer them as a convince.
At Books.by, you own everything that you publish.
We’re a platform that gives you the tools to publish, print, and sell your books globally — not a traditional publisher that takes control of your work.
Books.by's Free ISBN, Ownership, and Options
Books.by provides all authors with free Bowker-issued 13 digit ISBNs. We provide these ISBNs for convenience, but you’re also welcome to use your own.
Key Facts
Using a Books.by ISBN does not affect ownership or restrict you from selling elsewhere.
The ISBNs are registered to our parent company, “For Authors, Inc”, which also appears as the publishing imprint.
You can use Books.by's free ISBN, or bring your own — it’s entirely your choice.
You can still provide your own existing ISBN
If you already have an ISBN, or don't feel comfortable using Books.by's free ISBN, that's ok. You can use your own ISBN on Books.by, and enjoy the same benefits.
Why We Provide Free ISBNs
For a new author, purchasing a new ISBN can cost up to $125 USD. As a high volume publisher, Books.by is able to register new ISBNs inexpensively. As a convenience to authors – and as a value-add to our service – we offer these ISBNs to our customers for free.
Need Help?
If you have questions about ISBNs or publishing rights, our Author Success team can help clarify what’s best for your publishing goals.
📧 Email: [email protected]