@jasondoroughauthor: The U.S. is one of the only countries where authors pay high prices for ISBNs. A single one costs $125 through Bowker, the for-profit company that has held the exclusive U.S. agency role since the 1960s. In most other countries, the agency is government-funded and ISBNs are free or low-cost. The lack of competition and oversight is why American indie authors pay more for something treated as a public good elsewhere. #WritingTips #BookTok #WritersOfTikTok #IndieAuthor #SelfPublishing
I have several isbns and I have eight books published going on 9 and I've never once had to pay for one and I live in Ohio
2026-09-09 19:25:13
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🇬🇷 Rachel 🇺🇸 :
Many countries—including the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and the United States—require indie authors to pay for an ISBN. No America isn’t the only country.
2026-08-29 13:45:50
1
B Wibe :
We dont pay for it in Norway but when we request one its mandatory to send 3 copies of the book to the central library ro Preserve cultural heritage.
2026-08-25 20:32:48
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Haleigh Rhaea [Ray-UH] AUTHOR :
I would have no idea how to even compete with Bowker but we should all find a way to get it regulated. Who are we kidding, though? The people in charge of this country do noottttt care about their citizens having basic needs met, so they won't regulate prices for self-pubbed authors😭
2026-10-02 19:58:43
1
The Rites of Kings :
It’s soooo expensive. 🤦🏼♀️
2026-08-25 19:06:47
5
Wrush24 :
How does one get hired at Bowker to learn everything and then create their own company?
2026-10-08 02:25:06
1
Rift :
Does this change if your trad publishing?
2026-08-26 21:07:07
1
Cameron F :
Yeah, and a ten pack here is over $360 now. It's not $290 anymore. ☹️
2026-09-01 00:33:20
1
Blacklight :
Sigh of course. I actually almost can't believe I've never heard this one before. Just more evidence I suppose. Thanks. Too bad no one wants to listen, learn or act.
2026-08-26 18:10:55
1
Spidey-Pool :
I mean, you could buy more than one then it’s a crazy deal. Or go with a traditional publisher they handle it or go through Amazon.
2026-08-26 16:07:59
0
Annalise Spencer :
Tax write off tho ?? Lmao
2026-08-25 23:24:01
2
Wes Cambron 📚 Fantasy Author :
I actually didn't know the price 😳
2026-08-25 23:20:33
2
ArcAngel98 :
125? Dude, I paid $25 for mine. And I bought three for 75. Where are you buying yours from?
2026-09-19 22:48:22
0
GrandmaT :
and who pays for the AI books?
2026-09-01 13:41:17
0
Rhetorical Nostalgia :
And it's illegal for an American to take their book out of America and buy non-American ISBN's?
2026-08-26 09:12:26
1
Luke McKay 🇨🇦 🇺🇸 :
I still publish all my comic in Canada
2026-08-25 23:10:43
2
Emilia Dashfire🧚♀️📚🇬🇧🇪🇸 :
I pay €45 per ISBN in Spain and can only get a bundle if I'm officially registered as a publisher. UK is about £90 per ISBN but offers bundles for individual authors.
2026-08-28 23:51:10
1
Big Daddy James Miller :
Wow thanks for the heads up! I will make sure to publish somewhere else
2026-08-25 20:08:26
1
Heir Of Fire :
hello there, i have a question, how do you create all the information you need for your whole story and then compile it all, in chapters, arca, and ect, it's just so much i don't know where to begin and where to place stuff
2026-08-25 21:00:59
1
Eva Lauder Author :
I thought that ISBNs were cheaper than the UK, by half. We pay the same in England. Crazy!
2026-08-25 19:14:42
1
Hettie Ashwin🇦🇺Author🇨🇵 :
i get free ones in France, but when in Australia I needed to pay
2026-08-29 14:16:35
0
Fenriz Blackthorn :
in the US we only pay for it if we're self-publishing. if we have an Asian and a traditional publisher that cost is fully on them. if there is any at all
2026-09-27 03:23:04
0
its_caiodi :
Just publish through B&N Press. It’s free, gets you into B&N and can be used across all retailers 🙏🏻
2026-09-01 12:17:09
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Author L.J. Kerry :
and then in the UK on top of the price of the ISBN you have to send 5 copies of the book to the British library 🥴
2026-08-30 14:10:24
0
Captain Baldo :
class action lawsuit
2026-08-25 21:54:51
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