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Tools for low-content books

Notebooks, planners, journals and logbooks have their own rules on KDP. This page sums up those rules from KDP's help pages, then lists tools in our directory for designing the interiors and covers and for researching keywords.

How we wrote this: we drafted this page with AI assistance from the vendors' official pages, fetched on 2026-10-17, then checked each fact against those pages. We did not buy or test these tools hands-on, and we make no claim about how any low-content book will sell. Prices and plans are as of Oct 2026 and change; check the official site before you buy. Listings are editorial. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any tool named here. Amazon, Kindle and KDP are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates; we are not affiliated with or endorsed by Amazon.

What KDP counts as low-content

KDP says: "A low-content book has minimal or no content on the interior pages. Low-content books are generally repetitive, and designed to be filled in by the user."

KDP lists as low-content	KDP lists as not generally low-content
Notebooks, planners, diaries and journals, prompt journals, log books, coupon books, score card templates, crafting templates, blank sheet music	Novels, nonfiction, puzzle books, coloring books, photography, sheet music, manuals, textbooks, children's books

KDP notes that "there can be exceptions to these examples". KDP lists puzzle and coloring books as generally not low-content; check its page if you're unsure which rules apply to your book.

KDP's rules for low-content books

Tick the box: under Categories you check the Low-content box. KDP says: "if you do not select this box, or select a different box, your book will be rejected."
ISBN: low-content books don't require one. You can publish without an ISBN or use your own, but they "are not eligible for the free KDP ISBN". You can't change the ISBN choice after publishing without unpublishing and republishing.
Barcode: if you publish without an ISBN or don't provide a barcode, KDP places one in a 2" by 1.2" white box in the lower right of the back cover. Keep that area clear of text and images.
Not available: Expanded Distribution and series pages aren't supported for low-content books. Without an ISBN, the Look Inside sample isn't supported; KDP suggests A+ Content images of the interior instead.
Formats: paperback or hardcover. KDP notes that hardcover isn't supported on kdp.amazon.co.jp.

Tools for interiors and covers

Book Bolt: a subscription research and design toolkit whose Studio designs covers and interiors. As of 2026-10-17 its pricing page lists Pro at $19.99/month billed annually or $23.99 billed monthly, and Premium at $29.99/month billed annually or $35.99 billed monthly, with a 3-day free trial. Book Bolt says that if you cancel before the trial ends "you won't be charged a cent". Check Book Bolt's site before you buy.
KDP Builder: a credit-based AI studio that lists a planners and journals workflow, estimated at 75–300 credits. Trial exports are watermarked. We don't quote its dollar prices here; check KDP Builder's pricing page before you buy.
Canva: a browser design tool with templates. If you lay out an interior in it, check the exported file against KDP's trim size and bleed settings before you upload.

Whatever you use, check the interior against KDP's trim, margin and bleed rules in our paperback trim, bleed and spine guide.

Keyword and category research

Publisher Rocket: a one-time-purchase research app with Windows, Mac and Chromebook downloads.
KDSPY: a browser extension that runs on Amazon's pages.
Both tools' sales and search figures are the vendors' own estimates. The KDP help pages we cite here don't give sales or search-volume data. See Publisher Rocket vs KDSPY and our KDP categories and keywords guide.

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