By Bookstorez · Updated
The main ebook formats are PDF, EPUB and MOBI. For a downloadable ebook, use PDF when the layout matters and EPUB when the book is mostly text that should reflow on any screen; MOBI is a legacy Kindle format that Amazon has phased out for new books. Below is a comparison table, the PDF vs EPUB choice in detail and how to test your file before you sell it.
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Ebook formats compared
| Format | What it is | Layout | Best for | Opens on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A fixed page document | Fixed: every page looks exactly as you designed it | Workbooks, planners, illustrated guides, anything meant to print | Almost every phone, tablet, computer and browser | |
| EPUB | The open standard ebook format | Reflowable: text resizes to fit the screen | Novels and long, mostly text books | Most e-reader apps and devices, including Kindle through Send to Kindle |
| MOBI | An older Kindle format | Reflowable | Not recommended for new books | Older Kindle devices and apps |
PDF vs EPUB
PDF keeps your design exactly: fonts, columns, images and page breaks stay put. That suits books that are meant to be looked at, written in or printed, and it opens on almost anything. The drawback is small screens: a page designed for A4 or US Letter can mean zooming and scrolling on a phone.
EPUB lets the reader choose the font and size, and the text reflows to fit. That makes long reading comfortable on a phone or e-reader. The drawback is control: complex layouts, tables and worksheets do not survive reflowing well. EPUB has a fixed-layout option too, but it is less widely supported.
Best ebook format for a downloadable ebook
- Mostly text, meant to be read start to finish: EPUB, or both.
- Worksheets, planners, printables or a designed look: PDF.
- Not sure: PDF, because it opens on the most devices without an app. Set the page size and type big enough to read on a phone.
What about MOBI?
MOBI was the format older Kindle devices used. Amazon has phased it out for new books and now accepts EPUB for sending documents to a Kindle. There is no reason to make a MOBI file for a new ebook.
Offering both PDF and EPUB
Some readers like a choice. On Creator and Pro you can deliver a ZIP pack, so one download can hold both editions. If you offer both, say so in the product title or description.
How to test the file
- Open it on a phone, a tablet or laptop, and an e-reader app if you have one.
- Check that the contents page links and any web links work.
- Look for missing fonts, broken images and pages that end in odd places.
- For a PDF meant for printing, print two or three pages at home.
What Bookstorez accepts
Bookstorez accepts PDF and EPUB, up to 50 MB a file on the Free plan, and ZIP packs on Creator and Pro. Once your file passes the tests, upload it with a cover and a description and it gets its own product page and a place in the catalogue. See how selling on Bookstorez works, or read how to sell a PDF online.
What selling on Bookstorez costs
Bookstorez is a global marketplace where creators sell ebooks, printables, planners, workbooks and templates, and buyers browse every seller's work in one catalogue. The Free plan has no monthly charge: 3 live products and 10 drafts, at 12% + 30¢ per sale with card fees and tax handling included. The fee is the same whether a buyer arrives through your own link or finds you in the catalogue.
Creator and Pro add featured weeks, which put your products in featured placements across the site, and more books a month from the built-in AI ebook generator. See every plan side by side.
Keep planning
Read digital products to sell, how to sell digital products, how to sell ebooks online or where to sell digital products for free.
Questions
- What is the best ebook format?
- PDF for designed layouts, worksheets and printing; EPUB for long text that should reflow on any screen. If you are unsure, PDF opens on the most devices.
- PDF vs EPUB: which is better for selling?
- Neither is better everywhere. Choose by the book: PDF keeps your layout exactly, EPUB is easier to read on small screens. Bookstorez accepts both.
- Should I make a MOBI file?
- No. MOBI is a legacy Kindle format that Amazon has phased out for new books. Kindle readers can use EPUB through Send to Kindle.
- Can buyers read a PDF ebook on a Kindle?
- Yes, PDFs can be sent to a Kindle, but fixed pages can be small on an e-reader screen. For long text, offer an EPUB as well.
Make room for your work.
3 live products free · 12% + 30¢ a sale · tax and card fees included · paid monthly on the 15th, once $50 has cleared. Smaller balances carry over and are paid before waiting 90 days.
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