There are countless different types of PDF out there but for our purposes, the format will need to a ‘print-ready PDF’ to make it compatible with printers. A print-on-demand book, sourced from a PDF file.įor this, you will need a file that contains strict definitions of your book’s layout and content – which is why we use PDF files. The two most popular POD services are IngramSpark and KDP Print ( formerly CreateSpace), the latter of which is - would you believe it? - an Amazon company.
Instead of ordering a print run and filling a warehouse with paperbacks, copies will only be printed as and when they’ve been purchased either by individual buyers or a bookstore. Perhaps the most cost-effective way of selling physical copies on a small scale, self-publishing authors commonly use what’s called a print-on-demand (POD) service. The PDF, which has remained one of the most popular document formats since its debut in 2001, is still widely used in publishing for two purposes. So if you wish to share an early version of your ebook with a reviewer who owns a Kindle e-reader, you’ll need to send them a mobi version. The most common (legal) reason to sideload a book is to read an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy).
Epub and mobi file reader download#
Sideloading is where you download a book that you haven’t purchased from a store onto an e-reader. The only reason anyone still might have to create a mobi file themselves is to “sideload” a book onto a Kindle device. When authors and publishers upload their EPUBs to KDP, the platform quietly converts them into the mobi format, which they will sell through their online stores. The format hasn’t joined the choir invisible just yet: all Kindle devices still use mobi files for ebooks. Top Tip: To make sure that your book looks just right before you start selling it on Amazon, you can upload and validate your EPUB using Amazon's own Kindle Previewer tool. In fact, uploading a mobi version to Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) i sn’t even an option anymore. However, as of 2020, authors are now encouraged to upload EPUB files of books they’re looking to publish. This massive market share was part of why they could insist on using their own format for such a long time. Without getting into the weeds with technical details, the major difference between mobi files and EPUBs is that the Amazon format is protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM) which ‘locks’ the book so it can only be read on devices associated with your account.Īmazon is the largest ebook retailer in the world by quite a long way: in 2015, they were responsible for over 70% of ebooks sold in the US. Or, if we're staying up-to-date, the actual proprietary standard is now called AZW (or AZW3 or KFX depending on the generation).
Mobi files are the ebook files used exclusively by Amazon’s Kindle devices. What is a mobi file? Like the electronic musician Moby, Amazon’s proprietary ebook format is now a best-forgotten relic from decades past The latest version, EPUB 3, will even permit you to add multimedia content like video and audio clips.Īll things considered, it’s a pretty great format - which is why the publishing industry has rallied around it as its ebook format of choice.
Epub and mobi file reader free#
A free and open standard based on HTML (much like the files your web browser would read), EPUB is a flexible format that supports a wealth of features. It’s the industry standard, used by Apple, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Sony, and Google e-readers. An EPUB file is the most widely accepted ebook format on the market.