Types of Ebook Formats

With the growing popularity of ebooks, ebook formats are also becoming popular. Today, there are several ebook formats, and this wide array of options leaves authors and publishers a little confused when choosing an ebook format. Some authors and publishers even consider the idea of choosing every format for good measure. Although possible, you don’t have to take this route. A better understanding of how different ebook formats work will help you in choosing the best format for your manuscript.

The different formats are supported by different publishers, and some of them are supported globally. When preparing your eBook, consider the fixed and reflowable format options and decide which is best for your work.

We’ll be taking a look at 5 different e-book formats including KPF, EPUB2, EPUB3, Mobi, and PDF – and which is the best e-book format for you. Hopefully, at the end of the post, you’ll be able to tell the difference and know which format is best for your publication.

We’ll be kicking things off with:

KPF(.kpf) Format

KPF (Kindle Package Format) is the specific format that all eBooks uploaded to and published through Amazon use. It is Amazon’s own format. Amazon provides an editor to authors, called Kindle Create that allows authors to edit and format their eBooks.

All Kindle devices can easily format KPF files making it the preferred method for publishers on Amazon to avoid any formatting issues.

Once an author has finished editing and kindle formatting their book, they export the file and it becomes a KPF file type.

KPF files are formatted for all Kindle devices and authors generally experience the least amount of issues publishing through Amazon when they use KPF.

• Supported Devices: Kindle Fire tablets and Kindle App is available for iOS, Android, Mac, and PC.
• Supported Retailer: Amazon Kindle

EPUB2(.epub) Format

Created by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF), the Epub format is the open standard for eBooks.

Epub (electronic publication) is the standard format accepted by eBook publishers. Apple, Kobo, Barns & Noble, and others use Epub as their standard format type. Epub is a globally accepted format type for eBooks and almost every e-reader, regardless of region, can accept Epub2 formatted eBooks.

The most common format for sale on the market is Epub2. Currently, authors and publishers predominantly use Epub2 files. For many years to come, Epub2 will continue to have great support in the market. Authors and publishers can comfortably develop their eBooks in the Epub2 format without worrying that their files will stop working. See Epub formatting services for more info.

Epub2 is less sophisticated than Epub3 but much more than the original iteration.

• Supported Devices: You can read ePub books on Mac and Windows computers with Adobe Digital Editions. Other platforms that support ePub books include Barnes & Noble NOOK and NOOKcolor, all Sony Reader devices, iOS devices, android apps, Linus computers, and other handheld devices. You can also use Bookworm, Ibis Reader, or an internet reading system that is accessible from mobile phones/computers to read ePub books.
• Supported Retailers: Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble (Nook), Apple iBookstore, Kobo, Google play store, IngramSpark, Lulu, Smashwords, etc.

EPUB3(.epub) Format

A more advanced version of the Epub format type, Epub3 added some major upgrades over Epub2. Notably the ability for authors to add media to their eBooks like audio and video. Epub3 allows for a fixed-format eBook as well, making illustration eBooks a simpler process to publish independently.

Epub3 also adopted HTML5 and CSS3, improving over the older model of Epub2. Notably, sidebars of text—that are not part of the main block—can now be created and implanted on the digital page. Epub3 also allows for pop-ups so that readers can click a word or citation and not be taken away to another page. They can read the pop-up on their current page in the eBook without losing their place. Epub2 did not support these.

Epub3 also incorporated improved navigation allowing authors to have drop-down menus in their Table of Contents. The drop-down menu overlays with the current page, rather than taking the reader to an entirely different page to see the TOC.

There are some pitfalls to Epub3 files. Before putting your eBook up for sale, we recommend testing the files extensively.

• Supported Devices: The devices that support Epub3 include Adobe Digital Editions, Azardi Reader, and Readium (in Chrome browser – supports only unzipped epub3 files).
• Supported Retailers: Apple iBookstore, Google Play, Smaswords.

MOBI(.mobi) Format

In simple terms, Mobi is a more advanced and author-friendly format than Epub. Mobi, like Epub, is a globally supported eBook format type that readers from all over the world can use.

Amazon Kindle will stop supporting Mobi files after June 28, 2021, for publishing new or updating previously published reflowable eBooks. KPF or Epub should be used instead for reflowable eBooks. For fixed-layout eBooks, Mobi files are still accepted.

Mobi allows authors to implement DRM—Digital Rights Management—into their eBooks to combat illegal distribution and copying.

Amazon’s KPF format is based on the Mobi format, and Mobi can even be accessed on a Kindle, though it does require a bit of a workaround. Mobi formatted eBooks need to be sent directly to the Kindle e-reader rather than being sent through an Amazon account that purchased the book.

• Supported Devices: You can read Kindle ebooks on any Kindle device. Kindle Previewer/apps available on PC, Mac, Android, iOS, and other operating systems support Kindle ebooks.
• Extensions: Mobipocket files are available in three file extensions (.mobi, .prc, and .azw). In terms of functionality, there are no differences between all three formats; the files are pretty much the same.
• Retailers: This was previously supported by Amazon Kindle. However, from the 28th of June, 2021, there will be no support for MOBI files for reflowable ebooks. However, Amazon kindle support for fixed layout mobi format will continue.

PDF(.pdf) Format

The first thing to understand about PDFs is that they are not natively an eBook format. PDFs are always a fixed design—meaning the file will look the same no matter what device or screen it is viewed on. This can create issues with the formatting, design, and alignment of the file itself.

Generally, that issue is with the size of the words on the screen. A PDF will often need to be enlarged when opened on a smaller screen, whereas another format type would adjust to the different screen size.

PDFs are typically for business or government documents and are not often used as a main eBook format type. Though, Amazon does accept eBooks uploaded as PDFs—as do other publishers.

• Supported Devices: To read PDF files, you need a computer system with Adobe Acrobat Reader or an equally functional 3rd party program like FoxIt Reader. Other devices that support PDF files include Adobe Digital Editions, a free eBook library, and a Windows/Mac reading program.
• Retailers: IngramSpark and Amazon KDP (must be properly formatted before submission).

Other eBook Formats

There are some not-so-popular eBook formats available on the market, and for your knowledge enhancement, we will be mentioning some of them here.

IBA

IBA is Apple’s format type. IBA is remarkably similar to Epub and Apple does support Epub formatted eBooks. The biggest difference is that IBA uses Apple’s widget code to read the books and as such, it is not a format usable by other e-readers.

IBA is only for books that authors write in Apple’s iBooks Author. Other books purchased through iBooks that were not written in iBooks Author will be delivered to readers as Epub formatted books.

LRF, LRS, LRX

All three were formats used by Sony and have been abandoned in favor of Epub. It’s possible to encounter these formats still, though not very. LRS is the standard among them as it was the last iteration.

FB2

FB2 was a Russian creation and can be found. The main draw for FB2 is the ability to store the ebook’s metadata within the book itself. FB2 can easily be converted to other format types, making it a popular storage format.

DJVU

DJVU is primarily seen among academics and in the scientific community. It has higher compression than PDF—at 10 times more, less than a megabyte can store 100 black and white scans.

RTF

RTF is supported by every e-reader globally. RTF supports reflowing and retains special characters, giving it a leg up over the simple TXT format.

ODF

ODF (Open Document Format) is an open-source format based on XML. It is mostly used for exchanging or saving texts, charts, spreadsheets, and presentations.

Which eBook format is the best for you?

Now that you have some knowledge of different ebook formats, it is time to find out which file format is best for your publishing needs. Choosing the right ebook format can be a little complicated, especially if you are new to the world of ebooks. That is not to say selecting an ideal file format is impossible. Usually, it is a matter of what your needs and goals are. Also, there are fundamental factors to consider when choosing an ebook format. They are:

Target audience

Before deciding on an ebook format, it is necessary to consider the preferences of those who make up your target audience. These are the people who will read your ebook. Investing time and resources into understanding your target audience will help you devise strategies that can boost your marketing initiatives.

Ebook Distribution Method

You can publish your ebooks in two common ways: on your website or through online retailers. If your ebook is for self-publication, it is advisable to look for an online retailer like Amazon to handle your ebook distribution. Alternatively, if the ebook is marketing collateral, it is best to make it available on your site. You can use file formats like AZW, AZW3, or MOBI. Other file formats for website distribution include a fixed layout EPUB, reflowable EPUB, MOBI, or PDF.

Comparison of Popular Ebook File Formats

A comparison chart can help readers decide which format is best for their needs. Each format has its own advantages and disadvantages, making them better suited for different types of content or devices.

Conclusion

The answer to this question depends on several variables. If you’re strictly publishing through Amazon, then choose KPF or Mobi format.

If you are wanting to publish your eBooks wide, then Mobi and Epub2 is likely your best option. Mobi has DRM capabilities for copyright protection and is supported nearly everywhere. Likewise, Epub is also a great choice for publishing wide. Apple, Kobo, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, and Google Books all support Epub—allowing you to upload and publish your book in one file type to many different publishers.

It is important to remember that choosing the best format for your ebook is vital in making your ebook successful and reaching a wider audience. So, take your time, do your research, and cover all the details before choosing an ebook format.