EPUB vs. MOBI vs. PDF: Which Is the Best?

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Though print books are still the most popular form of reading material, ebooks have quickly found their own space in this digital era. Their lower cost and increased portability allow us to read more frequently and conveniently.

They work the same way as traditional books. Load them on an app and you’re able to “flip” pages as you read. With an excellent ebook reader, you have access to additional features like font and size control, brightness management, and automatic scrolling.

However, problems can arise when different ebook formats are used. Lines get cut off, image layouts are disrupted, and chapters are jumbled. In this post, we’ll explore the three primary ebook formats to give you an idea of which format will work best for you.

3 Primary Ebook Formats

EPUB, MOBI, and PDF are the three largest formats currently used for ebooks. Let’s take a closer look at each:

EPUB

EPUB is short for electronic publication and was developed by the International Digital Publishing Forum (now part of the World Wide Web Consortium) in 2007. Because of its user-friendliness, this is currently the most popular ebook format used. In some ways, it is similar to the audio mp3 format: widely distributed and easily incorporated into any hardware.

This format is open standard and vendor-independent. This means that not only is the software available to the public instead of owned by a private entity, but it will also work with whatever hardware it is paired with.

MOBI

In 2005, Amazon purchased Mobipocket.com, which created the MOBI format. The format became popular because Amazon used it exclusively for ebooks sold in its web stores and Kindle.

MOBI features advanced navigation controls and supports file indexing, compression, and dictionaries. Though it’s not as flexible as the EPUB format, it has lower requirements for hardware and file size.

PDF

PDF is short for Portable Document Format. Created in 1993, it is one of the oldest ebook formats. Strictly speaking, this format wasn’t made for ebook readers, but for business documents. A PDF is basically a digital print that works well with large screens.

PDF is popular because it can preserve the original layout of any document, even if it has a variety of data, including video, 3-D drawings, maps, photos, and other graphic-based media.

EPUB vs. MOBI vs. PDF

These three platforms have their own strengths and weaknesses. Here are some basic comparisons between the three:

Readability

EPUB and MOBI support “reflowable” content. They can adjust their layouts and displays to fit the device they are being viewed on. So whatever the screen size of your gadget, you’ll still get the optimal reading size for your ebooks.

PDF, on the other hand, is limited to static layouts that remain one size no matter what device is used. When viewed on smaller screens, you may have to resort to zooming in on pages to read their content. This is why PDFs are reserved for large screen use.

Platform Variety

PDF and EPUB are compatible with the majority of all ebook readers, especially the most popular ones (Apple’s iBooks, Kobo, Adobe Digital Editions, Barnes & Noble’s Nook, or Aldiko).

MOBI is more restricted. While some e-readers are compatible with this format, you’ll mostly encounter it in Amazon’s platform, Kindle.

Security

Adobe equips PDF with its own digital security. You can encrypt a PDF file to prevent copying or access. MOBI has Digital Rights Management (a system that protects copyrighted digital materials) to protect itself against plagiarism.

EPUB, being an open format, has little security and can be copied and distributed easily. Although you can enable Digital Rights Management into your EPUB files, they are still easy to remove.

Versatility

MOBI and EPUB are read-only formats and cannot be edited directly. PDF files are fully editable. You can freely add, remove, or change details within the file and save it in different formats.

Reach

PDF and EPUB are widely accessible formats. Both are used in a multitude of contexts, from business documents (dossiers, manuals) to entertainment materials (novels, comics). MOBI is more scarce, and used primarily by Amazon’s proprietary platforms.

EPUB, MOBI, and PDF Converters

Multiple formats can be confusing. You always need to adjust to each one, making the reading process more complicated.

Luckily, it’s pretty easy to convert one to another. Some ebook readers, like Calibre, have this as a built-in feature. There are also many free and premium apps and online tools you can use to convert your files. Here are a few of the free ones:

Keep in mind that converting from format to format isn’t perfect. You might encounter odd layouts and missing media. But overall, these converters work well, with minimal errors.

The Verdict

Between EPUB, MOBI, and PDF, which is the best format? It depends.

What’s best for you comes down to your personal and professional needs. Each of these platforms have their own advantages that can suit your needs on different occasions.

For example, business documents regularly need to be annotated and stored securely. PDFs are the most suitable format for important documents that need to be edited or encrypted.

If you’re a writer looking to publish your work, the MOBI format might be the best for you as Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing is currently one of the most popular digital publishing services available.

But if you’re content with something that’s compatible with almost all platforms, then EPUB can be your go-to ebook format.

Know the Different Ebook Formats

Different formats are suitable for different uses. It’s a matter of using what’s most appropriate for your needs.

MOBI is best for Amazon platforms, EPUB is a general use format, and PDF is best for print. Keep all three in mind when you find yourself downloading an ebook.

What ebook format do you usually use? Share it in the comments below!

 

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