What Is the Difference: EPUB vs PDF

They are the two giants of eBooks, but they serve different purposes. Compare EPUB and PDF to decide which format is right for your content.

Split screen showing EPUB text reflowing and PDF fixed layout

What Is the Difference: EPUB vs PDF

If you are publishing an eBook or a white paper, you have a choice to make: EPUB or PDF? While both are popular, they are fundamentally different technologies.

PDF: The Digital Print

  • Fixed Layout: A PDF is like a digital piece of paper. If you design a page to be 8.5x11 inches, it will always be that size.
  • Pros: Total design control. Complex charts, columns, and typography look exactly as intended.
  • Cons: Terrible on mobile. You have to pinch and zoom to read a full-sized page on a phone screen.

EPUB: The Reflowable Web Page

  • Reflowable Layout: An EPUB is essentially a packaged website (HTML/CSS). The text “flows” to fit the screen size.
  • Pros: Amazing on mobile. You can change the font size, background color (night mode), and the text automatically adjusts.
  • Cons: Hard to design complex layouts. Images and tables can float around unpredictably.

Which Should You Choose?

  • Choose PDF for: Textbooks, graphic novels, print-ready files, forms, and documents where design is critical.
  • Choose EPUB for: Novels, text-heavy non-fiction, and content intended to be read on Kindles, iPads, or smartphones.

Conclusion

Think of PDF as a “picture” of a document and EPUB as “liquid” content. Choose the one that fits your reader’s device.

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