How to create an eBook with free software in PDF and ePub format? Below is a list of 20 software programs to create and edit your eBook. iBooks Author is a free software for macOS and it is published to Apple’s book stores for free. Some editors are free, but they will take a cut from the sales generated online.
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eBook Publishing Software
If this is your first time writing an eBook, I highly recommend using the cheapest tool available – free. In all business, always use the minimal resources to gain experience. I highly recommend Pressbook and Sigil, both are equally good eBook editors and publishers.
| Windows | Mac | Web | License | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ABBYY FineReader | ✓ | Commercial | ||
Adobe InDesign | ✓ | ✓ | Commercial | |
Adobe RoboHelp | ✓ | Commercial | ||
Aquafadas Digital Publishing System | ✓ | ✓ | Commercial | |
Atlantis Word Processor | ✓ | Commercial | ||
BlueGriffon EPUB Edition | ✓ | ✓ | Commercial | |
Booktype | ✓ | Free | ||
calibre | ✓ | ✓ | Free | |
eLML | ✓ | ✓ | - | |
iBooks Author | ✓ | Free | ||
IGP:Digital Publisher | ✓ | Commercial | ||
iStudio Publisher | ✓ | Commercial | ||
Jutoh | ✓ | ✓ | Commercial | |
Luciwik | ✓ | Free | ||
Madcap Flare | ✓ | Commercial | ||
Apple Pages | ✓ | - | ||
PressBooks | ✓ | Free | ||
QuarkXPress | ✓ | ✓ | Commercial | |
Serif PagePlus X6 | ✓ | Commercial | ||
Scrivener | ✓ | ✓ | Commercial | |
Sigil | ✓ | ✓ | Free |
eBook Software Reading Systems
If you’re using a desktop powered by Windows OS, I highly recommend calibre. A free open source software that reads ePub format.
| Windows | Mac | Android | iOS | Web | License | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adobe Digital Editions | ✓ | ✓ | License | |||
Aldiko [ Discontinued ] | ✓ | - | ||||
Cool Reader [ Discontinued ] | ✓ * | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Open Source | |
Sumatra PDF | ✓ * | Open Source | ||||
AZARDI | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Proprietary | |
BookGlutton [ Discontinued ] | ✓ | Proprietary | ||||
Booki.sh | ✓ | Proprietary | ||||
Calibre | ✓ * | ✓ | Open Source | |||
Clearview Reader | ✓ | Proprietary | ||||
FBReader | ✓ * | ✓ | ✓ | Open Source | ||
Google Books | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Proprietary | ||
iBooks | ✓ | Proprietary | ||||
Kitabu | ✓ | - | ||||
Lektz [ Discontinued ] | ✓ | ✓ | Proprietary | |||
Lexcycle Stanza | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Proprietary | ||
Lucifox | ✓ | ✓ | Open Source | |||
Mobipocket | ✓ * | Proprietary | ||||
Moon+ Reader | ✓ | Proprietary | ||||
Okular | ✓ | ✓ | Open Source | |||
English Books Reader | ✓ | - |
*ePub format readers and viewers for Windows
Comparison of e-book Formats
Which eBook format is the best? PDF is the most widely accepted format, it is readable on almost every eBook reader, eBook Apps, desktop, tablets, smartphones and more. ePub on the other hand is another widely accepted Open Standard free format. ePub can be read by almost every single device except for Amazon Kindle.
Since there is virtually not much difference between ePub and PDF, I highly recommend ePub because it is an open standard.
| DRM | Image | Table | Sound | Video | Interactivity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kindle .azw | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Microsoft Reader .lit | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
Mobipocket .prc .mobi | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
eReader .pdb | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
Adobe .pdf | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
EPUB .epub | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
What Kind Of Book Makes The Best eBook?
- Text only, avoid images if possible because most eBook readers uses eInk, which has a black and white display.
- Adjustable font size, make sure the font size can be increase by the user for easy reading.
eBook Market, Who to Target?
Who are the big buyers of eBooks? Surprisingly Women are the biggest buyer of eBooks, which probably includes eMagazine and more. There is a saying, male tend to pay more for 1 item they need, while females tend to pay less for many items they want. I guess eBooks are the logical choice.
Hello! Ok, if you really want an EBook Builder that’s free head on over to here
best ebook reader for blackberry?
OK, so today I’ll be taking a look at Ultimate Ebook Creator Kindle, Nook And All Ebook Readers.
Hello, Looking for the best ebook compiler out there. Currently using ebookgold, but they are really screwed up.
As you may know, most mobile multimedia devices are not able to read text files
Lulu officially launched the Lulu EPUB Converter and eBook
ebook creator software
Free and Open Source eBook( EPUB, FB2, CHM ) Reader Software
Sony Bookworm is a free online platform for storing and reading [DRM Free] EPUB ebooks.
You should also include Kotobee Author and Kotobee Reader. They are gaining popularity.
I agree with Ayman A R, Kotobee Author has a free-for-life license that I use to export EPUBs and many other formats. I also publish my ebooks for free on their shared library with a unique URL for each ebook.
The tweak_epub tool is also free