Ebook Formatting Choices: Comparing EPUB vs. MOBI Side-by-Side

In this article, we’re going to be examining two different common eBook formats side-by-side. The first is the EPUB format, which is one of the most common formats out there and is able to be used on multiple devices including your tablet computer. But we will also be looking at the MOBI format, which has a number of advantages that you may not even have been aware of if you are not in the ePublishing business currently. Understanding what these two formats entail, and what the differences are, as well as what sort of benefits you can get with each one individually, is going to go a long way towards helping you figure out which eBook format you should be publishing in.

The Advantages & Disadvantages of the EPUB Format

Now, let’s look at some of the advantages that come with publishing within the EPUB format. This is a particularly easy to publish in format, and it has widespread use across most of the E-reader applications out there and even some devices like the Nook. Some of the other advantages include the fact that you can include HTML with some of the more advanced EPUB formats. EPUB 2 and EPUB 3 have a lot of different formatting options for you to use in your book.

Really the only disadvantage of the EPUB format is that you are not able to read it on Amazon Kindle devices unless you get a third-party application. On some Kindles, this is not even possible, but on the ones that are more like tablets than solely E-readers – the ones that allow you to install applications – you can find an app that that you read EPUB books.

The Advantages & Disadvantages of the MOBI Format

We will also take a look at the advantages and disadvantages the MOBI format. MOBI is a file format used specifically for the Amazon Kindle. Although there are a couple of applications that read MOBI formats, none of them do it nearly as well as the Amazon Kindle. The MOBI format is a closed format and is specifically intended for use with Kindles.

Of course, the disadvantage of publishing in the MOBI format is that you are not able to have your book read on any other devices while it is in that format.

The Bottom Line – Use Reedsy’s converter between Epub to Mobi

The bottom line is that unless you are publishing on Amazon and enrolling in the Kindle Select Program (which makes your book exclusive to Amazon for 90 days) then you should probably publish in as many formats as you can – and particularly EPUB. You want readers to be able to read your book on their terms and not yours. You can get more help with understanding formats and at Reedsy. There are plenty of articles on everything from writing to publishing and everything in between. When it comes to self-publishing, getting as much information as possible is the best gift that you can give to yourself.