EPUB vs PDF vs DOCX for selling ebooks
Which ebook file format to upload: EPUB for most reflowable books, PDF for fixed-page products and coloring books, DOCX as a manuscript source for KDP. See how each fits KDP, Apple Books, Etsy, and Gumroad.
Upload EPUB for most text-led ebooks, PDF when the page layout must stay fixed, and DOCX when a store accepts a Word manuscript and converts it for you. EPUB works with more current reading systems than the other two formats, so it's the safest master file for a book you plan to sell in more than one place.
Our app, EBookBrew, exports your books as PDF, EPUB, and DOCX, so you can pick the file each store needs without rebuilding the book. Coloring books are the one exception and export as a print PDF only.
How the three formats differ
The choice comes down to how the text behaves on the reader's screen.
- EPUB is reflowable. Readers can change the text size, font, and theme, turn the device, and use assistive tools. Page positions are not fixed.
- PDF is fixed-page. Every page looks the same everywhere, which suits workbooks, printables, and designed layouts. On a phone, it can be less comfortable to read than a reflowable file.
- DOCX is an editable Word file. It is a good source document, and some stores convert it into their own ebook format.
Reflowable layout is the right default for novels, memoirs, essays, and most text-led nonfiction. Fixed layout makes sense when the page design is part of the product.
Which format fits each store
| Store | Best file to upload | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon KDP | EPUB or DOCX | KDP lists DOC/DOCX, KPF, and EPUB among its recommended workflows. KDP stopped accepting fixed-layout MOBI uploads in March 2025, so skip MOBI. |
| Apple Books | EPUB | EPUB is the format to prepare for Apple Books. |
| Etsy | Buyers download a file, so a fixed-page PDF suits printables, workbooks, and guides. | |
| Gumroad | EPUB, PDF, or both | Offer EPUB for reading apps and PDF for buyers who want a fixed layout. |
| Your own site | EPUB, PDF, or both | Same choice as Gumroad, since you control the download. |
Coloring books are the exception. In EBookBrew they export as a print PDF only, which fits how they are sold and used: printed pages that stay exactly as designed.
Why EPUB should be your master
One clean, validated EPUB 3 file is the most portable production strategy for most novels and text-led nonfiction. It avoids keeping separate files for each store. Other retailers lean the same way. Kobo stresses validated EPUB files, and Google Play Books takes three EPUB versions, preferring 3.3.
Kobo's help center says reflowable EPUBs should not carry preset page numbers or running headers and footers. Those fit fixed-page products better.
When PDF is the right call
Make a PDF when you mean to sell it as its own fixed-page product, like a workbook, checklist pack, or printable guide. Don't swap a print PDF in for your EPUB. A PDF sold next to an EPUB gives buyers a real choice, but a PDF used as a stand-in for a reflowable edition reads badly on phones and e-readers.
When DOCX helps
DOCX is useful when you want to keep editing in Word or hand the manuscript to an editor or designer. KDP also lists DOC/DOCX among the workflows it recommends. If you go that way, check the store's online preview. Where it lets you, download the converted file to review it before the book goes live.
Who each format suits
- First-time KDP and Apple Books publishers: start with EPUB. If KDP's conversion of a Word file mangles your images or alignment, an EPUB gives you more control.
- Etsy and digital product sellers: use PDF for printables and workbooks, and a print PDF for coloring books.
- Coaches, consultants, and course creators: send PDF as a lead magnet or client guide, and add EPUB when you want it readable in reading apps.
- Writers who revise often: keep a DOCX for editing and export fresh EPUB and PDF files when the text is final.
Getting all three from one book
Our app exports PDF, EPUB, and DOCX from the same book, and the interior theme, page size, font, and text color you set carry into the exports. Any purchase unlocks downloads for every book on your account, so you can export an EPUB for KDP, a PDF for Etsy, and a DOCX for your editor without redoing the work. For coloring books, you get the print PDF.
Open the book in the app, pick your format for each store, and export the files you need. Preview the result in each store's own tool before you publish.