PDF vs EPUB: which format should you read on

5 min read · Formats

Every ebook here includes both files, so you never have to choose at checkout — but on the day you sit down to read, one of them will fit your device better.

The one-line difference

EPUB reflows: text resizes to your screen and font settings, like a webpage. PDF is fixed: every page looks exactly as designed, at a set size, on any screen.

Use EPUB when...

• You're reading on a Kindle, Kobo or other e-reader — they're built around EPUB (Kindle converts it automatically on delivery).
• You want to change font size, line spacing or switch to dark mode.
• You're reading on a phone and want text that actually fits the screen without pinch-zooming.

Use PDF when...

• The book has fixed layout that matters — recipe charts, illustrated pages, a workbook with diagrams (Kitchen Arithmetic and Nightlight for Nora read best as PDF).
• You want to print pages, or annotate with a PDF app that syncs highlights to your notes.
• You're reading on a laptop or desktop and prefer a page-true view.

Getting EPUB onto a Kindle

Kindle doesn't read EPUB natively. Amazon's free "Send to Kindle" tool converts and delivers it to your device automatically — upload the EPUB there, or email it to your Kindle's personal email address, and it arrives converted within a couple of minutes.

Not sure? Use EPUB by default. It's the more flexible file for most reading — reach for the PDF only when layout is part of the point.