ePub vs Mobi vs PDF: Which Format Should You Use?
Quick Answer: Use EPUB. It's accepted by every major ebook platform including Amazon KDP (as of 2021 for reflowable, 2025 for all ebooks). MOBI is deprecated and no longer accepted by Amazon. PDF is for print books and direct-sales workbooks, not for ebook distribution on retail platforms.
The format question used to be complicated. Authors needed separate files for different platforms. In 2026, it's simple: one clean EPUB file handles everything.
At a Glance: Your Options
| EPUB | MOBI | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | All ebook distribution | Nothing (deprecated) | Print interiors, direct sales |
| Amazon KDP | Accepted (recommended) | No longer accepted (since March 2025) | Print only, not ebook |
| Apple Books / Kobo / Google Play | Accepted (required) | Not accepted | Not accepted for ebooks |
| Text reflows on different screens | Yes | N/A | No (fixed layout) |
| Phone readability | Good | N/A | Poor (requires zooming) |
| Reader controls font/size | Yes | N/A | No |
When PDF Makes Sense
PDF is still the right choice for two scenarios. First, print book interiors submitted to Amazon KDP Print or IngramSpark. Second, ebooks sold directly through your own website (via Gumroad, Payhip, or similar) where the fixed layout is intentional, such as workbooks, design guides, or heavily formatted documents where exact positioning matters.
For direct sales, offering both EPUB and PDF gives your buyers the choice between a reflowable reading experience and a fixed-layout one.
Bottom Line
Produce an EPUB for ebook distribution. It works on every platform. Add a PDF only if you're publishing in print or selling direct and need fixed-layout formatting. Forget MOBI entirely. For more on formats and formatting tools, see Ebook Formatting and Layout: ePub, Mobi, and PDF.
Q: Does Amazon still accept MOBI files? A: No. Amazon stopped accepting MOBI uploads for reflowable ebooks in August 2021 and for fixed-layout ebooks in March 2025. Use EPUB or DOCX for Amazon KDP ebook uploads.
Q: Can you use PDF as your ebook format on Amazon? A: Not for ebook listings. Amazon KDP accepts PDF for print book interiors only. For ebook uploads, use EPUB (recommended), DOCX, or KPF.