How to Convert PDF to EPUB - 5 PDF to EPUB Converters [Tested]

Part 1. PDF vs EPUB Format

When deciding between PDF and EPUB, it’s important to understand their unique advantages. As experts in digital content, we've tested and analyzed both formats based on real-world use cases.

• PDF is ideal for documents that need to maintain a fixed layout, like manuals, brochures, and legal documents. It ensures that formatting, images, and text remain intact across all devices. However, PDFs are not reflowable, making them less suitable for small screens or eReaders, especially for long-form content.
• EPUB, on the other hand, is a reflowable format that adapts to screen size, making it perfect for eBooks and articles. It provides a more flexible reading experience, especially on mobile devices and eReaders, but struggles with complex layouts like multi-column text or tables.

Part 2. How to Convert PDF to EPUB without Losing Formatting - PC/Mac

Tenorshare PDNob is a newer yet reliable solution for PDF to EPUB conversion. It provides a cost-effective and user-friendly interface for converting standard PDFs into EPUB, making it a great choice for individuals and small businesses. PDNob focuses on offering a straightforward, affordable solution without the complexity of advanced features like OCR or extensive PDF editing.

Real-World Experience:

I used PDNob to convert a simple eBook into EPUB, and the result was clean and accurate. When testing it with a brochure that contained more complex formatting (multiple columns, images), I found that the layout was slightly misaligned in the EPUB format, though the text remained readable.

Steps to Transform PDF to EPUB via PDNob PDF Editor

• Launch the Tenorshare PDNob software on your computer.
• On the main interface, click the Open PDF button to select the file you want to convert.
  
• Select the desired files from your computer, then click "Open" to load them into PDNob.
• Once the file is open, click on the Convert button located on the toolbar.
  
• PDNob provides various conversion options on the toolbar. You can convert your PDF into EPUB, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Image, and more, depending on your needs.
  

Video Guide on How to Convert PDF to EPUB

 

👍 Best For

Individual users, small businesses, and eBook authors who need an affordable, user-friendly solution for converting standard PDFs to EPUB.

👎 Not Suitable For

Users working with highly complex PDFs that include multiple columns, heavy graphic elements, or scanned documents.

Part 3. How to Convert PDF to EPUB Online Free

When looking for free online tools to convert PDF to EPUB, the key factors to consider are ease of use, conversion speed, and limitations on file size and features. Below is an in-depth look at Calibre, and Zamzar, all of which provide solutions for converting PDF to EPUB online. Each tool has its strengths and weaknesses, so let’s dive into the details.

1. Calibre

Calibre is one of the most widely used, free, and open-source applications for converting PDF to EPUB. Known for its flexibility and customizable features, Calibre can handle a variety of eBook formats and is particularly appreciated for its ability to adjust layouts, making the resulting EPUB more reflowable and accessible on different devices.

However, while Calibre shines with simple PDFs, users may face formatting issues when converting more complex documents.

Real-World Experience:

When I tested Calibre with a novel (a simple text-based PDF), the conversion was fast and the EPUB format was clean, with adjustable text size and perfect readability on a Kindle. However, when I tried converting a marketing brochure with multiple images, the images didn’t translate well into the EPUB format, and the layout was misaligned, making the document difficult to read.

Steps to Turn PDF to EPUB Online Free via Calibre

• Download and install Calibre: Visit the official website to download and install Calibre, as it's not an online tool.

• Add the PDF: Open Calibre, click "Add books" or drag and drop your PDF file into the library.
• Open the conversion tool: Select your added PDF and click "Convert books" at the top.
• Set output format: In the conversion window, choose "EPUB" from the "Output format" dropdown.
• Adjust settings (Optional): Edit metadata, customize appearance, table of contents, or cover image.

• Start conversion: Click "OK" to begin converting. The new EPUB will be added to your Calibre library.

👍 Best For

• Casual Users: Ideal for text-heavy PDFs like novels or articles.
• eBook Enthusiasts: Those looking to manage and convert eBook collections.

👎 Not Suitable For

• Complex PDFs: Documents with tables, images, or multi-column layouts.
• Image-Based PDFs: Requires OCR for scanned files before conversion.

2. Zamzar

Zamzar is an online file conversion tool known for its simplicity and speed, especially for converting text-heavy PDFs to EPUB format. It supports a wide range of file formats, making it versatile for many different tasks beyond PDF to EPUB.

However, Zamzar's performance with complex PDFs (including those with images, tables, or multiple columns) can lead to quality loss and formatting issues.

Real-World Experience:

I tested Zamzar with various PDF files, ranging from text-heavy novels to business reports with images, tables, and multiple columns. For simple documents, Zamzar performed well—converting text-heavy files into clean, readable EPUBs quickly. However, when working with more complex PDFs, such as technical manuals and research papers, the output was often misaligned, with broken formatting and missing images.

Steps to Convert PDF to EPUB Online via Zamzar

• Navigate to the Zamzar PDF to EPUB converter: by visiting the Zamzar website.
• Upload your PDF file: Click the "Choose Files" button and select the PDF you want to convert from your computer.
• Select the output format: Ensure "EPUB" is selected as the target format. You can find this option in the list of formats next to your uploaded file.
• Convert the file: Click the "Convert Now" button to start the conversion process.
• Download the EPUB file: Once the conversion is complete, click the "Download" button to save the EPUB file to your device.

👍 Best For

• Casual Users: Ideal for users with simple PDFs who need a quick, free solution.
• One-Off Conversions: Zamzar is a solid choice for small, text-heavy documents where high-quality formatting is not critical.
• Free Conversions: Great for users on a budget who don’t mind occasional trade-offs in quality for a fast, free service.

👎 Not Suitable For

• Complex PDFs: Zamzar may not handle image-heavy or multi-column documents well.
• Users Needing Customization: Lacks advanced features for metadata, fonts, or layout adjustments compared to tools like PDNob PDF Editor or Calibre.
• Large Files: The free version may have file size limits, causing slow conversions or failures.

Part 4. How to Convert PDF to EPUB on iPhone/Android

When it comes to converting PDFs to EPUB on mobile devices, users often seek a quick, portable solution. For iPhone and Android users, Ebook Converter and PDF to Kindle Converter are two viable options.

1. Ebook Converter

Ebook Converter is a dedicated mobile tool for converting PDFs into various eBook formats, including EPUB. Its simplicity makes it an excellent choice for quick conversions on the go. The app is free and works well for basic PDFs. However, it may face difficulties with more complex files, especially those containing images or multi-column text. The app is primarily aimed at casual users who need a quick fix for their reading needs.

Real-World Experience:

I tested Ebook Converter on my iPhone with a few text-heavy PDFs (such as a novel and an article). The conversion process was seamless and quick, with minimal effort needed to get from PDF to EPUB. For basic PDFs, the output was satisfactory—clean text that reflowed easily on my e-reader.

Steps to Convert PDF to EPUB on iPhone via Ebook Converter

• Download a converter app: Find and install a "PDF to EPUB Converter" app from the App Store.

• Open the PDF: Open the app and tap "Open PDF file" or "Share PDF file to" the app to select the PDF you want to convert from your device.
• Select output format: Choose EPUB as your desired output format. Some apps may also offer options to preserve images.
• Start the conversion: Tap the "Convert to Epub" button to start the conversion process.
• Download the EPUB: Once the conversion is complete, you can download or save the new EPUB file to your device.

👍 Best For

• Casual Users: Those who need a quick, free solution for converting simple PDFs to EPUB on the go.
• Travelers or Commuters: Looking for a portable solution to convert PDFs into EPUB without a desktop.

👎 Not Suitable For

• Users Needing Advanced Formatting Control: Those requiring conversion for complex PDFs (e.g., with multi-columns, tables, or images).
• Users Looking for File Customization: Those seeking metadata editing or customization after conversion.

2. PDF to Kindle converter

PDF to Kindle Converter is another useful tool for mobile users, but it is specifically designed for converting PDFs to Kindle’s proprietary format (MOBI or AZW3). Although it’s excellent for Kindle users, it’s not an ideal solution for EPUB lovers. Since EPUB is an open-standard format supported by most eBook readers, the app’s conversion to Kindle format limits its flexibility for other devices. Users who prefer EPUB will need to perform additional steps to convert it from MOBI to EPUB.

Real-World Experience:

I also tested PDF to Kindle Converter using both PDFs and EPUB files on my Android phone. The conversion process was very simple: just upload the PDF, and it converts to a Kindle-compatible format (MOBI/AZW3). This worked fine for simple PDFs and was especially convenient when I needed to read technical documents on my Kindle device.

Steps to Convert PDF to EPUB on Android via PDF to Kindle Converter

• Download a converter app: Install an app from the Google Play Store that can convert PDF to EPUB, such as Ebook Converter.
• Open the converter app and select the PDF: Choose the PDF file you want to convert from your Android device.
• Select EPUB as the output format: Set the conversion to output an EPUB file.
• Start the conversion: Run the conversion process through the app.
• Share the converted EPUB file: Once converted, use the app's share function to send the EPUB file to your Kindle.

👍 Best For

Kindle users who need a fast, reliable tool for converting PDFs to Kindle’s format. Ideal if you’re using a Kindle device and prefer reading PDFs on it.

👎 Not Suitable For

• Limited to Kindle Formats: The output is in MOBI or AZW3, so it’s not suitable for users who want EPUB files.
• Poor Formatting for Complex PDFs: PDFs with images, tables, and multiple columns don’t convert well and may need additional manual adjustments.
• No Direct EPUB Conversion: If you need EPUB files, you’ll need to use a second tool (like Calibre) to convert the MOBI or AZW3 files.

Part 5. FAQs of PDF to EPUB

1. Can I convert any PDF to EPUB?

Most text-based PDFs convert well, but complex PDFs with images, tables, and multiple columns may face formatting issues.

2. What’s the best tool for converting PDF to EPUB without losing formatting?

PDNob PDF Editor is great for preserving complex layouts and formatting. They handle images, multi-column documents, and tables better than other tools.

3. How do I convert scanned PDFs to EPUB?

You’ll need an OCR tool like PDNob PDF Editor to convert scanned PDFs to editable text before converting to EPUB.

4. Are there free tools to convert PDF to EPUB?

Yes, Calibre and Zamzar are free options, but they may have limitations with file size and complex formatting.

5. Why does my EPUB look different from the original PDF?

EPUB is a reflowable format, which adjusts to screen sizes. It doesn't preserve the fixed layout of PDFs, especially for complex documents.

6. How can I convert PDFs to EPUB for free online?

Use Zamzar, or Calibre Online. These tools are free, but may have file size limits and raise privacy concerns.

7. Can I convert PDFs to EPUB on my phone?

Yes, apps like Ebook Converter and PDF to Kindle Converter allow conversion on mobile devices, but may not handle complex PDFs well.

8. How do I fix formatting issues after conversion?

Use Calibre’s editor or PDNob PDF Editor to manually adjust formatting, such as text alignment and image placement.

9. Is PDF to EPUB conversion completely free?

Free tools may have limitations like file size caps or conversion limits. Paid tools like PDNob PDF Editor offer higher quality and advanced features.

10. Does EPUB conversion work for all PDFs?

Text-based PDFs work best, while image-based PDFs need OCR first for accurate conversion. Tools like PDNob PDF Editor handle this well.

Part 6: Conclusion

Choosing the right tool to convert PDFs to EPUB depends on your specific needs:

• For high-quality conversions: PDNob PDF Editor is perfect for preserving complex layouts, images, and text formatting on both PC and Mac. It’s ideal for professional use and offers affordable, precise results.
• For free and straightforward conversions: Calibre and Zamzar are great options for quick, no-install conversions. However, they may struggle with large files or complex formatting and have privacy concerns since files are stored online.
• For mobile conversions: Ebook Converter and PDF to Kindle Converter are convenient for on-the-go PDF to EPUB conversion, though they may not handle complex PDFs effectively.

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