An ebook is a book in digital format that you read on a screen instead of on paper. Whether you’re reading on a Kindle, an iPad, your phone, or a laptop, that file you’re reading is an ebook. The global ebook market is worth over $18 billion in 2025, and it keeps growing every year.
This guide covers everything you need to know about ebooks: what they are, how they compare to print books, the major file formats, and how to create one yourself.
What makes an ebook different from a print book
At the most basic level, an ebook is just a book delivered digitally. But the differences go beyond delivery method.
Reflowable text is the biggest distinction. When you read an ebook on your phone, the text reflows to fit your screen size. Bump up the font size and the text adjusts. Switch from portrait to landscape and the layout adapts. Print books can’t do this because the text is fixed to the page.
Other key differences include:
| Feature | Ebook | Print Book |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Instant download | Shipped or picked up in store |
| Storage | Thousands fit on one device | Physical shelf space required |
| Cost to produce | Near zero per copy | Paper, printing, shipping costs |
| Price to readers | Typically $2.99-$14.99 | Typically $9.99-$29.99+ |
| Searchability | Full text search built in | Manual index or flipping pages |
| Accessibility | Adjustable font size, text-to-speech | Fixed font size, no audio option |
Ebooks account for roughly 21% of total book sales by revenue and about 36% by unit volume. They haven’t replaced print books, but they’ve become a permanent part of how people read.
Common ebook formats explained
Not all ebook files are the same. Here are the three formats you’ll encounter most often.
EPUB
EPUB (Electronic Publication) is the open standard format maintained by the World Wide Web Consortium. It’s the most widely supported ebook format across devices and reading apps.
EPUB files use reflowable text, meaning content adjusts to any screen size. They support embedded images, clickable table of contents, metadata, and even multimedia elements. Almost every ebook reader and app supports EPUB: Apple Books, Google Play Books, Kobo, Nook, and many more.
If you’re publishing an ebook anywhere outside of Amazon, EPUB is the format you need.
PDF (Portable Document Format) keeps the exact layout of your document no matter what device displays it. A PDF on your phone looks identical to that same PDF on a 27-inch monitor, which is both its strength and its weakness.
PDFs work well for documents where layout matters, like workbooks, cookbooks with complex layouts, or technical manuals with diagrams. But they’re a poor choice for standard ebook reading because the fixed layout doesn’t adapt to small screens. You end up pinching, zooming, and scrolling sideways on a phone.
Use PDF when you want your ebook to look exactly like a printed page. Use EPUB for everything else.
MOBI
MOBI was the format Amazon Kindle devices used for years. If you’ve been in the ebook world for a while, you’ve probably heard of it. But here’s what matters now: MOBI is effectively dead.
Amazon stopped accepting MOBI uploads to Kindle Direct Publishing after 2022 and moved to its own proprietary formats (AZW3 and KFX). Today, Amazon actually accepts EPUB files for Kindle publishing, converting them automatically to their own format on the backend.
You don’t need to worry about MOBI for new ebook projects. If you have an EPUB, you’re covered.
Who creates ebooks (and why)
Ebooks aren’t just for traditional publishers. A wide range of people create them for different reasons.
Authors and self-publishers make up the largest group. Over 1.4 million self-published books are released on Amazon alone each year, and the vast majority of those are ebooks. The low production cost and instant global distribution make ebooks the fastest way to get your writing in front of readers.
Businesses and marketers use ebooks as lead magnets, educational resources, and authority-building content. A well-crafted ebook on your area of expertise can generate leads for months or years.
Educators and coaches package their knowledge into ebooks as course supplements, standalone products, or free resources for their audience.
Nonfiction experts turn their frameworks, methodologies, and experience into ebooks to establish credibility in their field. An authority book can open doors to speaking engagements, consulting work, and media opportunities.
How to create an ebook
Creating an ebook is more accessible than most people think. Here’s the process from start to finish.
1. Write your content
Start with an outline, then write your manuscript. This is the most time-consuming step, but it doesn’t have to take months. Many authors use AI writing tools to speed up the process dramatically.
Our Pick — Chapter
Chapter.pub is the fastest way to go from idea to finished ebook. It uses AI to help you write, structure, and organize your book, whether you’re writing nonfiction or fiction. Over 2,100 authors have used it to create more than 5,000 books.
Best for: First-time authors and anyone who wants a complete ebook without spending months writing Pricing: $97 one-time (nonfiction) | Varies (fiction) Why we built it: Most people have a book in them but get stuck in the writing process. Chapter removes that friction.
2. Format your manuscript
Your manuscript needs proper formatting before it becomes an ebook. This includes:
- Consistent heading styles (chapter titles, section headers)
- Page breaks between chapters
- A clickable table of contents
- Proper paragraph spacing and indentation
- Embedded images with appropriate resolution
If you’re using Chapter.pub, formatting is handled automatically. The platform exports your book in publication-ready formats so you skip the manual formatting headache entirely.
For manual formatting, tools like Vellum (Mac only), Atticus, or Calibre can convert your manuscript into properly formatted ebook files. You can also check our roundup of AI book formatting tools for more options.
3. Design your cover
Your ebook cover is the first thing potential readers see. A professional cover matters, even for a free ebook. Readers genuinely judge books by their covers, and a poorly designed one signals amateur content, regardless of how good your writing is.
Options for cover design include hiring a freelance designer, using a cover design tool, or working with an AI book cover generator. Budget at least $50-$300 for a professional-quality cover if you hire someone.
4. Export to the right format
Choose your format based on where you’re distributing:
- Amazon KDP: Upload an EPUB (Amazon converts it automatically)
- Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble: EPUB
- Your own website: PDF or EPUB, depending on the reading experience you want
- Lead magnets or giveaways: PDF works well since recipients can open it on any device
Most ebook creation tools, including Chapter.pub, can export to multiple formats so you can distribute everywhere from one manuscript.
5. Publish and distribute
Once your ebook file is ready, you upload it to your chosen platform. The major options include:
- Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP): The largest ebook marketplace, controlling 67% of the U.S. ebook market. See our full guide on how to self-publish a book on Amazon.
- Wide distribution through platforms like Draft2Digital, Smashwords, or PublishDrive gets your ebook into Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and dozens of other stores. We break down the wide vs. exclusive publishing decision in a separate post.
- Direct sales through your own website let you keep 100% of the revenue and own the customer relationship.
For a deeper look at all your options, check our guide to the best self-publishing platforms.
How much does it cost to create an ebook
One of the biggest advantages of ebooks is the low barrier to entry. Here’s a realistic cost breakdown:
| Item | DIY Cost | Professional Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Writing | Free (your time) or $97 with Chapter.pub | $2,000-$10,000+ (ghostwriter) |
| Cover design | $0-$50 (AI tools) | $100-$500 (designer) |
| Formatting | Free (Calibre) or included with Chapter | $50-$300 (formatter) |
| ISBN | Free from KDP or $125 from Bowker | Same |
| Distribution | Free (all major platforms) | Free |
| Total | $0-$150 | $2,250-$11,000+ |
You can publish an ebook for essentially nothing if you write it yourself, use free tools, and accept the free ISBN that Amazon provides. For a more detailed breakdown, see our guide on how much it costs to self-publish a book.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Skipping formatting. An ebook with broken chapter breaks, inconsistent fonts, or no clickable table of contents screams amateur. Take the time to format properly, or use a tool like Chapter.pub that handles it for you.
- Using PDF when you should use EPUB. Unless your ebook has a complex visual layout that must stay fixed, EPUB gives readers a better experience on every device.
- Ignoring your cover. Readers scroll past hundreds of thumbnails when browsing ebook stores. Your cover has about two seconds to catch someone’s eye.
- Not proofreading. Digital doesn’t mean disposable. Typos and errors damage your credibility whether they’re on paper or on a screen.
- Publishing on only one platform. Unless you have a strategic reason to go exclusive with Amazon (like Kindle Unlimited enrollment), distributing wide gives you access to more readers across Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play, and other stores.
FAQ
Are ebooks cheaper than print books?
Almost always, yes. Ebooks have no printing, shipping, or warehousing costs, so publishers and self-published authors can price them lower. Most ebooks on Amazon sell between $2.99 and $9.99. Print editions of the same books typically cost $12.99 to $24.99 or more.
Can I read ebooks without a Kindle?
Absolutely. You can read ebooks on any smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer using free apps like Apple Books, Google Play Books, or the Kindle app (which works on non-Kindle devices). You don’t need a dedicated e-reader.
What format should I use for my ebook?
EPUB for almost everything. It’s the industry standard, works on the widest range of devices, and is accepted by every major publishing platform including Amazon. Use PDF only when you need a fixed layout, like workbooks or heavily designed documents.
Can I convert my ebook between formats?
Yes. Tools like Calibre (free) can convert between EPUB, PDF, MOBI, and other formats. However, converting from PDF to EPUB often produces messy results because you’re going from a fixed layout to a reflowable one. It’s better to start with EPUB and convert to other formats as needed.
How do I protect my ebook from piracy?
Most major platforms apply DRM (Digital Rights Management) automatically when you publish through them. Amazon, Apple, and Kobo all offer DRM options. For ebooks sold directly through your own website, you can use watermarking or social DRM, which embeds the buyer’s information into the file without restricting how they read it.
