Should I download the EPUB or the PDF?
Download the EPUB to read on a phone, tablet, e-reader, or Mac, and the PDF to print or to open anywhere with no extra app. Both are free with every book, so you can take either one or both.
The EPUB is a reflowable ebook file: the text adapts to your screen, and your device controls the font size, margins, and page color. The PDF keeps a fixed page layout that looks identical everywhere, which makes it the better choice for printing.
How the two formats compare
| What you're comparing | EPUB | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Phones, tablets, e-readers (Kindle, Kobo), and Mac | Printing, or opening anywhere with no extra app |
| Page layout | Reflows to fit any screen | Fixed pages (two sizes: tablet and phone) |
| Font size and style | You set them on your device | Fixed |
| Page color | Your reading app controls it | Usually white (some apps offer a dark mode) |
| Chapter navigation | Built-in table of contents in every reading app | Bookmarks panel (outline) in your viewer |
| Page numbers | Dynamic (vary with font size, margins, and screen) | Fixed page count |
| Opening it | Apple Books on iPhone/iPad/Mac, Google Play Books on Android, a free app on Windows | Opens on any device with no extra app |
| Works offline | ✓ | ✓ |
| Printing | Not made for print | Made for print, in book-sized pages |
| Highlights & notes | Yes, in most reading apps | Depends on the app |
Which one should you pick?
- Reading on a phone, tablet, e-reader, or Mac → EPUB
- Printing a paper copy, or opening it anywhere with no extra app (including a Windows PC) → PDF
- Not sure → start with the EPUB, which adapts to whatever you read it on
To get either file, open the book from Your Library, press the ⋮ menu, and select Download EPUB (eBook) or one of the Download PDF options. For a Kindle, use Send to Kindle with the EPUB. To open the file on a specific device, see How do I open my book on any device?.
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