Converting your ebook to another format can be a daunting task, but luckily there are plenty of tools and services that can help you get the job done quickly and easily.
In this article, I've rounded up 9 of the best free and easy-to-use ebook conversion services. But before I get to that, it’s essential to understand the benefits of an ebook conversion and the criteria to use when choosing a service. Read on!
Why Convert Your Manuscript into an eBook? Benefits
In this digital era, ebooks are increasing in popularity. Publishers are resorting to them because:
- They are less expensive: eBooks cost less than hardcopy publishing. The more print copies were produced in the traditional publishing system, the lesser the profit publishers enjoyed. eBooks offer much more profits since they save on printing, distribution and storage costs.
- They can be updated anytime: imagine having to reprint your book to be up-to-date.The time, money and energy you have to factor in. You can, however, update an ebook anytime because data is stored in the cloud and can be retrieved instantly.
- They offer a broader market: not long ago, publishers sold books at book stores and flea markets. Currently, they can also sell on online shops such as Amazon. eBooks have opened new income channels for publishers.
- You can add various features: ebooks allow publishers to add specific features that won’t be possible with hardcopy books. They can add 3D images, videos, links and audio within the text. Some eBooks also have keyword search bars and dictionary add-ons. These features make the books more interactive and exciting for readers.
- You can try different writing styles: since ebooks are cost-effective and straightforward to publish and offer quick feedback, publishers have the opportunity to try and improve on different writing styles and subjects.
- Ebooks allow you complete control of sales and marketing: you can decide which online markets to sell to and the direction to take with your book. It is also easier to track sales with ebooks than the traditional print books.
- You can experiment with different prices: since there are minimal to low printing and marketing costs, you can play around with prices, selling at discounted prices occasionally. Discounts are a great marketing technique.
- A well written ebook can make you famous quickly: it can provide an opportunity to be noticed by the big players in the industry, and can earn you publication spots.
Factors to consider when choosing an ebook conversion service
1. Ease of Use
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing an ebook conversion service is the ease of use. If you're not tech-savvy, selecting a very beginner-friendly service is wise.
2. Supported File Formats
Different converters can support different other formats. Ensure that the service you choose supports all file formats you need.
3. Features
Some ebook conversion services offer more features than others. For example, some services can allow you to add DRM protection to your ebook, while others cannot. Choose one with features that suit you best.
4. Cost of Service
There are both free and paid ebook conversion services available. If you're on a tight budget, a free service may be the best option. However, paid services often offer more features and better quality conversions.
5. Quality
Another essential factor to consider is the quality of the converted ebook. Make sure to read reviews of the service you're considering to see what others have to say about the quality of their conversions.
6. Customer support
If you have any problems with the ebook converter, you'll want to ensure the availability of customer support is to help you resolve the issue.Therefore a company that offers good customer service should be in your options.
7. Security
The ebook converter you choose should be able to safeguard your data against theft and damage. Check out the reviews from trusted sources to see what other users say about the software.
8. The speed of the conversion
Some ebook converters work faster than others. If you need to convert many files, you'll want to choose a converter that can handle the job quickly.
9. Compatibility
You'll want to ensure that the ebook converter you choose is compatible with your operating system and other software.
10. The terms and conditions of the service
Make sure you read and understand the terms and conditions before signing up for any service.
9 EBook Conversion Services
Calibre is a free and open-source ebook management software that you can use to convert between various ebook formats. It has a relatively simple user interface and supports multiple input and output formats.
It also offers a wide range of features. You can add comments and notes to your ebooks and create a library with Calibre.
One downside of Calibre is that it can be a bit complex to use, especially if you are not familiar with ebook formats. However, the software does come with a detailed instructional demo and a user forum where you can get help from other users. It also can't open files that are DRM protected.
Zamzar is another ebook converter with a simple user interface and supports a wide range of input and output formats. Besides ebook formats, it also supports audio, videos, documents, images, etc.
It also has a feature that converts live web pages into ebooks. This feature is helpful if you want to read a lengthy web page offline.
The disadvantages of this service are that you are only limited to converting and downloading five files a day, after which they will delete them. Also, the uploaded files can only take up to 50MB a day.
The free eBook Converter by Hamster can not only convert between different ebook files but also move books between devices. It supports over 200 devices and ebook readers like Kindle, Sony, Kobo, iRiver etc.
The service is available in over 40 languages. Conversion is simple too. You will upload the file, select the format, and hit the convert button.
If you need to convert your ebooks to PDF or vice versa, PDFMate is your plug. This service supports up to 24 input formats, including DOC, DOCX, EPUB, FB2, HTML, LIT, MOBI, ODT, PDF, PRC, etc. It also converts ebooks to PDF, Kindle, TXT, and EPUB formats.
That's not all. You can convert your files in batches at a go. PDFMate works on Windows and Mac OS. You can download it as an app or purchase a license for it. Either way, you'll enjoy many of its features.
Sigil helps you create ebooks using the epub format conversions. It offers many advanced features that you can use to format and package your ebooks. These features include a user interface that can translate many languages, a metadata editor, multiple views, EPub2 and EPub 3 specific support. This platform can run on Windows, Mac and Linux.
This website helps you convert your files into any ebook formats. You also can edit metadata with this service.
Using Online-Convert, choose the appropriate tool and upload the original from your computer, Google Drive, or Dropbox to convert an ebook. Before you begin the process, you may modify some metadata and customize a few display settings.
The uploading file size for this service is, however, limited. The site can also be daunting to navigate, more so for a beginner.
Smashwords is one of the most popular ebook conversion services, and for good reasons. They offer a ton of features and options, including global ebook publishing and distribution, multiple file-formats conversions and more. They're also one of the few companies that offer all these services for free.
To ePub is a fast conversion tool that supports over 35 input formats, including Kindle, EPUB and FB2. Once you've uploaded your file and selected a format, it will convert it in minutes, however large your file is.
The tool also provides three ways to download the converted files– one by one, using thumbnails or in a ZIP archive. The site offers various language translations allowing access by different ethnic users.
This tool, nonetheless, doesn't edit metadata. It also holds your converted file for up to an hour before downloading it.
As the name suggests, this software converts EPUB books to MOBI. It automatically extracts, analyzes and formats original data before converting them.
Conversion occurs quickly, too. Moreover, it supports batch conversions. The software is also easy to use for non-professionals and beginners.
In Conclusion
Now that I have highlighted the top 10 ebook conversion services, it is time to decide which one is right for you. If you are looking for a free and easy-to-use service, Calibre or Zamzar are good options.
For those who need more features, such as converting DRM-protected files, you may want to consider using a paid service like Calibre or EBook Converter Bundle. Whichever service you choose, check the output format and quality before converting your files.
Further Ebook Conversion FAQs
How Much Does It Cost To Convert A Book To An Ebook?
Nothing. There are many free programs that will allow you to convert your book into an ebook format. However, if you want to hire someone to do it for you so that it is interactive on multiple devices, the cost can range from $50 to $300.
Can I Turn My Book Into An Ebook?
Yes. You can turn your book into an ebook by using an online converter to convert the scanned images or photos of pages into digital text, or by hiring a professional to do it for you.
How Do I Convert Ebooks?
Ebooks can be converted to multiple file formats by a desktop app or online conversion service.
What Is An Ebook Conversion?
An ebook conversion is the process of taking a book in physical form and turning it into a digital format that can be read on an electronic device, such as an e-reader, smartphone, or tablet.
Ebook conversion also refers to changing the book from one file format to another. This is necessary when you wish to upload it to different platforms where a particular file format is required.
How Much Does E-Book Formatting Cost?
When hiring somebody to format and convert a physical book, the cost of ebook formatting can vary depending on the length of the book, the number of images, and the level of complexity. For a simple book with no images, you can expect to pay around $50-$100. For a more complex book with lots of images, you could pay up to $1,000 if they need to recreate these images and structure.
Can I Make An E-Book For Free?
Yes, ebooks can be made for free using a standard word processor such as Apple Pages or Microsoft Word, a .PDF is considered an ebook format.
