Why convert PDF to EPUB?
PDF is a fixed-layout format designed for printing at specific dimensions. On a small e-reader screen, PDF text can become tiny and require constant horizontal scrolling. EPUB is a reflowable format — text automatically adjusts to fit any screen size and font size setting. Reading a long document on a Kindle or Kobo is significantly more comfortable in EPUB format. Converting also makes the content readable on phones, tablets, and any device with an e-reader app.
How to convert PDF to EPUB free — step by step
- Open ihatepdf.cv/pdf-to-epub — no sign-up required
- Upload your PDF by dropping it onto the upload area
- Optionally enter a title and author name for the EPUB metadata
- Click Convert to EPUB
- Download the .epub file — no watermark, no server upload
How to read the EPUB on your device
- Kindle — email the EPUB to your @kindle.com address, or transfer via USB into the Documents folder. Kindle has supported EPUB natively since 2022.
- Kobo — copy via USB, or open in the Kobo app directly
- Apple Books (iPhone/iPad/Mac) — open the EPUB file and tap "Open in Books". Syncs automatically via iCloud.
- Google Play Books — upload the EPUB via play.google.com/books
- Any browser — Firefox supports EPUB natively; Chrome supports it via the Epub Reader extension
What converts well — and what doesn't
- Books, essays, articles — ideal. Single-column text converts and reflows perfectly.
- Reports and documentation — good. Headings and paragraphs translate well.
- Multi-column academic papers — moderate. Columns may reflow unexpectedly since EPUB ignores column positioning.
- Image-heavy PDFs and brochures — not ideal. Images are preserved but layout relationships between images and text are lost in reflowable format.
Prefer audio over reading? Try PDF to Audio
If you'd rather listen than read on an e-reader, PDF to Audio converts any PDF to speech using neural TTS running locally in your browser. No app or e-reader needed — just listen directly.
Get the best reflow: prepare the PDF first
EPUB quality depends heavily on the source PDF. Single-column text — novels, essays, long reports — reflows beautifully. To improve the result, start from a clean text-based PDF: run scans through OCR first so there are real characters to reflow, and if the original is riddled with repeating page headers or footers, the conversion reads more naturally without them. Densely designed brochures and multi-column academic papers will always reflow less predictably, because EPUB deliberately discards fixed positioning in favour of adapting to the screen.
EPUB or keep the PDF — which to send
Match the format to how it will be read. Convert to EPUB when the document is mostly text and will be read on a phone, Kindle, or Kobo, where reflowing to the screen size is the whole point. Keep the PDF when exact layout matters — forms, invoices, certificates, anything that must print or look identical everywhere. For long reading sessions where you would rather listen than look at a screen, PDF to Audio is the third option.
Frequently asked questions
Will images and chapters be preserved in the EPUB?
Images carry across, and headings become navigable chapter breaks in most e-readers. In reflowable EPUB the exact position of an image relative to surrounding text may shift, since the layout adapts to the screen.
Can I add a title and author to the EPUB?
Yes. Enter a title and author before converting and they are written into the EPUB metadata, so the book shows the right name and author on your e-reader's shelf.
Does it work on scanned PDFs?
Scanned PDFs have no text layer. Run OCR first, then convert to EPUB.
Does the EPUB have a watermark?
No. ihatepdf never adds watermarks to any output file.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Conversion runs locally in your browser. Your file never leaves your device.