Compare Mobipocket eBook and Electronic Publication formats — understand the key differences and when to use each
Mobipocket eBook
MOBI is Amazon's legacy eBook format, originally created by Mobipocket and acquired by Amazon for Kindle devices. MOBI supports basic text formatting, images, tables, and bookmarks. While Amazon has transitioned to newer formats (KF8/AZW3), MOBI remains compatible with all Kindle devices and apps. MOBI files are limited compared to EPUB: they don't support video, advanced CSS, or the latest accessibility features. For publishing on Amazon, authors typically upload EPUB or DOCX files, which Amazon converts to its internal format. Converting MOBI to EPUB provides access to a wider range of e-readers and more modern features.
Electronic Publication
EPUB (Electronic Publication) is the open standard for digital eBooks, maintained by the W3C. EPUB uses HTML/CSS for content rendering, making eBooks reflowable — text automatically adapts to different screen sizes, font preferences, and reading orientations. EPUB 3 supports fixed-layout pages, multimedia (audio, video), MathML, SVG graphics, JavaScript interactivity, and accessibility features (WCAG compliance, screen reader support). The format is supported by Apple Books, Google Play Books, Kobo, Nook, Calibre, and most e-reader apps (but not Amazon Kindle, which uses its own formats). EPUB files are essentially ZIP archives containing XHTML content, CSS stylesheets, images, and metadata. Converting to EPUB is essential for publishing digital books across the widest range of platforms and devices.
| Feature | MOBI | EPUB |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Mobipocket eBook | Electronic Publication |
| File Extension | .mobi | .epub |
| Category | ebook | ebook |
| Free to Convert | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Browser Support | ✓ All Browsers | ✓ All Browsers |
| Convert to Each Other | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
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