Content is one of the most crucial aspects of any book, and what you choose for editing your content can positively or negatively affect the success of your project. Find out more about ebook editing software and how you can use it to create something of higher quality than what you could do on your own.
The only editing software you’ll ever need: Get started with the absolute best book editing software on the market today! You’ve got a fantastic story to tell. Your manuscript needs the right tools. You’ve looked online and tried different editing software programs and have found that there are so many options, it can be tricky to choose just one. We decided to make it easier for you.
With this powerful program, you can create professional looking epub files with the click of a button. Just enter your text and choose your design, then sit back and relax as the program formats your ebook for you.
Editing software is the tool by which you clean up your document, ensuring your spelling is accurate, checking the flow of your ideas, taking out unnecessary words, and much more. Among these types of software, you will find grammar checker software, copyediting software and much more.
Key features to look for
Here are the most important features to keep an eye out for when buying the best eBook creator.
Ease of use
You are using an eBook creator to make your job easier, so it makes sense to look for ease of use as one of your most desired features. Look for options that offer a user-friendly interface, and a distraction-free page to work on (no ads and pop-ups).
Multi-language capabilities
If you write in more than one language, you might want to opt for an eBook creator with multi-language capabilities. This way you can write content in another language, translate your work while you are still writing it, and share it with readers from different countries to receive feedback.
Cloud vs Desktop
We all have different ways of working so make sure your eBook creator supports your creative process. For instance, if you tend to work offline with minimal distractions, choose a desktop-based eBook creator. On the other hand, if you like saving everything externally on a cloud, pick eBook creators with online storage and sync features.
Supported formats
If you write in more than one format, you would need a versatile eBook creator. Today many eBook creators will let you work with a variety of file types across different formats so you can write content for a wide selection of readers. Just make sure you’re aware of which file types and formats the eBook creator supports before making a decision.
Support
eBook creators offer independence and creative freedom, but as a beginner, you are bound to run into problems more often than you think. When this happens, it helps to have a great support team behind you. On some platforms, this looks like a dedicated support agent, while on others you will be provided with instruction manuals and guide videos. Find what best suits your needs and pick your eBook creator accordingly.
Output File Formats
Many online publishing services make it easy to share your work on the web. Look for one that supports the big names in eBook publishing, such as Kindle and Nook. In addition, choose a program that supports many of the most common file formats, including EPUB, PDB, PDF, video, HTML, LIT and MOBI.
Kitaboo
Kitaboo is an interactive eBook creator. It is a cloud-based digital publishing platform, where you can create and publish DRM protected content. DRM ensures that your content is secure from online theft and piracy.
You can either create an eBook from scratch using the Kitaboo authoring platform or you can use their conversion service to convert your digital manuscript into ePUB files.
Kitaboo lets you add interactive features such as videos, audio, images, read-aloud, etc to your eBook to make it more engaging for your readers. The content you create using this tool is device agnostic and is accessible on all major operating systems. Try using Kitaboo – a best ePub Creator for digitally publishing of contents.
Epubee maker
This is a free eBook creation software. It is a Word add-in that will help you convert your word files into ePUB, Mobi, and PDF formats. Once you have installed the add-in in MS Word, you can easily convert word documents to EPUB/Mobi/PDF.
When your eBook is ready for distribution, you can transfer it to different reading devices such as Kindle, Nook, Kobo, etc. ePUBee Maker can be used as an eBook Editor or eBook Reader. You can import different file formats to read on MS Word. With the help of this tool, you can easily create an eBook from your word file.
Flipbuilder
This is another interactive eBook creator. Here’s more on how to create interactive ebooks.
The interesting part about this software is that it gives the flipping page effect when you turn to the next page in your eBook. This flip effect comes as an interesting change when compared to normal eBooks.
You can add multimedia elements to your eBook files. It allows you to convert PDFs into suitable eBook files for whichever eReader you want.
EBooks can be accessed from any system and platform. You would have to download this software on your Windows, iOS, or Android system before using it.
FlipHTML5 (strongly recommended)
FlipHTML5 is a perfect eBook editing software, it helps to engage audiences with immersive digital experience. The surprising page editor ensures you to enrich your eBooks with videos, audios, images, photo slideshow, text, music, links and button. In addition, you are able to customize your eBooks with dynamic animations, the vivid reading atmosphere makes audiences relaxed when reading eBooks.
Interactive FlipHTML5 shows great charms when making eBooks, it wows audiences with plenty of powerful features.
- PDF, MS Office, Image to flipbook easily and freely.
- Animations in real time and without a single line of code.
- Awesome digital publishing solution.
- High security publications.
- Customize loading logo, reader logo and bookcase logo.
Calibre
Calibre is a free eBook library management tool for designing beautiful eBooks. Its aim is that “Calibre is the one stop solution to all your e-book needs.” What is more, this tool provides e-book editor for the major e-book formats. You are able to download news from the websites and then transform it into an e-book format. Quite easy and quick.
Blurb
Blurb aims to make your eBooks attractive and story-telling. It turns your ideas into eBooks and supports you to enrich your books with beautiful elements. Stunning photo book with creative expression, digital magazine with serial content and eBook with image-rich page, Blurb surprise people. Besides, these eBooks can be viewed on Amzon Kindle, Apple iPad and Android devices, it is easy to share.
Pressbooks
Pressbooks looks a lot like WordPress, but it’s run from an entirely different site. If you’re familiar with WordPress, then you shouldn’t have a hard time figuring out how everything works. You can add and edit chapters, change or add sections, and so on. Remember that Pressbooks is free to use, but to remove the watermark that will show on the e-book, you need to upgrade to a paid version (starts with a one-time payment of $19.99).
Beacon (WordPress plugin)
Beacon is a plugin for WordPress that turns your blog posts into e-books. You can choose which articles to include or filter them by category. The plugin converts blog posts into HTML5 or PDF format. Layout features are also included and you can design the ebook cover from within the Beacon dashboard. This plugin is free to use and requires a free account at beacon.by.
Google Docs
A simple way of writing and converting content into PDF online for free is by using Google Docs. Type in your content and have all the Google Fonts available for you to choose from all inside the Google Docs window.
It syncs with your Google Drive account, so you can work on it from any device as long as you’re online.
Zinepal
Similar to Papyrus but with a dated interface, Zinepal also allows you to turn blog posts into content for your e-book. You can also start from scratch. Just note that the free account will put a Zinepal link on the bottom of each page of your book. A Zinepal Pro account starts at $5 for a single e-book without the Zinepal branding and other added features like publishing
PublishXpress
PublishXpress is an online conversion tool that takes DJVU, DOCX, TXT HTML, RTF and PDF files and converts them into MOBI and EPUB. This is perfect if you already have your e-book ready and just want to turn it into both MOBI and EPUB so it can be available to other e-book readers. The service is free, but watch out for any imperfections in your converted text.
Open Office
While Microsoft Word is commonly used, Open Office is completely free to use and it converts .doc to .pdf without having to pay a single cent. Since it’s very similar to Word, you’ll be typing your content and be done in no time. When you’re done writing and proofing your content, simply click on File>Export to PDF and you’re done.
Adobe InDesign
If you’re familiar with the Adobe Creative Suite, using InDesign should be easier for you. Otherwise, you may need to go through some tutorials before using this tool. InDesign is a more advanced method of creating an e-book and it’s mostly if you want the graphics and all style elements in your e-book look polished and professional. To download and use InDesign, you need to subscribe to Adobe’s Creative Cloud plans. Single software subscription for InDesign starts at $19.99/month, paid annually or $29.99/month, paid monthly.
Kindle Gen
Kindle Gen is a command line app for converting HTML or any other e-book source into the Kindle e-book format (for selling on Amazon). If you’re familiar with using the command window, then this tool is not that difficult. In addition, there is a ReadMe file that comes with complete instructions for converting files into KPF (Kindle Package Format). To use a more user-friendly tool, download Kindle Previewer in addition to Kindle Gen, and you can convert other e-book formats into Kindle in an easier interface.
Microsoft Word
Anyone with a PC will be familiar with MS Word, so creating an e-book using this software is great for those who don’t want to learn another software.
If you have the Microsoft Word 2016, you can convert your DOC file to PDF within MS Word without having to purchase an add-on. However, there are dozens of DOC to PDF converters online which you can use for free.
iBooks Author
iBooks Author is an e-book editing software for making books to sell exclusively on Apple iBooks. The format will only work for Mac and the iPad. While this might seem restrictive, keep in mind that some readers prefer to read on their iPads because of the clear retina display, so making your ebook with iBooks Author is going the extra mile for your future readers.
Scrivener
Scrivener is an advanced writing software for authors who write novels and screenplays. To create an e-book, you need to enter your content just like you would a regular book. When you’re done, use the Compile feature to export it to e-book formats like MOBI, EPUB and Kindle. It’s not a very simple process, but there are great tutorials online on how it’s done. There is a 30-day free trial to try Scrivener, after which you’ll need to purchase the software for $40.
How we tested eBook creators
We researched to find downloadable programs and online services for eBook publication, looking for options that have a variety of publishing templates. We counted the number of file types each software processes and how many template types each service has, taking note of those that include professional tools or support educators. We also looked for services that connect with the most popular eBook stores, including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
We used the support options, like email, FAQ, tutorials and manuals to see if they were easy to understand and offered enough information so that you could manage your projects effectively.
After researching, we downloaded or subscribed to all the services so we could try out each one’s features. We created profiles in each system and tried out all of the programs’ tools to get a sense of how they well they work for common tasks. We loaded content into each software and timed how long it took to process the data. We also noted if the program malfunctioned or performed slower than other eBook creators.
When you publish online, you also want to protect your content. As such, we looked for services that offer support and clearly state what types of release agreements are available – whether for profit or the public – and articulate the differences between them so you can make an informed decision about how and where to share your work.
Conclusion
In the fast-paced world of publishing and often limited budgets, many publishing companies opt to self-publish their work. Self-publishing has its benefits, however the process can be expensive and daunting. Without professional editing software, it can be more time consuming and more costly.
Whether you’re working on a long-form manuscript or writing shorter pieces for the web, combining ease of use with powerful ebook creation tools, this eBook editing software is your one-stop solution to tailor content that fits all your publishing needs.