EPUB for Apple Books, Kobo & Google Play

One file, three stores

The useful thing to know before you start: you do not need a different book for each shop. Apple Books, Kobo and Google Play Books all read EPUB, so a single valid EPUB 3 goes to all of them. What changes is the portal you upload through and the metadata it asks for — not the file.

That is worth saying plainly because the alternative belief is expensive. People maintain three versions of a book, re-export after every correction, and eventually ship a fix to two stores out of three.

Validation matters more away from Amazon

Amazon converts what you upload into its own format, and that conversion is fairly tolerant — a messy EPUB often survives it. These three distribute much closer to what you hand them, so a problem in the file is a problem in the book someone buys. Apple Books is particularly known for rejecting EPUBs that fail conformance checks.

Every file here is run through EPUBCheck — the W3C's reference validator — before you download it, and the result is shown to you. You can also check a file you already have for free, which is the faster way to find out why a store turned one down.

Where each one differs

Store requirements change, and a formatting tool is the wrong place to learn them from. Check each portal's current documentation for metadata, pricing and territory rules — the part that stays true is that all three read EPUB.

Questions

Do I need a different file for each store?

No, and that is the main thing worth knowing. Apple Books, Kobo and Google Play Books all read EPUB — one validated EPUB 3 uploads to all three. What differs is the portal you upload through and the metadata each asks for on the way, not the book.

Why does validation matter more here than on Amazon?

Because Amazon converts. Upload to KDP and it is turned into Amazon's own format, and that conversion is fairly forgiving of a messy file. These three distribute much closer to what you hand them, so problems in the file are problems in the book. Apple in particular is known for rejecting EPUBs that do not pass validation. Every file this tool produces is checked with EPUBCheck before you download it.

What is publishing “wide”?

Selling everywhere rather than only on Amazon. KDP Select asks for ebook exclusivity in exchange for Kindle Unlimited inclusion and some promotional tools; going wide means giving that up and selling on Apple, Kobo, Google and others as well. It is a real trade-off with no universal answer — but if you go wide, you need a file that is not Amazon-shaped.

Should I upload directly or use an aggregator?

Direct means three portals, three sets of metadata and three payouts, and the full royalty. An aggregator such as Draft2Digital or PublishDrive does it once and takes a cut. Either way the file is the same, which is what this page is about — the distribution decision does not change the formatting.

Do I need an ISBN?

It depends on the store and it changes, so check each one's current requirements rather than trusting a formatting tool on it. What is stable: an ISBN you own keeps the imprint yours across every store, whereas a free one from a retailer is usually tied to that retailer.

What about fixed-layout books?

Not supported here. Illustrated books, children's picture books and anything where the page is a designed unit need fixed-layout EPUB, which is a different document model rather than a setting. Everything this tool makes is reflowable, which is right for novels and most non-fiction and wrong for a picture book.