How to Convert EPUB to PDF: Ultimate Ebook Conversion Guide in 2024

The Internet is filled with different file types developed for particular purposes. Among them, ebooks are the most prevalent form of digital reading. EPUB is a widely used format for ebooks because of its compatibility and ability to grow and evolve. But there are cases when it needs to be converted to PDF. A user may want to send an ebook to a device that does not support ebooks or needs a common format for printing or backup. Regardless of the situation, this guide will help users know how to convert EPUB to PDF using various tools and services.

First, let us understand what separates EPUB and PDF formats.

What Are EPUB and PDF Formats?

EPUB stands for Electronic Publication and it is basically for ebooks. EPUB is a flexible format that changes content size to fit size of a screen. This makes it perfect for reading on tablets, smartphones, and other e-readers.

EPUB format files can have various multimedia features. For instance, images, audio, or even interactive elements.

PDF (Portable Document Format) files do not change their page layout regardless of the device it is opened at. This is because the formatting of the content doesn’t change from one PDF reader to another, making them ideal for printing and sharing.

PDFs are supported by most operating systems which makes PDF format compatible and accepted by all. It has become the ultimate standard for universally accepted documents.

Why Convert EPUB to PDF?

EPUB is excellent because of its flexibility. However, certain scenarios compel users to convert their EPUB format to PDF documents. Let us take a look at some of these reasons:

• Device Compatibility: While some devices or applications accept EPUB files, PDFs are universally acceptable for all applications and devices.
• Printing: PDFs are the best mode of high-quality printing because of their nature of having a fixed structure.
• Archiving and Sharing: PDFs are a perfect fit for long-term storage and easy sharing because the contents of the file do not degrade in formatting.
• Professional Use: PDFs are better suited for presentations or any document that needs to be standardized.
• Enhanced Security: PDFs can also include option such as password protection and digital rights management.

How to Convert EPUB Format to PDF: Distinction by Category

Here, we have categorized multiple tools and techniques to convert EPUB files to PDF by platform, operating system, and device type.

Let us start with the platform distinction first.

I. Conversion Methods by Platform

By platform, we mean Offline tools and Online tools. Lets take a look:

Desktop/Offline Tools – Convert EPUB to PDF Without Internet

This is the MOST Secure Conversion Type since ebooks are not uploaded to the internet and hence remains safe within the confines of the system.

Offline tools are the best if users need to frequently convert ebooks to PDF, or has multiple ebook files for bulk conversion.

Option #1: SysTools EPUB to PDF Converter

Its official name is SysTools Document Converter. Users can download the free demo version of the tool from below and test the conversion process with 5 EPUB files at a time. Once satisfied with the exported PDFs, users can opt for the full licensed version with unlimited conversions.

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Features:

• A professional tool that converts multiple EPUB files to PDF with no limits.
• Keeps the ebook content secure inside the PDF with a password protection feature.
• No need for Internet or any other application.
• Provides a preview of your ebook files before conversion.
• Supports all ebook formats, including TXT, EPUB, MOBI & AZW.
• Retains the formatting of the EPUB file as the format it was downloaded in.
• Multiple PDF Settings before conversion.

Steps to Convert EPUB Format to PDF:

1. Download and set up the software in your system.
2. Click on Add File and browse for the EPUB file(s) you want the tool to check.
3. Preview the ebooks inside the software interface.
4. Choose to add password protection.
5. If necessary adjust the PDF settings and click Export to initiate the process of conversion.

Also read: How to Convert Apple Numbers to PDF?

Option #2: Microsoft Word

Features:

• Despite being primarily a word processor, users can perform rather simple EPUB to PDF conversion in Microsoft Word.
• Especially good for dealing with text-based EPUB files.

Steps to Convert:

1. When the EPUB file is opened in Microsoft Word, it appears with multiple separate documents in a folder window.
2. Change the formatting as necessary to the final appearance you want for the ebook.
3. Now click on ‘Save As’ in the File menu to save the file as a PDF format.

Online Tools – Convert EPUB to PDF Online

Online tools are ideal for simple, one-off conversions. The ebook file must be uploaded to the online web server and hence this method is not meant for converting sensitive ebooks whose content users do not wish to share with others.

Features:

• Ideal for small files and quick conversions.
• Browser based so can be used from all devices as long as it has an internet and a web browser.

Steps to convert:

1. Open the online converter website on any web browser.
2. Upload an epub file using the given option or by dragging and dropping the epub file on the online tool’s interface.
3. Some tools start converting ebook to PDF as soon as the file is uploaded. Simply wait for the process to complete.
4. While other tools need users to click on the provided Convert option. Here, click on the button to start the process and wait for it to complete.
5. Finally, download the exported PDF file from the website.

Top Online EPUB to PDF Converters

Some popular online tools are: Zamzar, CloudConvert, PDF24 Creator, Convertio, Online-Convert.com.

New online tools are launched almost every week so users can find a plethora of them on the internet.

Another conversion scenario: How to Convert RTF to PDF

II. Methods by Operating System

By operating system, we mean Windows, Mac, and Linux. Let’s take a look:

Windows Methods – Convert EPUB Format to PDF on Windows OS

Windows users have a plethora of options to choose from when it comes to EPUB ebook conversion. The native print option, Adobe and other PDF editors, online solutions and professional third party batch conversion software; all are available for Windows OS users.

Option #1: Built-in Microsoft Print to PDF

Feature: 

• Windows’ built-in printing feature
• It works without additional software.

Steps to Convert EPUB to PDF using Print option:

1. Click on the EPUB file to open it with any EPUB compatible application like Microsoft Edge.
2. Now, use a keyboard shortcut: press Ctrl + P.
3. Choose “Microsoft Print to PDF” from the available options of printers.
4. Click on the folder where users want to save the PDF and click on Print.
5. Users will now export EPUB into a PDF format.

Option #2: Adobe Acrobat Pro

Features:

• A premium tool to work with PDF files.
• Must be bought with a subscription.
• It offers advanced formatting and editing.

Steps to Convert EPUB to PDF using Adobe:

1. Open Adobe Acrobat Pro (not Reader) in a Windows PC.
2. Navigate to the option File > Create > PDF from File.
3. Browse and select the EPUB file.
4. Adobe Acrobat will automatically convert the ebook file into a PDF.
5. Save the PDF by clicking File > Save As.

Option #3: Online Converters from Windows Web Browsers

Features:

• Quick and easy conversion
• Converts limited files at once (suitable for single conversion)
• No need for software installation
• Requires internet to work

Steps to Convert EPUB to PDF online and free from Windows:

1. Go to an online converter of the website as Zamzar, Convertio, or CloudConvert after opening a browser.
2. Choose the EPUB file that you have on your computer.
3. Select PDF, if required.
4. Click “Convert” or “Start.”
5. After the conversion, download the PDF file to Windows desktop by clicking on the Download link.

Option #4: Third-party Software (SysTools Converter)

Features:

• A robust software meant for batch conversion.
• Preserves formatting.
• Supports the latest Windows OS versions without any issues.
• Best EPUB to PDF converter for Windows.

Steps to Convert:

• Open the software and select “Add File” or “Add Folder” to import EPUB files.
• All ebooks are fully previewed in the interface.
• Next, set the save location, and if necessary, tweak the other settings that can be found on the ribbon.
• To start the conversion process, click on the “Export” button.
• After this, click on “View Report” to locate the converted PDFs in the specified destination folder.

Mac Methods – Convert EBooks to PDF on Mac OS

Mac users also have the advantage of multiple choices for their conversion needs. A native option, i.e., the Apple Books app, along with the powerful Mac variant of SysTools software allows single and batch conversion as per users’ needs.

Option #1: SysTools Mac Software (Batch Conversion)

SysTools Document Converter also provides a conversion tool for Mac users. This software has all the functionalities of its Windows counterpart (discussed earlier) and hence is one of the best eBook to PDF conversion methods on any macOS system.

Users can check the step-by-step working of the Mac software here: How-it Works Guide for Mac.

Option #2: Apple Books (Single Conversion)

Features:

• A built-in application of macOS so no need for additional software.
• It primarily deals with eBooks and supports the EPUB file format.

Steps to Convert EPUB to PDF Using Apple Books:

1. Double-click and open the EPUB ebook file in Apple Books.
2. Now, go to File, then Print or use the keyboard shortcut Command+P.
3. Look for the PDF option in the dropdown.
4. Select it and proceed to print the EPUB file in a PDF format.

Linux Methods – Export EPUB File into PDF on Linux OS

Most Linux users prefer using free and open-source programs to handle file conversions. Regardless of what is most comfortable to you, be it using graphical interfaces or command-line solutions to convert EPUB ebook to PDF, we have it covered here.

Option #1: Open-Source Conversion Tools

Features:

• Many open source software such as Calibre are capable of managing several format of ebooks such as the EPUB and the PDF format.
• Enables the conversion of one or many EPUB files at a single instance.
• Contains options to change the formatting and metadata of file.

Steps to Convert EPUB ebooks to PDF Using Calibre:

1. To use Calibre, you need to install it from your package manager; for Debian/Ubuntu, that would be sudo apt install calibre, and for Flatpak/Snap, you’d use the software center.
2. Open the program Calibre and click on ‘Add books’ to add your EPUB file.
3. Right-click on the EPUB file and click on convert books in the toolbar.
4. When on the conversion window, select PDF as the format to be downloaded.
5. You can change options such as the size of the font, position of margins or even the format of the whole document if needed.
6. Click on OK in order to begin the conversion process. The PDF file will be stored in the folder of your Calibre library.

Option #2: Command-Line Tools

Features:

• Highly effective and suitable for tech-savvy command line users..
• In this case, there are many options available including ebook-convert which is part of Calibre package.
• Batch conversion is also possible through scripts.

Steps to Convert EPUB to PDF Using Command-Line Tools:

1. To use Calibre CLI tools, first, install the same (in most distributions, you use sudo apt install calibre command).
2. In the terminal, go to the folder where your EPUB file is located.
3. Use this command to convert the file: ebook-convert input.epub output.pdf  
4. For more customization, add flags to the command (e.g., to set page size or margins): book-convert input.epub output.pdf –page-size A4 –margin-top 10  
5. After the command execution, the PDF file will be created at the mentioned directory.

Another scenario to read: Convert ODT to PDF

III. Methods by Mobile OS

On mobile devices, one can easily read ebooks while on the move. Both Android & iOS platforms have convenient applications in their store to facilitate conversions. Moreover, the online converter, which supports browsers, operates on all mobile devices. Described below are the three most effective ways of saving an EPUB file as PDF on a mobile device.

Option #1. Google Drive (for Android Users)

Feature:

Google Play Books app is a native way to open and read ebooks on Android phones. However, it does not support converting ebooks to PDF. So, we have come up with a workaround that is closest to any native means users can find on Android.

Steps to Convert EPUB to PDF on Android Natively:

1. Upload the EPUB file to Google Drive.
2. Go to Google Drive and open the EPUB file in Google Docs. Now, you have two options:
   1. Go to the 3 vertical lines (menu) and click on the Download button. G Drive downloads the file into PDF by default.
   2. Another way is to click on the Print button instead of downloading. Then, select Save as PDF from the Preview menu (3 vertical lines).
3. Open and use the PDF file as required.

Option #2. Apple Books (for IOS users)

Features:

Apple Books is a native iOS app to read ebooks on iOS devices. It is integrated with iCloud to sync the ebooks across Apple devices. Unlike Google Play Books, Apple Books has the option to export to PDF.

Steps to Download EPUB format in PDF format on iOS Mobile devices:

1. Find the EPUB file that you wish to convert and click Share.
2. Click on Copy to Books and this will open the EPUB file in the Apple Books.
3. When in the title, tap the Share icon (it looks like a square with an arrow).
4. Select the option Export as PDF.
5. Export the PDF to iCloud, local storage or share them via email or any other application on your device.

Option #3. Online Converters for Mobile

Features:

• Online converters can be used from any mobile device that connects to the Internet.
• Works with Android devices, iPhones, iPads, iPods, as well as blackberry and Windows phones.
• It is not necessary to install any application on your device because it runs on the browser.

Steps to Convert EPUB format to PDF:

1. Locate your mobile device browser and go to an online converter you prefer.
2. Select the EPUB file using the Choose File button or you can just navigate to the file through your phone’s directory.
3. Choose PDF as the output format at the bottom of the page.
4. Click on Convert to trigger the unfolding of the conversion process.
5. Once done, click on Download PDF and save the document to your device or Google Drive or Dropbox.

Two Important Questions

1. Which methods support batch conversion?

Batch conversion refers to converting multiple files simultaneously, saving time and effort. Among the listed methods, the following support batch conversion:

1. SysTools Document Converter (Windows & Mac)

• It allows users to add multiple EPUB files (via the “Add Folder” option) and convert them to PDF in one go.
• It is best for Windows users handling large volumes of files.

2. Open-Source Conversion Tools (Linux)

• Tools like Calibre on Linux offer batch conversion options. You can add multiple EPUB files and convert them all to PDF simultaneously.
• It is best for Linux users looking for open-source solutions.

3. Command-Line Tools (Linux)

• Command-line utilities like ebook-convert (part of Calibre) can handle batch processing through scripts. Simply loop through a directory of EPUB files to convert them all at once.
• It is best for Tech-savvy Linux users comfortable with scripting.

Q2. Which methods support only single/individual conversion?

All other methods support single conversion:

• Online EPUB to PDF Converters – Single or Limited Conversion
• Microsoft Word (Offline)
• Built-in Microsoft Print to PDF (Windows)
• Apple Books (Mac & iOS Mobile devices)
• Google Drive (Android devices)

Final Thoughts

As it has been mentioned, there are numerous tools to convert EPUB to PDF. Once users are aware of them, the process does not look complicated anymore. In other words, no matter whether users work on a desktop application, use online services or have a mobile device, they will find a way to know how to convert EPUB format to PDF. Simply choose the method that best meets users’ requirements.