What are the best eBook stores?

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10

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Considered

129

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May 14, 2020

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9 Options Considered

Best eBook stores	Price	Last Updated
89 Amazon Kindle Store	-	Apr 23, 2020
-- Kobo Books	-	Apr 27, 2020
-- Books on Google Play	-	May 2, 2020
-- eBooks.com	-	May 14, 2020
-- Harlequin	-	May 8, 2020

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score 44 · Answer 1

Amazon Kindle Store

Top Pro

Often has lower prices compared to other eBook retailers

Amazon being as large as they are can often undercut the pricing of eBooks. This is not always the case as a lot of eBooks have their prices set by the publisher. this is called agency pricing. But on non-agency eBooks Amazon is often the cheapest store. See More

Top Con

All eBooks are in a proprietary format

Unlike other eBook stores, Amazon does not offer .epub's (a free and open eBook standard) for their Kindle devices. What they do offer is a proprietary format that only will work on their own Kindle devices. Sadly this creates user lock in as there is no way to take those digital titles to another reader without stripping the DRM from them (something that may or may not be illegal in certain countries) and converting to a format that does work on said other devices. See More

Top Pro

App for almost every platform

Amazon offers the Kindle app for just about every platform. So far there are apps for Android, iOS, Blackberry, PC, Mac, and Windows Phone 7. Conspicuously the Linux platform is absent from that list. See More

Top Con

A lot of books are copy and paste from the web

Large selection, but there is an ever increasing numbers of books that are less than 100 pages, mainly created copying and pasting freely available information from the web. Searching for what you want is becoming difficult, with results showing lots of pointless and poorly written small books. See More

Top Pro

Self publishing

Amazon allows for users to self publish eBooks and audiobooks. See More

Top Pro

Lots of 100% discounts

It's easy to get a lot of books for free if you use this IFTTT recipe. See More

Top Pro

Offer optional subscription service

Amazon offers an unlimited (actually it is pretty limited) eBook service similar to what netflix offer for movies. Though the selection is on the smaller side compared to their regular eBook store. See More

Top Pro

Send eBook as gift [US only]

The Amazon Kindle store allows for users to send eBooks as a gift to any e-mail address of their choosing along with a custom message, though for now this feature is US only. See More

Top Pro

Kindle Owners' Lending Library

The Kindle Owners' Lending Library is a feature of Amazon Prime, a service that costs $99 a year that includes such features as free two day shipping on Amazon orders and a membership to their video and music services. The Kindle Owners' Lending Library has more than 600,000 books users can borrow (one at a time) with no time limitation. See More

Top Pro

Kindle Daily Deals

Amazon offers discounted eBooks daily for their "Kindle Daily Deals". The eBooks can be as much as 80% off the normal retail price. Though often the eBooks on offer of of low quality or unheard of titles. See More

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score 18 · Answer 2

Kobo Books

Top Con

Not all eBooks sold on the site are Adobe Digital Editions compatible (.epub)

For some reason not all the eBooks available on the Kobo eBook site are downloadable as .ascm files. Most likely Kobo leaves this up to the publisher, as Houghton Mifflin Harcourt does not have a single book on the Kobo store that offers a separate .ascm download. What most users are unaware of is that the Kobo store is not primarily an .epub bookstore. Kobo uses a proprietary format called .kepub that only works on their own Kobo branded devices. Many of the books they sell do offer a separate .ascm file download, but not all. What exacerbates this issue is that there is currently no way for a user to know if an .ascm will be offered until after purchase. See More

Top Pro

Send eBooks as gift

Kobo Books eBook store allows users to send eBooks as gifts to their friends and loved ones. See More

RespectfulMorpheus's Experience

This was the first E-Reader I bought, Epub it is for my own series. Love it! I'm on Kobo UK. See More

Top Con

Kobo randomly changes prices

Depending on whether a user is logged in, different prices will be shown on non agency eBooks. Non agency eBooks allow for Kobo to set the price of the title instead of the publisher and sadly it does appear as though Kobo has taken advantage of this to entice new users into thinking their books are priced lower than they actually are. See More

Top Pro

Offers separate Adobe Digital Editions downloads

The Kobo eBook store offers a separate file download (most of the time) from within a users browser. this file is called and .ascm file and is what is used to add an .epub to the Adobe Digital Edition software. See More

UnderstandingSeonangsin's Experience

They have a desktop app. But the text is insanely small unless your on a 720p screen. On a 1080p screen and larger it is entirely unreadable. See More

Top Con

Desktop app doesn't function

Top Pro

Self publish

Kobo offers a way for users to self publish their own eBooks with a service called Writing Life. See More

Top Pro

Many coupons

Kobo often offers a lot of coupons for their eBook store. Some being as high as 80% off coupons. Though most only work on non agency eBooks, so not that great if the user only reads the newest of releases. See More

See All

score 9 · Answer 3

Books on Google Play

Top Pro

Adobe Digital Editions compatible

All eBooks for sale on Books on Google Play are Adobe Digital editions compatible. Google provides an option to download an .acsm file for all eBook purchased on their site. This .acsm file can then be imported into Adobe Digital editions where it can be read as an .epub inside of the application or transferred to any Adobe Digital Editions compliant .epub eReader, such as a Kobo. See More

Top Con

Does not actually follow .css and HTML guidelines when displaying user uploaded .epubs

Upon close inspection Books on Google Play does not actually follow the normal standards when displaying user uploaded .epubs but rather has it's own secret method of how it handles the internal .css and HTML. This can result in display problems for user uploaded content. See More

Top Pro

Users can upload their own DRM free .epubs or PDFs

Goolge has built in a function to allow users to upload their own eBooks. Up to 1,000 files can be stored using this function as long as each title is below 50MB. See More

Top Pro

Accessible

It is the most accessible platform for an Android phone user. Convenient. See More

See All

score 13 · Answer 4

eBooks.com

Top Pro

Send gift certificates

eBooks.com allows for users to purchase gift certificates online worth 10-100 dollars and will then e-mail said certificate to an e-mail address of the purchases choosing along with a customized message. See More

Top Con

Store feels cluttered and unintuitve

The landing page for eBooks.com feels a bit cluttered and can be confusing to navigate to the users desired section. See More

Top Pro

Free excerpts

eBooks.com offers free excerpts for their more popular eBooks. This way users can get a feel on how the title reads and what it's structure looks like. See More

Top Pro

Academic Books

eBooks.com offers academic eBooks on their store that are claimed to be from the world's leading scholarly and academic book publishers. See More

See All

score 9 · Answer 5

Harlequin

Top Pro

Books other than romance novels

Harlequin does offer eBooks that are not of the romance variety with a worldwide selection of action, suspense and adventure. See More

Top Con

High Prices

Averaging to about 85% of a hardcover price the eBooks on the Harlequin store a pretty pricey. See More

CaffeinatedBaalHammon's Experience

New reading app bookshout stinks if you don't have access to tablet or smartphone. Web based reader. See More

Top Pro

A self publishing of sorts

Harlequin use to offer self publishing under the name Harlequin Horizons but under criticism was spun off and renamed DellArte Press. So users can self publish with DellArte Press but it will not be under the moniker of Harlequin. Harlequin does still offer a way for anyone to submit their book to them but it is no guarantee it will be published. See More

Top Con

Limited to only Harlequin eBooks

The selection of eBooks on the Harlequin eBook store is limited to only Harlequin eBooks, which are mainly romance novels. See More

See All

score 7 · Answer 6

iBooks Store

Top Con

Forced to use iTunes or an Apple product

There is no webpage for the iBooks Store which means there is no way to browse Apples eBook selection without using one of their device or installing iTunes. See More

Top Pro

Send eBook as gift

iBooks recently updated their store to where users can send eBooks as gifts to their friends and family. See More

Top Con

iBooks uses its own DRM scheme called Fair Play on .epubs sold in the store

iBooks does use .epubs for its eBooks but sadly they are encrypted with their own proprietary DRM called Fair Play. This means any .epub that has Apples DRM purchased from iBooks will not be able to be used in other .epub eBook readers. See More

Top Pro

Self publishing

Users can self publish their own eBook via the iBooks store. See More

Top Pro

Sells textbooks

iBooks has textbooks for sale with a store wide rule of offering them at lower prices then what is seen on college campuses. See More

See All

score 4 · Answer 7

WHSmith

Top Pro

Instant quality with Kobo eReaders, apps and eBooks store

Instead of developing their own eBook store, eReaders or reading apps WHSmith has the instant gratification of offering quality products with an established brand. See More

Top Con

Some titles not available on the store

While most mainstream books can be found easily, there are a few smaller titles that are just not on the store at all. See More

Top Pro

WHSmith and Kobo partnership create competition

A good thing about the WHSmith eBook store and its Kobo partnership is that it creates competition in the UK for eBook stores and devices. WIth competition comes better prices and innovation. See More

Top Con

Just a re-branded Kobo eBook store

WHSmith has entered a contract to where they are now partnered with Kobo. With this deal WHSmith has replaced their old eBook store with a Kobo powered alternative. Basically it is just a WHSmith skin over the Kobo eBook store. See More

Top Con

UK only store

eBooks are only priced in GBP. See More

See All

Answer 8

Waterstone's

Top Pro

eBooks offered are Adobe Digital Editions compliant

Waterstone's eBook store sells .epubs that are encoded with Adobe Difgital Editions DRM. This allows the .epubs purchased to be used with the Adobe Digital Editions application that can then transfer purchased .epubs to ADE compliant eReaders. See More

Top Con

UK only store

Waterstone's is a UK only store, so those outside the region are out of luck purchasing from them. See More

IndependentHuitztlampaehecatl's Experience

No longer selling ebooks See More

Top Pro

Generally cheaper than WHSmith

For those that are stuck using UK eBook stores it woul appear as though Waterstone's has better prices than WHSmith. See More

Top Con

Some eBooks more expensive than paper books

Sadly Waterstone's does not have as much pull with publishers as Amazon so there are more high priced eBooks on their store. See More

Top Con

Sells Kindle devices but its eBook store is .epub only (which are incompatible)

Something of an odd predicament in that Waterstone's has a contract with Amazon to sell Kindle devices even though they only sell .epub eBooks on their Waterstone's branded eBook store. See More

See All

score 1 · Answer 9

Barnes & Noble NOOK Books

Top Pro

Send eBooks as gift

The NOOK store allows users to send eBooks as gifts to their friends and family. See More

Top Con

No legacy Windows app or Mac app

While B&N use to offer a PC and Mac app for the desktop, they pulled support officially in 2013. See More

Top Pro

Self publishing

B&N offers a way for users to self publish their eBooks to the NOOK eBook store, the service is called NOOK Press. See More

Top Con

Higher prices then competition

Part of the reason B&N is having so much trouble with the NOOK brand currently and most likely part of its decision to separate itself from it by spinning it into its own company is that since the demolishing of agency pricing they are unable to compete on prices. See More

Top Pro

NOOK app

B&N offers a NOOK app for Android, iOS and Windows 8 in their respective stores. This allows user to shop and read their eBooks natively on those operating systems. See More

Top Con

B&N not confident in NOOK brand

B&N will be spinning its NOOK division into a separate company, which does not show much faith in their own brand. What's worse is that this show of uncertainty of wanting to separate from the failing device and it's eBook store will only just further distance the customers from the NOOK. Being that their eBooks have a special DRM scheme that does not allow their .epubs to work in other device, current users better hope this new company does not fold or they will be out of their entire NOOK eBook library. See More

Top Con

Uses a special DRM on their eBooks, any eBook purchased from B&N is not Adobe Digital Edition compliant

While B&N does use and read .epub on their devices, any eBook purchased from the B&N eBook store will not be able to be used in other .epub readers unless the DRM is stripped from said eBook. See More

See All

score 2 · Answer 10

9 Options Considered

My Recommendation for Amazon Kindle Store

My Recommendation for Amazon Kindle Store

Often has lower prices compared to other eBook retailers

All eBooks are in a proprietary format

App for almost every platform

A lot of books are copy and paste from the web

Self publishing

Lots of 100% discounts

Offer optional subscription service

Send eBook as gift [US only]

Kindle Owners' Lending Library

Kindle Daily Deals

My Recommendation for Kobo Books

My Recommendation for Kobo Books

Not all eBooks sold on the site are Adobe Digital Editions compatible (.epub)

Send eBooks as gift

Kobo randomly changes prices

Offers separate Adobe Digital Editions downloads

Desktop app doesn't function

Self publish

Many coupons

My Recommendation for Books on Google Play

My Recommendation for Books on Google Play

Adobe Digital Editions compatible

Does not actually follow .css and HTML guidelines when displaying user uploaded .epubs

Users can upload their own DRM free .epubs or PDFs

Accessible

My Recommendation for eBooks.com

My Recommendation for eBooks.com

Send gift certificates

Store feels cluttered and unintuitve

Free excerpts

Academic Books

My Recommendation for Harlequin

My Recommendation for Harlequin

Books other than romance novels

High Prices

A self publishing of sorts

Limited to only Harlequin eBooks

My Recommendation for iBooks Store

My Recommendation for iBooks Store

Forced to use iTunes or an Apple product

Send eBook as gift

iBooks uses its own DRM scheme called Fair Play on .epubs sold in the store

Self publishing

Sells textbooks

My Recommendation for WHSmith

My Recommendation for WHSmith

Instant quality with Kobo eReaders, apps and eBooks store

Some titles not available on the store

WHSmith and Kobo partnership create competition

Just a re-branded Kobo eBook store

UK only store

My Recommendation for Waterstone's

My Recommendation for Waterstone's

eBooks offered are Adobe Digital Editions compliant

UK only store

Generally cheaper than WHSmith

Some eBooks more expensive than paper books

Sells Kindle devices but its eBook store is .epub only (which are incompatible)

My Recommendation for Barnes & Noble NOOK Books

My Recommendation for Barnes & Noble NOOK Books

Send eBooks as gift

No legacy Windows app or Mac app

Self publishing

Higher prices then competition

NOOK app

B&N not confident in NOOK brand

Uses a special DRM on their eBooks, any eBook purchased from B&N is not Adobe Digital Edition compliant

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