Here’s the Deal

Books on Google Play vs Waterstone's

28 6

7 1

When comparing Books on Google Play vs Waterstone's, the Slant community recommends Books on Google Play for most people. In the question“What are the best eBook stores?” Books on Google Play is ranked 4th while Waterstone's is ranked 10th. The most important reason people chose Books on Google Play is:

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.

Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking

Common Questions

What are the best eBook stores?

Books on Google Play

Waterstone's

Pros

Pro
Adobe Digital Editions compatible

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.

Pro
Accessible

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

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.

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.

Ad
Cons

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.

Con
UK only store

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

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.

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.