# KEPUB vs EPUB: what's the difference?

Source: https://epubcc.com/answers/kepub-vs-epub/ (updated 2026-11-04)

KEPUB is Kobo's own variant of EPUB, named .kepub.epub, which Kobo devices open with Kobo's own rendering engine instead of the generic EPUB one. A plain EPUB opens on every Kobo and on almost every other reader, so it is the file to make first; KEPUB is an optional extra for Kobo owners.

## What they have in common

A KEPUB is still an EPUB inside: a ZIP container with XHTML chapters, CSS, images and a package document. The difference is the extension and the extra markup Kobo's engine works with, which is why the books sold in Kobo's store use it.

## Why people choose one or the other

- EPUB: one file for Kobo, PocketBook, Apple Books, Google Play Books and, through Send to Kindle, Kindle. It is the standard format, published by the W3C as EPUB 3.3.
- KEPUB: some Kobo owners prefer it for the reading statistics and page-turn behaviour of Kobo's own engine.
- A KEPUB is meant for Kobo devices and apps; other readers may treat it as an ordinary EPUB or not open it at all.

## Converting a PDF for a Kobo

Convert the PDF to a plain EPUB 3 and copy it to the Kobo by USB, or add it from the Kobo app. If you want a KEPUB, third-party tools can turn the finished EPUB into one afterwards. EpubCC writes standard EPUB 3 and does not produce KEPUB files.

What decides how the book reads on the Kobo is the conversion itself: paragraphs joined, running headers removed, chapters and notes recovered. The format variant does not repair a poor conversion, so check the free sample of your PDF on the device before worrying about KEPUB. If the plain EPUB reads well, most people never need anything else.

**Can I rename an .epub file to .kepub.epub?** Renaming alone does not add the markup Kobo's engine expects. Use a tool built to produce KEPUB, or simply keep the plain EPUB, which every Kobo opens.

**Does a KEPUB work on a Kindle?** Kindle takes standard EPUB files through Send to Kindle. Send the plain EPUB rather than a KEPUB.