You bought the book. You should be able to read it however you want. But for years, ebook platforms locked your purchases into proprietary formats — Kindle files only worked on Kindle, Kobo files only on Kobo, and getting a universal EPUB felt like a heist.
That's changing. In January 2026, Amazon started letting customers download DRM-free Kindle books as EPUB files — a format that works on practically every reading device and app on the planet. Google Play Books and Kobo have their own export options too.
This guide walks you through every platform. Where to click, what to expect, and what catches to watch for. No hacks, no sketchy tools — just the official methods.
Amazon Kindle: Download as EPUB
New in 2026: Amazon now offers EPUB and PDF downloads for DRM-free Kindle books.
Starting January 20, 2026, Amazon added EPUB and PDF download options to the “Manage Your Content and Devices” page. If a book is DRM-free, you can download it as a standard EPUB and read it on any device — Kobo, Apple Books, any EPUB reader.
How to download
- 1.Go to amazon.com/mycd (Manage Your Content and Devices)
- 2.Find the book you want to download
- 3.Click the Actions button (three dots) next to the title
- 4.Select "Download & transfer" from the menu
- 5.Choose EPUB or PDF format
- 6.Save the file to your computer
The Art of Clear Thinking
Hasard Lee
Atomic Habits
James Clear
Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir
EPUB and PDF downloads are available for DRM-free titles only. Books with DRM protection can be read on Kindle devices and apps.
What to know
- Purchased books only — not Kindle Unlimited or borrowed titles
- Books published after December 9, 2025 have a DRM opt-out checkbox for authors
- Books published before December 9, 2025 require the author to manually enable DRM-free downloads
- Kindle Unlimited titles are never available for EPUB download
Google Play Books
Google Play Books lets you download purchased ebooks — but the format depends on the publisher's DRM settings. DRM-free books download as clean EPUB files. DRM-protected books download as ACSM files instead.
How to download
- 1.Go to play.google.com/books
- 2.Open your library and find the book
- 3.Click the three-dot menu on the book
- 4.Select "Export" or "Download EPUB"
- 5.If the book is DRM-free, you get a standard EPUB file
.acsmfile — a download ticket that requires Adobe Digital Editions to open. You can't read ACSM files in most ebook apps directly. Only DRM-free titles give you a real EPUB.Kobo
Kobo has the most straightforward download flow of the major platforms. Every purchased book has a download option — though DRM-protected books come with Adobe DRM attached.
How to download
- 1.Log in to kobo.com
- 2.Go to My Account → My Books
- 3.Find the book and click the Actions icon (three dots)
- 4.Select Download
- 5.Choose EPUB format
Kobo labels its downloads clearly. You'll see “Download EPUB” for DRM-free books and “Adobe DRM EPUB” for protected ones. DRM-free books work in any reader. Adobe DRM books require Adobe Digital Editions or a compatible reader.
Apple Books
Apple Books uses FairPlay DRM on virtually all purchased content. There is no official “Download as EPUB” option. Books you purchase on Apple are designed to stay in the Apple ecosystem.
Not recommended for EPUB export
Apple modifies EPUB files when importing them, and purchased books are locked with FairPlay DRM. If you want portable ebooks, buy from platforms that support EPUB download — Kindle (DRM-free), Google Play, or Kobo.
If you already have books in Apple Books and need them as EPUB, your best option is to repurchase from a DRM-free source or find the title on one of the free libraries listed below.
Free DRM-Free EPUB Sources
Don't want to deal with DRM at all? These libraries offer thousands of books as clean, unrestricted EPUB files. Download, read anywhere, convert to audiobook — no restrictions.
Project Gutenberg
gutenberg.org
Over 60,000 free public domain books. Classic literature, historical texts, foundational works. The largest free ebook library in existence.
Standard Ebooks
standardebooks.org
Beautifully formatted editions of public domain books. Modern typography, careful proofreading, and professional cover art.
Open Library
openlibrary.org
Internet Archive's lending library. Borrow ebooks from a catalog of millions. Some titles available for direct DRM-free download.
Smashwords
smashwords.com
Indie publishing platform (now part of Draft2Digital). Many authors publish DRM-free. Huge catalog of self-published fiction and non-fiction.
Platform Comparison
| Platform | EPUB Download | DRM Default | Ease |
|---|---|---|---|
Amazon Kindle New in Jan 2026 | DRM-free only | Most have DRM | Medium |
Google Play Books ACSM for DRM titles | DRM-free only | Most have DRM | Medium |
Kobo Best official support | All books | Mixed | Easy |
Apple Books FairPlay lock-in | No | Always DRM | N/A |
Project Gutenberg Free, public domain | Always | Never | Easy |
Standard Ebooks Free, beautifully formatted | Always | Never | Easy |
What Is DRM? The 30-Second Version
DRM (Digital Rights Management) is copy protection that publishers add to ebooks. It locks a file to a specific platform or device. A Kindle book with DRM only works on Kindle. A Kobo book with Adobe DRM needs Adobe Digital Editions.
With DRM
- Locked to one platform or app
- Can't convert to other formats
- Can't share with your own devices freely
- Publisher controls how you read
DRM-Free
- Read on any device or app
- Convert to other formats freely
- Back up your library
- Turn into an audiobook
The shift toward DRM-free is accelerating. Amazon's 2026 EPUB download feature only works for DRM-free books — which gives publishers a real incentive to drop DRM. More DRM-free books means more choices for readers.
What to Do with Your EPUB
Turn Your EPUB into an Audiobook
Got your EPUB file? Now give it a voice. Upload it to Notevibes and AI handles the rest — chapter detection, character identification, voice assignment, and narration. One book in, full audiobook out.
550+
AI voices
57
Languages
Minutes
Not months
- 1.Upload your EPUB (or Kindle, PDF, DOCX, or plain text)
- 2.AI detects chapters and speaking characters automatically
- 3.Assign unique voices to each character from 550+ options
- 4.Generate narration — all chapters process in parallel
- 5.Download as MP3 or publish to Audible, Spotify, Apple Books
Questions?
Can I download Kindle books as EPUB now?
Yes — if the book is DRM-free. Starting January 20, 2026, Amazon lets you download DRM-free Kindle books as EPUB or PDF from the Manage Your Content and Devices page. Books with DRM don't have this option.
How do I know if a Kindle book is DRM-free before buying?
Unfortunately, Amazon doesn't label books as DRM-free on the product page. The only way to check is after purchase — go to Manage Your Content and Devices and look for the "Download & transfer" option. If it's there with EPUB/PDF format choices, the book is DRM-free.
What is an ACSM file?
An ACSM (Adobe Content Server Message) file is a download ticket, not an actual book. When you download a DRM-protected ebook from Google Play or Kobo, you get an ACSM file that must be opened with Adobe Digital Editions to access the content. DRM-free books give you a real EPUB instead.
Can I download Kindle Unlimited books as EPUB?
No. Kindle Unlimited titles are licensed for reading within the Kindle app only. The EPUB download feature is exclusively for books you've purchased outright. Borrowed, rented, and subscription titles are not eligible.
Which platform is best for DRM-free ebook purchases?
Kobo is the most DRM-friendly major retailer — many publishers offer DRM-free editions on Kobo that are locked elsewhere. For guaranteed DRM-free, try Smashwords (Draft2Digital) or buy directly from independent publishers.
Are Project Gutenberg books really free?
Yes. Project Gutenberg offers over 60,000 public domain books — completely free, no account needed, no DRM. These are works whose copyright has expired: classic literature, historical texts, and foundational scientific works.
Can I turn an EPUB into an audiobook?
Yes. Upload your EPUB to Notevibes and AI detects chapters, identifies speaking characters, and assigns unique voices. Generate professional narration with 550+ voices across 57 languages. What used to take weeks in a studio takes minutes.
What's the difference between EPUB, MOBI, and AZW3?
EPUB is the universal open standard — works everywhere except old Kindle devices. MOBI and AZW3 are Amazon's proprietary formats that only work on Kindle. With Amazon now offering EPUB downloads, EPUB is becoming the single universal format.
Is it legal to download my purchased ebooks as EPUB?
Yes. Downloading DRM-free ebooks you've purchased in EPUB format is completely legal. Amazon, Google Play, and Kobo all offer official download paths. You're simply accessing content you've already paid for in a different format.
Will more Kindle books become available as EPUB over time?
Likely yes. Amazon's new EPUB feature creates a strong incentive for publishers to drop DRM — DRM-free books get wider distribution and happier customers. As more publishers opt out of DRM, more Kindle books will support EPUB download.
Your EPUB. 550 voices. Minutes to audiobook.
Download your ebook, upload it to Notevibes, and hear your book come alive with AI narration. No studio. No actors. No waiting.
Create Your AudiobookUpload EPUB, Kindle, PDF, or DOCX · AI character detection · Full commercial rights