MOBI is the format Amazon retired in favour of KFX, and it is still what older Kindles, some library systems and a handful of direct-sales platforms read. If a reader with a ten-year-old device cannot open your book, that is still a sale and a review lost — so the format is worth getting right rather than assuming the EPUB covers it.
What you receive
- A tested MOBI file converted from a validated EPUB, not from a Word document.
- A working HTML table of contents plus the reader’s own navigation, because MOBI handles the two differently.
- Cover embedded correctly at the size older devices expect, with the thumbnail showing rather than a grey placeholder.
- Metadata written into the file: title, author, language and publisher, so a sideloaded copy still identifies itself.
- The source EPUB as well, since that is what modern stores actually want.
How the conversion runs
- Start from a clean EPUB. Converting a manuscript straight to MOBI imports every formatting fault twice.
- Convert with the settings that preserve structure: no font overrides, no forced page breaks, images resampled for older screens.
- Inspect the result on an emulated older Kindle, checking chapter starts, the contents menu and the cover.
- Deliver both files with a note on where each is appropriate.
Do you still need MOBI at all?
For KDP, no — upload the EPUB and Amazon generates its own KFX file. For everything else, sometimes yes: older devices, direct downloads from your own site, library catalogues with legacy systems and a few aggregators. The honest answer is that most authors need MOBI only if they sell direct or support readers with old hardware, and we will say so rather than selling a file you will never use.
Why conversion order matters
Every conversion loses something. Word to MOBI loses styles and sometimes italics; EPUB to MOBI loses very little. Building the EPUB properly first and converting once from it keeps the file faithful, and it means the same source can produce KFX, AZW3 and PDF later without the book being rebuilt each time. It is the difference between a format and a pipeline.
Direct downloads and your own shop
Selling from your own site means supporting whatever device the buyer owns, and that means offering three files: EPUB for modern readers, MOBI for older Kindles, PDF for tablets and computers. Delivering all three from one purchase is the difference between a smooth download and a refund request. Because they are built from a single validated source, a typo fixed once is fixed in every format rather than in the one the reader happens to have.
Pricing
| Tier | Scope | Price | Was | You save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 1 ebook | $20 | $30 | |
| Professional | 3 ebooks | $60 | $75 | |
| Bulk / Authority | 5 ebooks | $100 | $100 |
Frequent questions
Can you convert my existing MOBI to EPUB?
Yes, though the result is only as clean as the original. We will flag structural problems before charging for a polish.
Does MOBI support images?
Yes, but greyscale rendering on early devices is crude. We test and resize accordingly.
Which file should I upload to KDP?
The EPUB. Amazon converts it to its current format automatically and the result is better than a MOBI upload.
Convert my book — send the manuscript or the existing EPUB.