How do HTML and EPUBcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
HyperText Markup Language
HTML is the standard markup language for creating web pages. While primarily a web technology, HTML files are also used as a portable document format with rich formatting and multimedia support.
Electronic Publication
EPUB is the open standard for digital books and publications. It supports reflowable content that adapts to any screen size, making it the preferred format for e-readers and reading apps.
| Specification | HTML | EPUB |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | HyperText Markup Language | Electronic Publication |
| Extension | .html | .epub |
| MIME type | text/html | application/epub+zip |
| Category | Document | Document |
| Developer | W3C / WHATWG | International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF) |
| Year introduced | 1993 | 2007 |
HTML and EPUB serve different purposes. HTML is ideal for web pages and email newsletters, while EPUB excels at e-books and digital publications.
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.