Convert EPUB to text
Pull the words out of an ebook for reading, searching, note-taking or text-to-speech, without sending the book anywhere.
Drop files here
or click to choose from your deviceAccepted: EPUB
Up to 3 files per runUp to 20 MB per file10 runs per dayRemove limits with Pro✓ Works offline
Your files stay on your device
This tool runs entirely in your browser using WebAssembly. Nothing is uploaded, nothing is stored, and you can even turn off your internet connection before you start.
How it works
- Drop .epub files onto the box, or choose them from your device.
- Pick the output format. Plain text gives paragraphs separated by blank lines; Markdown keeps headings, emphasis and lists so the structure survives.
- Press Extract text. The EPUB is unzipped in your browser, the spine is read from the package file, and each chapter's XHTML is converted in reading order.
- Download the .txt or .md file, one per book.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the ebook uploaded?
- No. An EPUB is a ZIP archive of XHTML files; it is unzipped and parsed entirely in your browser. The book never leaves your device, and the tool works offline.
- Does it work with DRM-protected books?
- No. Books bought from stores that apply DRM, such as Adobe ADEPT or Kindle, have encrypted chapter files that cannot be read. Only DRM-free EPUBs, such as those from Project Gutenberg, Standard Ebooks or your own publishing tools, can be converted.
- In what order are chapters output?
- In spine order, the reading order the publisher defined in the OPF package file. This matches how an ereader would page through the book, including front matter and appendices.
- What about images, footnotes and formatting?
- Images are dropped; alt text is not included. Footnote text is kept where it appears in the source files. Plain text discards formatting; Markdown keeps headings, bold, italic, lists and block quotes.
- Are EPUB 2 and EPUB 3 both supported?
- Yes. Both use the same container structure and OPF package, so they are handled identically. Fixed-layout and comic EPUBs contain little text and produce short output.
- What are the free limits?
- The free plan allows 3 files per run, 20 MB per file and 10 runs per day. Pro removes these limits.
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