Edit EPUB Files iLovePDF Can't Handle

iLovePDF is excellent at PDF — merge, split, compress, e-sign, watermark, page extract. For EPUB files specifically, their toolkit stops at "convert to PDF." If you need to edit EPUB metadata, validate structure, merge volumes, split by chapter, or fix a broken file, iLovePDF doesn't cover it. Use them for PDF work, use a specialist for the EPUB side.

What iLovePDF does well

PDF merge, split, compress, convert (to/from Office formats and images), watermark, e-sign, organise. The interface is clean. The free tier is generous. For PDF-only work, this is among the best tools online and you should keep using it.

Where iLovePDF stops on EPUB

• EPUB-to-PDF conversion exists (basic, no quality controls). PDF-to-EPUB doesn't really exist as a first-class tool.
• No EPUB metadata editor — title, author, cover, series, ISBN, language are all unreachable through their UI.
• No EPUB validator — broken manifest entries, malformed OPF, missing spine items will silently break your file at the destination (KDP, Apple Books, Kobo).
• No chapter splitter, no merge, no AI cover, no MCP server, no developer API for EPUB.

This isn't a slight on iLovePDF — they're a PDF specialist that happens to do basic EPUB conversion. EPUB internals (OPF, manifest, spine, NAV) are a different problem from PDF internals (page tree, content streams, fonts), and a tool focused on one will rarely cover the other.

What Epublys covers that iLovePDF doesn't

• Validate EPUB — full structural scan against EPUB 2/3 spec with optional auto-fix. The output is what you get from the official EPUBCheck, in plain English.
• Edit metadata — title, author, cover, language, publisher, description, ISBN, series. Writes valid OPF directly, doesn't touch chapter content.
• Merge and split — combine series into omnibuses, extract chapter ranges. NAV/TOC is rebuilt correctly.
• Compress — image optimisation, font subsetting, ZIP recompression. Most EPUBs are 30-70% over their actual content size; the compressor finds and fixes it.
• AI book cover generator (Pro) — FLUX-powered, paste a description, apply directly to your EPUB.
• MCP server + REST API — for agent workflows and integrations.

What Epublys doesn't do (so you'll still want iLovePDF)

• PDF-specific operations: PDF merge, page extraction, watermark, e-sign, organise, page rotation, redaction.
• Image operations beyond the cover-on-EPUB use case.
• Office format conversions (Word ↔ PDF, Excel ↔ PDF).

The cleanest workflow for indie authors I've seen: iLovePDF for PDF prep work (manuscript drafts, page-level edits), Epublys for EPUB authoring and validation (final ebook output). Both have free tiers; you don't have to pick one over the other.

Pricing

iLovePDF Premium $4-9/month (annual). Epublys Pro $9/month flat or $72/year. For pure PDF, iLovePDF is cheaper. For full EPUB lifecycle work, Epublys is the more complete fit.

• How to convert PDF to EPUB — when conversion is what you actually need
• Fix common EPUB errors — what the validator catches
• Self-publish ebook workflow — KDP/Apple Books prep
• All free EPUB tools