10 Best Software To Create Interactive PDFs and Ebooks

In this article I’ll focus on the top applications that make the best interactive PDFs and eBooks, including their unique features and functionalities.

As a designer, educator, marketer, or an author, you can make use of videos, links, animations, and many other tools that will make your digital publications, interactive and professional.

Key Points & Best Software To Create Interactive PDFs and Ebooks List

Software Name	Key Features
Adobe InDesign	Industry-standard for interactive PDFs; supports buttons, forms, videos, animations, and EPUB export.
Canva	User-friendly drag-and-drop editor; allows hyperlinks, embedded media, and PDF export; great for beginners.
Visme	Visual content creation tool; supports interactivity with pop-ups, buttons, videos, and animations; exports to PDF or HTML5.
Kotobee Author	Specialized for interactive eBooks; supports quizzes, videos, widgets; exports to EPUB, MOBI, and SCORM-compliant formats.
Lucidpress (Marq)	Cloud-based design tool; allows for interactive elements like hyperlinks and embedded videos; easy collaboration and PDF export.
Flipsnack	Converts PDFs to interactive flipbooks; supports links, videos, forms; ideal for marketing and publishing.
Designrr	eBook creation tool; imports content from blogs, Word, or PDFs; supports media embedding and automatic formatting.
Calibre (with plugins)	Open-source eBook manager; with plugins, supports interactive EPUBs; excellent for eBook conversion and metadata editing.
Flip PDF Plus Pro	Turns static PDFs into interactive flipbooks; supports multimedia, hyperlinks, page transitions, and mobile compatibility.
Affinity Publisher	Professional publishing tool; allows buttons, hyperlinks, anchors, and PDF forms; affordable one-time purchase.

10 Best Software To Create Interactive PDFs and Ebooks

1.Adobe InDesign

Adobe InDesign is one of best professional publishing and layout design software. It lets users to make hyperlinked buttons, videos, and animated instructions to make interactive EPUB and PDFs.

InDesign also allows the creation of forms and the insertion of multimedia, which makes it suitable for digital brochures and magazines as well as other interactive documents. Exports are as interactive PDFs or EPUBs (reflowable and fixed layout).

As it contains powerful features and provides precise control over typography and layout, it is favored by many publishers and designers. In many cases, it’s better for advanced users.

Feature	Description
Interactive PDFs	Supports buttons, hyperlinks, and form fields
Multimedia Integration	Embed videos, audio, and animations
EPUB Export	Create reflowable and fixed-layout eBooks
Precision Layout	Advanced typography and layout control
Professional Templates	Access to a wide range of design templates
Integration	Works seamlessly with Adobe Creative Cloud suite
PDF Forms	Create fillable and interactive PDF forms
Accessibility Support	Tools to ensure PDFs are accessible (t

2.Canva

Canva is an online design tool that is popular because the people using it believe that it is easy to navigate. It also demonstrates the ability to create attractive documents which could then be exported to interactive PDF documents with working hyperlinks.

Although more advanced interactive features such as embedding videos or animations on the PDF are not supported, it is an excellent starting point for users aiming to achieve refined, polished documents swiftly.

Over a thousand templates for eBooks, presentations, and even brochures are supplied. There is also collaborative and cloud storage support.

Although its advanced interactivity options are limited, its user-friendly drag-and-drop interface is a boon to content creators, educators, and small businesses looking to quickly generate attractive documents.

Feature	Description
Interactive PDFs	Supports buttons, hyperlinks, and form fields
Multimedia Integration	Embed videos, audio, and animations
EPUB Export	Create reflowable and fixed-layout eBooks
Precision Layout	Advanced typography and layout control
Professional Templates	Access to a wide range of design templates
Integration	Works seamlessly with Adobe Creative Cloud suite
PDF Forms	Create fillable and interactive PDF forms
Accessibility Support	Tools to ensure PDFs are accessible (tags, alt text, reading order)

3.Visme

Visme is a powerful type of tool which is used to create visual content. It is made for people who want to create engaging and interactive documents such as infographics, eBooks and reports. In presentations and documents, videos, hyperlinks, animations and even interactive pop-up charts are supported.

Its user-friendly cloud-based editor also offers templates and design tools for easy drag-and-drop design. Users can design infographics, eBooks and even reports with rich interactivity.

Projects can be exported as hosted documents, presentations or even PDF documents. Projects can also be exported as hosted documents, presentations, or PDF.

Visme is great for marketers, educators, and businesses as it offers simplicity balanced with powerful features, although some advanced features available only in paid plans.

Feature	Description
Interactive Elements	Add pop-ups, buttons, links, and animations
Multimedia Support	Embed videos, audio, and live content
Data Visualization	Create charts, graphs, and infographics
Templates & Themes	Professionally designed templates for all types of documents
Analytics	Track document views and engagement
Cloud-Based Editor	Create and access projects from anywhere
PDF/HTML5 Export	Export as interactive PDFs or web-based formats
Branding Tools	Lock branding elements for consistent documents

4.Kotobee Author

Kotobee Author is an interactive eBook creator that can be used to create immersive eBooks. It can be used to create educational eBooks since Kotobee can incorporate multimedia like videos, audio files, animations, quizzes, and pop-up widgets into the text.

It also exports in various formats including EPUB, MOBI, and PDF. Other apps can also be created which will be compatible with the web. For e-learning, Kotobee can .scorm ZIP file eBook exports. It is a mobile eBook application generator too.

Kotobee is useful for various educators and for publishers because it provides branding along with cloud publishing and DRM rights for protection of the content. Though Kotobee has mobile APP, it digitalizes books and educational content.

Kotobee does have some limitations for lower tiered plans, but the wide variety of features makes it Kotobee useful for digital textbooks and interactive novels for school curriculums.

Feature	Description
eBook Interactivity	Add quizzes, videos, audio, and widgets
Multi-format Export	Export to EPUB, MOBI, PDF, Web, and mobile apps
SCORM Compliance	Integrate with LMS platforms
DRM Protection	Secure content with digital rights management
Branding Options	Customize interface and logos
Cross-Platform Publishing	Distribute on web, mobile, and desktop platforms
Cloud Publishing	Host books online with analytics and updates
Education Focused	Perfect for digital textbooks and academic content

5.Lucidpress (Marq)

Marq, previously known as Lucidpress, serves as a design and publishing software targeted towards enterprises and marketing teams. It assists users in creating documents that are not only interactive but also rich in content, including videos, forms, and links.

Through proper template and asset management, Marq’s emphasis on brand consistency helps users remain on brand. Digital sharing and exporting documents as interactive PDFs is possible.

Marq’s cloud-hosted solution enables collaborative work while also allowing role-specific access and approval workflows. It is great for client proposals, internal newsletters, and marketing brochures, even though it is not as advanced as Adobe InDesign. Despite this, users are limited to online access for full interactivity as offline PDFs are not fully functional.

Feature	Description
Interactive Design Tools	Add clickable links, videos, and forms
Cloud-Based Collaboration	Real-time team editing and approval workflows
Brand Templates	Lock elements to maintain branding
PDF Export	Export interactive and print-ready PDFs
Video Embedding	Embed YouTube or uploaded video files
Easy Publishing	Share online with live links or embed codes
Drag-and-Drop Editor	Simple and intuitive design experience
Marketing-Friendly	Ideal for brochures, reports, and proposals

6.Flipsnack

Flipsnack converts static PDFs into animated interactive flipbooks. Users can embed videos, audio, shopping buttons, forms, and even hyperlinks into digital publications. Flipsnack is best for making online magazines, catalogs, portfolios and brochures.

It has a simple drag and drop interface, and flipbooks can be shared through links, embedded in websites, or downloaded as HTML5 files.

Although basic interactive PDFs can be exported, its strength is in web-based interactive experiences. Flipsnack works well for marketers, publishers and content creators who need a stylish, online, page-flipping reading tool.

Feature	Description
Flipbook Animation	Realistic page-turning effects
Interactive Elements	Add videos, audio, links, forms, and product buttons
Online Publishing	Share via links or embed on websites
PDF Upload	Convert existing PDFs into interactive flipbooks
HTML5 Export	Download for offline use or self-hosting
Analytics Integration	Track reader engagement with Google Analytics
Templates & Editor	Pre-made templates with customization tools
E-commerce Integration	Add shopping buttons and pricing for catalogs

7.Designrr

Designrr is an eBook and lead magnet builder. It can convert blog posts, articles, or Word documents into eBooks and includes interactive features like embedded videos, audio, and styled content.

For marketers, bloggers and authors who want to repurpose content quickly, Designrr is best as it can create professional-looking PDFs and eBooks.

With the use of pre-built templates and drag and drop design, users can export as PDF, Kindle, EPUB and more. It does not require design skills and is user-friendly.

Although less powerful than InDesign, it is a good choice for quick, content-focused eBooks with light interactivity.

Feature	Description
Content Import	Import from blog posts, Word files, or PDFs
Multimedia Support	Embed videos, audio, and links
Templates & Themes	Professionally designed and customizable templates
Export Formats	Export to PDF, Kindle, EPUB, and more
Auto Formatting	Automatically formats text and images
One-Click eBook Creation	Fast turnaround for content repurposing
Covers & Branding	Customize cover pages and branding elements
Lead Generation Tools	Includes features to create lead magnets

8.Calibre (with plugins)

Calibre is an open-source eBook management software which is free to use. It is a versatile tool to use since its main functions are editing and converting eBooks, but it can also manage them.

In addition to editing and converting eBooks, Calibre is capable of enhancement through plugins. It is possible to edit EPUB files to have multimedia elements and also include hyperlinks, tables of content, and simple animations.

It is a great tool to use when converting between formats like EPUB, MOBI, and PDF. Although it does not have a drag-and-drop designer interface, it offers a lot of customization options.

Best for Tech and Author users, as it gives complete control over the eBook’s metadata, formatting, and structure.

Feature	Description
Format Conversion	Convert between EPUB, MOBI, PDF, AZW3, and more
eBook Editing	Edit eBooks directly (with plugin support)
Metadata Management	Add and modify book metadata
Plugin Ecosystem	Extend features with third-party plugins
Library Management	Organize and manage large collections
Open Source	Free and community-driven
Scripting Support	Automation via command-line and scripting
Lightweight Interactivity	Add links, TOC, and simple enhancements with plugins

9.Flip PDF Plus Pro

Flip PDF Plus Pro is a digital publishing tool that transforms static PDF documents into dynamic and interactive flipbooks. It allows users to embed videos, audio files and other multimedia elements, as well as interactive buttons, forms and hyperlinks.

It is possible to create advanced reading experiences by using pre-made templates and adding page transitions. Flipbooks created with this tool can be published online, offline, or stored on USB and CD.

The software is user friendly, making it a great choice for marketers, publishers, and educators who need a captivating format for digital presentations. With Flip PDF Plus Pro, users can create and publish catalogs, brochures and magazines which are mobile friendly and can be tracked with Google Analytics.

Feature	Description
Page Flip Animation	Create realistic digital magazines and catalogs
Multimedia Integration	Embed video, audio, images, links, and forms
Pre-designed Templates	Use professional layouts with full customization
Mobile Optimization	Flipbooks work across devices
Offline & Online Publishing	Export to web, app, CD, USB, and offline installers
Google Analytics Integration	Track user engagement and behavior
Batch Conversion	Convert multiple PDFs into flipbooks at once
eCommerce Support	Add pricing, buy buttons, and shopping cart features

10.Affinity Publisher

Affinity Publisher is a budget-friendly professional desktop publishing software with powerful design capabilities. It allows for the creation of interactive PDFs with links, buttons, bookmarks, and even form fields.

The Affinity ecosystem provides advanced typography and layout features, and integration with Affinity Photo and Designer provides a full design suite experience. It is ideal for sleek and professional eBooks, reports, and brochures, although it does lack some features like video embedding.

Because of the one-time purchase model, it is a cost-effective substitute for Adobe InDesign. This software is perfect for authors and designers who prefer complete layout and interactivity freedom and do not want to pay recurring subscription fees.

Feature	Description
Interactive PDF Support	Create clickable links, buttons, and bookmarks
Advanced Typography	Full control over fonts, spacing, and styles
Master Pages	Apply consistent layouts across documents
Preflight and Proofing	Check documents before export
PDF and Print Export	Export for print or digital distribution
One-Time Purchase	No subscription; affordable pricing
Seamless Integration	Works with Affinity Photo and Designer
Professional Layout Tools	Ideal for books, brochures, and marketing materials

Conclusion

In conclusion, A professional looking digital book requires digital publishing software, and every individual has their own preferences and skills.

Different types of professionals will look at Adobe InDesign and Affinity Publisher as their go to software, while less experienced users may prefer Canva or Designrr.

Kotobee and Flip PDF Pro are excellent when it comes to interactivity. Each platform offers a different set of tools which makes sure every creator is able to get the best out of their work.

FAQ