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calibre

Ebook manager, viewer & converter.

calibre

calibre Reviews and Details

This page is designed to help you find out whether calibre is good and if it is the right choice for you.

Screenshots and images

  • calibre Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-07-10

Features & Specs

  1. Open Source

    Calibre is free and open source, meaning it is continually being improved upon by a community of contributors, and there are no costs associated with its use.

  2. Wide Format Support

    The software supports a vast array of eBook formats, making it versatile for users who have different types of eBooks.

  3. Library Management

    Calibre offers powerful library management tools that allow users to organize and categorize their eBook collections with ease.

  4. Conversion Tools

    The software includes robust conversion tools to convert eBooks between different formats, enabling compatibility with various eReaders.

  5. Customization

    Offers a high level of customization options, from tweaking the user interface to creating custom metadata fields.

  6. Cross-Platform Compatibility

    Calibre is available on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

  7. Plugin Support

    Calibre supports plugins, allowing users to extend its functionalities according to their needs.

Badges & Trophies

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Videos

Why I Stopped Watching Calibre on Netflix in 10 Minutes! | Flick Connection Podcast Clip (Ep. 11)

Calibre (2018) - Netflix Movie Review (Non-Spoiler)

Calibre: Ending Explained (Netflix Original Movie 2018)

Social recommendations and mentions

We have tracked the following product recommendations or mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you see what people think about calibre and what they use it for.
  • Kindle to end store downloads and registering for 1st-5th gen kindles in May
    Calibre lets you put non-Amazon eBooks on these very same devices. It made me start using my old Kindle again: https://calibre-ebook.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Your Old Kindle Isn't E-Waste: 3 DIY Projects to Give It a New Life [2026 Guide]
    Calibre is the open-source ebook management tool that's been around since 2006 and remains the gold standard. It converts between virtually every ebook format, manages metadata, and can push books to your Kindle over USB or wirelessly. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • anaconda on Xubuntu 24.04
    If I make the environment variable persistent in my .profile, Calibre's ebook reader does not work. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • All Kindles can now be jailbroken
    I suspect most people that go this route (ie download and manage their own ebooks, then transfer them to their Kindle) use Calibre, which afaik, is unaffected by this change. https://calibre-ebook.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • From RSS to My Kindle
    Very neat. I've been doing this with Calibre (https://calibre-ebook.com/), which involves plugging it into your PC via USB. Simple RSS feeds work with little configuration, and more complicated news sites require writing a custom python "recipe". This project uses Amazon's email gateway, which I think is limited to 25 articles per month (don't quote me on this). - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Gio UI โ€“ Cross-Platform GUI for Go
    Lol. One of good cross platform example is Calibre [1], built with Python and Qt. And itโ€™s the only one I carried with me from Windows XP/10 to macOS, through Linux. Another is Sublime Text. [1]: https://calibre-ebook.com/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Glider โ€“ open-source eInk monitor with an emphasis on low latency
    >I'd prefer for it to work as USB stick like other ebooks do Have you tried Calibre? https://calibre-ebook.com/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: Best Open E-Reader?
    Kobos[1] and Pocketbooks[2] are a lot more open than Kindles. AFAIK you can transfer .epub files into both devices and these epubs are perfectly readable via the stock OS. If for some reason you find the stock proprietary OS lacking, you can install an open source one like KOreader [3] or Plato[4] Of course you want a good way of organizing epubs pdfs mobi, and like has already been mentioned Calibre[5] is a great... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: Best Open E-Reader?
    You can manage the files with Calibre[1] and sync them onto an e-reader like the Kobo with a click. [1] https://calibre-ebook.com/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Calibre: Unlock the Data in Your Breath
    Not to be confused with Calibre, the excellent ebook software by Kovid Goyal: https://calibre-ebook.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Need help editing epub in Sigil
    Glad you were able to fix it, but what about trying Calibre? It is free and makes it easy to adjust things, add info, and change front covers. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Manga on Kindle?
    Or using Calibre (pdf or azw3) https://calibre-ebook.com. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Ebooks
    There are already some very good ebooks solutions out there so there's really no need. Calibre for the backend and database management, Calibre-Web for the front end, and Openbooks for content. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Alexandria: A minimalistic cross-platform eBook reader
    Calibre can do this: https://calibre-ebook.com Here's the help page on setting up your own content server: https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/#the-calibre-content-server. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Alexandria: A minimalistic cross-platform eBook reader
    Calibre and Kavita are two open source and self-hostable projects that accomplish what you're describing. Calibre: https://calibre-ebook.com/ Kavita: https://www.kavitareader.com/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Kindle AND books?
    Sure thing - another must-have resource if you get a kindle is good library management software. Assuming you download books instead of purchasing them directly from Amazon. The gold standard is Calibre eBook manager (windows and Mac, 100% free). Using it, you can sideload books to your device using a cable or email. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • How can i export a pdf drm protected book that i bought from kindle
    I haven't tried it yet myself but most people use Calibre with a de-DRM plug-in to do that. https://www.inkit.com/blog/drm-protection-pdf#:\~:text=Removing%20the%20DRM%20from%20a,DRM%20Removal%20Tool%20is%20a%20. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • How do you read/organize your comic bundles?
    I have mine in a calibre library on a Mac. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • What have I started
    My own organization can be viewed in this Google Drive if your'e interested. The Digital Archive Structure PDF is for my own archive. I do use the Calibre program (which is a viable option for managing works) for downloading works from certain websites, but I collect all of my downloads in an archive separate from Calibre. I also use the FicLab extension on Chrome or Firefox to download works from FFN and very... Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Is the pocketboom era the right choice for me ?
    You might want to use Calibre on your PC to manage your library, it is entirely free and a fantastic piece of software. It also can convert eBook formats very well, also the abovementioned AZW format or KFX format, and with plugins, it can even remove copy protection. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Has anyone used Humble Bundle to buy books for the Remarkable 2?
    Calibre can convert the file, and if you install the right plugin it can apparently upload the file to your tablet as well. I haven't tried the plugin, so I can't really talk about how (or how well) it works, but from the Github repo's README page it sounds like the author isn't maintaining it on a regular basis anymore. I'm fine with uploading files using the built-in web page anyway. Source: almost 3 years ago

Summary of the public mentions of calibre

Calibre has steadily maintained its reputation as a top-tier solution in the eBook management domain. As a free, open-source platform, it stands out for its comprehensive toolset that caters to eBook managing, reading, conversion, and editing needs. This multifaceted capability places Calibre in a strong position against competitors such as Amazon Kindle, Google Play Books, and FBReader, appealing particularly to tech-savvy readers who appreciate customization and control over their digital libraries.

User Experience and Features

Calibre is widely praised for its user-friendly interface and extensive functionality. Users appreciate its versatility across multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, which enhances its accessibility and convenience. The platformโ€™s ability to manage eBooks seamlessly, offering functions like editing metadata, converting various eBook formats, and syncing with a range of e-readers, makes it an indispensable tool for those serious about digital reading. Calibre goes beyond being just an eBook reader; it's a comprehensive eBook solution, as noted in various technical articles and user forums.

Technical Community and Open-Source Nature

Calibre's strength lies largely in its open-source nature. The community-driven approach ensures continuous improvements and adaptability. Users frequently discuss their integration of Calibre into various workflows, such as organizing fanfiction, transferring files to Kindle devices, and customizing RSS feeds for Kindle delivery. Its compatibility with numerous plugins to remove DRM or convert file formats expands its utility, catering to diverse user needs. Users also appreciate the ability to host their own content server, further solidifying Calibre's position as a versatile platform.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite its robust feature set, Calibre is not without its challenges. Some users have reported technical issues when interfacing with specific operating systems; for instance, conflicts arise with environment variables affecting functionality on certain Linux configurations. Moreover, while Calibre excels in conversion and management, its reliance on additional plugins for tasks like DRM removal can pose a barrier for less tech-savvy users.

Public Reception

Overall, public opinion on Calibre remains predominantly positive, supported by numerous mentions in top articles and forum discussions. Users often recommend it for its reliability, functionality, and comprehensive eBook management capabilities. While alternatives like Sumatra PDF and Okular offer competition, Calibre's extensive range of features and open-source benefits continue to garner trust and loyalty from a broad user base. The tool's ongoing adaptability and enhancement, fueled by community contributions, underscore its lasting appeal in the rapidly evolving eBook landscape.

In conclusion, Calibre remains a go-to application for avid readers and authors alike, making it an essential component of their digital reading and organizing toolkit. Its enduring success reflects its capacity to evolve and cater to the dynamic needs of digital content consumers.

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