Top 6 Flipbook Makers: Create Engaging Digital Publications

If you are a fan of flipbooks and you create them yourself you might want to look for clever ways to do so faster and better. Flipbooks have been around for a very long time and the best creators are those that use ingenious means and techniques to enhance their creative processes. If you have not been using a flipbook maker you are indeed missing a lot.

In this article, we want to show you how to turn your ideas and PDF into a flipbook using a flipbook generator. We also include six of the best flipbook makers on the internet today. Keep reading to know more.

What Is a Flipbook?

A flipbook is a book of animation that is often released in sequences. It contains static images that progress in position from one page to another as you flip through the pages. They are called flipbooks because the images give an impression that they are moving as the pages are flicked in ordered sequences.

This type of book varies in style and complexity depending on the creative theme and there isn’t a structured or standard format. Flipbooks are a favorite of children as their images make stories even more interesting.

Why Create Your Flipbook with Software?

It is possible to create your flipbook without software but using one makes the process a lot easier and fun. With software, you can even reduce turnover times and get more value for your work. Here are common reasons why using software is a good idea.

• Advanced Features: Many modern software have advanced features for better results. You can tweak and modify aspects of your book and even improve style and appearance.
• Ease of Use: You don't need technical experience to use the software. These software are user friendly and you can get used to them in a few minutes. Moreover, some prompts will guide you through the creative process.
• Customization: They also provide customization benefits. You can design your book in your style and add distinctive features so it looks different from any other by a different creator.

How We Chose And Reviewed Our Flipbook Maker?

Before delving into our review of these flipbook makers, let us expose the factors that guided our choice. 

• Ease Of Use: We chose the best flipbook makers with drag-and-drop functionality and an attractive and easy-to-use user interface among other things.
• Features: Quality advanced features were a must for the options chosen. Branding capabilities, customization options, and key analytics were a must for all the options.
• Pricing: Each option has a free and a paid version and there are different features in each class to broaden user choices.
• Integration: All flipbooks reviewed can be integrated with other platforms and automation tools.
• Mobile Responsive: They all have mobile as well as desktop versions 
• Output Format: You can tweak the output formats of your choice and also share on different platforms like your social media handles. They also have embedded codes to simplify the work process.

Top 6 Flipbook Makers: Reviews and Comparison 

In this section, each of the above flipbook generators will be reviewed so you have a clear understanding of what to expect should you decide to go for one or the other. Converting PDF to flipbook is possible and easy with any of these options.

1. Flipping Book

FlippingBook is one of the most popular flipbook generators online today with a large user base. It is among the leaders in the industry with its G2 software category. This software is very easy to set up, allows users to implement their designs in no time, and offers some of the best technical support.

Key Features

FlippingBook has a special PDF viewer which separates it from others in this list. You can scan content by enlarging them using this tool so you can see tiny details. There is also a special sharing process using links. For instance, you can control what others see by sending the links to only the pages you wish to expose. When converting your PDF to flipbook you can utilize the integrative features to import materials from other platforms and brand your work accordingly.

Pros

•           Integration

•           Highly interactive

•           Easy setup

•           Ergonomic tools

Cons

•           No color sequencing

•           A little expensive

Pricing Plan: Pricing starts from $25, A Free 14-day plan.

2. Publuu

Converting PDF to flipbook just got easier with Publuu. This application has an interactive interface and is compatible with a host of third party applications. There is a mobile and desktop version and users have a host of embedded tools and codes to work with. Publuu will make your visuals come alive and is easy to use. You can add your unique logo to your work and include as many themes as you like.

Key Features

You can design your virtual bookshelf with Publuu and open access to readers where they can preview your books to easily identify options. The mobile app also offers quick access to the bookshelf. Those with a premium plan can relate their flipbook app and even share the same on Google Play for user downloads.

Pros

•           Integration tools

•           User friendly

•           PDF viewer

•           Flexible pricing plans

Cons

•           Limited branding options

•           Lack of collaborative tools

Pricing Plan: 14-day free trial, Beginner plan starts from $14/monthly, Premium plans (dependent on features)

3. Paperturn 

Paperturn is a dynamic application that allows you to add background sound to your flipbooks for a greater user experience. Paperturn is quite popular among creators, especially those in the anime niche. The floor page effect may seem bland, but the special effects and links you can add to your work will make it worth your while.

Key Features

Paperturn has a search option for performing a quick search. This feature is helpful for creators with an extensive library. You can integrate it with your website or other platforms. Online publishers can also collaborate with other creators using the API gateway. Compared to other options, Paperturn offers more benefits in the free plan which is great as you can test-run the application to see if it works for you.

Pros

•           Flexible pricing

•           Great visuals

•           Background sound effect

Cons

•           Expensive

Pricing Plan: 14 Day free trial, $15 per month

4. FlipSnack

Flipsnack is one hell of a solid flipbook maker with a range of customization and embedded features. You can do all the work on the platform to design and publish your work. The software doesn't have inbuilt vector graphics but it works well for creators.

Key Features

The design tool is first class with a range of attractive templates to choose from. Users can design from scratch and there are no third-party applications necessary to create a finished work. There is also special catalog automation called the Beta Automator for catalog creations.

Connecting to different data sources such as Google Sheets or creating special smart fields using the drop and drag function makes this flipbook maker special. There is also the digital marketer for customers to your catalog and add books to their shopping list.

Pros 

•           Advanced tools

•           Easy to use

•           Automation at its best

Cons

•           The absence of a magnifier can make some books blurry

•           Limited functionality in the free trial

Pricing Plan: 14 Day free trial, $32 a month

5. Issuu

If you are looking to share your work with a vast network Issuu is perhaps the best flipbook maker for you. The pricing plans may be on the steep side but you still get value for your money at the end of the day. This powerful software has monetization options if you want to monetize your work. Creating eye-catching magazines using the unique functions in Issuu is ideal for e-commerce publishing.

Key Features

The most important feature of Issuu is the social media marketing feature that allows you to publicize your work. Getting the word out about old and new books is easy. Furthermore, you can create categories for various niches if you have more than one niche. You can also sell access to all or part of your work. Issuu has templates with customizable values. You can create professional-looking documents with just a few clicks. The editing tool is also quite advanced for adding or tweaking fonts and vectors. Overall, you can’t go wrong with this tool.

Pros

•           Great marketing feature

•           Many amazing templates

•           Easy to set up

Cons

•           Third party ads

•           Premium plan is expensive 

Pricing Plan: 14-day free trial, Basic Plan ($29/Month), Premium Plan ($40/Month)

6. FLIPHTML5

Last but not least is FLIPHTML5. If you are quite knowledgeable with digital creative tools you may probably have heard of this software. It is a functional flipbook maker with a host of pre-designed themes and templates. Compared to the others in this review, FLIPHTML5 looks quite basic but can still do a very good job.

Key Features

FLIPHTML5 has a magazine catalog for saving and arranging published works for easy sorting. You can add new videos and images to your book and link the same to your website or social media. You will be spoilt for choice when looking for templates to work with as there are so many of them. The drop-down function is also quite handy and easy to master. Integration is also possible with FLIPHTML5 as you can import content from other applications.

Pros

•           Offline publishing 

•           Affordable 

•           Easy to use

Cons 

•           The user interface may confuse beginners 

•           The icons are not advanced

Pricing Plan: 14-day free trial, $12/ month for the basic plan

Comparison Table 

Below is a summarized table of each flipbook maker. Choose any of these options if you want to convert PDF to flipbook.

Choosing the Right Flipbook Maker

If you want to choose the right flipbook maker, here are their categories which you can use as a guide to make the right decision.

Best budget-friendly Flipbook maker: FLIPHTML5 

Best for online marketing: Issuu

Best for beginners: FlipSnack

Best for marketers and businesses: FlippingBook 

Best for online publishing: Publuu

Best for large libraries: Paperturn

Final Thoughts

With a flipbook generator, you can create and distribute your flipbooks to a wide network of readers with just a few clicks. The flipbook makers in our review are six of the best in the market and represent value for money. As artificial intelligence becomes even more dominant across industries, interactivity and VR flipbooks will become even more common in 2025 and the coming years and we expect these tools to be even more advanced as their developers upgrade standards for better results.