Digital documents are becoming more and more present on the web in different format. A very popular format used on the web is HTML5, a format that is fully compatible with any device and platform. Even digital documents can be transformed into this format thanks to services that offer conversion from PDF to HTML5 with a “flip” effect to offer the user a realistic and innovative experience.
We’ve already seen how to create Flipbook from PDF, and the services that offer such conversion multiply over time. Among the most popular ones there are certainly FlipSnack, Yumpu and ISUU, not surprisingly if you do a google search such as “create flipbook” or “convert PDF to browsable” these services almost always appear in ads, even for a fee.
FlipSnack and ISUU are two great platforms that allow you to upload digital documents for realistic viewing. The only drawback are the prices, not really advantageous and which force many users to look for alternatives on the web. Here are the plans offered by FlipSnack and ISSUU.
Flipsnack offers a “starter”, a “professional” and a “business” plan. That starter which is the cheapest costs 32 dollars a month, and also has the limit of being able to create a maximum of 10 catalogs each of a maximum of 100 pages (or 100MB of weight).
FlipSnack also offers a free plan but in addition to presenting the Flipsnack logo it allows you to upload a maximum of 3 catalogs and a maximum of 30 pages per catalog.
ISUU is also on the same line as FlipSnack considering that it offers the basic plan for a good $22 a month, which in any case always features the ISUU banner ad.
As you can see, therefore, despite being services done well, they have many limits and high prices. If you do not have such a high budget for this type of work, continue reading below because we will recommend the two best alternatives to Flipsnack, Yumpu and ISUU available in a free version or in a premium version at a price almost 5/10 times lower than the competitors.
Alternative #1. MyFlipbook
Alternative #2. FlipbookPDF.net
MyFlipbook: Best Free Software to Convert PDF to Flipbook
MyFlipbook is a Windows app designed to convert PDF to Flipbook in a simple and free way. The created flipbook is 100% customizable (logo, background image, title/description) and there also a lot of interesting options like:
- Options to add or manage hyperlinks of the flipbook
- Option to add Youtube Video in the flipbook
- Zoom and Full Screen mode
- Search box form
- Batch PDF to Flipbook converter
- Google Analytics integration
- Password Protect system (optional)
- Possibility to save Flipbook on PC for offline usage
MyFlipbook Screenshot:
Once the flipbook is ready you can save it on your PC in a SINGLE HTML file. This html file can be shared online or offline. It is 100% responsive and works on all kind of devices.
Here is a short video tutorial:
FlipbookPDF.net: Another Best Free Alternative to FlipSnack and ISUU
FlipbookPDF.net is an online platform developed to meet the needs of all those who are looking for a web service for the creation and hosting of browsable files. Once you have accessed the site, simply upload your PDF and start the conversion. In a few minutes your catalog, book, magazine, or any other document will be online in the form of a flipbook (digital publication that can be browsed online).
Immediately after the conversion, a page with various links will appear:
Flipbook URL: A link that you can use to share and promote your flipbook how and where you want
Link to the ADMIN area where you can customize the Flipbook (change background, logo, document format, etc …)
“Download” link to download the browsable file to your PC and then upload and host it directly on your website
As mentioned before, the service is available in a FREE version that shows the FlipPDF.net logo. There is also a premium version that costs ONLY $49.90 per year (and not per month like FlipSnack and ISUU) and which allows you to customize the logo, add title and description to the flipbook, and much more.
Here is a video tutorial of this service: Online PDF to Flipbook Converter
More info about FlipSnack and ISUU
FlipSnack and ISUU work practically the same way because after registering an account (even free) they allow you to upload your PDF document and start the conversion into a browsable file. In addition to this upload option, FlipSnack and ISUU also offer an online editor with which to create flip books customized to your needs.
However, here are the main functions offered by Flipsnack and ISUU:
1. Upload content: you can add one or more PDF files or images (JPG files) directly from the web or from your computer
2. Create a title, add a description and select categories for your content.
3. Personalize Flip Book: For personalization you can choose the type of cover (Classic Flip, Hard Cover Flip, Spiral Flip or Interactive Flip), color scheme, highlight links and set book size.
4. Publishing: Just press a button and your PDF will become an interactive flip book
5. Sharing: once published, you can make your content public by sharing it through various channels.
You can host the flipbook on the website, embed it on your website / blog (using for example a WordPress plugin) or share it on social networks (including Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
With the paid subscription both flipsnack and ISUU offer advanced features such as text search, maintenance of hyperlinks, etc …