What Is a Flipbook?
A flipbook is a digital document you read by turning pages, mimicking the look and feel of a printed book or magazine in the browser. Modern digital flipbooks are usually created from a PDF and viewed on a phone, tablet, or computer with no app required.
How does a digital flipbook work?
Flipbook software takes each page of a PDF, renders it as an image, and presents the pages in a reader that animates a realistic page turn. Because it runs in the browser, a flipbook opens instantly from a link and works across devices — unlike a raw PDF, which can be clumsy to read on a phone.
What are flipbooks used for?
Flipbooks are popular for magazines, catalogs, brochures, lookbooks, annual reports, and eBooks — anything that benefits from a browsable, book-like experience. Interactive flipbooks can also include clickable links and embedded video, turning a static document into something readers can act on.
How do you make a flipbook?
The fastest way is to start from a PDF. Upload it to a flipbook maker and it becomes a page-turning reader automatically — then you can add branding, links, and video, and share the result as a link, embed, or QR code.
FAQ
What’s the difference between a flipbook and a PDF?+
A PDF is the source file with a fixed layout; a flipbook is a browser-based reader built from that PDF that lets you turn pages, works well on mobile, and can include interactive links and video.
Are flipbooks free to make?+
Yes — Living Page lets you make and share a flipbook for free with no signup to try it. Paid plans add branding, custom domains, and analytics.