All major ebook and audiobook vendors aim to control how you use a file and stop paying customers from sharing and pirating content by applying the DRM (Digital Rights Management) scheme. Normally, the files that you have purchased are yours to use, read/listen to, and backup as you please. However, that’s not the case after using DRM – your files are totally not at your disposal. For your convenience, it’s time to break the DRM limitation and liberate your own ebooks or audiobooks with the following must-have DeDRM tools.
1. Can DRM be removed from eBooks and Audiobooks?
First, why would I remove DRM from my ebooks and audiobooks?
The purpose of DRM is to protect copyrighted works and restrict the use, modification, and distribution of copyrighted works. Obviously, DRM does no good to customers.
The direct disadvantages of enabling DRM on digital media are that it annoys customers for they can’t enjoy the content they’ve paid for in the ways they wish. Such as put content on personal devices, make backups, print the books, or make the most out of the contents by sharing them with others or editing the contents.
For all these reasons, it's necessary to break the limitation by removing DRM from your ebooks and audiobooks. Then you can take back the ownership of your purchased contents and make the most out of your purchased contents. Luckily, it's possible to get rid of DRM protection from eBooks and audiobooks with a professional ebook/audiobook DRM Removal.
NoticePlease only use these applications for gaining full access to your own ebooks for archiving/convenience. Do not upload De-DRMed files online or to any torrent site.
2. How do I remove DRM from most eBooks?
Generally, ebooks use three main different DRM schemes. They are:
Amazon DRM: Amazon's format is applied to AZW, AZW3, and Mobi files.
Adobe's Adept DRM: It can be applied to EPUBs and PDFs, the third-party ebook reader - ADE (Adobe Digital Editions) is often used to download such files and read them. Books purchased from Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Google Play use this DRM.
Apple FairPlay DRM: Apple books are embedded with this DRM and can only be read by the Apple Books app.
The majority of ebooks purchased from major ebook retailers come with DRM protection. Thankfully, with an eBook DRM Removal, it can help you remove DRM from ebooks easily. Although there are many DRM removal tools with similar functions, not all are straightforward and easy to use. And here are some of the best eBook DeDRM tools you should know:
1. Epubor Ultimate
Epubor Ultimate, as its name suggests, is the most powerful and all-in-one ebook DRM Removal out there. First, Epubor Ultimate is the only ebook software that can help you crack DRM used by these 4 major ebook vendors with no hassle, such as Amazon/Kobo/Google Play/Barnes & Noble. Besides, it can also convert your DRM free books to epub/azw3/pdf/txt/mobi.
Take Amazon books as an example, first, you need to download Kindle books via Kindle for PC/Mac. Then launch Epubor Ultimate, all your Kindle books will display under the Kindle tab in the left panel of the software. Next, select your Kindle books and add them to the right main window to remove DRM. And you can continue converting DRM free files by choosing a preferred output format and hitting the conversion button. For more detailed instructions, you can follow this guide on how to remove DRM from Kindle/Google Play/Nook/Kobo books step-by-step with Epubor Ultimate.
2. Calibre
Calibre is a cross-platform open-source ebook software. It’s totally free to download and use. Calibre provides a one-stop solution for meeting all your ebook needs, such as managing, converting, and displaying ebooks. It’s a must-have. Calibre cannot, on its own, remove DRM from ebooks. However, it is possible to remove DRM by adding the DeDRM plugin for calibre.
The DeDRM plugin can remove DRM from Kindle eBooks, Barnes & Noble ePub ebooks, any ebooks using Adobe Digital Editions DRM (this includes ePubs from Kobo, Google Play, and Sony that are downloaded for Adobe Digital Editions), etc.
You can follow this step-by-step guide to remove DRM from Kindle books and Kobo books with the calibre DeDRM plugin.
NoticeThe calibre developers are not involved in the development of the DRM removal plugin. If you have any problem regarding removing DRM, the calibre developers will not be able to help.
3. Tuneskit iBook DRM Removal
Compared to Amazon DRM and Adobe DRM, Apple FairPlay DRM is more difficult to be decrypted. Plus, Apple Books only accounts for a small ebook market. So many software providers do not support Apple FairPlay DRM and do not plan to develop such software due to some technical problems. Still, there is an outstanding ebook DRM Removal called Tuneskit iBook DRM Removal that can remove DRM from Apple iBooks. TunesKit iBook DRM Removal (but it could only support the following macOS: Mac OS X 10.12 (Sierra), 10.11 EI Capitan, 10.10 Yosemite, 10.9, 10.8) was developed aiming to permanently strip DRM protection from iBook ePub files downloaded from Apple Books Store. Unfortunately, Tuneskit won't update this software anymore. So please try it out before the purchase.
Summary
The above three DRM Removal can help you remove DRM from most ebooks. But which one should I choose to remove DRM from my ebooks? In our opinion, if you want to remove DRM from your Apple books, Tuneskit iBook DRM Removal is a good choice. Considering the fact that Tuneskit iBook DRM Removal does not support the latest macOS, which is definitely not user-friendly, we'd rather suggest you purchase ebooks from other major ebook vendors instead. If you want to remove DRM from Kindle/Kobo/Google Play/Nook books effortlessly, Epubor Ultimate is definitely the best option you can get.
NoticeAll DeDRM tools are not designed to remove DRM from rented or library ebooks.
3. How do I remove DRM from Audiobooks?
DRM is not only applied to ebooks but also used for audiobooks.
There are many audiobook distributors, such as Audible, Kobo, audiobooks.com, Apple, Scribd, etc. But, right now only audiobooks purchased from Audible and Apple audiobooks can be decrypted. Audible and Apple use DRM to make sure that audiobooks brought through their service are only played through their own official apps.
In order to remove DRM from your Audible and Apple Audiobooks and convert them to the most common MP3 format, Epubor Audible Converter and Tuneskit Audiobook Converter are the two perfect Audiobook DRM Removal for your need.
1. Epubor Audible Converter
Epubor Audible Converter is tailor-made for Audible users who want to remove Audible DRM in a hassle-free way and convert Audible books to MP3/M4B. Epubor Audible Converter tops any other Audible Converter no matter in its price, or in its conversion speed, and the output quality.
2. Tuneskit Audiobook Converter
It seems like Tuneskit really spends a lot of time studying Apple FairPlay DRM and knows it like the back of its hand. Not surprisingly, its Audiobook Converter can convert both DRM-ed Apple audiobooks and Audible books from AAX, M4B, and M4A to DRM-free MP3, AAC, M4A, FLAC, and WAV with high quality.
TipsAfter converting encrypted audiobooks to MP3, you are able to play them on any MP3 player or any device that supports MP3.
Hillary Lopez works for Epubor and writes articles about eBooks and eReaders. She explores the best method to help you read eBooks more freely and wants to share all she has got with you.
Hi
Why there is no Epubor Ultimate for Linux.
I know there is a web site for handling DRM, but a desktop version is much more comfortable.
Cheers