Whenever a new need arises in the context of a company’s current process, the research stage for a solution that covers that need is essential. Let’s take for example, the need to transform the reading experience for the digital documents you send. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the options of online tools that help you achieve that through digital flipbooks.

Digital flipbooks have revolutionized the way we present and share content online. Unlike traditional PDFs, flipbooks offer an interactive and visually engaging experience, mimicking the look and feel of a physical book. They are ideal for showcasing magazines, product catalogs, brochures, and more, providing a dynamic reading experience that captivates audiences. Choosing the right flipbook maker is crucial for maximizing these benefits and ensuring a seamless user experience.

On the one hand, it’s true that a lot of online flipbook solutions offer an improved experience for your audience. On the other hand, not all of them do that to the same extent, depending on what specific areas of features or options you are interested in. Here is where this article fits in, helping you make the right choice when it comes to making your PDFs more interactive, easier to share, and track. 

Flipbook makers – which are we comparing and based on what criteria

The two flipbook makers I included in this article comparison are Flipsnack and FlipHTML5. A short introduction about the first tool is that Flipsnack caters to mid to large companies looking to enhance their PDFs with flipbooks, transforming the way information is shared online. It helps you create, share, and track digital flipbooks instantly. FlipHTML5 helps businesses seeking lead generation and product promotion, as well as those looking to sell subscriptions. Marketing agencies, educators, and publishers can benefit from the platform’s features.

The criteria I chose for this comparison are: the branding options each of these tools offer, types of interactions available, collaboration process, and privacy & security. I believe these aspects are going to paint a clear picture of what tool is best, presenting you with clear features in a review-like manner.

More than 9 million professionals choose Flipsnack’s flipbook maker

Flipsnack’s capabilities as a complex flipbook software exceeds other tools on the market. From the get go, it has the fastest PDF to flipbook converter, allowing you to bulk upload PDFs with hundreds of pages and convert them in a matter of minutes. But once you access your flipbook, that’s where the real transformation takes place. 

The Design Studio is packed with interactions, from simple hyperlinks to shopping list technology that allows your clients to order products directly from the catalog. It also offers extensive sharing options, public and private depending on your documents’ intent and audience. And the usefulness of Flipsnack doesn’t end here. You can also track how your documents or flipbooks perform by checking the built-in statistics. Take a look at what our clients say about their experience with Flipsnack and see for yourself.

See what our users are saying about Flipsnack

Picture of Fabiola Vidal

Flipsnack is a catalyst in the transition to a more sustainable business. It combines the feeling that a paper catalog gives with interactive and easy-to-use multimedia features that take the user experience to the next level.

Fabiola Vidal, Digital Marketing Product Owner, Electrolux
Picture of Danny Wong

Flipsnack is a great PDF converter tool for interactive storytelling that funnels into lead generation and conversion – all within the same ecosystem!

Danny Wong, Head of Growth & Innovation , Converse

Flipsnack has been a great tool for our HR Team’s communication needs. Their range of wonderful security options for our documents was the #1 selling point!

Alisha VanTiem, Sr. Benefits Administrator, Keywords Studios
Picture of Korben Nibblet

To say that using Flipsnack has been a success is an understatement. We’ve seen an increase in knowledge and engagement–which is strictly due to Flipsnack! Our training content has never been more organized and easy to access.

Korben Niblett, Director, Education & Content Development, Esteé Lauder

Most of my clients thought we spent hours and days creating the Flipbooks when in fact it only took minutes to upload a PDF. I have now built out templated guides with several versions of each. Now when a new client comes on I just have to add a customized cover page and change fonts and colors to match my client’s branding standards.

Jeffrey Lenderman, Lead Consultant, Pineywoods BENEFITS

Branding features for flipbooks

Flipsnack excels in providing a comprehensive suite of branding tools, allowing users to craft flipbooks that align seamlessly with their brand identity. The platform offers an extensive array of customizable templates and themes, enabling users to create visually engaging publications effortlessly. With options to integrate company logos, brand colors, and custom domains, Flipsnack ensures a consistent and professional appearance across all digital content. These advanced branding features help businesses maintain a cohesive and polished brand image, enhancing their marketing and presentation efforts significantly.

Branding features available in Flipsnack vs FlipHTML5

FlipHTML5 also provides branding capabilities but with more limited customization options compared to Flipsnack. Users can incorporate custom logos, backgrounds, and URLs into their flipbooks, allowing for a degree of brand personalization. However, the selection of templates is less extensive, which may restrict the ability to fully match a brand’s unique style. While FlipHTML5 allows for the inclusion of essential branding elements, it may not offer the same level of detailed customization that businesses seeking a more sophisticated and nuanced brand representation might require.

Flipbook creation and interactive elements 

Flipsnack stands out in the options it offers for flipbook creation from scratch. And secondly, in its ability to enhance user engagement through a variety of interactive elements. Users can easily create flipbooks from scratch using the built-in Design Studio, which offers multiple page sizes, an overview of the entire publication’s structure (all layers and easy navigation between pages), resulting in better user experience than with other tools. 

Besides the common package of interactions like clickable links, embedded videos, and forms, the platform also has the automation feature, which allows for faster catalog production. In the same area of retail and wholesale industries, Flipsnack has the option to incorporate a shopping list into your digital catalogs, and allow customers to buy directly from the catalog. 

FlipHTML5, however, helps individual users to create presentation-like flipbooks, similar to the original PowerPoint presentations. The reason for this comparison is the different animations or stop motion you can design within this platform, which could be an advantage to creative professionals looking to enhance their portfolios, or out-of-the-box marketing materials. 

Additionally, it includes an AI assistant designed to help generate and enhance content, providing users with creative support. However, while FlipHTML5 does support rich media and animations, its user interface can be less intuitive compared to Flipsnack. This may result in a steeper learning curve for users attempting to maximize the interactive capabilities of their flipbooks. 

Collaboration process in multiple teams

FlipHTML5 includes basic collaboration tools but is primarily designed for individual use. The platform offers no real-time collaboration capabilities, which may hinder teams from working together simultaneously on the same project. While it does support some level of collaboration, such as sharing and reviewing content, the features are not advanced nor fit for teamwork. For businesses and teams that require seamless and efficient collaboration, the more comprehensive and real-time tools provided by Flipsnack are likely to be more beneficial.

Flipsnack offers robust collaboration features designed to support teamwork and streamline the content creation process. With real-time collaboration capabilities, multiple team members can work on a flipbook simultaneously, making edits and providing feedback in real-time. The platform includes shared workspaces and a comprehensive commenting system, facilitating effective communication and collaboration among team members. Additionally, Flipsnack provides permissions management, allowing administrators to assign different roles and access levels to team members, ensuring a secure and organized workflow.

Collaboration flow in Flipsnack's platform

Privacy and security levels

FlipHTML5 offers essential privacy and security features to protect user content. The platform provides password protection and private sharing options, allowing users to control access to their flipbooks. However, the security features are relatively basic and offer limited customization. While these options are adequate for general use, they may not meet the more  stringent privacy and security needs of businesses dealing with sensitive information. The overall privacy settings, while functional, do not offer the same level of comprehensive protection and customization that some users might require.

Security and private sharing options with Flipsnack vs FlipHTML5

Flipsnack prioritizes the privacy and security of its users with advanced features designed to protect digital content. The platform includes complex privacy settings, such as password protection and private links, along with SSO both for teammates, and readers outside the workspace. This way, ensuring that flipbooks are accessible only to intended audiences. Flipsnack also offers secure hosting and data encryption to safeguard user data. Moreover, it complies with GDPR and other privacy regulations, providing an additional layer of security and peace of mind. These comprehensive privacy and security measures make Flipsnack a reliable choice for users who require high levels of protection for their digital publications.

To sum up the Flipsnack and HTML5 comparison

In summary, while both Flipsnack and FlipHTML5 offer valuable features for creating digital flipbooks, Flipsnack stands out in several key areas. Flipsnack is built with big companies in mind that require extensive branding options, security measures, and advanced collaboration features. All these combined ensure flipbooks that perfectly reflect the company’s brand identity, protect documents from unauthorized access, and a smooth teamwork within the same workspace. Its highly interactive elements and intuitive Design Studio make it easy to engage readers, in many cases even increasing the engagement by checking statistics from month to month. In conclusion, for those seeking a comprehensive and user-friendly flipbook maker, Flipsnack is the ideal choice.

I also want to give credit where credit is due, and highlight that FlipHTML5 remains a valid option for professionals looking to work on projects individually. The interactions package that this tool offers requires a certain level of tech-savviness, and experience in the design world. The way this tool outlined the overview of different elements on a page shows similarities with PremierPro, which would make the learning process a bit more difficult for marketers that aren’t familiar with such tools.

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