Frequently asked questions

Inkwell Shift accepts PDF files only. The platform is purpose-built for converting PDFs into interactive flipbooks. If you have a Word, Pages, or InDesign document, export it to PDF first using your source application.

The maximum PDF size depends on your plan. The free tier supports smaller documents while paid plans accommodate larger files and longer books. See our pricing page for current limits per plan.

Yes. Inkwell Shift fully supports right-to-left books, including Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Urdu. The flipbook reader visually mirrors so the cover sits on the right, pages turn right-to-left, and the bound spine renders on the right side. The editor and reader UI are also translated into Arabic and Simplified Chinese in addition to English.

Yes. Every published flipbook has a copy-paste embed snippet that works on any HTML page, including WordPress, Squarespace, Webflow, Shopify, and custom sites. Embedded books support the same overlays, animations, audio, and page-flip sounds as the hosted version. Domain allowlisting is available on paid plans for an additional security layer.

Yes. Paid plans can export a flipbook as a self-contained HTML ZIP archive that opens with a double-click on Windows, macOS, or Linux — no internet connection required, no installation, no servers. Premium tiers also include native Electron desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux that bundle the book with the reader in a single installer.

Yes. The editor supports seven overlay types — text, button, link, video popup, image, shape, and badge — all freely placed on any page. Overlays can carry click actions (open URL, jump to page, play video), entry animations (fade, slide, zoom, bounce), and custom styling. Pre-styled overlay presets are included so you can drop in a polished button or badge in one click.

Yes. The flipbook reader is fully responsive and works on every modern phone and tablet browser. Touch gestures are supported — swipe or drag the corner to turn pages. The reader automatically switches to single-page mode on narrower screens to keep text legible.

Yes, on paid plans. You can upload a custom logo for the reader chrome and set primary and background colours that flow through every flipbook you publish. White-label plans additionally remove the Inkwell Shift attribution from the reader.

Yes. The viewer ships with a built-in sticky-note tool that lets readers pin notes to a specific spot on a page. Notes are private to the reader and persist via local browser storage on the hosted version, or via the desktop reader on the Electron build. Note-taking is gated by your plan and can be disabled by the publisher per book.

Yes. Every book can have a looped background music track (MP3, M4A, OGG, or WebM, up to 10 MB) plus realistic page-turn sound effects. Music plays automatically on the reader's first interaction (in compliance with browser autoplay policies) and a discreet mute icon in the corner lets readers silence it if preferred.

Yes. Inkwell Shift offers a free plan with no credit card required. The free tier covers core flipbook creation and hosting; paid plans unlock advanced features like custom branding, offline export, video uploads, analytics, and team accounts. See our pricing page for the full feature comparison.

No. All subscription fees are non-refundable. A narrow service-failure exception applies if an essential feature fails within seven days of a paid charge and the failure is attributable to us. Statutory consumer-protection rights in regulated jurisdictions are preserved. See our refund policy for the complete statement.

You can cancel any paid plan at any time from the billing settings inside your dashboard. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period — you retain access to paid features until that date and you are not charged for the next period.

Yes. All traffic is encrypted in transit with TLS. Passwords are stored as one-way hashes (we never see your plain-text password). Media assets are served via signed URLs with short expirations. Role-based access control, request audit logging, and routine security reviews are built into the platform. See our privacy policy for the full statement.

Yes, on paid team plans. Team members can be invited to a single workspace, share access to books, and collaborate on the same library. Per-seat limits depend on the plan; see pricing for details.