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Vellum alternatives: formatting options if you're not on a Mac or not paying $199.99 or more

The two most common reasons to look past Vellum are that it only runs on a Mac and that it costs $199.99 to $249.99. Below are four alternatives, two of them free, grouped by the problem they solve.

For reference: Vellum (as of Oct 2026)

Vellum is a Mac-only app (macOS 13 or newer) sold as a one-time purchase: Vellum Ebooks $199.99 for ebooks only, or Vellum Press $249.99 for ebooks plus paperback and hardcover editions. It is a free download, so you can build and preview your book before paying, and you buy a licence when you want to generate files. Its makers say they have no plans for a native Windows version. See Vellum vs Atticus for a full side-by-side.

Atticus: a paid, cross-platform option

Atticus is a writing and formatting app that runs on Windows, Mac, Linux and Chromebook. It is built as a Progressive Web App, so it works in a browser, online or offline.

• Price as of Oct 2026: $147 one-time, with updates included, according to the vendor.
• Output: ePub and print PDF from the same file; Atticus's help center says print interiors can be paperback or hardcover. 17 templates and a custom theme builder.
• Refunds: 30-day money-back period.
• Choose it if: you're on Windows or Linux, or you want to draft in the same app.

Reedsy Studio: free core features, in the browser

Reedsy Studio is a browser-based writing and formatting tool from Reedsy. Reedsy says its core writing and formatting features are free.

• Output: EPUB with one click and a typeset print-ready PDF with your choice of trim size and theme, for upload to print-on-demand services.
• Price as of Oct 2026: free for core features. Optional paid plans are Studio Essential at $4.99/month and Outlining at $7.99/month, for extras such as advanced outlining, writing stats and dark mode. There is a 30-day free trial of the premium features.
• Other: real-time collaboration and manuscript import. There is no dedicated mobile app, but it works in mobile browsers.
• Choose it if: you want to format without buying software, on any computer.

Kindle Create: free, from Amazon

Kindle Create is Amazon's free desktop app for formatting a finished manuscript. It is not in our directory as a separate listing; we include it here because many KDP authors start with it.

• Platforms: Windows 10 or later and macOS 10.15 or later, with 4+ GB RAM.
• Output: a KPF file for KDP. The reflowable format can also produce print-ready files and export an EPUB. It can prepare a paperback or hardcover from the same manuscript and sets margins, headers and page numbers for you.
• Limits Amazon lists: tables, lists and footnotes can't be edited inside the app. Image captions are not supported. Tables, footnotes and endnotes aren't supported for print books yet. Amazon recommends importing .doc/.docx for reflowable books. It has four themes and does not design covers.
• Choose it if: your book is mostly text, you publish mainly on KDP, and you want a free tool built for Kindle.

Scrivener: if you already write in it

Scrivener is mainly a drafting app, but its Compile feature can export your manuscript to EPUB ebooks, PDF, Word and other formats. If you already draft in Scrivener, try compiling your book before buying a separate formatter. It is available for macOS, Windows and iOS, with a 30-day free trial.

• Choose it if: you draft in Scrivener and want one fewer app.

At a glance (as of Oct 2026)

Related

• Vellum vs Atticus
• How to format an ebook manuscript for KDP
• KDP paperback setup: trim size, bleed, margins and spine
• More formatting tools

Sources

Every fact above comes from the vendor's own website. Link checked 2026-10-17.

• Vellum homepage
• Vellum Purchasing FAQ
• Atticus homepage
• Atticus Help Center: Can I format hardcover books in Atticus?
• Reedsy Studio
• Kindle Create (Amazon)
• KDP: Prepare Reflowable and Print Books with Kindle Create
• Scrivener overview
• Scrivener store