Vellum vs Atticus: which formatting app fits your setup?
Both apps turn a finished manuscript into ebook files and a print interior, and both are sold as one-time purchases rather than subscriptions. The deciding questions are usually simpler than feature lists: what computer you use, whether you also want to write inside the app, and whether you need a hardcover edition.
Quick answer
- You use Windows, Linux or a Chromebook: Vellum is not an option without a workaround. Its makers say there is no native Windows version planned (they point to renting a Mac in the cloud). Atticus runs on Windows, Mac, Linux and Chromebook.
- You are on a Mac and only need formatting: both work. Vellum lets you build and preview your whole book for free and pay only when you want to generate files, so you can judge it on your own manuscript first.
- You want to draft and format in one place: Atticus includes a writing editor. Vellum is built for importing a finished manuscript.
- You only publish ebooks: Vellum sells a cheaper ebook-only edition, Vellum Ebooks.
Side by side (as of Oct 2026)
| Vellum | Atticus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price model | One-time purchase. Vellum Ebooks $199.99 (ebooks only); Vellum Press $249.99 (ebooks plus paperbacks). Price does not include tax. | One-time purchase, $147, which the vendor says covers unlimited books and ebooks. |
| Computers | Mac only, macOS 13 or newer. Not available for iPad or Windows. | Windows, Mac, Linux and Chromebook. Built as a Progressive Web App that runs in a browser, online or offline. |
| Try before paying | Free download with no time limit. You can import, style and preview; you need a licence to generate publishable files. | No free version on the page we checked. 30-day money-back period. |
| Refunds | Purchase can be cancelled within 30 days for a refund. | 30-day money-back period. |
| Writing inside the app | Not its focus: you import a manuscript; you can add pages such as copyright and back matter. | Yes, includes a writing editor, plus import of existing work. |
| Ebook output | EPUB 3 / EPUB 2 files, per-store versions (Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books and others), box sets, ARC files for beta readers in EPUB and MOBI. | ePub export from the same file as print. |
| Print output | Paperback or hardcover (Press edition), 24 trim sizes plus large print, full-bleed pages, PDF/X-1a files. | PDF export for print. Atticus's help center says it formats print interiors for both paperback and hardcover (as of 2026-10-17). |
| Design options | Selectable Book Styles, drop caps, ornaments and custom backgrounds. | 17 templates, which the vendor says give 1,200+ combinations, plus a custom theme builder. |
| Books and pen names | No limit on books or pen names. | No limit on books or pen names. |
| Updates | Free updates; vendor says future optional add-ons may cost extra. | Vendor says updates are included for life at no extra cost. |
Where Vellum is the stronger fit
Vellum's free download is the main practical advantage: you can import your real manuscript, try styles and preview every device and the print layout before paying anything, with no time limit. It also has a split price. If you never plan a print edition, Vellum Ebooks costs less than Vellum Press, and you can upgrade later for $69.99 (or exchange for the price difference within 30 days of buying).
The licence terms are worth knowing if you work with other people. Vellum lets you install your licence on a second computer you own and format books for other authors, but a licence is tied to one person and cannot be shared with an assistant or co-worker.
Where Atticus is the stronger fit
If you don't use a Mac, Atticus is the one of the two that runs on your machine. It is also the lower one-time price of the two as listed on 2026-10-17 ($147 against Vellum Press at $249.99), and it doubles as a writing app with cloud backup, so you may not need a separate drafting tool. The vendor says you can sign in from any secure device, which suits authors who move between a laptop and a desktop.
What neither page told us
- How the finished files look on your book. That depends on your genre, images and taste; preview before you commit. Vellum's free preview and Atticus's 30-day refund window are the practical ways to check.
- Whether either fits complex layouts such as heavily illustrated or fixed-layout books. Neither homepage positions itself for that; ask the vendor first.
Related
- Vellum listing · Atticus listing
- Vellum alternatives, including free options
- How to format an ebook manuscript for KDP
- KDP paperback setup: trim size, bleed, margins and spine