For years, I formatted all of my books using a program called Jutoh. It worked well… until it stopped evolving. Updates slowed, support weakened, and it became clear I needed something more reliable. That’s when I switched to Vellum.

At the time, Vellum was the obvious choice. It was powerful, polished, and widely considered the gold standard of book formatting software. Luckily, I had a Mac, because Vellum only runs on macOS.

But here’s the thing… Back then, there weren’t many strong alternatives. If you wanted professional-level formatting, your options were limited.

That is no longer true and I have since switched from Vellum to use something else.

Over the past few years, several excellent formatting tools have entered the market. In fact, some of them have features that made me reconsider using Vellum altogether.

Now, to be clear, Vellum is still a capable piece of software. But it comes with some significant limitations:

• It’s expensive, costing $249.99 for all formatting
• It only works on Mac
• It focuses solely on formatting and doesn’t offer broader writing or collaboration tools

So if you’re on PC, don’t want to buy a Mac just for one program, or simply want more flexibility for your money, let's take a look at the best Vellum alternatives available today.

But even that might not be for everybody, so I've made a list of the best alternatives to Vellum here.

So let's dive in…

Vellum Alternatives Comparison Table

If you're looking for the long and short of it, here are my top recommended alternatives to Vellum with a little info on each:

The Best Vellum Alternative: Atticus

Atticus is, by far, the best formatting software, and my top Vellum alternative, especially for authors who want professional-looking ebook and print formatting without needing a Mac. It covers the formatting features most self-published authors need, costs less than Vellum, and works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook. It also does more than formatting, since you can write, edit, and format your book in one place. While there are some ways to use Vellum on a PC, those ways cost extra money by paying for a cloud service.

In fact, it is built as an all-in-one writing tool, meaning you can write your book, edit it, and then format it all in one place. See my full overview here as well as a breakdown of why Atticus is better than Vellum.

How Much Does Atticus Cost?

Atticus has a lifetime price of $147. That's it, no strings attached. After all, who wants to pay a monthly fee to write all of your books, only to potentially lose them if you quit paying that fee?

Atticus's lifetime price means that you get all future updates at no extra cost, and believe me, there are a lot of updates coming.

And if you don't believe me, check out how good your book can look

The above is using things like two page image spreads, custom chapters and even custom ornimental breaks. Basically, Atticus is as simple as you need it, and just a custom as you want it.

Pros to Using Atticus

• Works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook
• Costs less than Vellum
• One-time payment instead of a subscription
• Works as both writing software and formatting software Includes a custom theme builder
• Supports ebook and print formatting
• Offers cloud storage and backups

Cons to Using Atticus

• Some authors may prefer a dedicated formatting-only tool
• Best used in a browser or as a web app, which may not appeal to everyone

The bottom line: Atticus is the best Vellum alternative for most authors, especially if you want a tool that works outside the Mac ecosystem and handles both writing and formatting. Vellum is still excellent, but Atticus gives self-published authors more flexibility for less money.

All that said, if Atticus doesn't work for you for any reason, let's discuss a few of the other Vellum alternatives…

Paid Alternatives to Vellum

In addition to Atticus, there are a few other paid Vellum alternatives that are worth a look.

Microsoft Word

Technically, Microsoft Word can be used as a formatting software, even though this is not the purpose for which it was built. Additionally, formatting with Microsoft Word can be complicated, and involves a lot of small steps (all of which would be automated in programs like Atticus or Vellum).

Thankfully, I've done this before, and put together a comprehensive guide on how to format a book with Word, which you can check out here.

Word is still an option, especially if you already use it. But if you don’t already have access, it’s no longer the default free tool sitting on every computer.

Microsoft 365 Personal currently costs $9.99/month or $99.99/year and includes Word along with the other Microsoft Office apps. Microsoft also offers Office Home 2024 as a one-time purchase for $179.99, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for one PC or Mac.

Either way, you’re paying for a word processor that can be used for book formatting, not a tool built specifically for authors. That's a subscription for something that wasn't directly built for book writing, or formatting for that matter.

But if you already have it and you want to shove a square peg through a round hole, then this might be the best option.

Pros of Using Microsoft Word

• It's a common program
• You have a high degree of control
• A lot of people have access to Microsoft Word

Cons of Using Microsoft Word

• It takes forever to format a book properly
• It is easy to make mistakes
• You could easily use the wrong font
• There is a strong learning curve for formatting

The bottom line: Microsoft Word is not nearly as intuitive as Vellum, but can make a decent alternative for those who are well versed in Microsoft Word and happen to have it available.

Adobe Indesign

In terms of capability, Adobe Indesign is unmatched. It can do literally anything you want to do when it comes to formatting. Do you want a complex magazine layout? Done. Formatting a phone directory? Done.

However, it comes with an insane learning curve, and for most authors will be like trying to slice bread with a chainsaw. It's simply too much for what most of us need. Plus when I tried to format my book with Indesign, I gave up after hours of video watching, trying to follow each step. To put it bluntly, this is overkill and overcomplicated.

Another issue with InDesign is that it’s subscription software. Adobe currently lists InDesign at $22.99/month for the annual plan billed monthly. You can also get it as part of a broader Creative Cloud plan, but that only makes sense if you use other Adobe apps too.

For most authors, that’s a lot to pay for a program with a steep learning curve, especially if all you need is a clean novel interior.

But hey, if what you want to do can't be done in Vellum or Atticus, then you'll need to pony up, pay the price and suffer the hours of learning.

Pros of Using Adobe InDesign

• It can do virtually anything you can imagine with book formatting
• It creates beautiful, well designed books

Cons of Using Adobe InDesign

• The learning curve is extremely high
• Most features are unnecessary for most authors
• It is very expensive

The bottom line: Adobe InDesign is technically even more advanced than Vellum, but is much harder to use. Vellum is a much better program for ease-of-use and simple design, unless you are doing something more complicated like a magazine.

Scrivener

Many authors own Scrivener as their primary writing software. If this is you, you may be pleased to know that Scrivener has basic formatting capabilities.

However, and this is a BIG however, you are super limited in what you can do for formatting, and quite frankly, it too is super complicated to learn. I actually had to pay for a course on just “how to format a book with Scrivener.” The worst part was, after taking the course and formatting a book, I was not jazzed about what I got from it. As you can see below, there are major differences betweena Scrivener formatted book and what you cna do with a tool like Atticus.

Scrivener is still cheaper than Vellum, but its licensing works differently. Scrivener licenses are perpetual, per-platform, and per-version. That means you buy the version you want for the operating system you use, and you can keep using that version as long as it remains compatible with your computer.

Major version upgrades are not included forever. For example, if you own Scrivener 3 and Scrivener 4 is released later, you would need to buy a new license if you want to upgrade, though Literature & Latte says existing users receive a discount.

Scrivener for iOS/iPadOS is also sold separately, and the official store currently lists it at $23.99.

If however, you do decide to format you books with Scrivener, no need to buy that course I mentioned. I took what I learned and wrote an article on how to format a book using Scrivener…so, check that out.

Pros of Using Scrivener

• Convenient for authors that already own Scrivener

Cons of Using Scrivener

• It comes with a sharp learning curve
• Formatting capabilities are not as customizable as Vellum or Atticus, or even Microsoft Word
• No chapter theme builder

The bottom line: Scrivener does not have the intuitive formatting capabilities of Vellum, nor is it as customizable, but can still be useful for those who already own it and don’t want to spend extra money.

Free Alternatives to Vellum

If you can't afford Atticus, or any of the paid options, there are a few free options that you can look at. Obviously, you won't get the same results as a paid program, but some of these can be useful for basic formatting.

Kindle Create

Kindle Create is a free software created by Amazon themselves, so authors have at least one free option to format a book. The best thing about Kindle Create is that it was built by Amazon for KDP. Kindle Create exports KPF, which Amazon describes as the preferred format for Kindle ebook and print books. It can also export EPUB for reflowable books.

However, Amazon hasn't really kept up with this software and so every year I find more and more problems with what it does (and doesn't do), and Amazon isn't inclined to spend the money to improve or fix it. So, beware!

Pros of Using Kindle Create

• It's free
• It produces Amazon-compatible ebooks

Cons of Using Kindle Create

• Exports KPF and EPUB, but EPUB export is only available for reflowable books
• Does not export MOBI
• Not as customizable as Atticus or Vellum
• Best suited for authors publishing through KDP
• Ease of use could be better

The bottom line: Kindle Create is a great free alternative to Vellum. However, its basic features leave much to be desired if you want more control over your formatting.

Reedsy Studio

Another free option is Reedsy Studio, an online writing, editing, and formatting app for authors.

It lets you format your book and export professional-looking EPUB or PDF files. It’s not as customizable as Atticus or Vellum, but for a free tool, it can handle the basics well, especially for authors who want a simple way to produce clean ebook and print-ready files.

Reedsy also has a marketplace for hiring editors, designers, and other publishing professionals, so if you sign up for this, be prepared for lots of sales pitches or pushes to use one of their experts.

Pros of Using Reedsy

• Free to start
• Online writing, editing, and formatting tool
• Exports to EPUB and PDF
• Easy to use
• Good option for basic fiction formatting

Cons of Using Reedsy

• Not as customizable as Atticus or Vellum
• Requires a Reedsy account
• No offline option
• Reedsy also promotes its paid marketplace services

The bottom line: Reedsy’s Book Editor is another great free alternative to Vellum. However, if you want something with more capability, you will have to look at Atticus or another of the paid options.

Draft2Digital

Draft2Digital is known as a book distribution platform that will get your book into any online bookstore, without the hassle of having to go in and do it yourself.

However, you might not have known that they also have a book formatting service. To use this, you have to upload your word document or an EPUB file, and it will walk you through the process of formatting your manuscript.

Let's be clear…this is SUPER simple and just functions as a book. You won't be able to add or create much…but it works.

Draft2Digital’s conversion and layout tools are free to use, even if you don’t distribute through Draft2Digital. If you do use Draft2Digital for distribution, the company makes money from a percentage of your book sales. So there's that.

Pros of Using Draft2Digital

• Free conversion and layout tools
• Can be used even if you don’t distribute through Draft2Digital
• Simple formatting process
• Useful if you already use Draft2Digital for distribution

Cons of Using Draft2Digital

• Less customizable than dedicated formatting tools
• Best for simple interiors
• Editing and re-uploading can be less convenient than working in a dedicated writing/formatting app
• Draft2Digital’s main business is distribution, not standalone formatting software

The bottom line: Draft2Digital can format a book and has a lot of custom themes, but its capabilities pale in comparison to Vellum, and its ability to tweak the small things leave much to be desired. 

Which Is the Best Vellum Alternative for You?

The best Vellum alternative for most authors will be Atticus. It works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook, costs less than Vellum Press, and combines writing and formatting in one tool.

If you want a free alternative, I would start with Kindle Create if you’re publishing through KDP, or Reedsy Studio if you want a simple online formatter that exports EPUB and PDF.

But not every software is perfect for every person, which is why we have several more tools listed on this page.

FAQ About Vellum Equivalents

Is there a program like Vellum for PC?

Yes, Atticus is a program like Vellum that is available for PC, Mac, Chromebook, and Linux. It has all of the capability of Vellum, costs less, and is available on more platforms. It is our #1 recommendation for the best formatting software, and the best alternative to Vellum.

What is equivalent to Vellum?

The best Vellum equivalent for most authors is Atticus. It costs less, works on more platforms, and covers the core ebook and print formatting needs most self-published authors have. It also includes writing tools, which Vellum does not.

The best free alternative is Kindle Create for KDP-focused authors.

Is there a free version of Vellum?

You can download Vellum for free, just to try it out, but you cannot use it to format a book for free. If you want to format your books using Vellum, you will have to pay $199.99 for the ebook version, or $249.99 for the full ebook and print package.

Is Vellum better than Scrivener?

Vellum is better than Scrivener for book formatting. Scrivener is better than Vellum for drafting and organizing a manuscript.

If you want one tool that can handle both writing and formatting, Atticus is the better comparison. It works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook, and costs less than Vellum Press.