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Best Free Alternatives to Vellum
Stop paying $249.99 (Unlimited). Discover professional-grade tools that won't break your budget.
Category: Book FormattingVerified for 2025
Top Recommended Replacements
Atticus
Best Cross-Platform Vellum Rival
Why we like it
Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux; includes a full word processor; 17+ beautiful templates; handles complex non-fiction better than Vellum.
Keep in mind
Cloud-based (requires internet for some features); the previewer can sometimes be slower than Vellum's native engine.
Kindle Create
FREEBest for Amazon-Only Authors
Why we like it
100% free; officially supported by Amazon; makes creating 'Print Replica' and 'Guided View' comics very easy.
Keep in mind
Proprietary format (.kpf) makes it difficult to publish outside of Amazon (e.g., Apple Books or Kobo).
Reedsy Book Editor
FREEBest Professional-Grade Free Web Tool
Why we like it
Instantly generates professional EPUB and print-ready PDFs; clean, distraction-free writing interface; excellent 'Front Matter' management.
Keep in mind
Limited customization options compared to Atticus or Vellum; requires an internet connection to export files.
Sigil
FREEThe Ultimate Open Source EPUB Editor
Why we like it
Total control over the underlying code (HTML/CSS); lightweight and fast; massive community plugin library for advanced formatting.
Keep in mind
Very steep learning curve; requires basic knowledge of HTML/CSS to achieve 'pretty' results.
Calibre (Edit Book Tool)
FREEBest for Quick Fixes & Conversions
Why we like it
The 'Swiss Army Knife' of ebooks; can convert almost any file type to any other; built-in editor allows for deep manual tweaks.
Keep in mind
Interface is notoriously clunky and dated; not designed for writing or 'creative' formatting from scratch.
Pandoc
FREEBest for Technical & Markdown Authors
Why we like it
Command-line power; converts Markdown to professional-grade PDF (via LaTeX) or EPUB with perfect consistency; highly scriptable.
Keep in mind
Extremely high technical barrier; no GUI; requires a terminal and configuration files.
Draft2Digital (D2D Print)
FREEBest for 'Set it and Forget it' Formatting
Why we like it
Automatically converts your Word doc into a beautiful ebook/print file for free; handles distribution to all major stores simultaneously.
Keep in mind
Very little control over specific design elements; styles are pre-determined based on your genre.
Sigil + PageEdit
FREEBest Visual Open Source Workflow
Why we like it
Adds a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) visual layer to the Sigil engine; allows for 'Vellum-like' visual editing for free.
Keep in mind
Still requires technical setup to link the two programs; can be buggy on some Linux distros.
Standard Ebooks Toolset
FREEBest for Creating High-Quality Public Domain
Why we like it
A set of strict scripts and tools designed to create the 'world's most beautiful ebooks'; perfect for professional-grade typography.
Keep in mind
Requires advanced CLI knowledge; very rigid formatting standards that don't allow for much 'creative' flair.
Jutoh
Best for Deep Technical Customization
Why we like it
Handles complex layouts (like poetry or textbooks) that trip up Vellum; creates very 'clean' code that works on every device.
Keep in mind
The interface looks like a Windows 95 application; not a 'modern' user experience.
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