Book formatting software comparison2026
BookFormat vs Vellum vs Atticus vs Reedsy vs KDP Formatter: features, pricing, and honest trade-offs. We've included areas where competitors beat us, because authors fact-check.
| Feature | BookFormat← us | Vellum | Atticus | Reedsy | KDP Formatter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Works on Windows | |||||
Works on Mac | |||||
Browser-based (no install) | |||||
DOCX input | |||||
PDF input | |||||
TXT / MD / RTF input | |||||
AI-powered cleanup | |||||
PDF export | |||||
EPUB export | |||||
DOCX export | |||||
MOBI export | |||||
Cloud storage & sync | |||||
Multiple style themesReedsy: 3 themes | ~ | ||||
Writing mode | |||||
Complex layouts (cookbooks etc.) | |||||
Typography qualityVellum still leads on pure typography polish | ~ | ~ | ~ | ||
Pricing | $19/mo | $249.99 one-time | $147 lifetime | Free (3 themes) | Free |
Honest trade-offs
Where Vellum beats us
Vellum's output typography is still the gold standard for fiction. If you're on a Mac and care deeply about drop caps and scene separator polish, Vellum is excellent. Its $249.99 one-time price is fair for Mac users. It just doesn't run on Windows, and never will.
Where Atticus beats us
Atticus has a built-in word processor. If you want to write and format in the same tool, Atticus ($147 lifetime) is worth considering. BookFormat focuses on formatting what you've already written in any tool.
Where Reedsy beats us
Reedsy is free. If you only need basic formatting and one of three built-in themes, it does the job. The trade-off is very limited customization, no AI features, and a platform designed to upsell you to their marketplace.
Where BookFormat wins
BookFormat is the only professional tool that runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux without any installation. It accepts more input formats (PDF, TXT, Markdown, RTF) than any competitor. AI-powered cleanup handles messy manuscripts automatically. And for authors who don't want to spend $150–250 upfront, $19/month scales with your publishing career.
Try the cross-platform option
Format your first book free. No Mac required, no installation, no upfront cost.
Windows · Mac · Linux · any browser
Your formatted files are yours to keep. No commitment.