Alternatives · Writing
Sigil alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the best Sigil alternative for most people is Scrivener (2.8 GPA), third in our ranking of writing tools. The best free one is Reedsy Studio (2.6 GPA).
Sigil compared with 5 alternatives: Pressbooks, Atticus, Vellum, Reedsy Studio and Scrivener.
Sigil is free to use. 1 of the 5 alternatives is free or has a free plan. 3 more offer a free trial.
Listings checked up to Nov 12, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| SigilThis tool | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Pressbooks | Free trial · from $12/mo | Trial only | Web |
| Atticus | From $147 one-time | No | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Vellum | Free trial · from $199.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS |
| Reedsy Studio | Free plan · from $4.99/mo | Yes | Web |
| Scrivener | Free trial · from $23.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS, Windows, iOS |
Price against what you get
Sigil has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 2 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
Pressbooks scores higher without starting lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Sigil
Pressbooks
Book publishing platform that exports EPUB, PDF and web books
- Pressbooks starts at $12 per book / month ($120 billed yearly).
- Pressbooks has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Sigil.
- Pressbooks also lists a web app.
- Pressbooks lists no Windows, macOS and Linux apps, which Sigil has.
- Pressbooks is self-hostable, according to its own site.
Suits: Authors who want print-ready PDFs and EPUBs from one source
Atticus
Book writing and formatting app for ebooks and print
- Atticus starts at $147 one-time.
- Atticus has no free plan, unlike Sigil.
- Atticus also lists a web app.
- Atticus can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Atticus also covers templates and long-form writing.
Suits: Self-publishing authors who format their own ebooks and print books
Vellum
Mac app for formatting ebooks and print books
- Vellum starts at $199.99 one-time, before tax (Vellum Ebooks).
- Vellum has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Sigil.
- Vellum lists no Windows and Linux apps, which Sigil has.
- Vellum can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Vellum also covers templates and long-form writing.
Suits: Self-publishing authors on a Mac who format their own books
Reedsy Studio
Browser-based book writing app with free EPUB and PDF typesetting
- Reedsy Studio starts at $4.99 per month, or $52.99 billed annually (Craft add-on).
- Reedsy Studio also lists a web app.
- Reedsy Studio lists no Windows, macOS and Linux apps, which Sigil has.
- Reedsy Studio also covers templates and long-form writing.
- Reedsy Studio does not cover documents, which Sigil does.
Suits: Self-publishing authors who want EPUB and print-ready PDF files at no cost
Scrivener
Manuscript writing app with a binder, corkboard and outliner
- Scrivener starts at $23.99 one-time (iOS); $59.99 one-time for macOS or Windows.
- Scrivener has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Sigil.
- Scrivener also lists an iOS app.
- Scrivener lists no Linux app, which Sigil has.
- Scrivener can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Novelists and academics managing book-length projects
Limits worth knowing in Sigil
- It edits EPUB markup rather than writing prose, so a manuscript is usually drafted elsewhere and imported.
- Code View assumes some comfort with HTML and CSS.
- It is maintained by volunteers, with support through the project's channels rather than a company help desk.
- No mobile or web version is listed.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Sigil?
The alternatives to Sigil in this directory are Pressbooks, Atticus, Vellum, Reedsy Studio and Scrivener. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Sigil.
Is there a free alternative to Sigil?
Yes. Reedsy Studio has a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Sigil alternatives work on iOS?
The Sigil listing does not include an iOS app. Scrivener lists one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.