The Atticus Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Atticus in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Atticus
The Insider’s Guide
Book writing and formatting app for ebooks and print
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among writing tools, read from Atticus’s own pages.
Made by Atticus · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Atticus’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Atticus’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
1.8
GPA, above 0 of the 69 other writing tools we grade
Atticus is book writing and formatting software for self-publishing authors. A manuscript can be written in its editor or imported from a DOCX file, styled with chapter themes or a custom theme builder, previewed on different e-readers, and exported as an EPUB for ebooks or a PDF for print. It is a Progressive Web App that runs in a browser or as an installed app on Windows, Mac, Linux and Chromebook, and it is sold for a one-time payment that includes future updates.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Atticus, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Once you're in, saving and cloud backup happen on their own, and themes do the formatting.
- 1
Best for formatting your own ebooks and print books
Atticus lets you write a book and format it in the same place, then exports an EPUB for ebooks and a PDF for print, for $147 once with updates included.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $147 one-time.
- 3
It runs on 4 platforms
Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 4
Writing editor
A manuscript editor organized by chapter, with writing goals, outlining, footnotes and endnotes, so a book can be drafted in the same app that formats it.
- 5
Themes and custom theme builder
17 formatting templates that the vendor says combine into more than 1,200 looks, a builder for custom chapter themes, and a library of over 1,500 fonts.
- 6
Device previewer
Shows how the book will look on devices such as an iPhone, iPad, Galaxy phone, Fire tablet and Kindle Paperwhite before it is exported.
- 7
A 1.8 GPA, above 0 of 69
That is against the other writing tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Your call
A writing app at its plainest is a page that saves what you type.
Atticus at a glance
- Pricing
- Paid, from $147 one-time
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Atticus
- Category
- Writing Tools
- Our grade
- 1.8 GPA, weak
The report card
Best for formatting your own ebooks and print books
Atticus lets you write a book and format it in the same place, then exports an EPUB for ebooks and a PDF for print, for $147 once with updates included. There's no free version and no trial, only a 30-day money-back guarantee. Every editor or beta reader needs their own paid account, there are no phone apps or integrations, and version control is still listed as coming soon.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | $147 once, with future updates included and no subscription behind it. The middle of this category is $8.33 a month, so that's under two years of a typical rival for something you keep, which is where a one-time price earns a B. Atticus says it does no discounts. |
| Free plan and trial | F | Nothing is free. No free version, no trial, no cut-down mode. What you get instead is a 30-day money-back guarantee, and buying something to see it is not the same as trying it. |
| Features | C | An editor with goals, outlining and footnotes, 17 templates plus a theme builder, 1,500-odd fonts, a device previewer and export to EPUB, PDF and DOCX. Book formatting done fully, but the listing's own table still has version control as coming soon, and each collaborator needs their own paid account. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and getting set up has wrinkles: the installable app is a web app you add through Chrome, and the help center tells you not to use Edge. Once you're in, saving and cloud backup happen on their own, and themes do the formatting. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | A browser app, installable on Windows, Mac, Linux and Chromebook, and writing carries on offline. But no iPhone or Android app and not one integration listed, so there's nothing here to connect it to. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Atticus is for
- Fits if you self-publish and want to do the ebook and print formatting yourself
- Works for writers on Windows, Linux or a Chromebook who'd rather pay once than subscribe
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you want to try before you buy, as there's no trial and no free version, only a 30-day refund
- Pricey if you work with an editor or beta readers, since each of them has to buy Atticus too
- Skip it if you need version control today, which Atticus's own comparison table lists as coming soon
- Watch out: the installable app goes through Chrome, and the help center says not to use Edge
- Skip it if you want a phone app or links to other tools, as none are listed
Good to know
Good for
- Self-publishing authors who format their own ebooks and print books
- Writers on Windows, Linux or Chromebook who need book formatting software
- Buyers who prefer a one-time payment with future updates included
Worth knowing
- There is no free trial or free version; the vendor offers a 30-day money-back guarantee instead, and says it has no discounts.
- The installable app is a Progressive Web App set up through Chrome, and the help center advises against using the Edge browser.
- Editors, co-writers and beta readers each need their own purchased Atticus account to collaborate inside the app.
- Export covers EPUB, PDF and DOCX, and the vendor's own comparison table lists version control as coming soon.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$147 one-time
To start
Atticus is a paid product, starting at $147 one-time.
No free version, no trial, no cut-down mode.
Atticus
$147
one-time payment
Access to the full app for ebook and print formatting with ongoing updates at no extra cost, covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read from atticus.thrivecart.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows and Linux
Book writing and formatting app for ebooks and print. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, one-time purchase, templates, long-form writing.
A browser app, installable on Windows, Mac, Linux and Chromebook, and writing carries on offline.
- Writing editor
- A manuscript editor organized by chapter, with writing goals, outlining, footnotes and endnotes, so a book can be drafted in the same app that formats it.
- Themes and custom theme builder
- 17 formatting templates that the vendor says combine into more than 1,200 looks, a builder for custom chapter themes, and a library of over 1,500 fonts.
- Device previewer
- Shows how the book will look on devices such as an iPhone, iPad, Galaxy phone, Fire tablet and Kindle Paperwhite before it is exported.
- Import and export
- Imports an existing manuscript as a DOCX file and exports EPUB for ebooks, PDF for print and DOCX for sharing with an editor.
- Offline writing with cloud backup
- Saves automatically and backs books up to the cloud. Writing continues offline and syncs once the device is back online; importing and exporting need a connection.
- Collaboration roles
- Books can be shared with collaborators assigned as Author, Editor, Co-writer or Beta Reader, with comments in the editor.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Atticus is made by Atticus.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
0/69
Other writing tools it is graded above
Atticus's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 0 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 4.
It stands best on value for money (B, above 35 of 69) and worst on free plan and trial (F, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 70 writing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Atticus’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 35 of 69
- FFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 69
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 69
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 69
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 3 of 69
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Your call
A writing app at its plainest is a page that saves what you type.
You could make the core of Atticus for yourself: long-form writing and templates. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. At $147, paid once, it costs less than the weekend it would take to replace, which is the argument for keeping it.
What you could make
- Long-form writing and templates: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.
What this rests on. Atticus’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Vellum, Scrivener, Reedsy Studio, Dabble and LivingWriter
The 5 tools Atticus is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 1.8GPA
Vellum
Free trial · from $199.99 one-time
Mac app for formatting ebooks and print books.
- Only Atticus lists a web app.
- Only Atticus lists Windows and Linux apps.
- 2.8GPA
Scrivener
Free trial · from $23.99 one-time
Manuscript writing app with a binder, corkboard and outliner.
- Only Atticus lists a web app.
- Only Atticus lists a Linux app.
- Only Scrivener lists an iOS app.
- 2.6GPA
Reedsy Studio
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Browser-based book writing app with free EPUB and PDF typesetting.
- Reedsy Studio has a free plan. Atticus does not.
- Only Atticus lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Atticus can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.4GPA
Dabble
Free trial · from $19/mo
Novel writing app with plotting, story notes and sync.
- Atticus also covers templates.
- Dabble also covers grammar & style.
- 2.4GPA
LivingWriter
Free plan · from $15/mo
Cloud writing app for books and screenplays with planning boards.
- LivingWriter has a free plan. Atticus does not.
- Only Atticus lists a Linux app.
- Only LivingWriter lists iOS and Android apps.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Atticus free?
No. Atticus is a paid product, starting at $147 one-time.
How much does Atticus cost?
Atticus lists one plan. Atticus: $147 one-time payment.
What platforms does Atticus work on?
Atticus is available on Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Atticus have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Atticus is listed for Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Atticus have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Atticus is listed for Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is Atticus open source?
Atticus is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does Atticus work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Who makes Atticus?
Atticus is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Atticus?
The closest alternatives to Atticus in our directory are Vellum, Scrivener, Reedsy Studio, Dabble and LivingWriter.
How does Atticus compare with other writing tools?
Atticus's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 0 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 4.
Could I make my own version of Atticus?
A writing app at its plainest is a page that saves what you type. You could make the core of Atticus for yourself: long-form writing and templates.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Atticus’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Atticus's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-01-17.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Atticus. Prices change, so check atticus.io before you buy.
- atticus.thrivecart.com/atticus/
- web.archive.org/web/20261004120201/https://www.atticus.io/
- intercom.help/atticus-5877e36564df/en
- intercom.help/atticus-5877e36564df/en/articles/12684302-does-atticus-offer-a-free-trial
- intercom.help/atticus-5877e36564df/en/articles/12684197-do-you-offer-discounts
- intercom.help/atticus-5877e36564df/en/articles/12746079-what-is-your-refund-policy
- intercom.help/atticus-5877e36564df/en/articles/12622012-can-i-download-atticus
- intercom.help/atticus-5877e36564df/en/articles/12921558-do-i-have-to-download-atticus-or-can-i-use-it-in-a-browser
- intercom.help/atticus-5877e36564df/en/articles/12756386-why-do-editors-and-beta-readers-need-to-buy-atticus
- intercom.help/atticus-5877e36564df/en/articles/12746084-what-roles-can-i-assign-to-collaborators-and-what-can-they-do
- intercom.help/atticus-5877e36564df/en/articles/12581851-quick-start-guide-to-atticus
- intercom.help/atticus-5877e36564df/en/collections/16584065-writing-editing
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Atticus, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/atticus
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Atticus: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/atticus
Know someone choosing between writing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/atticus/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded writing tools after Atticus, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Writing Tools Insider's GuideEvery one of the 70 writing tools we grade, compared
- Microsoft Word Insider's GuideWord processor sold with Microsoft 365, free in the browser3.4 GPA
- Beat Insider's GuideFree, open-source Fountain screenwriting app for Mac and iOS3.2 GPA
- JotterPad Insider's GuideMarkdown and Fountain editor for books, papers and screenplays3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Atticus’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Atticus is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Atticus. Prices and plans change: check atticus.io before you buy.