Sigil review (2026): is it any good?
Free open-source EPUB ebook editor for Windows, Mac and Linux
Sigil report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 12, 2026
Best for editing EPUB files by hand
Sigil is a free, open-source desktop editor for EPUB ebooks, with code and preview side by side, EPUB 2 and 3 support and regex find and replace. It edits the book's markup rather than writing prose, so you draft elsewhere. It helps to know some HTML and CSS, and there's no company help desk.
Who Sigil is for
- Fits if you format your own EPUB files and want control over the code
- Works for editors cleaning up ebooks that came from other tools
Who Sigil is not for
- Skip it if you want to write a manuscript in it, as it edits EPUB markup, not prose
- Not for you if HTML and CSS are new to you, because Code View assumes you know them
- Watch out: it's maintained by volunteers, so support means project channels, not a help desk
- Too light for phones and tablets, since only Windows, Mac and Linux are listed
Why Sigil gets a 2.8
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree and open source under the GPLv3. A program anyone can download and run.
- AFree plan and trialNo paid plans, no caps and no account needed to use it.
- CFeaturesDoes the EPUB editing job fully, with a table of contents builder, metadata editor, plugins and checkpoints. It's a smaller job, though: it doesn't help you write the book.
- CEase of useNo store rating on record. Code View assumes some HTML and CSS.
- CPlatforms and integrationsWindows, Mac and Linux only, with no phone or web version.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Sigil-Ebook's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/sigil#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/sigil.svg" alt="Sigil: 2.8 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Sigil stands among writing tools
Sigil's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 67 of the 100 other writing tools we grade, and level with 18.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 81 of 100) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Sigil has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 101 writing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Sigil’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 65 of 100, level with 35
- AFree plan and trialAbove 81 of 100, level with 19
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 100, level with 63
- CEase of useAbove 5 of 100, level with 52
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 5 of 100, level with 45
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 79 writing tools. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
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
Keep Sigil, or make your own?
Keep it
Sigil is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 67 of the 100 other writing tools we grade.
What you could make
- Documents: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Sigil’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.
What is Sigil?
Sigil is a desktop editor for creating and formatting ebooks in the EPUB format. It shows a code view and a preview side by side and supports both EPUB 2 and EPUB 3. It is free, open source under the GPLv3, and maintained by volunteers.
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- EPUB 2 and EPUB 3
- Supports both versions of the EPUB specification, with direct editing of the EPUB's markup in Code View.
- Code View and Preview View
- Edit the markup and see how the page looks in a preview, so layout can be checked as you work.
- Table of contents and metadata
- A table of contents generator that handles multi-level headings, plus a metadata editor.
- Regex find and replace
- Find and replace with full regular-expression (PCRE) support, and spell checking with user dictionaries.
- Import and cleanup
- Imports EPUB and HTML files, images and style sheets, and can mend formatting or tidy the code.
- Plugins and checkpoints
- Plugin support extends the editor, and checkpoints let you compare snapshots of changes.
Sigil pricing
As of Nov 12, 2026, Sigil is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- Completely free to download and use; no paid plans.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | The full application, free and open source under the GPLv3. |
Read from sigil-ebook.com on Nov 12, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Sigil before you buy.
Sigil alternatives
- Sigil vs Pressbooks
Free trial · from $12/mo
- Sigil vs Atticus
From $147 one-time
- Sigil vs Vellum
Free trial · from $199.99 one-time
- Sigil vs Reedsy Studio
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
- Sigil vs Scrivener
Free trial · from $23.99 one-time
Common questions
Does Sigil have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Sigil is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Sigil have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Sigil is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is Sigil open source?
Yes. Sigil is open source, according to its own site.
Does Sigil 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.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 12, 2026.