# Vellum

> Mac app for formatting ebooks and print books

Vellum is a Mac app for formatting books for self-publishing. It imports a .docx manuscript, builds the title page and table of contents, applies a chosen Book Style to every chapter, and previews the result on a range of e-readers and in print. It then generates store-ready ebook files and, with Vellum Press, a print edition. The app is free to download and use up to that point; a one-time purchase is needed to generate files for publishing.

- **Category:** Writing Tools
- **Made by:** 180g
- **Website:** https://vellum.pub
- **Runs on:** macOS
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 5, 2026

## Pricing

Vellum is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $199.99 one-time, before tax (Vellum Ebooks).

- **Pricing model:** Free trial
- **Free plan:** None.
- **Free trial:** Free download with no time limit for importing, styling and previewing. Generating files for publishing requires a purchase.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Vellum Ebooks | $199.99 one-time purchase, before tax | Create unlimited ebooks for stores such as Kindle, Kobo and Apple Books. Does not include print editions. |
| Vellum Press | $249.99 one-time purchase, before tax | Create unlimited ebooks plus print editions that can be printed as paperbacks or hardcovers. |

Read from https://vellum.pub/ on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Vellum before buying.

## Key features

- **Manuscript import:** Imports any .docx file, including ones made in Word, Scrivener or Pages, and builds the book's structure with a title page and table of contents.
- **Book Styles:** A chosen style, with drop caps, embedded fonts and flourishes, is applied to every chapter, including ones added later. Custom ornaments and backgrounds can be added.
- **Live preview:** Shows how the ebook will appear on a range of devices and how the print edition will look, updating with every edit.
- **Ebook generation:** Generates files for Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books and other stores in EPUB 3 or EPUB 2, with image optimization and output the vendor describes as ACE-approved for accessibility.
- **Print editions:** With Vellum Press, sets margins, page numbers, headers and footers for 24 trim sizes plus large print, handles widows and spread balancing, and outputs PDF/X-1a.
- **Box sets and advance copies:** Combines a finished series into a box set in a few steps and produces advance reader copies for beta readers in EPUB and MOBI.

## Good for

- Self-publishing authors on a Mac who format their own books
- Authors with many titles, since one license covers unlimited books and pen names
- Producing ebook and print editions of a book from a single file

## Worth knowing

- Mac only, on macOS 13 or newer. It does not run on iPad, and the vendor says it has no plans for a native Windows version.
- The free download cannot generate files for publishing; that step requires buying Vellum Ebooks or Vellum Press.
- Print editions need Vellum Press. Upgrading from Vellum Ebooks after 30 days costs $69.99, more than the $50 gap between the two prices.
- A license is tied to one individual and cannot be shared with a co-worker or assistant. Listed prices do not include tax.

**Tags:** Long-form writing, One-time purchase, Templates

## Alternatives

- [Atticus](https://toolgpa.com/tools/atticus): Book writing and formatting app for ebooks and print. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/atticus-vs-vellum)
- [Reedsy Studio](https://toolgpa.com/tools/reedsy-studio): Browser-based book writing app with free EPUB and PDF typesetting. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/reedsy-studio-vs-vellum)
- [Scrivener](https://toolgpa.com/tools/scrivener): Manuscript writing app with a binder, corkboard and outliner. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/scrivener-vs-vellum)
- [Ulysses](https://toolgpa.com/tools/ulysses): Markup-based writing app for Mac, iPad and iPhone. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/ulysses-vs-vellum)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026:

- https://vellum.pub/
- https://help.vellum.pub/purchasing/
- https://help.vellum.pub/importing/
- https://help.vellum.pub/generating/
- https://help.vellum.pub/

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/vellum
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).