Vellum
Vellum: A focused Mac app for turning Word manuscripts into polished ebook and print files. Ranked #20 of 29 in Desktop Publishing Software by our editors (6.8/10); pricing: Free plan; best for mac-based book formatting.
At a glance
- Editor score6.8 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forMac-based book formatting
- Free planYes
- EPUB exportYes
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Imports DOCX manuscripts and creates EPUB and PDF/X-1a files
- Previews ebook, paperback, and hardcover editions before export
- Includes trim, bleed, validation, and accessible-output controls
Where it doesn't
- Runs only on macOS
- Paid license is required to generate publishing files
- Focused on book formatting rather than broad page-layout work
Our verdict on Vellum
Vellum is a macOS desktop application for authors formatting books for self-publishing. It imports DOCX manuscripts, applies book styles, and creates files for ebook and print editions. Its workflow covers EPUB 3 and EPUB 2 output, PDF/X-1a print files, paperback and hardcover layouts, automatic title pages and tables of contents, and controls for typography, trim size, margins, bleed, page numbers, headers, and footers. It is particularly suited to Mac-based authors who want a dedicated book-formatting tool rather than a general desktop publishing application.
The freemium model provides a way to download and use the application without time limits, while publishing-file generation requires a paid license. Vellum Ebooks supports unlimited ebooks, and Vellum Press supports unlimited ebooks and paperbacks, including paperback or hardcover print editions. This plan split makes the product easier to evaluate before committing, while Press is the relevant option for authors preparing both digital and physical books.
Vellum’s strongest differentiator is its book-specific output workflow. Users can preview ebook and print editions, optimize and compress images, validate EPUB files with EPUBCheck, and assess accessible output. It also supports full-bleed pages and detailed print-layout settings, giving authors control over both reflowable ebooks and fixed print files. The main constraint is platform access: Vellum runs on macOS, while Windows users need to access a rented cloud Mac rather than use a native Windows version. Choose Vellum for focused book production on a Mac; choose another tool if native Windows support or broader page-layout capabilities is essential.
Your product? Our editors can test Vellum in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Vellum pricing
All 2 Vellum plans and prices →
Vellum fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Supported platforms | macOS |
| PDF export | Yes |
| EPUB export | Yes |
| Master pages | Not verified |
| Preflight tools | Not verified |
| Color management | Yes |
| Collaboration level | Not verified |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | macOS |
| Support | |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | vellum.pub |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Vellum
- AffinityA broad desktop publishing suite for design, editing, layout, and print output without a subscription.9.4
- Adobe InDesignA focused choice for multipage layouts, typography, prepress, and PDF production.9.2
- QuarkXPressA full-featured desktop publisher for teams producing print and digital content.8.9
Also Ranked In
Vellum is ranked in 3 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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