The best Vellum alternative for Windows in 2026

If you've researched book formatting for more than five minutes, you've heard authors rave about Vellum. There's just one problem if you're on a PC: Vellum is Mac-only, and there's no Windows version planned — and it costs around $249.99 (or $199.99 for ebook-only). So what do Windows authors actually use? Here are the real options.

The contenders

Atticus (~$147, cross-platform)

Atticus is the best-known "Vellum for PC". It runs in the browser and on Windows, Mac and Linux, combines writing and formatting, and exports both ebook and print. It's cloud-based, which is convenient for syncing but means your files live online, and some authors have reported the occasional sync hiccup. If you want one tool to write and format, it's a strong pick.

Reedsy Studio (free)

Reedsy's editor is free, browser-based, and produces clean EPUBs and usable print PDFs. Customisation is limited — you get a handful of tasteful templates rather than fine control — but for a no-cost, no-fuss result it's hard to argue with.

Kindle Create (free, Amazon-only)

Amazon's own free tool is fine for Kindle ebooks, mediocre for print, and useless if you want to sell anywhere other than Amazon. Use it only if you're KDP-exclusive and on a budget.

Bookmint (£29.99, runs in your browser on Windows or Mac)

Bookmint is a book-layout app that runs right in your browser — on Windows, Mac or a Chromebook — with nothing to install. Drop in a Word, Markdown or text file, pick from 55 templates, tune everything with sliders, preview in both print and a live ebook view, then export a print-ready PDF and a store-ready EPUB. Your manuscript is processed in the browser and never uploaded. It's a one-time £29.99, and you can design and preview your whole book free before paying to export.

Quick comparison

	Bookmint	Vellum	Atticus
Windows?	Yes (browser)	No (Mac only)	Yes
Price	£29.99 once	$249.99	$147
Nothing to install	Yes	No (download)	Yes
Text stays on your device	Yes	Yes	Cloud-based
Print + ebook	Yes	Yes	Yes
Try before buying	Yes (free preview)	Free preview	—

Competitor pricing/details from their public pages, 2026 — please verify before relying on them.

So which should a Windows author choose?

If you want an all-in-one writing-and-formatting cloud app and don't mind the price, Atticus is the established choice. If you want free and simple, Reedsy. If you want Vellum-grade output at a fraction of the price, on a PC, in your browser, that you only pay for once — that's exactly the gap Bookmint is built for.