Vellum review

Vellum is a Mac app built for one job: turning a manuscript into store-ready ebooks and, with the Press edition, print books. You import a manuscript, Vellum builds the title page and table of contents, and you pick a book style that applies to every chapter. A preview shows how the book looks on a range of devices and in print, and it updates with each edit. On export, Vellum generates specialized files for Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books and other stores, each able to send readers to your next book in that store, plus validated EPUB 3 and EPUB 2 files that the vendor says are ACE-approved for accessibility. Series authors can combine books into a box set in a few steps. The drawbacks are platform and price: it only runs on macOS 14 or newer, Vellum Ebooks costs $199.99 and print needs Vellum Press at $249.99. You can build and preview free, then pay when you publish.

Who it is for

Authors on a Mac who publish often and want the most polished ebook and print styles with little setup.

Price

Vellum Ebooks $199.99 one time; Vellum Press $249.99 adds print; free to build and preview before buying.

Vellum Ebooks $ 199 . 99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Store-specific ebook files for Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books and more
• Validated EPUB 3 and EPUB 2 output with ACE-approved accessible files
• Box set builder for completed series
• Instant preview across devices and print
• Print edition with 24 trim sizes, large print and PDF/X-1a output in Vellum Press

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Each store file can point readers to buy your next book in that store
• Strength: Book styles apply to every chapter, including new ones
• Strength: Free to download, build, style and preview before paying
• Weakness: Mac only, requiring macOS 14 or newer
• Weakness: Highest price on this list at $199.99 for ebooks only
• Weakness: Print output costs extra with the $249.99 Press edition

Key facts

• Price: $199.99 Ebooks, $249.99 Press (one time)
• Platform: macOS 14 or newer
• Ebook output: EPUB 3, EPUB 2, ARC files in EPUB and MOBI
• Print: 24 trim sizes plus large print (Press)

Where it ranks

Vellum is No. 3 in our Best Ebook Creation Software verdict.