Vellum Alternative for Windows
Vellum is a program for designing e-books and print editions that, according to its maker, is available only for the Mac. That means it cannot run directly on Windows or Linux. Here is how AethelWrite and Vellum differ, where Vellum comes out ahead and how to switch.
As of October 2026
The short version
- According to its maker, Vellum runs only on the Mac; the current version needs macOS 13 or later, and there is a legacy version for older Macs. For Windows, Vellum’s help pages describe renting a Mac in the cloud. AethelWrite runs in the browser on Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Both create store-specific e-books and print PDFs for paperback and hardcover, and both also write DOCX. AethelWrite also writes RTF, Markdown and plain text, and with your own key for a cloud voice an MP3 audiobook.
- Vellum is a one-time purchase. AethelWrite has a free Starter plan, subscriptions and, with Author Lifetime, a one-time purchase as well.
- In AethelWrite you also write the book, with a Story Bible, goals and end-to-end encrypted sync. According to its maker, Vellum focuses on designing e-books and print editions.
At a glance
| Feature | AethelWrite | Vellum |
|---|---|---|
| PlatformsAethelWrite ahead | In the browser on Windows, macOS and Linux, in a current version of Chrome, Edge, Safari or Firefox; installable as an app (PWA) in Chrome, Edge and Safari | macOS only; the current version needs macOS 13 or later, with a legacy version for older Macs; for Windows, Vellum’s help pages describe renting a Mac in the cloud (e.g. MacinCloud) |
| Native desktop appVellum ahead | No – web app, installable as a PWA in Chrome, Edge and Safari | Yes, Mac app |
| Offline | Yes, after the first visit with a connection: writing continues offline; sync, AI, cloud voices and cloud dictation need a connection | Yes, as an installed program |
| Pricing | Starter is free; Author $11/month, $99/year or $299 once (Author Lifetime: every Author feature and all 53 book designs, with no end date for as long as we operate AethelWrite); Writing Studio $28/month | One-time purchase: Vellum Ebooks $199.99, Vellum Press $249.99 (e-books and print editions), plus tax; free updates |
| Our prices are final prices; as a small business under § 19 of the German VAT Act (UStG) we charge no VAT. Customers in Europe, including the UK, pay in euros; all other countries in US dollars. Competitor prices as listed by the vendor, retrieved October 12, 2026, not converted; sales tax or VAT may apply depending on your country. | ||
| Trying it outEven | Starter is free with no time limit – no trial period, no credit card: up to 35,000 words per book, every book export format, end-to-end encrypted sync for 2 books | Free download with no time limit; you pay only when you generate publishing files; 30-day refund |
| E-bookEven | EPUB per store: Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play Books, Nook, tolino | EPUB 3 and EPUB 2 (validated), separate files per store (Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books and more) |
| PrintEven | Print PDF of the interior in grayscale with embedded fonts and bleed, with the format specifications of KDP and IngramSpark (paperback and hardcover): with “Create PDF” as PDF/X-1a:20011, for books in Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Hindi via the browser’s print dialog; from Author up: print cover to KDP dimensions with calculated spine and EAN-13 barcode | Print PDF in PDF/X-1a for paperback or hardcover, 24 trim sizes plus large print (Vellum Press only) |
| Other exportsAethelWrite ahead | DOCX, RTF, Markdown, TXT, MP3 audiobook (one file per chapter, with your own key for a cloud voice) | Word file (DOCX) for editors and readers – per Vellum not intended for publishing; EPUB and MOBI for advance readers |
| Sync between devices | Built-in sync, end-to-end encrypted: chapters, titles, structure and Story Bible are encrypted on your device with AES-256-GCM; active once the Recovery Vault is set up, for 2 books on Starter | According to its maker, since version 3.2 a book is a single file that is easier to share by email or via iCloud, Dropbox or OneDrive |
| Writing and planning | Editor, Story Bible (characters, places, relationship network, timeline), daily goals and streaks, read-aloud; dictation from Author up | Design program: the manuscript is imported, for example from Word, and laid out in Vellum; the text can be edited in Vellum |
| Book designs | 53 book designs (Starter 4, Author 18, Writing Studio and Author Lifetime all 53) | Per its help pages, dozens of styles in several categories |
Note on PDF/X-1a: The print PDF that AethelWrite writes itself via “Create PDF” conforms to PDF/X-1a:2001 (ISO 15930-1). Excluded are PDFs made with “Print / Save as PDF” (the browser’s print dialog) and books in Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Hindi, which AethelWrite currently outputs via the print dialog.
The markers refer only to the individual feature and are based on the sources listed below. They are not an overall rating – which program suits you better depends on how you work.
Where AethelWrite differs
Windows, macOS and Linux in the browser
According to its maker, Vellum is available only for the Mac, so not for Windows, Linux, iPad or Android. For Windows, Vellum’s help pages describe renting a Mac in the cloud, for example from MacinCloud.
You open AethelWrite in your browser on Windows, macOS and Linux, in a current version of Chrome, Edge, Safari or Firefox. In Chrome, Edge and Safari you can install it as an app, and it launches like a program. After the first visit with a connection you can keep writing offline.
Writing and formatting in one place
According to its maker, Vellum is a program for designing books: you import your manuscript, for example from Word, and lay it out in Vellum.
In AethelWrite the manuscript is the book. The Book Formatter sets the same chapters you are writing, so a correction in the text shows up right away in the preview and is part of your next export. The Story Bible, word goals and versions sit right alongside.
Print, e-book and cover
Vellum Press and AethelWrite both create print PDFs for paperback and hardcover and both create separate e-book files per store. The print PDF of the interior comes out in grayscale with embedded fonts and bleed, with the format specifications of KDP and IngramSpark for paperback and hardcover. With “Create PDF”, AethelWrite writes it itself, as PDF/X-1a:2001 (ISO 15930-1); this excludes PDFs made with “Print / Save as PDF” – the browser’s print dialog, which AethelWrite currently uses for books in Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Hindi. From Author up, you also get the print cover to KDP dimensions, with a calculated spine and an EAN-13 barcode. 53 book designs (Starter 4, Author 18, Writing Studio and Author Lifetime all 53).
Beyond DOCX, which both produce, AethelWrite exports RTF for editors and publishers, Markdown and plain text, and – through a cloud voice provider with your own key – an MP3 audiobook, one file per chapter; the provider’s terms apply to costs and usage rights.
Built-in sync, end-to-end encrypted
According to its maker, since version 3.2 a Vellum book is a single file, which makes it easier to share by email or via iCloud, Dropbox or OneDrive.
AethelWrite syncs on its own. Chapters, titles, structure and the Story Bible are encrypted on your device with AES-256-GCM before they leave it, and the key stays with you. Sync starts once you have set up the Recovery Vault, for 2 books on Starter. For completeness: cloud dictation and read-aloud with cloud voices – except Amazon Polly – are relayed through our server to the provider. We don’t store the text, the recording or the key along the way; all we record is when a request came in (for the hourly limit). This path is not end-to-end encrypted.
When Vellum is the better choice
- You already work on a Mac and prefer a traditional desktop program to a web app.
- You want to pay once – according to its maker, Vellum is a one-time purchase with free updates.
- Your manuscript is finished and all you need is formatting for the e-book and the print edition.
- You need many print formats: Vellum Press lists 24 trim sizes plus large print.
- You only want to pay when you publish: you can try Vellum with no time limit.
Moving from Vellum to AethelWrite
Export your book from Vellum as a Word file (per Vellum’s help, via “File ▸ Export Content As ▸ Word File”) and import the DOCX into AethelWrite; your original manuscript works too. AethelWrite imports DOCX, ODT, RTF, PDF, EPUB, Markdown, TXT and Scrivener 2 and 3 projects (as a .scriv folder or .zip). Before anything is brought in, a preview shows the chapters it found.
Then pick a book design in the Book Formatter, check the preview and export. Your Vellum file stays untouched, so you can run both side by side for as long as you like.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Windows version of Vellum?
No. According to its maker (as of October 2026), Vellum is available only for the Mac; the current version needs macOS 13 or later, and there is a legacy version for older Macs. For Windows, Vellum’s help pages describe renting a Mac in the cloud, for example from MacinCloud.
Does AethelWrite create print PDFs for KDP and IngramSpark?
Yes, the Book Formatter does on every plan. The print PDF of the interior comes out in grayscale with embedded fonts and bleed, with the format specifications of KDP and IngramSpark for paperback and hardcover. With “Create PDF”, AethelWrite writes it itself, as PDF/X-1a:2001 (ISO 15930-1); this excludes PDFs made with “Print / Save as PDF” – the browser’s print dialog, which AethelWrite currently uses for books in Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Hindi. From Author up, you also get the print cover to KDP dimensions, with a calculated spine and an EAN-13 barcode.
Do I need to install AethelWrite?
AethelWrite is a web app. There is no native desktop or mobile app; you work in the browser or install AethelWrite as a progressive web app in Chrome, Edge or Safari. After the first visit with a connection you can keep writing offline; sync, AI, cloud voices and cloud dictation need a connection.
Can I buy AethelWrite once?
Yes, with Author Lifetime: $299 once, no subscription – every Author feature and all 53 book designs, without the Writing Studio features. It has no end date for as long as we operate AethelWrite; should we ever discontinue it, we will announce that at least twelve months in advance. There is also Author as a subscription ($11/month or $99/year) and the free Starter plan.
How much does Vellum cost?
According to its maker (as of October 2026), a one-time $199.99 for Vellum Ebooks (unlimited e-books) and $249.99 for Vellum Press (e-books and print editions), plus tax. Upgrading from Ebooks to Press later costs $69.99; within the first 30 days after purchase, only the difference.
Try it yourself
The Starter plan is free with no time limit – no trial period, no credit card – including every book export format and 4 of 53 book designs.