Top 10 eBook Creator Tools in 2026: Free & Paid

• Aug 03, 2026
• 10 min read

• Tags: Book Writing, Fiction Writing, Language, Novel

If you want to become a self-published writer, you need to start by creating an eBook. It’s a much easier process than creating print books, making it the logical first step for new writers. You can do this using any eBook creator, but which is the best eBook software out there?

A recent study by the Pew Research Center found that over 33% of Americans read eBooks, and global eBook revenue is projected to surpass $18 billion by 2027. If you want to tap into this audience, your eBook has to be polished and well-formatted. But do you need a paid tool to achieve this, or is a free eBook creator just as good? The good news is that in 2026, the best free options are better than ever. Let’s find out.

Here are the ten best eBook creator software in 2026:

1. Atticus
2. Vellum (New)
3. Reedsy Book Editor / Studio (New)
4. Draft2Digital
5. Scrivener
6. Google Docs
7. Kindle Create
8. Adobe InDesign
9. Apple Pages
10. Canva (New)

As you may have noticed, most tools in this list of the best eBook creators are free or offer a free plan. After all, if you can afford to spend on interior formatting, it’s better to use it on hiring an expert typesetter. When self-publishing your book, try to spend either your time or your money on a process, not both!

We’ve ranked the eBook creation software in this list according to ease of access, pricing, and widespread usage. Without further ado, let’s get started!

1. Atticus

A platform built by authors for authors, Atticus helps you write and export your book. You can use it to create both eBooks and print books. Unlike Vellum and Ulysses, Atticus isn’t Mac-exclusive and works well on Windows, Linux, and even Chrome!

Unlike most formatting tools that require you to finish your manuscript elsewhere and import it, Atticus has a full built-in writing environment with goal tracking, word count stats, and a distraction-free editor. When you’re ready to format, it handles that too. The writing dashboard is equipped with a book goal section, but the software truly excels in its formatting options. Atticus offers 17 unique templates, 1,200 style combinations, and a custom theme builder. You can preview your eBook before exporting it in the format of your choice.

Collaboration features that let editors work alongside authors in the same project are a further advantage that Vellum simply doesn’t offer.

One important note: Amazon has retired MOBI as a supported upload format. Atticus exports to EPUB, DOCX, KPF (Kindle’s preferred format), and print-ready PDFs so you’re fully aligned with current KDP requirements.

Pricing: $147 (one-time lifetime license, includes all future updates)

Export formats: EPUB, PDF (print-ready), DOCX, KPF

Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook

2. Vellum 

If you’re on a Mac and you want eBooks that look like they came from a traditional publishing house, Vellum is the tool the industry talks about. Its typesetting engine handles widows and orphans, ligatures, kerning, and optical margin alignment in ways that Google Docs or Microsoft Word simply can’t replicate. The result is a book interior that immediately looks professional, something readers notice even if they can’t articulate why.

The workflow is straightforward: write your manuscript in whatever tool you prefer (Scrivener, Word, Google Docs), export a .docx file, import it into Vellum, pick a style from roughly 25 curated templates, and export. From there, you get platform-optimized EPUB files for Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play, and Nook, each with store-specific features like “buy my next book” links built in. A companion print-ready PDF is generated at the same time.

A few things to know going in: Vellum is Mac-only (no Windows version exists or is planned). It’s also a formatting-only tool; there’s no writing environment inside it. And while it’s a one-time purchase with no subscription, the price is steeper than Atticus. For authors publishing a single book, Atticus is the better value. For prolific Mac-based authors publishing series after series, Vellum pays for itself quickly.

Pricing: $199.99 (eBooks only) or $249.99 (eBooks + print) one-time purchase, lifetime updates, unlimited books

Export formats: EPUB, MOBI (legacy), PDF (print-ready)

Platforms: Mac only (macOS 13+)

3. Reedsy Book Editor (Studio) 

Reedsy Studio is a browser-based, cloud-hosted writing and formatting tool. You don’t need to download anything; just create a free Reedsy account and start writing in your browser. It works on Mac, Windows, Linux, and any device that runs a modern browser, including tablets.

What sets it apart from other free tools like Google Docs is that it’s built specifically for book production. It automatically typesets your manuscript to professional industry standards, generates a table of contents, manages front matter and back matter, and exports clean, validated EPUB files. You don’t need to know anything about HTML or CSS to get great results. Real-time collaboration is supported; you can invite a co-author or editor to work on the same manuscript simultaneously, with tracked changes and comments. This makes it a practical alternative to Scrivener or Atticus for authors who work closely with editors or co-writers.

The core writing and formatting features are free and always will be. Two premium plans add advanced goal tracking, sprint timers, and outlining tools, but you don’t need them to produce a publish-ready eBook.

Pricing: Free (core features); Craft plan $4.99/month; Outline plan $7.99/month

Export formats: EPUB, PDF (print-ready), DOCX, HTML

Platforms: Browser-based (all platforms: Mac, Windows, Linux, tablet)

4. Draft2Digital (D2D)

Primarily known as a book distributor, Draft2Digital also offers completely free eBook formatting software. It features a wide variety of eBook templates, header styles, and supporting designs that make typesetting easy and interesting. You can’t edit your book on the dashboard, but you can easily import a .docx file that has already been edited and proofread.

D2D’s large inventory of styles and layout options makes it one of the top eBook creator tools online. The software automatically prepares a print layout of your book so there’s one less thing to worry about. Together with its distribution power and book marketing tools, D2D is undoubtedly one of the best free eBook creators!

Pricing: Free (D2D takes a 10% commission on sales through their distribution)

Export formats: PDF, EPUB, and MOBI (note: MOBI is no longer supported for KDP uploads; use EPUB for distribution)

5. Scrivener

Much like Atticus, Scrivener helps you write your book and then export it as an eBook. Its Corkboard and Outliner tools help you streamline your writing efforts while Full-Screen Writing gets rid of any distractions. It offers basic formatting options to help you create a professional eBook.

Scrivener is especially useful for creating screenplays and nonfiction books. It automatically formats screenplays and has various templates for nonfiction. The tool even supports footnotes, which makes it perfect for academic nonfiction. 

Where Scrivener beats every other tool on this list is in its manuscript organization features; the ability to move scenes and chapters around like index cards on a corkboard is genuinely powerful for complex, research-heavy books.

That said, Scrivener’s formatting output isn’t as polished as Atticus or Vellum. Many authors use Scrivener for the writing stage and then import into Atticus or Reedsy Studio for final formatting and export a workflow that works particularly well.

Pricing: $49 (lifetime license)

Export formats: PDF, EPUB, MOBI, and more

7. Kindle Create

Developed specifically for use with Amazon KDP, Kindle Create is a free eBook software available for both Mac and PC. It works best for text-heavy books with images, but can also create cookbooks or travel guides. The software will soon introduce comic eBooks with a guided view, which will animate panel-to-panel movement to move the story forward. 

Kindle Create exports KPF, which Amazon describes as its preferred format for Kindle eBook publishing, and that’s a genuine advantage for KDP-only authors. But it still doesn’t support image captions, has limited formatting customization, and is only useful if Amazon is your sole publishing destination. For authors distributing to Apple Books, Kobo, or Barnes & Noble alongside Amazon, it’s too restrictive to be a primary tool. Think of it as a useful supplemental option rather than a first choice. 

Pricing: Free!

Export formats: KPF and EPUB 

8. Adobe InDesign

An affordable and advanced tool, Adobe InDesign features lower in our list purely because of its steep learning curve. You’ll have to invest quite some time learning how it works, but the result is bound to be extraordinary. Luckily, the platform offers various tutorials and resources on how to create an eBook and additional content such as cover design.

From a polished poetry chapbook to a modern self-help book, Adobe InDesign has all the templates you’ll need and more. The tool further offers the ability to resize eBook designs and work with a team, helping you tweak your design at will.

It remains the industry standard in traditional publishing houses if you’re a graphic designer producing eBooks professionally for clients, or an author who needs precise control over fixed-layout eBooks (cookbooks, illustrated children’s books, photography books), nothing else quite competes at this level.

Pricing: $24.99/month (standalone) or included in Adobe Creative Cloud

Export formats: PDF and EPUB (including fixed-layout EPUB)

9. Apple Pages

The Apple equivalent of Microsoft Word, this eBook creator is perfect for new writers who use a Mac or iPad. It allows you to create a PDF or EPUB file which is compatible with iBooks as well as most other platforms. Pages also lets you publish your book on iBooks from the “Export” option.

With Pages, you can decide whether you want a reflowable or fixed layout for your book and check the relevant options and limitations. Apple recommends using a reflowable layout for text-heavy books and a fixed layout for graphic-heavy books. The app is installed on all Mac devices by default, and non-Apple users can get free web-only access via iCloud. For what it costs (nothing), it’s a perfectly serviceable starting point; just don’t expect Vellum-level output from a free built-in app.

Pricing: Free (pre-installed on Mac; free web access via iCloud)

Export formats: PDF and EPUB

10. Canva

Canva isn’t built for narrative fiction if you’re writing a novel, look at Atticus or Vellum instead. But for authors creating business books, course workbooks, lead magnets, how-to guides, or any eBook where visual design matters as much as the text, Canva is in a league of its own. It offers hundreds of professionally designed eBook templates, a drag-and-drop editor that requires no design skills whatsoever, and integrations with Unsplash, Pexels, and its own massive library of stock photos and illustrations.

In 2026, Canva’s AI features have also expanded; you can use Magic Write to draft section text, Magic Design to auto-generate layouts from your content, and AI image generation to create custom visuals. The free plan covers most needs for straightforward eBook creation. The Pro plan unlocks premium templates, brand kits, background removal, and larger export file sizes.

One limitation worth noting: Canva exports primarily to PDF, which means you won’t get a reflowable EPUB suitable for Kindle or Apple Books. It’s best suited for eBooks distributed as PDF downloads via a website, as a lead magnet, or through course platforms.

Pricing: Free (with limitations); Canva Pro at $15/month

Export formats: PDF (primarily); some templates support MP4 and interactive HTML

We hope this list of eBook creator software helps you find the right typesetting tool. If you’d like to keep learning about the self-publishing process, here are some articles:

Tanvi

With a foundation in Life Sciences, Tanvi enjoys curating technical writing tips tailored for ESL students. When she's not translating complex concepts into bite-sized nuggets, she can be found playing with dogs or painting landscapes.