Top 10 Best Ebook Formatting Software of 2026

Vellum is a premium macOS-exclusive ebook formatting software designed for authors to create professional EPUB, Kindle (MOBI/AZW3), and print-ready PDF files effortlessly. It offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface for importing manuscripts from Word or Pages, with live previews across devices like Kindle, iPhone, iPad, and Kobo. The tool automates styling with customizable themes, generates front/back matter, and handles complex elements like images, footnotes, and drop caps seamlessly.

Atticus is an all-in-one desktop software for authors that combines writing, formatting, and publishing tools to create professional ebooks and print books. It features an intuitive interface for organizing chapters via a drag-and-drop palette, applying customizable themes, and exporting to EPUB, MOBI, KDP print-ready PDF, and more. Designed specifically for self-publishers, it handles front/back matter, goals tracking, and spellchecking without needing external tools or coding.

Kindle Create is a free desktop tool from Amazon designed specifically for formatting reflowable ebooks and print replicas for Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). It allows users to import Word documents or other files, apply professional themes, generate tables of contents, and preview the final output on various Kindle devices. The software emphasizes simplicity and ensures high compatibility with Amazon's ecosystem, making it ideal for self-publishers focused on Kindle.

Calibre is a free, open-source ebook management tool renowned for its powerful conversion and editing capabilities across dozens of formats like EPUB, MOBI, PDF, and AZW3. It includes a built-in ebook editor for reflowing content, tweaking HTML/CSS, adjusting layouts, fonts, and margins, as well as metadata and cover management. Beyond formatting, it offers library organization, device syncing, and a content server, making it a full-featured solution for ebook workflows.

Sigil is a free, open-source EPUB ebook editor designed for creating, editing, and refining EPUB2 and EPUB3 files with precise control. It features a dual-pane interface combining WYSIWYG Book View for visual editing and Code View for direct HTML/CSS manipulation, along with tools for metadata management, table of contents generation, and spell-checking. The software excels in validating EPUB compliance against standards, making it ideal for technical users focused on formatting accuracy.

Jutoh is a cross-platform ebook authoring and publishing tool designed for creating professional EPUB, MOBI, KF8, and OEB ebooks from various source formats like Word, ODT, or plain text. It offers detailed control over layout using a box-based system, table of contents generation, cover design integration, and scripting for advanced automation. Primarily aimed at users needing precise formatting beyond simple reflowable text.

Reedsy Book Editor is a free, web-based platform that allows authors to write, format, and export professional ebooks and print books. It features a drag-and-drop interface for organizing chapters, front/back matter, and custom elements, with real-time previews and automatic table of contents generation. The tool supports exports to EPUB (reflowable and fixed-layout), PDF for print, and other formats, making it suitable for self-publishers preparing files for platforms like Amazon KDP or IngramSpark.

Scrivener is a powerful writing and organization tool from Literature & Latte, primarily designed for authors working on novels, scripts, theses, and other long-form projects. For ebook formatting, it features a robust Compile tool that exports structured projects to EPUB, MOBI (legacy), PDF, and other formats with customizable stylesheets, metadata, title pages, and section handling. While versatile for manuscript management leading into ebook production, it requires manual setup for precise layouts and lacks live previews, making it more of a writing-to-export solution than a dedicated formatter.

Adobe InDesign is a professional desktop publishing software widely used for creating high-quality layouts, including ebooks in EPUB, PDF, and interactive formats. It offers precise control over typography, images, and multi-page designs, supporting both reflowable and fixed-layout ebooks with advanced features like interactive elements and CSS customization. While powerful for complex projects, it's part of Adobe's Creative Cloud ecosystem, requiring a subscription for access.

Ulysses is a Markdown-based writing app for macOS, iPadOS, and iOS that enables users to organize and write long-form content like novels or non-fiction books within a unified library of sheets and groups. It supports direct export to ePub format, automatically generating table of contents, handling images, and applying custom styles for ebook-ready files. While excellent for writing and basic ebook assembly, it lacks the granular formatting controls and previewing tools of dedicated ebook editors.