10 best software for ebook creation in 2024 (free & paid)

If you’re looking to write and publish (or self-publish) an eBook in 2024, you want to make the process as short and sweet as possible.

That’s where eBook creator software comes to the rescue!

We’ve taken the time to do our research and gather insights on the best eBook creator software today. As a result, we’ve compiled a list of 10 eBook creator tools you should consider using before you start writing.

How are eBooks created?

The eBook creation process doesn’t have to be complicated. In reality, it requires just a few simple steps: come up with a concept, write the manuscript, edit and organize content in your eBook, add visuals and create a cover, and finally publish your eBook to start making money.

This may sound surprising but there is more than one way to create content for your eBook. Apart from coming up with a completely new idea, you can either repurpose your previously published content (like blog posts, podcasts, or YouTube videos) or even use PLR content.

However, publishing an eBook can still be challenging at times, especially for an inexperienced author. 

Luckily, a good combination of easy-to-use and efficient eBook creator tools can help you cut through the tedious process of organizing content, proofreading, and editing. It can also help you save time and money on creating an eBook cover and visual materials.

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How much does it cost to create an eBook?

The short answer is — it really depends on you. It’s possible to create an eBook without spending a single cent. All you need is to create a document with a free tool like Google Docs or Apple Pages and then convert it into a PDF file.

More expenses come in if you want to get your eBook professionally edited or you hire a designer to create the cover and other visuals. For example, hiring a professional to edit a 10,000-word manuscript can cost you anywhere between $300-600. 

As to creating designs, according to statistics provided by Upwork, the average hourly rate for a freelance graphic designer falls between $15 – $35 per hour. But you should take into account that designing a professional-looking eBook takes at least five hours.

It does sound like a lot of money, doesn’t it? 

No need to fret! If you get your hands on the right tools, creating a pro-level eBook doesn’t require big investments. 

That’s why we’ve creates this list.

10 Best eBook creator software

Before we dig into our selection of the 10 best eBook creator tools, I’d like to note that we’ve decided to skip prominent software like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Apple Pages, etc. We’re here to tell you about the tools that can actually help you create an eBook.

Now that we’re all set, let’s dive right in!

Free eBook creation software

1. Calibre

Calibre markets itself as a free eBook management system. And there’s a reason for that — many eBook authors swear by this tool. Calibre allows you to have all of your eBooks in one place, convert your manuscripts to the most popular eBook formats, create and edit metadata, and much more. For more advanced users, Calibre offers a built-in editor that supports eBooks formats like EBUB and KPF.

Pros

• Free open-source software available on Microsoft Windows, macOS, and LINUX.
• It’s easy to use
• Possibility to convert your eBook to the most popular formats
• You can keep and edit your eBook collection in one place
• You can get hundreds of plugins directly from Calibre

Cons

• There are reports of inaccurate format conversion
• Calibre may glitch and delete converted files

2. Grammarly

Grammarly is a free browser extension that can help you make your writing and editing process so much easier. In essence, Grammarly is a real-time proofread assistant that can identify mistakes in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and language usage. It also offers suggestions on clarity rewrites, detects the tone of your writing, and gives other useful tips.

Pros

• Real-time grammar correction
• High level of accuracy
• Simple interface and ease of use
• Customization even on the free plan

Cons

• It doesn’t work well with all text editors
• Key features are availably only on paid plans
• Even though it gets better, the percentage of irrelevant suggestions is still high

3. Hemingway Editor

The Hemingway Editor is a free tool that can help you edit and improve the readability of your eBook manuscript. It provides a sleek, minimalist interface that is focused on an analysis of your writing. Even though a lot of people compare Hemingway Editor to Grammarly, they work almost completely differently. Hemingway Editor is designed to help writers to improve the style and make it bolder.

Pros

• It’s free and you don’t have to create an account
• You can get the Premium Version for a one-time payment of $19.99
• It highlights adverbs, passive voice, and complex sentence structure
• It counts estimated reading time

Cons

• No plagiarism checker
• Impossible to integrate with any text editor like Google Docs
• It doesn’t define the tone and style of writing

4. Canva

It may surprise some of you, but Canva is another free eBook creator tool. Yes, it’s mainly an all-in-one platform for creating visual materials like Instagram posts, banners, and presentations. But it also offers a library of customizable eBook templates. Even if you’re a complete non-techie, you can use its easy-to-navigate interface and drag-and-drop builder to create a professional-looking eBook in no time.

Pros

• Hundreds of customizable eBook templates
• Cloud storage for all designs
• You can add and customize your own images
• Access to a library of over 1 million copyright-free images, graphics, and illustrations
• You can download your eBook design as a PDF file
• You can save money by creating quality visuals yourself

Cons

• You can’t import text files directly to Canva
• You can only create eBooks with up to 100 pages
• You can’t edit your content in Canva, so it has to be pre-edited

5. Kindle Create

Kindle Create is a free eBook creator tool that’s available for Windows and macOS users. As you may have understood from the name, this tool helps you to format your eBook before you publish it on Amazon Kindle.

Pros

• It’s easy to use
• There’s a free tutorial on how to use Kindle Create
• You can create three types of books: reflowable, interactive print replica, and comics
• It allows you to choose between four eBook themes
• Support for interactive content like audio, video, and hyperlinks
• Print file support

Cons

• Limited editing options and customization
• You can export only two publishing formats — KPB and KPF
• Mostly suitable for those who are looking to sell eBooks on Amazon

Paid eBook creator software

6. Atticus

Atticus combines a text processor and eBook formatting software in one tool. It offers a ton of valuable features like pre-built eBook templates, chapter planning, and daily word goals to help you boost productivity. Plus, Atticus works on all platforms and it’s cheaper than similar tools on the market — $147 for a lifetime account. What sets Atticus apart from similar tools is that you can actually write your eBook within the platform, and you will eventually be able to collaborate with editors and other authors as well.

Pros

• Affordable pricing
• It’s easy to use
• Autosave, cloud storage, and backups
• Built-in spell checker
• Works as a formatting software and as a text processor
• Excellent customer support

Cons

• Not so feature-rich when compared to the more expensive alternatives

7. Vellum

At first glance, Vellum and Atticus are quite similar. But, even though the key features that both platforms offer are quite similar, there are some key differences. For example, Vellum works only on macOS and it appears to be a bit pricier — $199.99 for a lifetime account. Otherwise, Vellum is a perfect alternative to Atticus.

Pros

• Perfect for eBook and print book formatting
• You can create unlimited eBooks and pay only when you need to export them
• It’s easy to use
• Automatically generated table of contents
• Lots of pre-made eBook themes and styles
• Unlimited pen names
• All future updates will be free for the Vellum license owners

Cons

• Not available on Windows and Linux
• Not the cheapest option in the market
• Separate price points for eBook vs. eBook + print
• No built-in text processor

8. Scrivener

Scrivener is another advanced eBook creator tool that helps fiction, non-fiction, and screenplay authors write and edit more efficiently. Unlike Atticus and Vellum, Scrivener is more geared towards helping you organize your content and creating a distraction-free environment. Plus, the software not only allows you to convert your manuscript to popular eBook formats.

Pros

• There are various templates for different eBook types
• You can customize features according to your needs
• You can create a project outline and set goals
• Distraction-free mode
• Progress autosave
• A 30-day free trial

Cons

• You have to buy a separate license for Windows and macOS
• Steep learning curve

9. Designrr

Designrr is a multi-functional tool that is capable of converting PDFs, blog posts, podcasts, and even YouTube videos into eBooks or Flipbooks. Designrr offers a comprehensive built-in editor that lets you customize and format just about any aspect of your eBook. Once you’re finished creating eBooks, you can export them in all popular formats like PDF, EPUB, KPF, and others.

Pros

• A perfect tool for turning your existing content into an eBook
• 100+ eBook templates
• Access to a library of copyright-free visuals
• Possibility to transcribe video and audio files
• Possibility to create 3D cover images

Cons

• Designrr has quite a learning curve
• You won’t be able to create a unique design with Designerr

10. Flipbuilder

Flipbuilder is an eBook creator software that’s geared towards various interactive digital materials like magazines, catalogs, brochures, etc. Moreover, the tools allow you to create an embeddable bookcase for your website. The beauty of the Flipbuilder lies in its simplicity as you can turn any PDF file into a pro-level eBook accessible on various devices.

Pros

• It’s easy to use
• Possibility to convert PDF files into interactive digital materials
• Ready-made eBook templates
• Rich media support including animations
• Supports various file eBook formats

Cons

• There are reports that software can act glitchy at times
• Slow technical support
• Limited design options for advanced users

How to sell your eBook

Once the content is ready, it takes just a few simple steps to start selling your eBooks online: prepare your eBook for selling, create a Sellfy store and upload your eBook, and start monetizing your eBook with the right pricing.

Let’s take a look at each step.

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Step 1. Choose the best eBook format

Yes, there’s one important choice you need to make before you actually get to selling your eBook — you will first need to choose an eBook file format. 

While there are many file formats, here are the top three eBook formats to choose from: 

1. EPUB

This eBook format is supported by most software applications like Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Books. It also works perfectly on mobile devices, tablets, smartphones, computers, and eReaders. Moreover, screen size doesn’t affect the formatting as reflowable EPUB format can display content on any screen size.

2. PDF

Although PDF was not designed for eBooks, it’s one of the most common eBook formats by far. The reason? This file type can be opened almost on any device (except Kindle). Plus, it’s one of the most user-friendly formats listed here.

3. MOBI or AZW

Introduced in 2000 by Mobipocket, the MOBI format is short for Mobipocket eBook and uses the .mobi file extension. Nowadays, it is more widely known as the AZW (or Kindle) file format. AZW files are exclusively used by those who are interested in Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing.

Step 2. Create an eBook store and upload your eBooks

Now that you’ve chosen the format for your eBook, you’re probably asking yourself:

How can I start selling eBooks online?

So, if you’ve been looking for an easy-to-use solution to build an online store for your eBooks, then you must try Sellfy.

Here’s why:

• 100% customizable storefront
• Support for EPUB & PDF file formats
• File security and anti-piracy tools
• Unlimited bandwidth & file storage
• Built-in marketing tools
• Seamless digital file delivery
• Mobile-first design
• 24/7 customer support
• Multiple payment options
• Instant payouts

Here’s how to sign up for Sellfy and sell your own eBook:

1. Start with a 14-day free trial before you choose a subscription plan (Starter, Business, or Premium). You’ll be able to play around and test all its great features before committing.
2. Design your eBook store by choosing one of Sellfy’s pre-made themes, or design a website of your dreams with our Store Customizer tool.
3. Upload your eBook, set a price, hit Save product, and your eBook will be live in your Sellfy store!

Step 3. Price your eBooks to drive more sales

Creating your eBook can lead to additional costs such as proofreading services, or buying eBook creator software. So, if you underprice your product, you risk losing money.

That’s why we’re recommending trying one (or more) of these pricing strategies:

• Research average market pricing. It will put you in the same category as your competitors.
• Increase your product value by offering additional materials or freebies.
• Decrease the eBook price, but keep the quality to set it below the market average.
• Try discount pricing — set a higher price for your eBook than the average market price and then launch occasional sales.

Conclusion: the best eBook creator software

All of the tools that we’ve listed above will have you covered on each step of the eBook creation process, from editing to designing a cover. All you need to do is pick the tools that will work for you.

Once your eBook is ready, all it takes to start selling is a Sellfy store, a little bit of marketing, and smart product pricing, and you’ll surely be on your way to earning passive income.