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Cambric vs Vellum

Two professional formatters. One works on both platforms.

The Short Version

Quick verdict

Vellum set the standard for beautiful book formatting. If you're on Mac and don't need publish prep, it's excellent. Cambric matches the output quality, adds publish-prep features, and runs on Windows too — for less than half the price.

Feature by Feature

Side-by-side comparison

Feature Vellum Cambric
Platforms Mac only Windows & Mac
Pricing $249.99 (one-time) $109 founder / $149 (one-time)
Manuscript editor Binder + editor
DOCX import
Professional templates ~10 styles 20+ styles
Drop caps
Scene break styles 4 styles
Widow/orphan control Automatic
Print PDF
EPUB export EPUB 3
Running heads
Live typeset preview
Preflight checklist 9 items
Retailer validation 5 stores
Listing sheets
Series management
Works offline
Files on your machine
In Depth

Where each tool excels

Formatting quality

Both produce professional output that looks traditionally published. Vellum pioneered the "pick a style and see it instantly" workflow, and it's still beautifully executed. Cambric offers more templates (20+ vs ~10), adds live typeset preview so you see the actual PDF rendering as you work, and gives you more control over drop caps, scene breaks, and typography.

Platform availability

Vellum is permanently Mac-only. The developers have confirmed this publicly and repeatedly — it's built on Apple-specific frameworks. Cambric runs natively on both Windows and Mac as a desktop app. If you're on Windows, Vellum simply isn't an option.

What happens after formatting

Vellum stops at PDF and EPUB export — and it does that well. Cambric continues into publish prep: a 9-item preflight checklist, retailer validation for Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and Google Play, auto-generated listing sheets, and a royalty calculator. The goal is files you can upload to every store and pass on the first try.

Pricing

Vellum Press (ebooks + print) is $249.99. Vellum Ebooks (ebooks only) is $199.99. Both are one-time purchases. Cambric is $109 at founder pricing, $149 at regular pricing — one-time, unlimited books, all features. That's $100 to $140 less for comparable formatting plus the publish-prep features Vellum doesn't offer.

The Decision

Who should pick which

Pick Vellum if…

  • You're on Mac and plan to stay on Mac
  • You only need formatting — no writing or organizing
  • You don't need publish-prep features
  • You're happy paying $250 for proven, polished software

Pick Cambric if…

  • You're on Windows (or switch between Windows and Mac)
  • You want writing + formatting in one app
  • You want preflight checks, retailer validation, and listing sheets
  • You want to save $100+ and get more features
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Questions

Frequently asked

Can Cambric produce the same quality as Vellum?
Yes. Both use professional typesetting engines to produce print-ready PDFs and clean EPUB files. Cambric uses Typst, a modern typesetting system, while Vellum uses its own proprietary engine. The output quality is comparable — both produce interiors that look traditionally published.
Is Vellum ever coming to Windows?
No. Vellum's developers have confirmed publicly and repeatedly that Vellum is Mac-only and will remain Mac-only. It's built on Apple-specific frameworks that don't translate to Windows. If you're on Windows, Vellum is not an option.
Can I switch from Vellum to Cambric?
Yes. Export your manuscript as DOCX from your word processor (or from Vellum's source), then import it into Cambric. Cambric's DOCX importer handles chapter detection, scene breaks, and formatting automatically. Your content transfers cleanly.
Which has better templates?
Vellum has roughly 10 well-designed styles that have been refined over years. Cambric has 20+ templates covering both fiction and nonfiction, with customizable drop caps, scene break styles, and typography options. Both produce professional results — Cambric simply offers more variety.
Do both work offline?
Yes. Both are desktop apps that run entirely on your machine. Your files are local, your work is private, and neither app requires an internet connection to write, format, or export.
Why is Cambric cheaper than Vellum?
Different business decisions, not different quality. Vellum has been the premium option in this space for years and prices accordingly. Cambric is newer and offers founder pricing to build its user base. Both are one-time purchases with no subscriptions.
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Pay when you export.

Professional formatting, publish-ready files, one-time purchase. Windows and Mac.

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