PodoLay vs Vellum
Short answer: Vellum is a Mac app that turns a Word manuscript into a polished ebook and print interior in minutes: you pick one of its built-in book styles and it handles the layout for you. It is a one-time purchase ($199.99 for ebooks, $249.99 with print) and runs only on macOS. PodoLay is a page layout editor that runs in the browser — on Windows, Mac, Linux or a Chromebook, with nothing to install. It imports the same Word (.docx) manuscript, but you lay out the pages yourself with master pages, styles and threaded frames, the way you would in InDesign, and it exports a print PDF for Amazon KDP (PDF/X-1a) and a reflowable EPUB 3 (free on every plan). Choose Vellum if you are on a Mac and want beautiful results with the fewest decisions. Choose PodoLay if you are on Windows or a Chromebook, want full control of every page, or also need a cover with the spine worked out.
At a glance
| PodoLay | Vellum | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | In the browser on Windows, Mac, Linux or Chromebook (a recent Chromium browser such as Chrome or Edge is recommended); needs an internet connection | Mac app (macOS 13 or newer); no Windows version — Vellum suggests renting a cloud Mac |
| Price | Free plan ($0, up to 30 pages per layout); Starter $8.99/month (120 pages); Pro $24.99/month (600 pages) | One-time: Vellum Ebooks $199.99, Vellum Press (ebook + print) $249.99; Ebooks → Press upgrade $69.99 |
| Try it | Free plan, no card, every editing feature | Free download; you buy a license before generating files |
| How you design | Free-form page layout: master pages, paragraph and character styles, threaded text frames, images, shapes and tables anywhere on the page | Choose and adjust built-in book styles (headings, first paragraphs, breaks, headers and footers); layout is automatic |
| Manuscript in | Word .docx with styles, footnotes, endnotes and images; InDesign IDML | .docx (from Word, Scrivener or Pages) |
| Print interior | Vector PDF with embedded fonts; Amazon KDP paperback type (PDF/X-1a, transparency flattened) on Starter and Pro; CMYK, spot colors and PDF/X-4 for print shops | Paperback or hardcover PDF (PDF/X-1a), 24 trim sizes plus large print, needs Vellum Press |
| Ebook | Reflowable EPUB 3, checked with epubcheck, free and unlimited on every plan | EPUB 3 and EPUB 2 for Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo and others |
| Book cover | Cover builder for KDP and other printers: spine width from page count and paper, full cover with bleed, barcode area; ebook cover JPEG | Not made in Vellum — you upload the print cover separately to your printer |
| KDP checks | Preflight against KDP rules: trim, page count, gutter for the page count, margins, bleed, image resolution, small text and thin lines | Default margins meant to meet KDP minimums |
| Long-book tools | Automatic table of contents with PDF bookmarks, footnotes, endnotes, index, running headers | Table of contents, headers and footers, box sets |
Who Vellum suits
- Mac users who want it done fast. Vellum's styles are carefully designed and its automatic print layout takes care of widows, chapter openings and spacing. Many authors format a novel in an afternoon without learning layout software.
- Authors who publish many books. One purchase covers unlimited books and pen names, with free updates, so the price is paid off quickly if you publish often. PodoLay is a monthly subscription for print PDF export.
- Simple, text-led books. Novels, memoirs and nonfiction with a regular structure fit Vellum's style-based model well.
- Working offline. Vellum is a desktop app; PodoLay needs a connection.
Who PodoLay suits
- Windows, Linux and Chromebook users. PodoLay opens in the browser on any of them — no cloud-Mac rental and no install. Layouts and saved versions are kept on the server, so you can continue on another computer.
- Books that need a designed page, not a template. Cookbooks, picture-heavy nonfiction, workbooks, poetry with exact placement, magazines and flyers: place text, images, shapes and tables anywhere, with master pages and styles you define.
- Authors who also need the cover. PodoLay's New Layout › Cover (KDP) measures the spine from your page count and paper and builds the full wraparound cover with bleed. You can check the numbers first with the free cover calculator.
- Print-shop work beyond KDP. CMYK with ICC profiles, spot colors and separations, crop marks and PDF/X-4 (Starter and Pro).
- Korean, Japanese and Chinese books. Kinsoku, mojikumi, vertical text and ruby are built in.
What PodoLay does not do
- No ready-made book themes. You build your own styles (or bring them in from Word or IDML). There is no one-click "pick a style" library like Vellum's; the dashboard's templates tab is not available yet.
- No offline mode and no desktop app. PodoLay runs in the browser and saves to the server.
- No Kindle KPF or MOBI file. PodoLay exports EPUB 3, which KDP accepts for Kindle eBooks.
- No fixed-layout ebook. The EPUB is reflowable only; images and shapes placed outside the text flow are left out unless you anchor them in the text.
- Print PDF is not on the Free plan. On Free you can design, make proof prints and export EPUB; print-ready PDF needs Starter or Pro (or one-time PDF passes). See pricing.
- No hardcover cover. The cover builder makes paperback covers.
- No distribution or printing. PodoLay makes the files; you upload them to KDP or your printer yourself.
FAQ
Is there a Vellum alternative for Windows?
Vellum runs only on macOS, and its help pages suggest renting a cloud Mac for Windows. PodoLay is one alternative that runs in the browser on Windows (and Linux and Chromebook), imports a Word manuscript and exports a KDP print PDF and an EPUB. It works differently — you lay out the pages yourself rather than choosing a built-in book style.
Is PodoLay cheaper than Vellum?
It depends on how long you use it. Vellum is a one-time $199.99 (ebooks) or $249.99 (ebooks and print). PodoLay's Free plan costs nothing and includes EPUB export; print PDF export needs Starter at $8.99 a month (books up to 120 pages) or Pro at $24.99 a month (up to 600 pages). If you only need one print book, a few months of Starter costs less than Vellum Press; if you publish for years, Vellum's single price is cheaper.
Can I import my Word manuscript into PodoLay like I do in Vellum?
Yes. Press ⌘D (Ctrl+D) or click Import Manuscript in the editor and choose a .docx file. Its paragraph and character styles, italics, headings, lists, footnotes, endnotes and images come with it, and the text flows through the primary text frame, adding pages as needed. See the KDP paperback guide.
Can PodoLay make a print-ready PDF for Amazon KDP?
Yes, on the Starter and Pro plans: choose the Amazon KDP paperback (PDF/X-1a) PDF type. It embeds fonts, leaves out crop marks, flattens transparency and is checked against KDP's rules first. Step by step: How to make a KDP paperback interior PDF in your browser.
Does PodoLay make the book cover too?
Yes, for paperbacks. A cover is its own layout: enter the trim size, paper and page count and PodoLay sizes the spine and full cover. Vellum does not make covers.
Related
- How to make a KDP paperback interior PDF in your browser
- PodoLay vs Atticus
- PodoLay vs Kindle Create
- PodoLay vs Adobe InDesign
- PodoLay user guide
Sources (checked October 2026)
- Vellum — vellum.pub (prices, macOS 13 requirement, output formats, trim sizes)
- Vellum Help — Purchasing FAQ, Using Vellum on Windows, Importing, Styles, Print overview, Print settings
- PodoLay: pricing, user guide, FAQ
Vellum is a trademark of 180g LLC. PodoLay is not affiliated with 180g.
Updated October 30, 2026