Publishing · head to head
Adobe InDesign vs Blurb
Adobe InDesign
Publishing
Industry-standard desktop publishing and page layout
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Blurb
Publishing
Visual storytelling through print-on-demand books and wall art
- From
- $3.99/unit
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Adobe InDesign subscription only, with no perpetual licence, which remains the most common complaint about it; Blurb print-on-demand model; no subscription plans or seat limits
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Adobe InDesign and Blurb actually diverge.
| Attribute | Adobe InDesign | Blurb |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $3.99/unit |
| Pricing model | Subscription only, single app or Creative Cloud; published on the vendor site | usage-based |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Web |
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Publishing).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Adobe InDesign
- Master pages and styles
- Typographic control
- PDF/X export
- Data merge
- Creative Cloud integration
- EPUB export
Only in Blurb
Nothing recorded that Adobe InDesign does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Adobe InDesign
- Commercial print work where the printer expects InDesign filesnot Blurb
- Long documents needing styles and master pages across hundreds of pagesnot Blurb
- Catalogues built from a data source through data mergenot Blurb
Blurb
- Self-publishingnot Adobe InDesign
- Print marketing materialsnot Adobe InDesign
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Adobe InDesign
- Subscription only, with no perpetual licence, which remains the most common complaint about it
- Files are not reliably backward compatible, so a newer version can produce a file an older one cannot open
- Heavy application with a steep learning curve for occasional users
- Collaboration is weak compared with browser-based design tools; it is still a single-file desktop model
Blurb
- Print-on-demand model; no subscription plans or seat limits
- Per-page costs add $0.04-$3.50 depending on product type
- Volume discounts require minimum orders
Pricing, plan by plan
Adobe InDesign
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Adobe InDesign review.
Blurb
$3.99/unit- Paperback$3.99/unit
- Photo Books$12/unit
- Notebooks$12/unit
- Wall Art$65/unit
Which should you pick?
Choose Adobe InDesign if
- You need master pages and styles.
- You work on Windows, macOS.
- You also want typographic control.
Choose Blurb if
Nothing in the data separates Blurb from Adobe InDesign on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Adobe InDesign or Blurb better?
- Neither clearly leads. Adobe InDesign starts at On request and Blurb at $3.99/unit, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Adobe InDesign or Blurb?
- Adobe InDesign starts at On request and Blurb at $3.99/unit.
- Does Adobe InDesign or Blurb run on more platforms?
- Adobe InDesign runs on Windows, macOS. Blurb runs on Web.
- What is Adobe InDesign best used for?
- Adobe InDesign is most often used for commercial print work where the printer expects indesign files, long documents needing styles and master pages across hundreds of pages, catalogues built from a data source through data merge. Of those, commercial print work where the printer expects indesign files and long documents needing styles and master pages across hundreds of pages are not what Blurb is typically brought in for.
- What can Adobe InDesign do that Blurb cannot?
- Adobe InDesign covers Master pages and styles, Typographic control, PDF/X export, Data merge.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Adobe InDesign: Can I buy InDesign outright?
No. It is subscription only, either as a single app or within Creative Cloud. Perpetual licences ended years ago.
Blurb: What is Blurb's starting price for printed books?
Blurb's paperback books start at $3.99 for a 5x8-inch book with economy color paper, with prices increasing based on size and binding style.
SourceAdobe InDesign: Why do printers ask for InDesign files?
It is the professional standard for print production, and its PDF/X output and colour handling match what commercial presses require.
Blurb: Does Blurb offer volume discounts?
Blurb provides volume discounts: 10-20% for 10-19 copies, 15-20% for 20-49 copies, and 20-25% for 50+ copies depending on product type.
SourceAdobe InDesign: What is the free alternative?
Scribus is open source and produces press-ready CMYK and PDF/X output, though it cannot open InDesign files and its typography is weaker.
Blurb: What does Blurb charge for photo book printing?
Blurb's photo books start at $12 and can cost up to $159 depending on size (6 sizes available), paper quality, and cover binding option.
Source