Publishing · head to head
Adobe InDesign vs Lulu
Adobe InDesign
Publishing
Industry-standard desktop publishing and page layout
- From
- On request
- 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; Lulu no fixed pricing published; vendor requires pricing calculator for quotes
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Adobe InDesign and Lulu actually diverge.
| Attribute | Adobe InDesign | Lulu |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Subscription only, single app or Creative Cloud; published on the vendor site | usage-based |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Web |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), 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 Lulu
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 Lulu
- Long documents needing styles and master pages across hundreds of pagesnot Lulu
- Catalogues built from a data source through data mergenot Lulu
Lulu
- Self-publishing novels without traditional publishingnot Adobe InDesign
- Producing print-on-demand photo books without inventorynot Adobe InDesign
- Creating photo books for preserving memoriesnot Adobe InDesign
- Accessing 40,000+ global book retailersnot 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
Lulu
- No fixed pricing published; vendor requires pricing calculator for quotes
- Costs vary significantly based on trim size, binding type, page count, and shipping
- Author royalties and distribution fees not disclosed on website
Pricing, plan by plan
Adobe InDesign
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Adobe InDesign review.
Lulu
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Lulu review.
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 Lulu if
Nothing in the data separates Lulu 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 Lulu better?
- Neither clearly leads. Adobe InDesign starts at On request and Lulu at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Adobe InDesign or Lulu?
- Adobe InDesign starts at On request and Lulu at On request.
- Does Adobe InDesign or Lulu run on more platforms?
- Adobe InDesign runs on Windows, macOS. Lulu 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 Lulu is typically brought in for.
- What can Adobe InDesign do that Lulu 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.
Lulu: How much does Lulu self-publishing cost?
Lulu does not publish fixed pricing. Costs depend on specific book specifications including trim size, binding type, page count, and distribution format. Users must access Lulu's pricing calculator to receive personalized quotes for their book project.
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.
Lulu: How does Lulu's pricing calculator work?
Users input their book specifications such as trim size, binding type, and page count into Lulu's pricing calculator tool to receive customized pricing quotes and view production timelines.
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.