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Publishing · head to head

Adobe InDesign vs Storytel

Adobe InDesign logo

Adobe InDesign

Publishing

Industry-standard desktop publishing and page layout

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Storytel logo

Storytel

Publishing

Unlimited audiobook and ebook subscription, strong in Europe and Latin America, no library card needed

From
$14.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Adobe InDesign subscription only, with no perpetual licence, which remains the most common complaint about it; Storytel catalogue depth and specific title availability vary significantly by country, so the experience in a core Nordic market is not the same as in newer markets.
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe InDesign covers Master pages and styles, Storytel covers Unlimited streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Adobe InDesign and Storytel actually diverge.

Attributes where Adobe InDesign and Storytel differ
AttributeAdobe InDesignStorytel
Starting priceOn request$14.99/month
Pricing modelSubscription only, single app or Creative Cloud; published on the vendor sitePer user per month, unlimited
PlatformsWindows, macOSiOS, Android, 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 Storytel

  • Unlimited streaming
  • Offline downloads
  • Combined ebook and audiobook catalogue
  • Kids profiles
  • Personalised recommendations
  • Multi-device sync

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 Storytel
  • Long documents needing styles and master pages across hundreds of pagesnot Storytel
  • Catalogues built from a data source through data mergenot Storytel

Storytel

  • A commuter who listens to several audiobooks a month and finds per-title purchase or credit systems expensivenot Adobe InDesign
  • A reader tired of library holds queues who wants guaranteed instant access to anything in the cataloguenot Adobe InDesign
  • A family wanting a shared subscription with separate kids profiles for audio contentnot Adobe InDesign
  • Someone in a Storytel-strong market such as Sweden, Poland or Brazil where the catalogue depth is greatestnot 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

Storytel

  • Catalogue depth and specific title availability vary significantly by country, so the experience in a core Nordic market is not the same as in newer markets.
  • Access stops the moment you cancel, so a lapsed subscriber loses the ability to continue books they were partway through, unlike owned audiobook purchases elsewhere.
  • Its ebook catalogue is meaningfully smaller than dedicated ebook services, so heavy ebook readers may find it thinner than expected.
  • It competes on unlimited access, so heavy listeners get better value than light users, who may find a credit-based service like Libro.fm or Audible cheaper per book.
  • Pricing and plan structure have changed by market over time, so the number of concurrent profiles and exact price should be checked for your specific country.

Pricing, plan by plan

Adobe InDesign

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Adobe InDesign review.

Storytel

$14.99/month
  • Storytel$14.99/month
    • Unlimited audiobook streaming
    • Smaller unlimited ebook catalogue
    • Offline downloads

Which should you pick?

Choose Adobe InDesign if

  • You need master pages and styles.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want typographic control.
Adobe InDesign review

Choose Storytel if

  • You need unlimited streaming.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want offline downloads.
Storytel review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe InDesign or Storytel better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe InDesign starts at On request and Storytel at $14.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe InDesign or Storytel?
Adobe InDesign starts at On request and Storytel at $14.99/month.
Does Adobe InDesign or Storytel run on more platforms?
Adobe InDesign runs on Windows, macOS. Storytel runs on iOS, Android, 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 Storytel is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe InDesign do that Storytel cannot?
Adobe InDesign covers Master pages and styles, Typographic control, PDF/X export, Data merge. Storytel covers Unlimited streaming, Offline downloads, Combined ebook and audiobook catalogue, Kids profiles.

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.

Storytel: Do I need a library card for Storytel?

No, it is a paid subscription open to anyone regardless of library eligibility.

Adobe 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.

Storytel: Is access unlimited or credit-based?

Unlimited streaming while subscribed, not a credit system like Libro.fm or Audible.

Adobe 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.

Storytel: What happens to my books if I cancel?

You lose access to the catalogue, including anything you were partway through, since nothing is owned outright.

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