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Publishing · head to head

Atticus vs Sigil

Atticus logo

Atticus

Publishing

One-time-purchase writing and book formatting that runs on Windows and Linux, not just Mac

From
$147/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sigil logo

Sigil

Publishing

Open source EPUB editor for working directly on the file, not generating it

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Sigil has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Atticus it is a browser application, so manuscripts depend on local browser storage and cloud sync, and a sync failure or cleared browser data is a more serious event than a corrupted file in a native application.; Sigil it produces no print output whatever, so any book that needs a paperback interior requires a completely separate tool and a second workflow.
  • They diverge on capability: Atticus covers Write and format in one place, Sigil covers Direct EPUB editing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Atticus and Sigil actually diverge.

Attributes where Atticus and Sigil differ
AttributeAtticusSigil
Starting price$147/one-timeFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchaseOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, LinuxWindows, macOS, Linux

Identical on both: 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 Atticus

  • Write and format in one place
  • Print-ready PDF
  • EPUB export
  • Interior themes
  • Cross-platform
  • Boxset assembly

Only in Sigil

  • Direct EPUB editing
  • Code and preview views
  • EPUB 2 and EPUB 3
  • Regex across files
  • Validation
  • Python plugins

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Atticus

  • A Windows or Linux author who wants professional book formatting without buying a Mac to run the alternativenot Sigil
  • A prolific self-publisher who formats several titles a year and wants to stop paying a freelancer per booknot Sigil
  • A writer who wants drafting and formatting in one application rather than moving a manuscript between a word processor and a layout toolnot Sigil
  • An author assembling a series boxset from books already written and formatted in the same toolnot Sigil

Sigil

  • Fixing an EPUB that a retailer validator has rejected, without re-exporting from the tool that generated itnot Atticus
  • Correcting the table of contents, reading order or metadata in a file supplied by a conversion servicenot Atticus
  • Preparing a back-catalogue title where the only surviving source is the EPUB itselfnot Atticus
  • Applying a consistent stylesheet or a bulk text correction across every chapter of a book at oncenot Atticus

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Atticus

  • It is a browser application, so manuscripts depend on local browser storage and cloud sync, and a sync failure or cleared browser data is a more serious event than a corrupted file in a native application.
  • Long manuscripts and image-heavy books slow the editor noticeably, which is felt most by exactly the non-fiction authors who need figures and tables.
  • Typographic control is limited to the supplied themes and their options, so fine control over kerning, hyphenation, running heads and unusual page structures is unavailable.
  • Several features announced at launch arrived slowly, so buyers should judge it on what it does today rather than on the published roadmap.
  • It produces files and nothing else, with no distribution, ISBN or retailer relationship, so it solves one step of publishing and none of the commercial ones.

Sigil

  • It produces no print output whatever, so any book that needs a paperback interior requires a completely separate tool and a second workflow.
  • Meaningful use requires reading and writing HTML and CSS, which puts it out of reach of most authors who simply want a finished file.
  • There is no cloud storage, sync or collaboration, so the book exists as a file on one machine and version control is whatever you set up yourself.
  • Development depends on a small number of volunteer maintainers, so release timing and platform builds follow their availability rather than a roadmap, and a lapse in maintenance would leave no obvious successor.
  • It provides no distribution, no retailer connection and no Kindle-native output, so it sits in the middle of a workflow that other tools have to complete on both sides.

Pricing, plan by plan

Atticus

$147/one-time
  • Atticus$147/one-time
    • Single purchase with no recurring subscription
    • Future updates included
    • Unlimited books and exports

Sigil

Free
  • SigilFree
    • GPL licensed with no cost or account required
    • Full functionality with no feature gating
    • Community support through forums and the issue tracker

Which should you pick?

Choose Atticus if

  • You need write and format in one place.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want print-ready pdf.
Atticus review

Choose Sigil if

  • You need direct epub editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want code and preview views.
Sigil review

Questions people ask

Is Atticus or Sigil better?
Neither clearly leads. Atticus starts at $147/one-time and Sigil at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Atticus or Sigil?
Sigil has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $147/one-time for Atticus and Free for Sigil.
Does Atticus or Sigil run on more platforms?
Atticus runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux. Sigil runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Sigil for free?
Yes. Sigil has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Atticus starts at $147/one-time.
What is Atticus best used for?
Atticus is most often used for a windows or linux author who wants professional book formatting without buying a mac to run the alternative, a prolific self-publisher who formats several titles a year and wants to stop paying a freelancer per book, a writer who wants drafting and formatting in one application rather than moving a manuscript between a word processor and a layout tool, an author assembling a series boxset from books already written and formatted in the same tool. Of those, a windows or linux author who wants professional book formatting without buying a mac to run the alternative and a prolific self-publisher who formats several titles a year and wants to stop paying a freelancer per book are not what Sigil is typically brought in for.
What can Atticus do that Sigil cannot?
Atticus covers Write and format in one place, Print-ready PDF, EPUB export, Interior themes. Sigil covers Direct EPUB editing, Code and preview views, EPUB 2 and EPUB 3, Regex across files.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Atticus: Is the price really one payment?

Yes. One hundred and forty-seven dollars once, with updates included, rather than an annual renewal. Confirm the current figure before buying, as prices change.

Sigil: Can I write my book in Sigil?

You can, but you should not. It is an EPUB editor, not a word processor, and writing long-form prose in it is unpleasant. Write elsewhere, import, then finish in Sigil.

Atticus: Does it work offline?

It caches for offline working once loaded, but it is fundamentally a web application. If you want a native desktop program that never touches a browser, this is not it.

Sigil: Does it make Kindle files?

Not natively. Produce a valid EPUB in Sigil and let Amazon convert it, or use a separate conversion tool for other Kindle formats.

Atticus: Can it replace InDesign?

For standard prose, yes and more cheaply. For illustrated books, textbooks, cookbooks or anything with a designed page, no.

Sigil: Is it safe to rely on a volunteer project for commercial work?

The files it produces are standard EPUB, so nothing is locked in. The risk is that maintenance stops, not that your books become unreadable.

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