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Publishing · head to head

Atticus vs Vellum

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
Vellum logo

Vellum

AI

Personalized AI assistant with persistent memory and autonomous action-taking

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Vellum 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.; Vellum pricing varies significantly by computational tier, making budget planning difficult
  • They diverge on capability: Atticus covers Write and format in one place, Vellum covers Persistent AI identity.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Atticus and Vellum actually diverge.

Attributes where Atticus and Vellum differ
AttributeAtticusVellum
Starting price$147/one-timeFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchaseFreemium with paid plans and pay-as-you-go credits
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, LinuxWeb, macOS, iOS, Slack, Telegram, Terminal
CategoryPublishingAI

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Vellum

  • Persistent AI identity
  • Long-term memory
  • Email automation
  • Calendar management
  • Autonomous task execution
  • Multi-device synchronization
  • Custom plugins
  • Open-source deployment

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 Vellum
  • A prolific self-publisher who formats several titles a year and wants to stop paying a freelancer per booknot Vellum
  • A writer who wants drafting and formatting in one application rather than moving a manuscript between a word processor and a layout toolnot Vellum
  • An author assembling a series boxset from books already written and formatted in the same toolnot Vellum

Vellum

  • Personal productivity automation across email and calendarnot Atticus
  • CRM updates and pipeline managementnot Atticus
  • Expense report generation and managementnot Atticus
  • Document drafting and content creationnot Atticus
  • Meeting scheduling and calendar coordinationnot 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.

Vellum

  • Pricing varies significantly by computational tier, making budget planning difficult
  • Requires explicit permission for sensitive actions, limiting autonomy
  • Self-hosting option may intimidate non-technical users
  • Learning curve to develop customizations with plugins

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

Vellum

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Starter credits included
    • Basic features
  • Mighty$30/month
    • 1 vCPU, 2 GiB RAM
    • 10 GB storage
    • Included usage allowance
  • Super$100/month
    • 2.5 vCPU, 5 GiB RAM
    • 30 GB storage
    • Assistant email and subdomain
  • Ultra$200/month
    • 4 vCPU, 8 GiB RAM
    • 60 GB storage
    • Assistant email and subdomain

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 Vellum if

  • You need persistent ai identity.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, iOS, Slack, Telegram, Terminal.
  • You also want long-term memory.
Vellum review

Questions people ask

Is Atticus or Vellum better?
Neither clearly leads. Atticus starts at $147/one-time and Vellum at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Atticus or Vellum?
Vellum has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $147/one-time for Atticus and Free for Vellum.
Does Atticus or Vellum run on more platforms?
Atticus runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux. Vellum runs on Web, macOS, iOS, Slack, Telegram, Terminal.
Can I use Vellum for free?
Yes. Vellum 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 Vellum is typically brought in for.
What can Atticus do that Vellum cannot?
Atticus covers Write and format in one place, Print-ready PDF, EPUB export, Interior themes. Vellum covers Persistent AI identity, Long-term memory, Email automation, Calendar management.

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.

Vellum: How does Vellum protect my data privacy?

Vellum uses permission-based controls requiring explicit approval for sensitive actions. Data is encrypted and the option for self-hosting provides complete data control. Open-source deployment option allows hosting on your own infrastructure.

Source
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.

Vellum: Can I use Vellum for business team collaboration?

Vellum is primarily designed as a personal assistant with persistent identity. For team collaboration, platforms like Lindy offer better multi-user features with shared credit pools and Slack workspace integration.

Source
Atticus: Can it replace InDesign?

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

Vellum: What does the free tier include?

Vellum offers free starter credits to begin using the platform. Beyond that, it operates on a pay-as-you-go credit model with paid tiers starting at $30/month for increased computational resources and bundled credits.

Source
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