Publishing · head to head
Blurb vs Calibre
Blurb
Publishing
Visual storytelling through print-on-demand books and wall art
- From
- $3.99/unit
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Calibre has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Blurb print-on-demand model; no subscription plans or seat limits; Calibre the interface is dense and widely described as unintuitive, with a great deal exposed at once
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Blurb and Calibre actually diverge.
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 Blurb
Nothing recorded that Calibre does not also cover.
Only in Calibre
- Format conversion
- Library management
- Device sync
- Content server
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Blurb
- Self-publishingnot Calibre
- Print marketing materialsnot Calibre
Calibre
- Converting books between formats for different e-readersnot Blurb
- Managing a large ebook library with proper metadatanot Blurb
- Authors preparing files for several storefrontsnot Blurb
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Calibre
- The interface is dense and widely described as unintuitive, with a great deal exposed at once
- Conversion between formats is imperfect, and complex layouts degrade
- Cannot remove DRM, so purchased books from most stores will not convert without third-party plugins
- Heavy for someone who only wants to read rather than manage a library
Pricing, plan by plan
Blurb
$3.99/unit- Paperback$3.99/unit
- Photo Books$12/unit
- Notebooks$12/unit
- Wall Art$65/unit
Calibre
Free- CalibreFree
- Full functionality
- Commercial use permitted
- Community support
Which should you pick?
Choose Blurb if
Nothing in the data separates Blurb from Calibre on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Choose Calibre if
- You need format conversion.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- You also want library management.
Questions people ask
- Is Blurb or Calibre better?
- Neither clearly leads. Blurb starts at $3.99/unit and Calibre at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Blurb or Calibre?
- Calibre has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $3.99/unit for Blurb and Free for Calibre.
- Does Blurb or Calibre run on more platforms?
- Blurb runs on Web. Calibre runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- Can I use Calibre for free?
- Yes. Calibre has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Blurb starts at $3.99/unit.
- What is Blurb best used for?
- Blurb is most often used for self-publishing, print marketing materials. Of those, self-publishing and print marketing materials are not what Calibre is typically brought in for.
- What can Blurb do that Calibre cannot?
- Calibre covers Format conversion, Library management, Device sync, Content server.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
SourceCalibre: Is Calibre free?
Yes, open source under the GPL.
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.
SourceCalibre: Can Calibre convert DRM-protected books?
No. It does not remove DRM, so most store-purchased books cannot be converted with Calibre alone.
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.
SourceCalibre: Does it work with Kindle?
Yes, it transfers to Kindle and most other e-readers and converts to the formats they use.