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Publishing · head to head

Libro.fm vs Sigil

Libro.fm logo

Libro.fm

Publishing

Audiobook subscription that splits revenue with an independent bookstore of your choice

From
$14.99/month
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: Libro.fm per-credit cost works out more expensive than an unlimited subscription like Storytel or Everand for someone who listens to many books a month.; 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: Libro.fm covers Non-expiring credits, Sigil covers Direct EPUB editing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Libro.fm and Sigil actually diverge.

Attributes where Libro.fm and Sigil differ
AttributeLibro.fmSigil
Starting price$14.99/monthFree
Pricing modelPer credit per month, credits never expireOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWindows, 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 Libro.fm

  • Non-expiring credits
  • Bookstore revenue share
  • One credit per book
  • Ownership model
  • Member discount
  • Offline listening

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.

Libro.fm

  • A regular audiobook listener who wants to own their audiobooks permanently rather than lose access on cancelling a subscriptionnot Sigil
  • Someone who specifically wants their audiobook spending to support a local independent bookstorenot Sigil
  • A reader who buys audiobooks occasionally and wants credits that roll over rather than expiring monthly like some competitorsnot Sigil
  • Someone leaving Audible on principle who wants a comparable credit system without an Amazon-owned platformnot Sigil

Sigil

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

Where each one falls short

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

Libro.fm

  • Per-credit cost works out more expensive than an unlimited subscription like Storytel or Everand for someone who listens to many books a month.
  • The bookstore revenue share is a smaller amount than buying directly from that bookstore in person would generate for it, so it is a partial benefit, not a full substitute.
  • Its catalogue, while broad, depends on standard publisher audiobook licensing deals and does not include Audible-exclusive titles produced by Amazon.
  • Membership is credit based, so a light-listening month still bills for a credit whether or not you use it, unless you pause the subscription.
  • The app and discovery features are less polished than Audible, with a smaller recommendation and editorial layer.

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

Libro.fm

$14.99/month
  • Libro.fm Membership$14.99/month
    • One audiobook credit per month
    • Credits never expire
    • Discount on additional audiobook purchases

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 Libro.fm if

  • You need non-expiring credits.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want bookstore revenue share.
Libro.fm 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 Libro.fm or Sigil better?
Neither clearly leads. Libro.fm starts at $14.99/month and Sigil at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Libro.fm or Sigil?
Sigil has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $14.99/month for Libro.fm and Free for Sigil.
Does Libro.fm or Sigil run on more platforms?
Libro.fm runs on iOS, Android, Web. 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. Libro.fm starts at $14.99/month.
What is Libro.fm best used for?
Libro.fm is most often used for a regular audiobook listener who wants to own their audiobooks permanently rather than lose access on cancelling a subscription, someone who specifically wants their audiobook spending to support a local independent bookstore, a reader who buys audiobooks occasionally and wants credits that roll over rather than expiring monthly like some competitors, someone leaving audible on principle who wants a comparable credit system without an amazon-owned platform. Of those, a regular audiobook listener who wants to own their audiobooks permanently rather than lose access on cancelling a subscription and someone who specifically wants their audiobook spending to support a local independent bookstore are not what Sigil is typically brought in for.
What can Libro.fm do that Sigil cannot?
Libro.fm covers Non-expiring credits, Bookstore revenue share, One credit per book, Ownership model. Sigil covers Direct EPUB editing, Code and preview views, EPUB 2 and EPUB 3, Regex across files.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Libro.fm: Does Libro.fm support independent bookstores?

Yes, members choose a bookstore at sign-up and a share of their spending goes to it.

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.

Libro.fm: Do credits expire?

No, earned credits roll over indefinitely and do not expire.

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.

Libro.fm: Is it cheaper than an unlimited subscription like Storytel?

Not usually for heavy listeners; the credit model suits people who want to own individual audiobooks rather than stream unlimited titles.

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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