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Publishing · head to head

QuarkXPress vs Sigil

QuarkXPress logo

QuarkXPress

Publishing

The original desktop publishing software for print and digital design

From
On request
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: QuarkXPress specific pricing amounts not displayed on product page; Sigil it produces no print output whatever, so any book that needs a paperback interior requires a completely separate tool and a second workflow.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which QuarkXPress and Sigil actually diverge.

Attributes where QuarkXPress and Sigil differ
AttributeQuarkXPressSigil
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWindows, 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 QuarkXPress

Nothing recorded that Sigil does not also cover.

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.

QuarkXPress

  • Brochure design and layoutnot Sigil
  • Book and magazine layout with professional typographynot Sigil
  • Newspaper layout and productionnot Sigil
  • Brand identity and logo designnot Sigil
  • Print-ready publication designnot Sigil

Sigil

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

Where each one falls short

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

QuarkXPress

  • Specific pricing amounts not displayed on product page
  • AI features require subscription or maintenance contract
  • System requirements limited to macOS 26.x/15.x/14.x and Windows 11/10 only

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

QuarkXPress

On request
  • Annual Subscription$undefined/mo
    • Variable Fonts with adjustable weight, width, slant
    • 1,500+ high-quality Google fonts
    • Full Pantone Color Libraries
  • Perpetual License$undefined/mo
    • Buy once, keep forever
    • AI features require active maintenance contract
  • Education$undefined/mo
    • Special educational pricing available
  • Not-for-Profit$undefined/mo
    • Special nonprofit pricing available

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 QuarkXPress if

Nothing in the data separates QuarkXPress from Sigil on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

QuarkXPress 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 QuarkXPress or Sigil better?
Neither clearly leads. QuarkXPress starts at On request and Sigil at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, QuarkXPress or Sigil?
Sigil has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for QuarkXPress and Free for Sigil.
Does QuarkXPress or Sigil run on more platforms?
QuarkXPress runs on 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. QuarkXPress starts at On request.
What is QuarkXPress best used for?
QuarkXPress is most often used for brochure design and layout, book and magazine layout with professional typography, newspaper layout and production, brand identity and logo design. Of those, brochure design and layout and book and magazine layout with professional typography are not what Sigil is typically brought in for.
What can QuarkXPress do that Sigil cannot?
Sigil covers Direct EPUB editing, Code and preview views, EPUB 2 and EPUB 3, Regex across files.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

QuarkXPress: How much does QuarkXPress cost?

QuarkXPress offers two purchasing options: Annual Subscription and Perpetual License (buy once). Special pricing is available for Education, Not-for-Profit, and Government sectors. Specific pricing amounts are not listed on the product page.

Source
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.

QuarkXPress: Do QuarkXPress AI features require a subscription?

Yes, AI features including Quarky AI Assistant and Font Pairing require either an active subscription or perpetual license with active maintenance contract (v21.1+).

Source
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.

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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