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Publishing · head to head

Sigil vs Storytel

Sigil logo

Sigil

Publishing

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Storytel logo

Storytel

Publishing

Unlimited audiobook and ebook subscription, strong in Europe and Latin America, no library card needed

From
$14.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Sigil has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Sigil it produces no print output whatever, so any book that needs a paperback interior requires a completely separate tool and a second workflow.; Storytel catalogue depth and specific title availability vary significantly by country, so the experience in a core Nordic market is not the same as in newer markets.
  • They diverge on capability: Sigil covers Direct EPUB editing, Storytel covers Unlimited streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Sigil and Storytel actually diverge.

Attributes where Sigil and Storytel differ
AttributeSigilStorytel
Starting priceFree$14.99/month
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feePer user per month, unlimited
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxiOS, Android, Web

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 Sigil

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

Only in Storytel

  • Unlimited streaming
  • Offline downloads
  • Combined ebook and audiobook catalogue
  • Kids profiles
  • Personalised recommendations
  • Multi-device sync

What people use each for

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

Sigil

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

Storytel

  • A commuter who listens to several audiobooks a month and finds per-title purchase or credit systems expensivenot Sigil
  • A reader tired of library holds queues who wants guaranteed instant access to anything in the cataloguenot Sigil
  • A family wanting a shared subscription with separate kids profiles for audio contentnot Sigil
  • Someone in a Storytel-strong market such as Sweden, Poland or Brazil where the catalogue depth is greatestnot Sigil

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Storytel

  • Catalogue depth and specific title availability vary significantly by country, so the experience in a core Nordic market is not the same as in newer markets.
  • Access stops the moment you cancel, so a lapsed subscriber loses the ability to continue books they were partway through, unlike owned audiobook purchases elsewhere.
  • Its ebook catalogue is meaningfully smaller than dedicated ebook services, so heavy ebook readers may find it thinner than expected.
  • It competes on unlimited access, so heavy listeners get better value than light users, who may find a credit-based service like Libro.fm or Audible cheaper per book.
  • Pricing and plan structure have changed by market over time, so the number of concurrent profiles and exact price should be checked for your specific country.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Storytel

$14.99/month
  • Storytel$14.99/month
    • Unlimited audiobook streaming
    • Smaller unlimited ebook catalogue
    • Offline downloads

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Storytel if

  • You need unlimited streaming.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want offline downloads.
Storytel review

Questions people ask

Is Sigil or Storytel better?
Neither clearly leads. Sigil starts at Free and Storytel at $14.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Sigil or Storytel?
Sigil has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Sigil and $14.99/month for Storytel.
Does Sigil or Storytel run on more platforms?
Sigil runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Storytel runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Sigil for free?
Yes. Sigil has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Storytel starts at $14.99/month.
What is Sigil best used for?
Sigil is most often used for fixing an epub that a retailer validator has rejected, without re-exporting from the tool that generated it, correcting the table of contents, reading order or metadata in a file supplied by a conversion service, preparing a back-catalogue title where the only surviving source is the epub itself, applying a consistent stylesheet or a bulk text correction across every chapter of a book at once. Of those, fixing an epub that a retailer validator has rejected, without re-exporting from the tool that generated it and correcting the table of contents, reading order or metadata in a file supplied by a conversion service are not what Storytel is typically brought in for.
What can Sigil do that Storytel cannot?
Sigil covers Direct EPUB editing, Code and preview views, EPUB 2 and EPUB 3, Regex across files. Storytel covers Unlimited streaming, Offline downloads, Combined ebook and audiobook catalogue, Kids profiles.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Storytel: Do I need a library card for Storytel?

No, it is a paid subscription open to anyone regardless of library eligibility.

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.

Storytel: Is access unlimited or credit-based?

Unlimited streaming while subscribed, not a credit system like Libro.fm or Audible.

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.

Storytel: What happens to my books if I cancel?

You lose access to the catalogue, including anything you were partway through, since nothing is owned outright.

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