Atticus alternatives: interior, PDF/X-1a and cover in one place
Atticus writes and formats. If you also need a PDF/X-1a for IngramSpark, a print cover with spine, and the blurb and keywords for the same book, these are the options.
Short answer
Bookfairy delivers the print PDF as PDF/X-1a and the full cover in one account. Atticus exports PDF and ePub, but per its help not as PDF/X-1a, and has no cover tools.
- Print PDF as PDF/X-1aFor KDP and IngramSpark, $18 per book.
- Full cover tooSpine, barcode and logo, plus blurb, keywords and categories, in the same account.
- Atticus: $147 onceExports PDF and ePub; its PDFs are not classified as PDF/X-1a, and it has no cover tools.
Atticus alternatives at a glance
What each one does, where it runs and what it costs.
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PDF/X-1a included
Book formatting from a Word file, with a print PDF as PDF/X-1a:2001 for KDP and IngramSpark and, if you want it, a reflowable EPUB.
- Good for
- Authors who publish on KDP and IngramSpark and want cover and metadata for the same book
- Runs on
- In the browser, nothing to install
- Price
- $18.00150 tokens per book for the print PDFs, $26.40220 tokens with EPUB, no subscription needed
- First 10 pages free in your chosen layout
- Full cover with front, spine and back, with the barcode and publisher logo on the back, for $12.00100 tokens
- Blurb, keywords, categories and A+ Content in the same account
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Vellum
Formatting app for ebook and print editions, PDF/X-1a for print7
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Adobe InDesign
Layout program: you build and fine-tune the pages yourself8
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calibre
Open-source e-book manager and converter, for the ebook edition9
As of 8 November 2026, from the providers' websites (US prices in USD).
Atticus, Vellum, Adobe InDesign, calibre and IngramSpark are trademarks of their respective owners. Bookfairy is not affiliated with them.
What Atticus covers
Atticus is a writing and formatting app for Windows, Mac, Linux and Chromebook. IngramSpark's File Creation Guide asks for PDF/X-1a:2001 or PDF/X-3:2002.
One PDF/X-1a print PDF for every channel
- PDFs from other programs: PDF/X-1a converter, $2.4020 tokens per file
- Upload your manuscript as a Word file.
- Choose layout and trim size and check the first 10 pages free.
- Get the print PDF as PDF/X-1a:2001 for KDP and IngramSpark, with bleed, embedded fonts and a colour profile, checked against the standard.
The cover and the metadata for the same book
The cover tool makes front, spine and back as one print PDF, with the spine width from your page count and paper, the barcode if you enter your ISBN, and your logo and back cover text on the back.
- Translate the cover, exactly the same look in the other language: $4.8040 tokens
- New trim size or page count, spine recalculated: $2.4020 tokens
- Audiobook cover, square 3,000 × 3,000 px: $2.4020 tokens
- Swap or remove the barcode and logo on the back: $1.2010 tokens
- Change a cover in your own words: $1.2010 tokens per change
- Blurb, keywords, categories and A+ Content in the same account, each at a fixed price per book (pricing page)
Who this suits
Authors of non-fiction and self-help books who publish on KDP and IngramSpark and want the interior, the cover and the listing details for one book done in one place.
Frequently asked
Does Bookfairy deliver PDF/X-1a for IngramSpark?
Yes. Bookfairy delivers the print PDF as PDF/X-1a:2001, checked against the standard and good for KDP too, for $18. Atticus's help says its PDF files are not classified as PDF/X-1a, though they are designed to be compatible with IngramSpark.
Can I make my cover with Bookfairy?
Yes. The Bookfairy cover tool makes front, spine and back as one print PDF for $12, with barcode, logo and back cover text. Atticus's help says it is not a graphic design program and suggests a design program for the cover.
What does Bookfairy cost compared with Atticus?
At Bookfairy you pay per book: $18 for the print PDFs, $26.40 with EPUB. Atticus is $147 as a one-time payment, as shown on atticus.io on 7 November 2026.
Do I need to install anything for Bookfairy?
No. Bookfairy runs in the browser. You upload a Word file and download the finished files.
What if my PDF comes from another program?
The Bookfairy PDF/X-1a converter turns a finished print PDF into PDF/X-1a for $2.40 per file, after showing you a check of colours, fonts, transparency and bleed.
Sources (10)
- Atticus, product page (accessed 7 Nov 2026). atticus.io/
- Atticus Help, How to format your book with Atticus (accessed 7 Nov 2026). intercom.help/atticus-5877e36564df/en/articles/…
- Atticus Help, Does Atticus create PDF X-1a files? (accessed 7 Nov 2026). intercom.help/atticus-5877e36564df/en/articles/…
- Atticus Help, Can I create my book cover in Atticus? (accessed 7 Nov 2026). intercom.help/atticus-5877e36564df/en/articles/…
- Atticus Help, Is Atticus compatible with IngramSpark? (accessed 7 Nov 2026). intercom.help/atticus-5877e36564df/en/articles/…
- IngramSpark, File Creation Guide (24 Aug 2026), p. 11 (accessed 7 Nov 2026). ingramspark.com/hubfs/downloads/file-creation-g…
- Vellum, product and pricing page, US prices in USD, excluding tax (checked 8 Nov 2026). vellum.pub/
- Adobe, InDesign product page, US view, prices in USD (checked 8 Nov 2026). adobe.com/products/indesign.html
- calibre, About (accessed 7 Nov 2026). calibre-ebook.com/about
- calibre, Download (accessed 7 Nov 2026). calibre-ebook.com/download