calibre vs Bookfairy: from Word file to ebook and paperback
calibre converts and manages e-books. Bookfairy makes the files you need to publish one book in print and as an ebook. Here is how they compare for that job.
Short answer
calibre is free and converts Word files to EPUB, but its manual lists no PDF/X or bleed options and only e-book covers (8 November 2026). Bookfairy adds the print PDFs and the full cover.
- EPUB 3 for $12Made from your manuscript.
- Print PDFs for KDP and IngramSparkFrom the same manuscript.
- Full coverWith spine, back, barcode and logo.
calibre and Bookfairy compared
Compared task: ebook and paperback files of one non-fiction book, from a Word file, for KDP and IngramSpark.
| Feature |  | calibre |
|---|---|---|
| Print PDF for KDP and IngramSpark | Print PDF as PDF/X-1a:2001 for KDP and IngramSpark, with bleed | PDF output with paper size, margins and page numbers; no PDF/X or bleed option listed3 |
| Print cover with spine and back | One print PDF: front, spine and back, with the barcode and publisher logo on the back, spine width from your page count | E-book cover image: your own, downloaded or a default cover with basic metadata5 |
| EPUB version | EPUB 3, EPUBCheck result shown in your job | EPUB 2 or 3; the manual advises EPUB 2 unless you need 34 |
| Blurb, keywords, categories | In the same account, fixed price per book | Not listed; calibre manages, converts, views and edits e-books1 |
| Runs on | In the browser, nothing to install | Installed on Windows, macOS or Linux, or as a portable version2 |
As of 8 November 2026, from calibre's website and user manual.
calibre, Vellum, Atticus, Adobe InDesign and IngramSpark are trademarks of their respective owners. Bookfairy is not affiliated with them.
What calibre does
- Runs in the browser, nothing to install
- Upload one Word file, get EPUB and print files for the same book
What you get with Bookfairy
- Reflowable EPUB 3 with clickable contents and metadata, EPUBCheck result and a preview in the reader
- Print PDF as PDF/X-1a:2001 for KDP and IngramSpark, together $26.40220 tokens
- Cover with front, spine and back, with the barcode and publisher logo on the back, $12.00100 tokens
- Blurb, keywords and categories for the same book at fixed prices, no subscription
More from the same cover
- 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
Who it suits
Non-fiction and self-help authors who publish the ebook and the paperback together and want every file for that book from one account. See the pricing page for all prices.
Frequently asked
Does Bookfairy need a subscription?
Bookfairy has no subscription; you pay per book, for example $12 for the EPUB. calibre is free and open source, but it converts and manages e-books rather than building print files.
Can Bookfairy make the files for the paperback?
Yes. For KDP and IngramSpark, Bookfairy delivers a print PDF and a PDF/X-1a:2001 with bleed, plus a full cover with spine, plus barcode and publisher logo on the back. calibre's PDF output sets paper size, margins and page numbers; the manual lists no PDF/X or bleed options.
Do I need heading styles in Word for Bookfairy?
They help. Bookfairy recognises chapters from headings marked as headings and builds the clickable contents from them.
Do I need to install anything for Bookfairy?
No. It runs in the browser; you upload a Word file and download the finished EPUB and print files.
Sources (10)
- calibre, About (accessed 7 Nov 2026). calibre-ebook.com/about
- calibre, Download (accessed 7 Nov 2026). calibre-ebook.com/download
- calibre User Manual, ebook-convert: PDF output options (accessed 7 Nov 2026). manual.calibre-ebook.com/generated/en/ebook-con…
- calibre User Manual, ebook-convert: EPUB output options, --epub-version (accessed 7 Nov 2026). manual.calibre-ebook.com/generated/en/ebook-con…
- calibre User Manual, Editing e-book metadata: All about covers (accessed 7 Nov 2026). manual.calibre-ebook.com/metadata.html
- calibre User Manual, E-book conversion: Convert Microsoft Word documents (accessed 7 Nov 2026). manual.calibre-ebook.com/conversion.html
- Vellum, product and pricing page, US prices in USD, excluding tax (checked 8 Nov 2026). vellum.pub/
- 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/…
- Adobe, InDesign product page, US view, prices in USD (checked 8 Nov 2026). adobe.com/products/indesign.html