Last reviewed by Robert Prime — March 2026
Self-publishing authors in the UK face a bewildering array of choices when it comes to formatting their books for Kindle and print. Two of the most talked-about tools are Kindle Create and Vellum—one free, one premium, both promising professional results but with very different approaches, costs, and limitations.
As someone who has wrestled with formatting headaches for years—spending countless hours and over £130 on poor freelancers before building publishing.co.uk—I want to cut through the noise. This article is a deep, UK-focused, no-nonsense comparison that will save you time, money, and frustration.
Would you rather someone else did it? Our book formatting services UK start at £69, VAT included, with files back in 24 hours.
Table of Contents
- Kindle Create and Vellum: what to know first
- Step-by-Step Guide
- Kindle Create and Vellum in the UK
- Kindle Create and Vellum: mistakes to avoid
- Kindle Create and Vellum: tools and resources
- Kindle Create and Vellum: what it costs
- Comparisons with Alternative Approaches
- Frequently Asked Questions
Kindle Create and Vellum: what to know first
If you’re a UK author preparing a manuscript for Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) or print on demand, the choice between Kindle Create and Vellum matters more than you might think.
Kindle Create is Amazon’s own free tool designed for Kindle ebook and paperback formatting. It’s accessible, but has limitations in design flexibility and export options. Vellum, on the other hand, is a macOS-only paid software widely praised for its elegant book formatting capabilities across multiple platforms, including Kindle, Apple Books, and print. It costs a pretty penny upfront but offers refined control and professional output.
The publishing industry is still archaic: I remember when I was formatting Google. Panic. Repeat.—a deeply personal best-seller about my health anxiety. Despite my technical background, I spent hours navigating file formats, margins, and EPUB quirks. I paid £130 to a freelancer for formatting; the result was a shambles. I turned to Kindle Create and Vellum, and it became clear these tools weren’t created equal—and neither are their price tags.
Key Definitions
- EPUB: The standard ebook file format readable on most devices including Kindle (via conversion).
- MOBI: An older ebook format used by Kindle; now largely replaced by Kindle Format 8 (KF8).
- Trim Size: The physical size of the printed book. Critical for print formatting.
- Bleed: Printing term where images extend beyond the trim edge; necessary for some print designs.
- Table of Contents (TOC): Hyperlinked navigation in ebooks and print, essential for usability and KDP acceptance.
Whichever tool you choose, the Kindle file rules are the same. Our guide to how to format an ebook for Kindle covers reflowable layout, heading styles, a linked contents page and testing in Kindle Previewer.
Step-by-Step Guide
Kindle Create Workflow
- Download and Install Kindle Create from Amazon’s official site. It’s Windows and macOS compatible.
- Import your manuscript, preferably in DOCX format. Kindle Create supports DOC and DOCX but not PDFs or EPUBs.
- Choose a Theme: Kindle Create offers a limited set of formatting themes tailored for novels and textbooks.
- Edit and Preview: Use the built-in preview to see how your book looks on Kindle devices and apps.
- Generate Table of Contents: Kindle Create auto-generates a clickable TOC based on your headings.
- Export: Output is a KPF file ready for direct upload to KDP. No need to convert further.
Detailed Menu Path Examples in Kindle Create
- Import Manuscript: Go to File > Open and select your DOCX file.
- Manage Chapters: Navigate to Edit > Manage Chapters to insert or adjust chapter breaks.
- Preview: Use View > Preview to select device types like Kindle Paperwhite or Fire tablet.
- Export: Click File > Export, save your KPF file, and upload directly to KDP.
Vellum Workflow (macOS only)
- Purchase and Download Vellum from the official website; a free trial lets you preview formatting but watermarks exports.
- Import Manuscript: Supports DOCX files; you import your raw manuscript into Vellum.
- Format Your Book: Vellum provides extensive style options—drop caps, chapter styles, custom headers, block quotes, and more.
- Generate TOC: Vellum creates a professional, hyperlinked TOC for ebooks and print automatically.
- Export Options: Export to Kindle (KPF), EPUB for Apple Books, PDF for print, and more.
- Upload to KDP or other distributors: The exported files are KDP-ready with clean coding and formatting.
Detailed Menu Path Examples in Vellum
- Import Manuscript: Select File > Import Manuscript and choose your DOCX file.
- Adjust Styles: Open Format > Styles to customise drop caps, paragraph styles, and chapter headings.
- Edit TOC: Use Contents > Edit Table of Contents to reorder or rename chapters.
- Export: Navigate to File > Export, select your desired formats (Kindle, EPUB, PDF), and save.
Kindle Create and Vellum in the UK
Print Considerations for UK Authors
UK print standards differ slightly from US ones. For example, common UK paperback trim sizes include 198 x 129 mm (B-format), whereas US sizes are usually 6 x 9 inches (152 x 229 mm). Vellum offers flexible trim size options, but Kindle Create is more rigid, which can be a problem for UK print distribution.
If you want your book stocked in UK bookshops or distributed via wholesalers like Gardners or Bertrams, using Nielsen ISBNs and print files formatted to UK trim sizes is essential. Vellum’s advanced print layout features support bleed, gutters, and spine text, all critical to professional print presentation.
The UK basics, in one place: ISBNs, VAT on books, tax on book income and legal deposit. Those guides are kept up to date, so this page doesn’t repeat them.
Kindle Create and Vellum: mistakes to avoid
Mistake #1: Using Free KDP ISBNs Without Consideration
Many UK authors grab free ISBNs from KDP without knowing the limits: they only work on KDP and show “Independently published” as the imprint. Pay Nielsen for your own if you want your own imprint or to publish the same edition elsewhere.
My Experience: I once advised a UK author who had used free KDP ISBNs for their entire backlist. When they tried to switch distributors to widen reach, the metadata was locked to Amazon, causing a logistical nightmare that cost weeks of rework.
Mistake #2: Expecting Kindle Create to Handle Complex Formatting
Kindle Create is fine for simple novels, but it chokes on complex layouts like tables, bullet lists, or non-fiction elements. I saw this firsthand when formatting a non-fiction title for a client—the tool simply couldn’t handle their tables and footnotes, forcing us to switch to Vellum.
Mistake #3: Ignoring UK Print Trim Sizes and Bleed Settings
Kindle Create’s limited print options can cause issues with UK distributors other than KDP Print. If you want to get your book stocked in UK bookshops or through IngramSpark, Vellum is better suited due to its advanced print formatting capabilities.
Mistake #4: Overpaying for Low-Quality Formatting Services
Before founding publishing.co.uk, I hired a “pro” formatter for £130 who delivered a mess. I then tried Fiverr—equally bad. Many freelancers don’t understand UK-specific standards or KDP’s quirks. It’s better to use a high-quality tool or trusted UK-based formatting service.
Kindle Create and Vellum: tools and resources
Kindle Create
- Official download: Amazon Kindle Create
- Supports DOCX import; exports KPF, and EPUB for reflowable books
- Good for simple novels, beginners
- Windows & macOS compatible
- Free to use
Vellum
- Official site: Vellum
- Mac-only software
- Extensive formatting options for ebooks and print
- Exports KPF, EPUB, PDF
- Paid licence, one-off: £159.99 for Vellum Ebooks or £199.99 for Vellum Press, billed to UK buyers in pounds, VAT not included
- Trial version watermarks exports
Alternative Tools (Brief Overview)
- Scrivener: Writing and basic formatting, but requires export to dedicated formatting tools. Good for Windows and macOS users.
- Atticus: Newer, cross-platform formatting tool with a one-off licence fee (check atticus.io for current pricing). Growing in popularity, especially for authors who want a one-stop writing and formatting tool.
- Reedsy Book Editor: Free online editor with decent export, but limited print options. Useful for beginners on a budget.
- Adobe InDesign: Industry-standard print layout tool; high learning curve and cost, better suited for professional designers and hybrid publishers.
Publishing.co.uk
We built publishing.co.uk because no tool fully solves UK authors’ needs painlessly. Our automated formatting service produces KDP-ready and print-ready files tailored precisely to UK standards, saving hours and avoiding costly mistakes.
Kindle Create and Vellum: what it costs
Additional Costs UK Authors Should Budget For
- Cover Design: Typically £300-£600 in the UK professional market.
- ISBNs: Consider buying your own via Nielsen to keep control.
- Proof Copies: Print proofing costs from £3-£6 per copy via KDP or IngramSpark.
- VAT: Both ebooks and print books are zero-rated for VAT in the UK (since May 2020). Audiobooks still attract 20% VAT.
Publishing on KDP is free; what costs money is the help you buy. Every part, with dated sources and a calculator for your own book, is in how much it costs to self-publish a book in the UK.
Comparisons with Alternative Approaches
While Kindle Create and Vellum dominate conversations, several alternatives deserve mention:
- Atticus: A newer cross-platform tool gaining traction for combining writing and formatting. Priced competitively, it supports UK trim sizes and exports multiple formats. Good middle ground for Windows and Mac users.
- Reedsy Book Editor: Free and online, easy for beginners but limited in print layout flexibility. Great for simple ebooks but not for professional UK print standards.
- Hiring a UK-Based Formatter: Outsourcing can deliver high-quality, tailored files but costs £130+ and requires vetting. Beware freelancers unfamiliar with KDP’s quirks or UK print trim sizes.
- DIY with Scrivener + Calibre: For tech-savvy authors, writing in Scrivener and converting via Calibre is possible but requires patience and technical know-how.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common mistake UK authors make with Kindle Create vs Vellum?
Failing to account for UK print trim sizes and relying on Kindle Create’s limited print options, which can cause problems with distribution outside Amazon UK.
How much does Kindle Create vs Vellum cost in the UK?
Kindle Create is free. Vellum costs £159.99 to £199.99 for a licence, billed in pounds, and the price doesn’t include tax. Adding ISBNs via Nielsen costs £93 for one or £174 for ten. Budget also for cover design and proofing.
What tools do UK authors recommend for Kindle Create vs Vellum?
Mac users with budgets prefer Vellum for its professional polish. Windows users often start with Kindle Create but move to UK-based formatting services or alternative tools like Atticus.
How long does the Kindle Create vs Vellum process typically take?
Kindle Create can take a few hours for simple novels. Vellum requires a steeper learning curve but saves time in the long run, especially for complex layouts, often a full day or more to master.
Can I handle Kindle Create vs Vellum myself or should I hire a professional?
If your book is simple fiction, Kindle Create or Vellum might suffice if you’re tech-savvy. For non-fiction, illustrated, or print books with complex layouts, hiring a professional or using publishing.co.uk’s automated formatting is advisable.
What are the UK-specific requirements for Kindle Create vs Vellum?
UK print trim sizes (e.g., 198 x 129 mm), Nielsen ISBNs instead of Bowker, VAT implications on ebooks, and ensuring barcodes use the EAN-13 format are key UK-specific factors to consider.
Formatting your book for Kindle and print is no small task, especially in the UK where standards and costs differ from the US market most tools target. Kindle Create offers a free, accessible starting point but lacks the sophistication and UK print support that Vellum provides—if you can afford it and use macOS.
From my 25 years’ experience, the best results come from combining the right tool with solid UK market knowledge and professional guidance. That’s exactly why publishing.co.uk exists—to bridge the gap between archaic publishing systems and modern author needs.
