Vellum vs Kindle Create: Which Should You Use?

TL;DR

Kindle Create is fine for Amazon-only authors who want a free, simple tool. It produces acceptable Kindle output but locks you into Amazon's ecosystem and doesn't export to ePub (so you can't publish wide). Vellum costs $199 but produces better output, works on all platforms, and exports files you can publish anywhere. If you're publishing wide — or plan to — skip Kindle Create.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Vellum	Kindle Create
Price	$199–249 (one-time, Mac only)	Free (Windows & Mac)
Output quality	Excellent — polished, professional	Good for Kindle, limited aesthetics
ePub export	Yes — full ePub3 for wide distribution	No — KPF format only (Kindle-only)
Platform support	All platforms (via ePub)	Amazon Kindle only
Drop caps	Beautiful, consistent	Limited support
Theme variety	25+ professional themes	Very limited
Platform	Mac only	Windows & Mac
Best for	Authors publishing wide or quality-focused	Amazon-only authors, no budget

Kindle Create is Amazon’s answer to the question: “What if formatting was free and dead simple?” The answer is: acceptable Kindle output with significant limitations.

The Core Problem With Kindle Create

Kindle Create only exports in KPF format — Amazon’s proprietary Kindle format. This means:

You can publish on Amazon
You cannot publish on Apple Books
You cannot publish on Kobo
You cannot distribute via Draft2Digital
You cannot publish on Barnes & Noble

If you ever want to publish anywhere besides Amazon, your Kindle Create files are useless. You’d need to reformat from scratch.

For authors who are building a catalog — even if you’re starting Amazon-only — using a tool that produces ePub from day one is the smarter long-term choice.

What Kindle Create Does Reasonably Well

For Amazon-only authors who want the simplest possible workflow at zero cost, Kindle Create works:

Imports Word documents cleanly
Produces valid Kindle-compatible output
Includes a preview mode for Kindle devices
Has a minimal learning curve

If you’re publishing a single book, testing the market, and have no plans to go wide, Kindle Create is a reasonable starting point.

The Wide Distribution Argument

Every major self-publishing advisor recommends going wide eventually. Apple Books represents a growing market, especially for romance and mystery. Kobo is the dominant player in Canada and several European markets. Draft2Digital distributes to Walmart, Everand, and 30+ other retailers.

Authors who start with Kindle Create and want to go wide later pay a hidden cost: they have to reformat everything. At $75/book for a formatting service, a 10-book catalog costs $750 to reformat. Starting with proper ePub output on day one avoids that entirely.

Bottom Line

Kindle Create is a free tool that does one thing adequately. Vellum (or a Vellum formatting service) does multiple things excellently and produces files that work everywhere.

Third Option

Skip the software entirely.

If you're publishing 1–3 books, buying Vellum just to format them doesn't make economic sense. MekarPad gives you professional Vellum output starting at $75 — no software, no learning curve, no Mac required.

Order Formatting →

Common Questions

Does Kindle Create produce good-looking ebooks?

Kindle Create produces acceptable Kindle output — significantly better than raw Word exports. However, the design options are very limited: a handful of themes, basic chapter styling, and no drop cap support on most settings. It looks functional, not polished.

Can I use Kindle Create files on Apple Books or Kobo?

No. Kindle Create exports in KPF format, which is Amazon-proprietary. You cannot use these files on any non-Amazon platform. If you want to publish wide (Apple Books, Kobo, Draft2Digital), you need an ePub file — which Kindle Create cannot produce.

Is Kindle Create being discontinued?

As of 2026, Kindle Create is still available and supported by Amazon. However, Amazon has historically invested less in this tool compared to other self-publishing infrastructure. Its feature set has evolved slowly.

What if I start with Kindle Create and want to switch later?

Your original Word manuscript is always your source file. You can reformat at any time using Vellum, Atticus, or a formatting service. Kindle Create doesn't lock you in — just start from your original .docx when you want better output.

More Comparisons

Amazon KDP vs Draft2Digital Vellum vs Atticus Vellum vs Reedsy Book Editor Vellum vs Microsoft Word All Comparisons →