Need an alternative to Vellum? adoc Studio combines technical documentation and book-style publishing in one structured tool.
Vellum
A macOS-only WYSIWYG book formatter for self-publishing authors. Creates professional-quality eBooks and print PDFs.
- ✓ macOS desktop application only
- ✓ WYSIWYG with instant styling
- ✓ EPUB, MOBI, print-ready PDF output
adoc Studio
A structured AsciiDoc authoring environment for Apple devices. For technical documentation with multi-format publishing.
- ✓ macOS, iPad, iPhone with iCloud sync
- ✓ AsciiDoc markup with live preview
- ✓ Git integration and team collaboration
Feature Comparison Matrix
Legend:
| Feature | Vellum | adoc Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Platform availability | ★macOS desktop only, no mobile apps | ★macOS, iPad & iPhone with sync |
| Book publishing | ★Professional EPUB, MOBI & print PDFs | ★HTML & PDF with CSS customization |
| User-friendliness | ★WYSIWYG without markup knowledge | ★Requires learning AsciiDoc syntax |
| Content reuse | ★No includes or variables | ★Automatic includes & global attributes |
| Team collaboration | ★Single-author tool, proprietary format | ★Git-compatible for team workflows |
| Layout control | ★Professional book templates | ★Full CSS control & custom branding |
| Costs & licensing | $199–249 one-time purchase | €9.99/month or €99.99/year |
Focus on Use Cases
Book publishing focus: Designed specifically for novels and non-fiction, with instant professional layouts and built-in styles for self-publishing authors.
Technical documentation focus: Built for structured content with advanced features like conditionals, content reuse, and multi-audience publishing for technical teams.
Editing Philosophy
Visual simplicity: True WYSIWYG interface without markup. Import Word documents and instantly apply professional book layouts with one-click styling.
Structured authoring: AsciiDoc markup gives precise control over content structure, cross-references, variables, and conditional publishing for complex documents.
Content Reuse & Collaboration
Single-author focus: Desktop-only app with no features for content reuse or collaboration. Best suited for individual authors producing finished manuscripts.
Team-friendly workflows: Git integration, includes for content reuse, variables for consistency, and plain-text format enable collaborative documentation projects.
Cost Structure & Lock-in
One-time investment: License costs $199–249 with no ongoing fees, but proprietary format creates vendor lock-in. Higher upfront cost, but no recurring payments.
Subscription with freedom: €99/year ongoing cost, but open AsciiDoc format ensures there’s no vendor lock-in. Content remains editable in any text editor.
Learn more about adoc Studio
When to Choose Which Tool
Vellum if you need...
- Book layouts for fiction & non-fiction
- eBook (EPUB/MOBI) & PDF
- WYSIWYG editor
- Accessible outputs (ACE)
Perfect for:
- Self-publishing & novel authors
- Non-fiction layout & formatting
- Book series & anthologies
- Print-on-demand workflows
adoc Studio if you need...
- Technical documentation
- Single-source & conditional content
- Git-based version control
- Consistent HTML/PDF via CSS
Perfect for:
- Software docs & API guides
- Manuals with multiple variants
- Academic & research documents
- Team-based documentation projects
From Vellum to AsciiDoc
Migrating from Vellum to adoc Studio shifts from WYSIWYG formatting to open AsciiDoc. The effort pays off with content reuse, version control, and multi-format publishing.
Here's a step-by-step guide:
Extract source content
Locate the original Word file (.docx). If not available, export from Vellum as EPUB or, as a last option, PDF and extract the text.
Convert with Pandoc
Convert your document to AsciiDoc:
pandoc input.docx -f docx -t asciidoc -o book.adoc --wrap=none --extract-media=mediaCheck and clean up headings, lists, and formatting.
Create project in adoc Studio
- Create a new project
- Add book.adoc to the Documents folder
- Organize images in the media folder
Structure the content
- Split book.adoc into chapter files
- Use include:: in the main document
- Add shared appendices as includes
Styling & attributes
- Define document attributes (:doctype:, :imagesdir:)
- Use CSS for print and eBook styles
- Adjust branding and layout via CSS
Test outputs
- Export HTML/PDF via GUI
- Use CLI for automation
- Set up Git for team collaboration
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I migrate Vellum projects to adoc Studio?
Yes. Since Vellum uses a proprietary format, you should start from the original manuscript or export (e.g., DOCX, EPUB) and then convert to AsciiDoc. Professional styling must be rebuilt in adoc Studio, but this adds flexibility and reuse.
What are the use cases for each tool?
Vellum is designed for self-publishing authors of novels and nonfiction books. adoc Studio is aimed at teams and professionals who need structured documentation with variables, conditionals, reuse, and multi-format publishing.
Which tool is better for book publishing?
Vellum delivers print-ready layouts instantly and leads in fiction and nonfiction publishing. adoc Studio can also publish books but requires more technical setup—while offering greater flexibility for complex structures.
How do the tools support collaboration?
Vellum is a single-user desktop app without version control. adoc Studio relies on Git, plain text formats, and team workflows—ideal for collaborative projects.
What about data portability?
adoc Studio uses the open AsciiDoc format, editable in any text editor—no vendor lock-in. Vellum stores projects in proprietary files, limiting long-term flexibility.