Reedsy Studio (formerly the Reedsy Book Editor) is the free option for writers who need a formatted book and don't want to buy formatting software. For a lot of writers it's the right answer. For some, the limits show up the moment the book isn't a straight run of chapters.
What follows is based on Reedsy's own documentation, checked in October 2026, plus one independent test noted below. Prices and features change, so confirm on reedsy.com before you commit a manuscript.
What is Reedsy Studio?
A web app for writing and formatting a book. You write in the browser (or import a Word file), organise it into chapters, and export files ready for ebook stores and print-on-demand. It runs online; Reedsy lists offline use as on its roadmap, not available.
| Reedsy Studio | |
|---|---|
| Price | Free core; paid add-ons from $4.99 a month |
| Runs on | Any browser |
| Ebook export | EPUB 3 |
| Print export | PDF (PDF/X-1a for print-on-demand) and a standard PDF |
| Templates | Three: Reedsy, Classic, Romance |
| Trim sizes | 6 × 9, 5.5 × 8.5, 5 × 8, 4.25 × 6.87 inches |
| Collaboration | Invite people by email to edit the manuscript |
What does Reedsy Studio do well?
It's free where it counts. Writing, formatting and export are on the free plan, and Reedsy says those core features will stay free. Most paid formatters charge for exactly that.
The output is store-ready. EPUB 3 is the format Amazon KDP, Apple Books and other stores want, and the print PDF uses PDF/X-1a, the standard print-on-demand services expect. What KDP actually wants from your file explains why those details matter.
The trim sizes cover most trade books. 6 × 9 and 5.5 × 8.5 are common paperback sizes for nonfiction and fiction.
Sharing is built in. You can invite an editor by email. Invitees get full edit rights, so Reedsy suggests having editors turn on tracked changes.
Where does Reedsy Studio stop?
Layout control is limited by design. You pick one of three templates, and the template decides fonts, heading styles and margins. Options include drop caps, hiding chapter numbers and where endnotes go. If your book needs a specific typeface or margin, this is the wrong tool.
Four trim sizes, no A4 or Letter. Fine for a novel. Not for a workbook, a report or a lead magnet meant to be read as a full-page PDF.
Nonfiction formatting is thin. A book built from chapters of prose works well. Tables and complex structure are the weak spot: in a September 2026 hands-on test, Built&Written found a table dropped entirely when a Word manuscript was imported, and subheads promoted to chapter level. Test your most complicated chapter before moving the whole book.
It's online only. No internet, no editing, at least until offline support ships.
What do the paid add-ons add?
| Add-on | Price (Reedsy's US pricing) | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Craft | $4.99 a month | Custom daily, weekly and monthly goals, unlimited history, advanced stats, check-ins, dark mode |
| Outline | $7.99 a month | Planning boards, pinned notes, attributes and relationships, list view, dark mode |
Neither changes the exported file. If you only need formatting, the free plan is the whole product.
Who should use Reedsy Studio, and who shouldn't?
Use it if you're writing a novel or narrative nonfiction, you want a standard trade paperback and an ebook, and you'd rather not spend money on software. Reedsy Studio is the better pick over bukpress here: bukpress exports A4 only, so it can't make a 6 × 9 paperback.
Pick something else if:
- You need full control of fonts and margins: Vellum alternatives and Atticus vs Vellum compare the paid formatters.
- You write in Markdown, or you're making a full-page PDF (a lead magnet, workbook, guide or report). bukpress takes a Markdown file and sets an A4 PDF with your own choice of title, subtitle and body fonts, margins in points, page numbers and covers, and a preview that paginates the way the export does. The Free plan gives 20 exports a month up to 40 pages, with no watermark; EPUB export is on Pro at $24 a month. See pricing.
- You want a print-ready file at a custom trim size: book formatting software lists the options.
Where should you start?
Import or paste one chapter, the one with the most structure, and export both the EPUB and the print PDF before you commit the whole book. Open the EPUB on a phone and the PDF at full size. If both look right, Reedsy Studio will likely handle the rest; if you spend the hour fighting the template, pick one of the tools above instead.
Common questions
Is Reedsy Studio really free?
The writing, formatting and export features are free. The Craft and Outline add-ons are paid and cover goals, stats and planning.
Can I use Reedsy Studio for KDP?
Yes. The EPUB works for Kindle ebooks, and the print PDF can go to KDP Print at one of Reedsy's four trim sizes, if that size suits your book.
Does Reedsy Studio work offline?
Not yet. Reedsy lists offline use as planned, not available.
Can I import a Word document into Reedsy Studio?
Yes, you can import a manuscript file. Check headings, chapter breaks and any tables after import, since structured nonfiction may need fixing by hand.