Reedsy alternatives and competitors: our handy 2026 guide

Reedsy offers a range of helpful features for writers, from a marketplace to a writing app. However, it won’t be the perfect fit for everyone.

With that in mind, we’ve gathered some top Reedsy alternatives and competitors. We’ve included alternatives to the Reedsy freelancer marketplace, Reedsy Studio writing app, Reedsy Learning writing courses, and the Reedsy Discovery book promotion platform.

Reedsy Marketplace alternatives

Reedsy Marketplace enables you to browse through handpicked service providers, like editors, designers, and marketers. You can collect free quotes and then work with your chosen professionals via the platform.

If you’re looking for alternative ways to find professionals to work on your book, here are a few places to start.

Professional bodies

Professional bodies often have directories of freelancers and companies. For instance, the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) has a membership directory, while The Alliance of Independent Authors has a self-publishing services directory.

The advantage here is that, as with Reedsy Marketplace, the freelancers on these lists are likely to have been vetted to some extent and/or may have signed up to a code of practice. That’s not a given, though, and it’s still important to do your due diligence to make sure that both the organization/directory and anyone you want to work with seem reputable.

You also probably won’t have a designated platform to work through as you would if you used Reedsy Marketplace.

Freelancer marketplaces

You’ll find a vast range of people offering book-related services on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork.

These platforms can be a good way to find a more affordable option. Like Reedsy, they also give you tools to manage the project, which could be helpful if there’s an issue.

However, it can be more difficult to ensure the person you’re hiring has the experience you need, as anyone can use these platforms. Make sure to look over samples and reviews carefully.

LinkedIn

Many freelancers use professional networking site LinkedIn to market their services.

A big advantage here is that you may be able to get a better sense of what it might be like to work with someone from what they post and how they interact with others.

However, you still need to check someone out thoroughly to make sure they’re trustworthy and have relevant expertise—anyone can set themselves up as an expert on LinkedIn. Additionally, while LinkedIn offers “services” tools for managing quotes, it doesn’t have any features for actually managing the project.

Self-publishing companies

There are companies, like BookBaby, who provide a range of done-for-you self-publishing services. These might be worth investigating if you’re looking for convenience and would prefer to do less of the project management yourself.

However, services like this often come with a high price tag, and you don’t have the level of control and choice that you do when managing the process yourself and recruiting your own professionals.

This is also an industry where scams and predatory practices are common, so it’s absolutely vital to do wider research into any company you’re thinking of using.

You might find this article on choosing the right self-publishing option helpful.

Streamline the process with ProWritingAid

While it’s not a marketplace, ProWritingAid could be a useful and affordable option if you’re looking for support with editing and marketing your book.

• Story analysis features deliver deep, actionable insights into what’s working in your draft and where it needs strengthening—so you can refine structure, pacing, and character development with confidence.

• Advanced grammar checking and style reports provide rigorous line-editing support, helping you achieve clarity, sharpen your prose, and ensure every sentence is polished. 

• Marketability Analysis equips you with a strategic road map for selling your book, guiding you on how to position it in the market, and craft compelling assets to boost visibility.

These tools are not intended to be a substitute for human expertise, but they maximize the amount you’re able to do for yourself.

You’ll also be able to join the ProWritingAid Community and access advice and support from other writers, as well as expert-led events.

Sign up for a free account to start discovering how ProWritingAid can help.

Reedsy Studio alternatives

Reedsy Studio is a free, user-friendly writing app where you can draft your novel and typeset and format it for self-publication. You can also upgrade for advanced goal tracking and organizational features.

Here are some other writing and/or formatting apps you might want to explore.

Novlr

Novlr provides a streamlined, intuitive interface for writing. You can add your notes, set goals, and sync across devices. You also get access to courses via their academy, a supportive community, and other resources.

Like Reedsy Studio, you can use Novlr for free, though there is a limit of 5 novels on the free tier. You can upgrade to one of the paid tiers for unlimited novels and more features, like advanced analytics, commenting features, and proofing tools powered by ProWritingAid.

It doesn’t offer live collaboration or advanced typesetting/formatting features like Reedsy Studio, though.

Atticus

Atticus is an all-in-one app that offers features for writing, goal tracking, live collaboration, and typesetting/formatting for print and e-books. It syncs across devices and, unlike Reedsy Studio, can work offline.

Atticus offers 17 premade templates, the option to create custom themes, and various other customizable settings, meaning it provides much more scope for formatting than Reedsy Studio, which currently only offers 3 set export templates. You can also preview how your chosen design will look across formats.

Unlike Reedsy Studio, though, it is a paid app. It costs $147 for a lifetime license (including ongoing updates).

Scrivener

Scrivener, perhaps the best-known writing app, offers much more functionality than Reedsy Studio.

In addition to an array of tools for writing and tracking your progress, it offers advanced organizational features for your notes and sophisticated tools to assist with outlining and rearranging sections. You can also format your book for print and e-book publication.

While it works offline, backup and syncing across devices rely on third-party cloud storage. It’s more complex to get to grips with than other apps, and there are no built-in collaboration tools. It’s also a paid tool, costing $59.99 for Mac or Windows and $23.99 for iOS (each a onetime payment).

Ulysses

Ulysses offers a clean, comfortable writing experience with no distractions. There are tools for setting goals, managing your notes, and swapping sections around.

For formatting, you can choose from a range of e-book export styles designed by other users or customize your own (though this needs a degree of technical knowledge).

You can work offline and sync across your devices using iCloud.

Unfortunately, though, Ulysses is only available on Apple devices. It’s also a subscription-based app, costing $5.99 billed monthly or $39.99 billed yearly.

Calibre

Calibre is a versatile app for formatting and managing e-books.

Like Reedsy Studio, it’s a free app, making it a good option if you’re trying to keep the costs down.

You can format your file elsewhere, import it, and then make adjustments to the style and layout in the editor, including managing additional elements like images. You can then preview how the book will look across e-book formats.

Unlike Reedsy Studio, though, it isn’t a writing app, so you’ll need to write elsewhere. Also, it may not be the ideal software for beginners because of its complexity and the technical knowledge required.

Vellum

Vellum is another popular formatting app, offering much more choice and flexibility than Reedsy Studio.

You can browse through dozens of premade styles and then tweak them to suit your book (with customizable elements like headings and decorative breaks), where Reedsy Studio only provides 3 set templates. You can then preview what the book will look like across devices and formats.

Unlike Reedsy Studio, Vellum isn’t a writing app, though. It’s also only available on Mac.

You can use the features for free but will need to buy a license to export: $199.99 for the e-books version and $249.99 for the e-books and print version (both onetime payments).

Reedsy Learning alternatives

Reedsy Learning offers a range of free and paid courses on writing and publishing. There’s also an additional community membership that gives you access to webinars from writing coaches and authors.

Here are some alternative places to find expert-led writing courses.

MasterClass

MasterClass provides bite-size video lessons led by renowned writers like Margaret Atwood and Dan Brown.

While there are no free classes, membership ($120 billed yearly) gives you access to all classes.

Gotham Writers Workshop

The Gotham Writers Workshop offers a range of online writing classes, offered live over Zoom or asynchronously. You’ll be supported by a skilled tutor and be able to workshop your work with other writers.

The courses involve fees ($464 for a 10-week workshop online or on Zoom). They’re also time-limited, so you will need to make space in your schedule to get the most out of them. If you opt for the Zoom option, you will need to attend in real time.

Coursera

Online course platform Coursera offers a range of writing courses, including ones created by universities.

Courses come with previews or free trial options, so you can try them out. Payment options depend on the type of course.

Reedsy Discovery alternatives

Reedsy Discovery is a promotional platform for indie authors. Submitted books get a dedicated landing page on the site and may receive a review from the team of vetted volunteer reviewers.

Here are some other options for generating buzz around your book.

ARC distributors

There are several sites out there specifically set up to connect authors with reviewers and for distributing advanced reader copies (ARCs). Well-established options include NetGalley and  BookSirens.

The advantage here is that you’re likely to get multiple reviews for your investment, rather than just one, and those reviews will be made on different platforms, getting them in front of more readers. However, while prices vary, they may be higher than Reedsy Discovery.

Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus Reviews offers the option to pay for an honest review from a qualified reviewer to use in your marketing. They also offer additional editorial and advertising services, as well as support for writers hoping to connect with industry professionals.

Kirkus has strong brand recognition and draws from a pool of reviewers with industry expertise. However, it is more expensive than Reedsy Discovery.

The verdict: Reedsy alternatives

While there isn’t currently another website that pulls together all the features that Reedsy does, there are plenty of other places where you can find similar services. So whether you’re looking for professionals to help you with your book or an alternative writing app, hopefully this list has given you some inspiration.

And if you’d like to discover how ProWritingAid can slot into your process as an indie author, you can sign up for a free account.