Part of the AI writing assistant guide
An Atticus alternative for the writing, not just the layout
Atticus is a well-made formatter with a clean writing editor, sold once for $147 and usable on any computer. What it does not do is help you write: there is no AI in it. AIWriteBook helps you draft and edit the chapters and then formats the same book for print and ebook.
Atticus and AIWriteBook at a glance
Both run on Windows, Mac, Linux and Chromebooks, so the device is not what separates them. The work each one does is.
| What matters | Atticus | AIWriteBook |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $147 once, print included | Monthly or yearly plan, Format step on Pro |
| Runs on | Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, and in the browser | Any browser on Windows, Mac, Linux or a Chromebook |
| Writing editor | Distraction-free editor with writing goals | Chapter editor with an outline and Story Bible beside it |
| AI drafting and editing | None | Write or rewrite chapters, and edit through a chat that shows every change to accept or reject |
| Grammar and style | ProWritingAid integration | AI proofreader and the Book Editor's line edits |
| Formatting | 17+ templates, 1,200+ combinations and a theme builder | 5 interior themes, 12 embedded fonts and 9 trim sizes |
| Import | Word .docx | .docx up to 200,000 words |
| Export | EPUB, PDF and DOCX | PDF/X-1a print interior, EPUB checked with EPUBCheck, wrap cover and DOCX |
| Cover | Add your own cover image | AI cover in 21 art styles, or upload your own |
| Audiobook and translation | Not included | 25 narrator voices and 37 languages on Pro |
Atticus details from atticus.io, checked October 2026.
Which one you need
Atticus is enough if
- You write every word yourself and want no AI near the text
- You need many template choices or want to design your own theme
- You want to pay once and own the tool, with a 30-day money-back guarantee
- You only need the layout step for books written elsewhere
AIWriteBook fits if
- You have a premise or an outline and want help getting chapters on the page
- You have a stalled draft and want to finish it in your own style
- You want the cover, audiobook and translations made from the same manuscript
- You want one place where a fix to a chapter carries through to the exported files
Already answered the question of whether Atticus has AI? We covered it in does Atticus have AI.
Using both: draft here, format there
You do not have to pick one. Plenty of authors are happy with Atticus for layout and only want help with the writing. In that setup you plan and draft in AIWriteBook, using the outline builder, the character builder and the writing style builder so the chapters sound like you.
When the draft is done, export it as a DOCX and import it into Atticus to format. That keeps your Atticus templates and lets you skip the Pro plan here, because drafting runs on any paid plan from $12 a month or on credit packs.
If you would rather not move files between apps, keep the book in AIWriteBook through to the Format step. Weighing Atticus against Vellum as the formatter instead? See Vellum vs Atticus.
Bring your Atticus manuscript over
Atticus exports DOCX, which is exactly what AIWriteBook imports. Your chapters arrive as chapters.
Export from Atticus
Open the book in Atticus and export it as a DOCX file.
Import the file
Upload the DOCX of up to 200,000 words. AIWriteBook detects the chapters and keeps your text exactly as written.
Check what was filled
Import also fills the title, blurb, characters and outline, and learns your writing style from the prose. Fix anything that needs it.
Keep writing or format
Write the chapters that are missing, edit through the chapter chat, or go straight to the Format step for a print PDF and EPUB.
On a new account your first fiction import is free. Need a word count first? The free word counter gives it in seconds.
Five years of Atticus and AIWriteBook
Atticus costs the same whether you publish one book or twenty. AIWriteBook is priced for writing the book, not only laying it out, so the same plan also covers chapters, covers and audiobooks. Totals below are cumulative, in US dollars.
| Setup | Year 1 | Year 3 | Year 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AtticusOne-time purchase, formatting and writing editor | $147 | $147 | $147 |
| AIWriteBook Plus yearly, then Atticus to formatDraft here, format in Atticus | $291 | $579 | $867 |
| AIWriteBook Pro, one month per launchOne book a year, written elsewhere, formatted here | $50 | $150 | $250 |
| AIWriteBook Pro, yearlyDraft, edit, format, covers and audiobooks | $360 | $1,080 | $1,800 |
Plus is $144 a year with 1,000 credits a month for outlines and chapters. Pro adds the Format step, audiobooks and translation, and unlocking the Format step for a book costs 200 credits out of the plan's 5,000 monthly credits. Monthly plans can be cancelled at any time, and every plan is on the pricing page.
Atticus price from atticus.io, checked October 2026.
Atticus vs AIWriteBook: common questions
Does Atticus have AI writing?
No. Atticus has a writing editor with goals and a ProWritingAid integration, but no AI drafting. AIWriteBook drafts and edits chapters with AI, and you accept or reject every change.
How much does Atticus cost?
Atticus is $147 as a one-time purchase, with print formatting included and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Can I write in AIWriteBook and format in Atticus?
Yes. Export the finished draft from AIWriteBook as a DOCX and import it into Atticus. Drafting works on any paid plan, so you do not need Pro for this setup.
Can I move a book from Atticus to AIWriteBook?
Yes. Export it from Atticus as a DOCX and import it. Chapters are detected, your text is kept as written, and the characters and outline are filled in for you.
Which has more formatting templates?
Atticus, with 17+ templates and a theme builder. AIWriteBook has five interior themes, 12 embedded fonts and nine trim sizes, and adds a wrap cover to the exported files.
More on formatting and writing tools
- AIWriteBook vs VellumThe Mac-only formatter, compared on five-year cost and devices.
- Does Atticus have AI?What Atticus includes today, checked against its own feature pages.
- Novel writing software comparedWhere each writing app fits, from drafting to layout.
- What an EPUB file isThe ebook format every store accepts, explained.
Write the book Atticus will format, or format it here
Start free and write your first chapter today.
- Outline and first chapter free
- Print PDF, EPUB, wrap cover and DOCX from one Generate
- 25 audiobook voices
- Write in 37 languages