Blurb BookWright vs Calamus Compile
Blurb BookWright
store.blurb.comCalamus Compile
calamusapp.comSide by side
| Figure | Blurb BookWright | Calamus Compile |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $4.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 10 | 3 |
| Spec score · Book Layout Software | 9.5 (#1) | 8.3 (#7) |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Purpose | BookWright is desktop bookmaking software for designing custom books. | Compile turns a manuscript in Calamus into a paginated, retailer-ready EPUB or PDF. |
| Security | Blurb says it uses industry-standard encryption, firewalls, intrusion detection, controlled facilities, access controls, audits and vulnerability scans. | The maker says traffic uses TLS, manuscript storage is encrypted at rest, and database row-level security restricts access to each user's data. |
| Support | Blurb directs customers to its Help portal for answers and customer support contact. | The site provides support at [email protected]. |
Plans
Blurb BookWright
- BookWright softwarePrice not published
- Softcover photo book$12 a month
- ImageWrap Hardcover photo book$32 a month
- Linen Hardcover with Dust Jacket photo book$32 a month
- Layflat photo book$60 a month
- BookWrightFree
- BookWrightFree
- Paperback book, Economy Color, 5×8 in$3.99, paid once
- Paperback book, Standard B&W, 5×8 in$4.99, paid once
- Premium Magazine$7, paid once
Calamus Compile
- Calamus$189 a month
- Calamus Ideas$4.99 a month
- Calamus$129, paid once
In their own words
Blurb BookWright
Blurb BookWright is desktop software for designing custom books, including photo books, paperbacks, hardcovers, magazines, notebooks, and wall art. It provides customizable templates, freestyle grids, typography and cover tools, bleed lines, and trim guides. Image tools support scaling, cropping, enhancement, and auto-retouching powered by Perfectly Clear by EyeQ. Text Flow fits text into frames and accepts Rich Text Format imports, while Photo Manager imports photos from Adobe Lightroom, SmugMug, and Dropbox. Users can work offline in the desktop software, but publishing requires an internet connection and a free Blurb account is needed for features and publishing options. Finished projects can be printed on demand, ordered in bulk, or purchased as PDFs. BookWright is free to use; users pay for a book when they send it to print. Listed requirements include Windows 7, 8, or 10, or macOS 10.13 or later, with 2GB RAM and 500MB storage. Books can be up to 440 pages.
Calamus Compile
Calamus Compile has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.