Laidout vs VivaDesigner
Laidout
laidout.orgVivaDesigner
viva.systemsSide by side
| Figure | Laidout | VivaDesigner |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | €299/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 10 |
| Spec score · Desktop Publishing Software | 8.3 (#8) | 8.7 (#6) |
| Export formats | It lists export to PDF, SVG, Scribus, images, HTML gallery, Podofoimpose PLAN, Page Atlas, and PostScript. | Documents can be printed or exported to PDF, XML, PNG, JPG and other formats with color, bleed and layer controls. |
| Integrations | The site describes Scribus import and export, Gimp palette import, and Podofoimpose PLAN export. | VivaDesigner Server can be integrated into websites and web applications, and its functions can be accessed through an API. |
| Purpose | Laidout is desktop publishing software built for arranging pages into cut and folded impositions such as booklets and polyhedra. | VivaDesigner is an AI-based design, publishing, layout, typesetting and illustration program for desktop and web. |
| Support | The maker directs users to the Codeberg issue tracker for bugs and feature requests and also offers email contact. | GetApp lists email/help-desk and phone support, with in-person, live-online, webinar and documentation training options. |
Plans
VivaDesigner
- Free EditionFree
- FREE Edition (Desktop)Free
- Free Edition Plus trialFree
- EDUCATION Edition (Desktop)$89, paid once
- PERSONAL Edition (Desktop)$139, paid once
- NPO/NGO Edition (Desktop)$159, paid once
- VIVA SaaS / IaaS€299 a month
- GOVERNMENT Edition (Desktop)$329, paid once
- COMMERCIAL Edition (Desktop)$399, paid once
- VivaDesigner Desktop licensed editionsPrice not published
In their own words
Laidout
Laidout is free Linux desktop publishing software for arranging pages into folded print layouts, including book signatures, accordion folds and polyhedron nets. It also supports single pages and can help arrange posters for printers limited to small sheets. Its graphics objects include paths, ellipses, rounded rectangles, gradients, point sets, color meshes, warped images and captions. Laidout imports SVG, images, Scribus files and OFF polyhedra; PDF pages can be imported as rendered images, though PDF page import for reimposition is under development. Export options include PDF, SVG, Scribus, images, HTML galleries, Podofoimpose plan files, Page Atlas images and PostScript. Command-line use supports batch import, reimposition and export without opening a window. Laidout is released under GPL 3.0. The homepage identifies version 0.097 and says the stable release is old, suggesting a development snapshot or compiling from source where possible. Proper color management has not been a development priority; the FAQ suggests exporting to Scribus for that work.
VivaDesigner
VivaDesigner is a desktop and web program for design, publishing, layout, typesetting and illustration. It supports projects such as books, brochures, flyers, newspapers, magazines, catalogs, business cards, resumes, logos and social media ads. Its tools cover typography, structured text, styles, tables, paths and barcodes, with support for all languages and writing directions. AI features include automatic translation in more than 30 languages and automatic image clipping. VivaDesigner imports native InDesign documents, and users can edit VivaDesigner or InDesign files in a browser. Teams can work online or offline, add text notes and track visual changes. Documents can be printed or exported to PDF, XML, PNG, JPG and other formats. The server can connect to websites and web applications through an API, or be deployed on premises; the hosted offer includes a German data center and automatic backup. The free edition can open, edit, save and print documents, but lacks hyphenation, spell check and PDF export. The SaaS / IaaS offer costs €299 a month, net plus VAT, on a one-year contract.