Freedom251 › Book Layout Software
Calamus Compile
What Calamus Compile is
Calamus Compile turns a manuscript in Calamus's Binder into a paginated EPUB or PDF for book retailers. Its print layout features include widows and orphans, running heads, page numbers, and chapter openers. Writers can choose from more than 1,900 Google typefaces, embed them in exported files, and set typography separately for headings, body text, running heads, and footers. Built-in US and UK trim sizes range from mass market to large print. Each style theme has a rendered preview before selection, and listed destinations include Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play Books, OverDrive, Draft2Digital, Smashwords, tolino, and Scribd.
Compile works on manuscripts in Calamus's Binder. The suite describes workflows for fiction and nonfiction writers. Calamus is in beta testing and is not open for purchase yet. Its 14-day browser trial does not include Compile, though trial users can download manuscripts as DOCX, RTF, Markdown, or plain text. The listed Calamus plan costs $189 a month, billed as one payment with no subscription.
Who it suits
Compile is for fiction and nonfiction writers preparing a Calamus manuscript as an ebook or print PDF. Its page-layout settings and retailer destination list may suit authors who need both digital and print exports.
What it does well
- Exports paginated EPUB and PDF files.
- Includes US and UK trim sizes.
- Offers more than 1,900 Google typefaces.
- Supports page numbers, running heads, and chapter openers.
- Provides previews of style themes.
What to know first
- Calamus is in beta testing and not open for purchase.
- The 14-day browser trial excludes Compile.
- Compile works on manuscripts in Calamus's Binder.
Limits
The 14-day browser trial does not include Compile and instead allows manuscript downloads as DOCX, RTF, Markdown, or plain text. The listed Calamus plan is $189 a month, billed as one payment with no subscription.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Calamus | One payment; $189 regular price, $129 launch price · Unlimited books and words · Compile to EPUB and PDF · Mac, iPadOS, and browser · Not open for purchase while in beta | $129, paid once |
| Calamus Ideas | Monthly subscription purchased in the app · iPhone companion for ideas, focus timer, quotes, and social sharing · Free for Calamus license holders | $4.99 a month |
As calamusapp.com lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the Compile page at calamusapp.com/compile
- Organize a finished manuscript in Calamus’s Binder
- Choose a Calamus plan when the product is available
- Select a style theme after viewing its rendered preview
- Set typography, pagination, and trim-size options
- Export the manuscript as EPUB or print PDF
Verdict
Compile brings ebook export and print layout tools together for manuscripts written in Calamus. Its availability is a key consideration: Calamus is not open for purchase, and the browser trial does not include Compile.
Questions
What does Calamus Compile export?
It exports a manuscript from Calamus’s Binder as a paginated EPUB or PDF, including print PDF output.
Which platforms support Compile?
Compile is listed for iOS, macOS, and the web.
How much does the Calamus plan cost?
The Calamus plan is $189 a month, billed as one payment with no subscription. It includes unlimited books and unlimited words.
Is there a free plan or trial?
There is no free plan. A 14-day browser trial is available, but it excludes Compile.
Which retailers are supported?
The listed destinations include Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play Books, OverDrive, Draft2Digital, Smashwords, tolino, and Scribd.
How are manuscripts protected?
The maker says manuscripts are not used to train AI models. It also says traffic uses TLS, storage is encrypted at rest, row-level security limits database access, and two-factor verification is checked on every content request.
Facts from Calamus Compile's own pages
- Free plan
- No · calamusapp.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Input requirements
- Compile operates on the manuscript in Calamus's Binder; the site describes compiling a finished manuscript into a retailer-ready book. · calamusapp.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- Calamus describes the suite as serving fiction and nonfiction writers, with scenes and beats for novels and parts and sections for nonfiction. · calamusapp.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Pagination
- It supports printed-page features including widows and orphans, running heads, page numbers, and chapter openers. · calamusapp.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Preview
- Each style theme shows a rendered preview before selection. · calamusapp.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Print sizes
- US and UK print trim sizes are built in, from mass market to large print. · calamusapp.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The maker says manuscripts are not used to train AI models by Calamus or its partners. · calamusapp.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Compile turns a manuscript in Calamus into a paginated, retailer-ready EPUB or PDF. · calamusapp.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Release status
- Calamus is in beta testing and is not open for purchase yet. · calamusapp.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Retailers
- The site lists Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play Books, OverDrive, Draft2Digital, Smashwords, tolino, and Scribd as supported destinations. · calamusapp.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Security
- The maker says traffic uses TLS, manuscript storage is encrypted at rest, and database row-level security restricts access to each user's data. · calamusapp.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- The site provides support at [email protected]. · calamusapp.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Trial limit
- The 14-day browser trial excludes Compile, and trial users can download their manuscript as DOCX, RTF, Markdown, or plain text. · calamusapp.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Two-factor authentication
- Two-factor verification is checked on every request to content, and recognized devices can be revoked. · calamusapp.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Typography
- Compile supports more than 1,900 Google typefaces and embeds them in exported files, with separate settings for headings, body text, and running heads and footers. · calamusapp.com, 7 Oct 2026
Where Calamus Compile stands on Freedom251
- Book Layout Software#21 of 28
- Writing Apps#113 of 135