Side by side
Lacuna vs Publisher Plus
Both stand on desktop publishing software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Choose Lacuna if you want desktop tools for formatting manuscripts into EPUB files and print-ready PDFs, with controls for both book design and print settings. Its full-featured trial lets you work before buying, but exporting requires a paid license; the one-machine option costs $149, paid once.
Visit LacunaChoose Publisher Plus if you want a Mac app for composing printable documents with templates, layout controls, and several export formats. Look elsewhere if you need a platform beyond macOS or require Publisher Plus itself to be free; Publisher Lite is the free Mac version.
Visit Publisher PlusThe facts
| Lacuna | Publisher Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | A free trial | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Mac |
| Lowest paid plan | 1 Machine: $149 per machine, paid once | Publisher Plus: $39.90, paid once |
| Plans published | 3 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | lacuna.pub | pearlmountainsoft.com |
| On desktop publishing software | #17 of 30 | #13 of 30 |
Lacuna: what it does well
- Imports DOCX files and detects manuscript structure.
- Exports EPUB and print-ready PDF, including PDF/X-1a.
- Offers typography controls, themes, styles, and live preview.
- Includes print settings for trim, margins, bleed, and pagination.
- Licenses include lifetime updates.
What to know first
- Payment is required before exporting.
- The one-machine license is limited to one machine.
- The trial can be used only until export.
Publisher Plus: what it does well
- Offers 170-plus templates and more than 230 backgrounds.
- Supports multi-page documents with customizable page setup.
- Exports pages to PDF, JPG, PNG, TIFF, BMP, and PSD.
- Supports multiple photo formats, including AI, EPS, and SVG.
- Includes direct printing and several sharing options.
What to know first
- The desktop app is for macOS only.
- The listed Publisher Plus plan costs $39.90, paid once.
- The free version is Publisher Lite for Mac, rather than Publisher Plus.
Alternatives to Lacuna Alternatives to Publisher Plus The whole list