When you’re starting out (or even mid-journey) as an indie author, the list of tools people say you need can get overwhelming — and expensive.
Some promise to make you more productive. Others insist they’re the secret to bestseller status. And then there’s you, staring at your bank account, wondering if writing books requires a trust fund.
Let me let you in on something: you don’t need every premium tool to be a successful author. What you do need is clarity — about your priorities, your budget, and what kind of workflow actually keeps you writing.
In this article, we’ll walk through some of the most common indie author tools and compare their budget-friendly versions to the premium options. I’ll also share which ones I’ve paid for, which I haven’t, and the logic behind it. No shaming, no sales — just real talk from one author to another.
First Things First: Define Your Stage
Before you spend a cent, ask yourself:
- Am I writing my first book?
- Am I trying to publish faster or more professionally?
- Do I have a marketing strategy already?
The answers matter. A first-time author doesn’t need the same toolbox as someone prepping their 10th release. What you need now is support, not complication.
Writing Software
Budget Pick: Google Docs or Word
Reliable, shareable, and great for basic drafting — especially if you’re working with an editor who prefers to track changes.
Premium Pick: Scrivener or Ulysses
Organize by chapter, store notes and character bios, drag scenes around — these are writer-friendly programs built for longer novels, and professional writers.
What I Use:
Scrivener. It was a one-time payment that paid for itself in mental clarity. But for short pieces or articles, I still hop into Google Docs for sure!
Verdict:
If you’re a planner or series writer, investing in Scrivener can change your game. But if you’re on book one, stick with what’s free until your brain demands more structure.
Editing Tools
Budget Pick: Hemingway Editor (Free Web App)
Great for spotting clunky sentences and passive voice.
Premium Pick: ProWritingAid / Grammarly Premium
These offer real-time grammar checks, style suggestions, and genre-based tuning.
What I Use:
ProWritingAid. It’s a middle ground — I paid for a lifetime license during a sale. It doesn’t replace a human editor but helps me clean up drafts and spot lazy habits. I have used the Hemingway Editor for many many many years, and it helped me a lot in order to learn how to write… after a certain point though, I became skilled enough to be able to predict its corrections and so move on a different app.
Verdict:
Free tools can take you far, but premium versions offer time-saving features if you publish regularly. Still, don’t fall into the trap of relying on AI over a human editor — they catch very different things. Always keep in mind that you are writng for a human, and AI will not be able to address that.
Formatting & Layout
Budget Pick: Reedsy Book Editor (Free)
Clean and simple interface. A great entry point if you want to create a decent-looking ebook and don’t mind minimal customization.
Premium Pick: Atticus or Vellum
Professional formatting with custom themes, interior styling, and print-ready exports.
What I Use:
Atticus. It does everything I need for both ebook and print, and it runs on any computer. Once I switched, formatting became my favorite part of the process.
Verdict:
If you’re only publishing ebooks or one title a year, Reedsy should be fine. But once you get serious, a tool like Atticus saves time and frustration — and gives you control over your book’s look.
Cover Design & Visual Content
Budget Pick: Canva (Free)
Tons of templates, easy drag-and-drop design. You can even use free stock photos and build simple promo graphics.
Premium Pick: Canva Pro or Adobe Creative Suite
Unlocks better templates, branding kits, animation tools, and resizing. Photoshop is more powerful, but comes with a steep learning curve and subscription.
What I Use:
Canva Pro. It’s my go-to for everything from Instagram reels to newsletter headers. For serious cover design, I still hire a pro — but for everything else, Canva Pro gives me freedom and style.
Verdict:
If design intimidates you, Canva is your best friend. The Pro version is an affordable way to level up your visuals without hiring out every small task.
Metadata & Marketing
Budget Pick: KDP Keyword Guessing + Manual Amazon Browsing
This is what most of us start with — and it can work… sometimes.
Premium Pick: Publisher Rocket
Helps you find keywords readers are actually searching for, and reveals real-time Amazon categories and competition levels.
What I Use:
Publisher Rocket. It’s not just a time-saver — it’s a sanity-saver. No more guessing where my book belongs. The insights have helped me make strategic category decisions that doubled visibility.
Verdict:
You can start without it, but you won’t regret the purchase if you plan to stay in the game. It’s a one-time buy that keeps giving.
Project Management
Budget Pick: Trello or Google Sheets
Simple, visual planning. Great for keeping track of drafts, to-dos, and content calendars.
Premium Pick: Notion (free version is enough), or paid planners and tools like Plottr
More customizable workflows and book planning features.
What I Use:
Trello + a paper planner. Yes, I still like crossing things off with a pen. But Trello helps me keep launch tasks in one place and visualize timelines.
Verdict:
You don’t need fancy project management — just consistent systems. Choose whatever makes you check in regularly and stay organized.
Final Thoughts: Spend Where It Supports Your Flow
There’s no shame in bootstrapping. In fact, I recommend it. You learn what matters to your process, what slows you down, and what feels like magic.
My rule of thumb? If a tool saves me time, reduces stress, or helps me publish more confidently — it’s worth considering. If it feels like an obligation, a sales pitch, or a “must-have” because someone else swears by it? Skip it. Your author career isn’t built on apps. It’s built on consistency, creativity, and clarity.
Curious about which tools match your style best?
Come hang out in my newsletter — each week, I share what’s working behind the scenes, plus writing prompts and productivity tips for real-world indie authors.
Let’s build your author career without draining your bank account.
Sonia M. Rompoti, MSc, bsc 
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