InDesign or Affinity? Which Is Better For Books?

And it appears we have a new cover image design! You like????

Chances are... if you're an indie author, you've considered formatting your own books. And, chances are... if you've done research, you've probably seen the same recommendation that I did... which is using Adobe InDesign. It's the industry standard - used by the professional formatters and publishers all around the world.

With the reputation that self-published books seem to have, using something the big companies and professional formatters use is definitely enticing. The quality is bound to be phenomenal, right?

RIGHT????

Well... unfortunately... InDesign can be complicated to use, especially for beginners. Some of their features aren't the best for book formatting, based on my experience, and it can be just so expensive!

Like most indie authors, I was looking for a software that didn't force me to compromise quality because of ease or price. It took me a bit of asking around, but finally a kind author, Valerie Howard, pointed me in the direction of a software I had never even heard of:

Let's take a look at why I chose the "underdog" Affinity over the beloved InDesign...

1: Affinity Is Better Suited For Book Designing

I know it sounds crazy, considering the fact that InDesign is the page layout software. But the easiest way that I've found to format books is by the use what is called, "Master Pages" (or "Parent Pages" in InDesign.) Master Pages allow you to place elements on a master page that will end up on whatever document page you apply them. Think of it as creating a page style that you can add to select pages, in the same way you would create a text style. So... if I want the book title or page number on every single page, I would add the title and the <page number> field to the "Master Page" and the elements would then automatically show up on the document pages I apply the master to.

A HUGE reason I went with Affinity is because you can edit the text inside of a text box, even if the text box is from a Master Page. In InDesign, anything on the Parent Page is locked on the Document Page -- including text. In that case, you would have to manually add text boxes on every single page (or duplicate document pages) in order to add the text.

With Affinity Publisher... you can create pages with the master and have an editable text box where you can insert your story. When you're working with novels, this makes things SO EASY. It's one less step in an already tedious process. You would get everything like text boxes, headers, and page numbers set up on Master Pages, apply the master to the Document Pages - then start adding in your text! You don't have to worry about different text box sizes, misalignment, or anything like that. It's going to be the same across every page when you apply a specific master.

2: The Affinity UI Is Much Easier To Navigate

Don't get me wrong - it can still take some time to get used to the controls. But after a few days of playing around on Affinity, I was able to navigate with ease. And this was me coming from using Microsoft Word and InDesign as a novice. I already had a basic understanding of the way this kind of software worked, but I found that the struggles I had with InDesign (and even Microsoft Word) just didn't happen. Everything is organized in a way that allows you to flow between buttons and folders. It looks intimidating, but if you can figure out the main controls you'll need, you can get the hang of it pretty quickly compared to other software.

I've also found that managing images in Affinity is SO MUCH easier than in places like Microsoft Word. I've formatted 2 children's books with ease. As you can tell, I enjoy using Affinity. It's the reason I decided to become a formatter full time! Before, formatting was a frustrating chore that took me MONTHS to get right (and even then, it was pretty sub-par.) But, with Affinity, I actually fell in love with formatting. I look forward to it, and I can knock out a basic novel in about 2 weeks!

And... BTW - I am hosting a LIVE webinar teaching you how to format your book through Affinity using the exact same process I'm referencing in this post! It doesn't have to be frustrating. You can learn to love formatting, too!

3: Affinity Publisher Is Less Expensive

As an indie author and self-employed gal, saving money is a huge priority. I'm sure there is a reason why InDesign is as used as it is. But in a world where it feels like everything requires a subscription, it's nice to find something that is one-time purchase. And Affinity Publisher is a single payment of $69.99. You could also buy the entire creative suite (Publisher, Designer, and Photo) for $164.99. Considering everything you get, it truly is a great option -- and it's a single payment! That's always nice!

4: Affinity Publisher Is Simple

One thing I found frustrating with InDesign is that, based on my understanding, you actually have to download 2 software - InDesign itself and Adobe Creative Cloud in order to use it. Most authors don't have the workstations required to run Adobe + Indesign, plus writing software and whatever else they use. It can be pretty taxing on the computer, and I certainly found that myself. Adobe Creative Cloud liked to run even when I wasn't using it, and my computer (a pretty decent one - not awesome, but capable) would get overheated and sometimes crash. And it definitely happened while formatting a few times. Understand, this was just my experience and could have been caused by my computer/operating system, etc. But I'm sure Adobe running in the background didn't help.

With Affinity, you download just one software, and it doesn't run unless you specifically open it. I've rarely ever had Affinity crash, and the few times it did happen was due to bugs after the Version 2 was released. After a few updates, it's been running smooth and I haven't had an issue (even formatting a 500+ page book!)

Is Affinity Perfect?

No, it isn't. Affinity isn't perfect, but it's certainly as close as I've been able to find both with my experience and on a budget. There are some things about InDesign I loved more -- like commercial font included in the software. With Affinity, you do have to download and install fonts separately in order to use them for commercial purposes.

Should I Make A Post About Fonts In Formatting & Publishing?

• YESSSSS!
• It's Not Necessary...

However, while font convenience is a bit of a trade-off, Affinity's other pros and features make it my first choice for those who want to format their own books! Formatting doesn't have to be complicated, frustrating, or something you dread. It can be enjoyable! You just have to find the right software for your needs! What do you prefer for formatting/designing? What are some features you love about it? Let me know in the comments!