The best Publuu alternative: i3dify vs Publuu
Publuu starts at $7/mo for 10 flipbooks and asks $24/mo for a custom domain. i3dify is free to start, and Pro is $3/mo with unlimited projects and a custom domain.
Written by Franco Cirulli, Software Developer
TL;DR
Pick Publuu for a large back catalog of flipbooks with lead forms and a branded mobile app. Next to Heyzine it costs about the same to start ($7 against $8 a month) but has no free plan and charges more for a custom domain ($24 against $13). Pick i3dify for a PDF that turns like a real 3D book, a custom domain at $3/mo and a free plan to start.
Feature comparison
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | i3dify | Publuu |
|---|---|---|
| Real 3D page physics | Yes | No |
| Free plan | 3 projects, branding shown | No, 14 day trial |
| Entry paid plan | Pro $3/mo, unlimited projects | Basic $7/mo, 10 flipbooks |
| Custom domain | Pro $3/mo | Optimum $24/mo |
| Your own branding | Pro $3/mo | Optimum $24/mo |
| Password protection | Yes | Optimum $24/mo |
| Analytics | Pro $3/mo | Optimum $24/mo |
| Clickable hotspots on pages | Yes | Yes |
| Lead forms | No | Yes |
| Other 3D project types (galleries, cards, mockups) | Yes | No |
Pricing
Tier-for-tier pricing
Prices listed are as published by each provider as of 2026-09. Always check the live pricing page before deciding.
| Tier | i3dify | Publuu |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0, 3 projects, branding shown | No free plan, 14 day trial |
| Entry paid | Pro $3/mo | Basic $7/mo (10 flipbooks) |
| Custom domain | Pro $3/mo | Optimum $24/mo |
| Larger plans | Business $6/mo (5 seats) | Professional $49/mo, Premium $89/mo |
Honest take
Which is right for you?
Pick Publuu if...
Publuu covers a lot of ground for publishers of catalogs and magazines: animated product hotspots, lead forms, Google Analytics, and a branded mobile app option. Its plans scale to 500 live flipbooks with 1 GB PDFs, which suits a company that publishes a large back catalog.
Pick i3dify if...
If you publish a handful of documents and care about how they look, i3dify costs less and reads better. Publuu's custom domain and your own logo start on Optimum at $24/mo; on i3dify both come with Pro at $3/mo. You can also start free with 3 projects, where Publuu only offers a 14 day trial, and the pages turn as a real 3D book.
The verdict, by who you are
You publish dozens of catalogs and collect leads from them
You want a custom domain on a small budget
You want to try it before paying anything
Switching from Publuu?
Low. Upload the source PDF of each flipbook and replace the old link or embed. There is no Publuu importer, so re-upload is the path.
FAQ
Common questions
Is there a free Publuu alternative?
Yes. Publuu offers a 14 day trial and no free plan. i3dify is free to start with 3 projects; the free plan shows a small i3dify badge, and Pro at $3/mo removes it.
Publuu vs Heyzine: which one is cheaper?
At the entry tier they are close: Publuu Basic is $7/mo for 10 flipbooks and Heyzine Starter is $8/mo. The gap is in the extras. Heyzine has a free plan with 5 flipbooks, and Publuu only a 14 day trial. A custom domain costs $13/mo on Heyzine Pro and $24/mo on Publuu Optimum. Both are 2D page flips. i3dify Pro is $3/mo with a custom domain, and it renders the PDF as a 3D book.
Publuu vs Heyzine: which one has more features?
Publuu leans toward publishers with many catalogs: product hotspots, lead forms, a branded mobile app, and plans up to 500 flipbooks with 1 GB PDFs. Heyzine leans toward a polished editor and a generous free plan. If the 3D reading experience matters more than the catalog tools, i3dify covers hotspots, analytics and a custom domain on Pro at $3/mo.
Can I move my Publuu flipbooks to i3dify?
Upload the original PDF of each flipbook. There is no direct import, and most PDFs are ready to share a few minutes after the upload.
Does i3dify have product hotspots like Publuu?
Yes. You can place clickable hotspots on any page that open a link, a tooltip or a modal, so a catalog item can point to its product page. What i3dify does not have is a lead capture form inside the flipbook; Publuu does.
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