Upload your final PDF and get an AI-generated index draft in about 15 minutes. Budget another 30-60 minutes of editing for a publication-ready result.
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Drop a PDF here or click to select a file
Choose PDFSupports PDF up to 55 MB · Text-searchable PDFs work best
What the process actually looks like, step by step
Make sure your page numbers are locked — the index references specific pages. Text-searchable PDFs work best (exported from Word, InDesign, or LaTeX).
The AI reads your full book, extracts key terms with page references, identifies relationships between concepts, and builds a hierarchical index structure.
The AI typically generates 200-300 index entries for a 200-page book. You'll review these in an interactive editor where you can see each term with its page references.
Rename terms to match your preferred terminology, merge duplicates, add niche terms the AI missed, and remove irrelevant entries. This editing step is where you make it yours.
Download your finished index in TXT, DOCX, or PDF format. The export includes proper hierarchical formatting with sub-entries and cross-references.
What the AI generates for different types of self-published books
Brand positioning, 34-42 differentiation strategy, 36-38 value proposition, 39-42 see also Marketing strategy Content marketing, 78-92 blog strategy, 80-84 email campaigns, 85-89 see also Social media Entrepreneurship bootstrapping, 12-18 funding rounds, 19-25 pivoting, 26-30 Marketing strategy, 56-75 customer personas, 58-63 market research, 64-68 see also Brand positioning Revenue models subscription, 95-100 freemium, 101-106 Social media, 110-125 platform selection, 112-118 see also Content marketing
Baking techniques bread proofing, 45-48 pastry lamination, 52-56 see also Temperature control Chocolate tempering, 78-82 ganache, 83-85 see also Desserts Desserts, 75-95 see also Chocolate Knife skills julienne, 12-14 chiffonade, 15-16 Sauces mother sauces, 34-38 emulsions, 39-42 reduction techniques, 43-44 Temperature control, 60-72 meat doneness, 62-66 candy stages, 67-70 see also Baking techniques
Both are AI-generated drafts before editing. Your terminology and preferences will vary.
How the options compare — honestly
| Option | Cost | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional indexer | $500-2,000 | 2-4 weeks | Expert quality, no editing needed. Best for complex academic or technical books. |
| IndexStudio | Credits | 15 min + editing | AI draft + 30-60 min of your editing time. Good for most self-published non-fiction. |
| DIY (manual) | Free | 20-40 hours | Full control, but extremely time-consuming. Quality depends on your indexing experience. |
The AI gets you 80-90% of the way — here's what you'll typically refine
Proper nouns: character names, brand names, and place names specific to your book
Genre-specific terminology: niche jargon the AI may not emphasize correctly
Cross-references: the AI suggests some, but you'll know the best conceptual links
Theme identification: abstract themes may need manual entries (e.g., "resilience" or "redemption")
Duplicate merging: the AI flags potential duplicates, but you decide which to combine
Get started for free — you only pay once you're satisfied with the results.
Upload your PDF to get started
Drop a PDF here or click to select a file
Choose PDFSupports PDF up to 55 MB · Text-searchable PDFs work best
The index references specific pages. Upload your final, paginated PDF — not a draft. If page numbers change after indexing, the references will be wrong.
Plan for 30-60 minutes of review after the AI generates the initial draft. This is where you refine terminology, add missing entries, and verify the cross-references make sense.
Export your index in the format that matches your publishing workflow. DOCX works well for inserting into Word or InDesign layouts. PDF is useful for standalone appendices.
Upload your final PDF and see results in about 15 minutes. Get started for free — only pay once you're satisfied.
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