Nobody dreams of paying for formatting software. But the alternative is you versus a LaTeX template at midnight, and midnight you is not your best self.
- Free covers template application, basic reference checks, page limit warnings; start free - Upgrade when free hurts: same venue family yearly, untrustworthy coauthors, or real verification needs - Never pay for formatting advice; tools should check, not opine; opinions are what reviewers are for - My stack: free app for drafting, checker pass before submission, human service for the one that matters - Price your own time; the human pass sounds extravagant until you do that math
VenueFit is free and the formatting service handles the papers where it counts, human-checked for your target venue.