Microsoft Publisher Alternatives 2026: 4 Free Options (Tested)

Short answer: Microsoft retired Publisher in October 2026, so you need two things: a way to rescue old files and a tool for new ones. For rescue, open your .pub files in LibreOffice Draw, which is free. For new print layouts, use Scribus (free, open source). For quick flyers and cards, Canva Free works in a browser, and Affinity is free for individuals. Microsoft itself recommends Word or PowerPoint. We installed Scribus and LibreOffice on a Mac and exported the same flyer to PDF from each; the other tools are reviewed from official pages only.

How we ordered the tools: tools we ran first (LibreOffice Draw, Scribus), then docs-only options (Affinity, Canva Free), with Word and InDesign last as paid references. None of these products is ours.

What changed with Publisher

Microsoft's support page says you can use Publisher with its current functionality through October 1, 2026. Microsoft 365 subscribers then lose access on or shortly after that date, as a removal update rolls out, and cannot open or edit Publisher files in Publisher. The page adds that Publisher cannot be installed or downloaded for them. Support for the perpetual version ends October 13, 2026, when Office LTSC 2021 and Consumer Office 2021 reach end of support; perpetual license holders keep access to their files and the app.

If you are a subscriber and the app is already gone, skip to the rescue section: the free tools below can still open the files.

Rescue your .pub files first

1. Find them. Microsoft suggests searching for .pub on your PC, OneDrive and SharePoint.
2. If you still have Publisher, export to PDF. Open the file, choose File, Save as, and pick PDF. For many files, Microsoft offers a sample PowerShell script (Convert-PubFileToPDF.ps1) that needs a licensed copy of Publisher installed.
3. If Publisher is gone, try LibreOffice Draw. The Document Foundation says Publisher's format is not an open standard; the Document Liberation Project reverse-engineered it, and the resulting libmspub library is what LibreOffice and Scribus use to import files. It calls Draw the quickest way to open, view, edit and manage Publisher documents, though Draw is not a desktop publishing application. It suits small multi-page documents such as newsletters and single-page documents.
4. Save to an open format. The same post recommends keeping files in OpenDocument Format (ODF) so they do not depend on one vendor. Scribus can also open PUB files but does not use a standard document format.
5. Check every file. We did not open a real .pub file for this page, and the post does not state which Publisher versions import cleanly. Compare fonts, text flow and images against your PDF before you rely on the result.

Microsoft also says you can convert a PDF in Word (File, Open), but graphic-heavy layouts may shift, and third-party converters exist that Microsoft does not support.

LibreOffice Draw

What it replaces: Publisher for rescue work and simple one-page layouts. LibreOffice's site says the suite is free and open source under the Mozilla Public License v2.0, and describes Draw as a tool for everything from simple diagrams to complex illustrations.

What we saw: LibreOffice 26.8.1.1 on macOS converted a one-page A4 flyer (coloured banner, headline, three text lines) to a 1-page PDF of about 22 KB with fonts embedded, and saved an ODG copy, all from the command line with no account. We did not open a real .pub file.

What it lacks: it is not a page-layout app. Expect weaker multi-page control than Publisher or Scribus.

Where to get it: libreoffice.org.

Scribus

What it replaces: Publisher's brochures, newsletters and print PDFs. Scribus is free, open-source desktop publishing software; 1.6.6 is the stable release we ran, and a 1.7.x development line also exists.

What we saw: Scribus 1.6.6 (macOS Apple-silicon build) ran a Python script that created an A4 page with a headline and a text frame, saved a native .sla file and exported a 1-page PDF with the font embedded. Scribus also ran on Linux for our Canva alternatives page. What it lacks: a modern interface and ready-made template libraries. It has a learning curve.

Where to get it: scribus.net/downloads.

Affinity

What it replaces: Publisher for people who want a polished layout app. Affinity's site says it is "free for individuals" and runs on Mac and Windows, with iPad listed as coming soon. It imports PSD, AI, IDML and DWG with layers preserved; PUB is not listed, so convert to PDF first. Some AI tools need a Canva premium plan, per the site.

What it lacks: no PUB import and no Linux version listed. Organizations needing SSO are sent to Canva Enterprise or Education sales.

Where to get it: affinity.studio.

Canva Free

What it replaces: Publisher's template-driven flyers, cards and posters. Canva's pricing page lists a Free plan at US$0 for one person with a drag-and-drop editor, templates and PDF, JPG and PNG export. Paid plans are on the pricing page.

What it lacks: it does not open .pub files, so recreate designs from templates. Our Canva alternatives and free Canva alternative pages cover tools if you want to avoid Canva accounts. See also Canva vs Adobe Express.

Paid references

Word and PowerPoint are what Microsoft recommends: Word for newsletters, forms, letterhead and invoices; PowerPoint for banners, signs and posters. They need a Microsoft 365 or Office license, so they are not a free answer. Adobe InDesign is the professional paid reference for print production; see Adobe's page for current plans. For photo work to pair with any layout app, see best free photo editor.

Which one to pick

• Old .pub files to open: LibreOffice Draw, then export PDF and save ODF.
• Newsletters and brochures for print: Scribus.
• Fast social or flyer graphics: Canva Free.
• Pro layout with no cost: Affinity, for individuals.
• Already paying for Microsoft 365: Word or PowerPoint, as Microsoft advises.

How we checked

Mac: macOS 26.5.1, Apple silicon. LibreOffice 26.8.1.1 and Scribus 1.6.6, both installed with Homebrew casks on 2026-10-21. The same flyer was exported to PDF in each (LibreOffice headless conversion, Scribus Python scripting). Not tested: opening real .pub files, GUI workflows, Affinity, Canva, Word and InDesign (no accounts created). Their sections come from official pages read the same day.

Sources

• Microsoft Publisher support page
• Document Foundation blog
• LibreOffice
• Scribus / downloads
• Affinity
• Canva pricing
• Adobe InDesign