Comparison
PubKeep vs Zamzar and the online converters.
Zamzar, CloudConvert, and the other online converters are handy for a single file. But you upload to a third party, there is no folder batch, and the fidelity is anyone's guess. Here is how PubKeep compares when you have a real archive to keep.
The short version
Great for one file. Not for an archive.
Zamzar is a general online converter that supports many formats and can turn a .pub into a PDF one file at a time. It is convenient when you have a single document and do not want to install anything.
PubKeep does one thing, Publisher files, and does it in bulk. Drop a whole folder and get exact PDFs back in the same shape, with a clear promise about what happens to your uploads. When you have years of bulletins or a business archive, that is the difference between ten minutes and an afternoon.
Side by side
The comparison.
| Feature | PubKeep | Zamzar & online converters |
|---|---|---|
| Whole folders at once | Yes, subfolders kept | Usually one file at a time |
| Layout fidelity | Exact, page for page and font for font | Not stated, varies by tool |
| What happens to your files | Stored by random id, no person opens them, removed after download | Uploaded to a third party; check each policy |
| Focus | Publisher .pub only, built for it | Hundreds of formats, none specialised |
| A per-file report | Yes, and a failed file is never charged | No |
| Cost | First 2 free, then $49/50, $99/250, $299/1000 files | Limited free tier, then a subscription |
Which should you use?
Pick by how much you have.
Use an online converter for a one-off: a single .pub you need as a PDF right now, where fidelity is not critical.
Use PubKeep for an archive, or when the layout has to be exact, or when you would rather not scatter your files across upload sites. Convert the folder to exact PDFs in one go, or see how to open a .pub file for every option.
Questions
Common questions.
Yes. Zamzar is a general online converter that handles .pub to PDF one file at a time. You upload the file to its servers and download the result.
You are sending your files to a third party, so read the retention policy. PubKeep stores uploads under a random job id, never by name, a person never opens them, and they are removed on a fixed schedule after you download. See our privacy page.
Usually not, they take one file at a time. PubKeep takes a whole folder at once, subfolders included, and returns a matching zip of PDFs plus a short report.
Keep reading
Related guides.
How to open a .pub file without Publisher
Every method that works in 2026, honestly compared.
PubKeep vs LibreOffice
Exact PDFs and batch versus free editing with cleanup.
Convert .pub to Word (or PDF?)
Why Word breaks the layout and PDF keeps it.
Convert .pub to PDF
The bulk converter, pricing, and how it works.
Built for a folder
Convert the whole archive at once.
First 2 files free, just your email.