Guide
Microsoft Publisher alternatives, the honest version.
Most "Publisher alternative" lists answer the wrong question. They hand you a new design app when what you actually have is a folder of old .pub files. Those are two different needs, so start by naming yours.
Need one
Keep your existing files
Years of bulletins, newsletters, and flyers you cannot lose. A new design app will not open them. Convert them, or open them in a tool that reads .pub.
Need two
Make new publications
A tool to design the next flyer or newsletter from scratch. Plenty of good ones, and none of them need to open a .pub to do it.
Need one
To keep your existing .pub files.
Only a few tools actually open the Publisher format. Here they are.
Convert to PDF (PubKeep)
Turn .pub into exact PDF, page for page, a whole folder at once. Best for keeping and sharing finished pages. First 2 free, then $49 for 250 files.
Convert your filesPubKeep desktop
Opens .pub natively, no Publisher needed, and keeps your layouts editable. Best if you need to keep changing your files. In early access.
See the appLibreOffice Draw
Free and open source. Imports many .pub files for editing, but fonts and spacing shift, so expect cleanup. One file at a time.
Free, imperfectNeed two
To make new publications.
Good tools, honestly compared. None of them open your old .pub files, so pair one with a converter for your archive.
| Tool | Best for | Opens your .pub? | Price model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canva | Flyers, social graphics, quick newsletters in the browser | No | Free tier, paid Pro, free for nonprofits |
| Affinity Publisher | The closest desktop replacement for serious layout | No | Desktop, one-time purchase |
| Scribus | Free, open-source desktop publishing | No | Free and open source |
| Adobe InDesign | Professional print production | No | Subscription |
| Word or PowerPoint | Simple text documents and one-page notices | No | Microsoft 365 or one-time Office |
| Marq (formerly Lucidpress) | Browser layout with brand templates | No | Free tier, paid plans |
Pricing and features for third-party tools change often. Check each vendor for the current terms.
In short
What most people should do.
Save the archive first. Convert your existing .pub files to PDF so nothing is lost when Publisher goes. This is the urgent, one-time step, and it works no matter which design tool you pick next.
Then choose a tool for new work. Canva if you want templates and a browser; Affinity Publisher or Scribus if you want a Publisher-style desktop app; Word for plain notices.
If you still need your old files editable, not just readable, the PubKeep desktop app is the one tool built to open .pub natively and keep editing.
Questions
Choosing an alternative, answered.
For a similar desktop design tool, Affinity Publisher is the closest paid option and Scribus the closest free one. But neither opens your existing .pub files. To keep editing those, the PubKeep desktop app opens the Publisher format natively.
Most cannot. Canva, Affinity Publisher, Adobe InDesign, Scribus, and Word do not open .pub. Only LibreOffice Draw imports it, imperfectly. The PubKeep desktop app opens .pub natively, and the PubKeep converter turns .pub into exact PDF.
Yes. Scribus is free and open source for new design work, and LibreOffice Draw is free and can import .pub. Canva has a free tier and offers free Pro access to nonprofits.
Convert your existing bulletins and newsletters to PDF to keep them, then use Canva or the PubKeep desktop app for new work. See our guide for churches and nonprofits.
Keep reading
Related guides.
How to open a .pub file without Publisher
Every method that works in 2026, honestly compared.
Microsoft Publisher end of life
The dates, what changes, and the three ways to keep your work.
Publisher for churches and nonprofits
Save years of bulletins and newsletters before the deadline.
Convert .pub to PDF
The bulk converter, pricing, and how it works.
Start here
Whatever you pick next, save your files first.
First 2 files free, just your email.