The Best Adobe InDesign AlternativesTop Desktop Publishers and other similar apps like Adobe InDesign

Adobe InDesign is described as 'Industry-standard software for print and digital design with advanced typographic controls and integration in the Adobe Creative Suite' and is a very popular desktop publisher in the ai tools & services category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Adobe InDesign for a variety of platforms, including Web-based, Windows, Mac, SaaS and Linux apps. The best Adobe InDesign alternative is Scribus, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Adobe InDesign are Affinity Publisher, Affinity, Canva and QuarkXPress.

filter to find the best alternatives

Adobe InDesign alternatives are mainly Desktop Publishers, but if you're looking for Graphic Design Tools or Vector Graphic Apps you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source, Free, Linux, Mac, Android, iPad and Chrome OS. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Adobe InDesign.
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Alternatives list

  1. Scribus icon

    Scribus

     411 likes
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    Open-source desktop publishing software offering flexible layouts and typesetting, professional image setting, CMYK support, interactive PDFs, vector tools, and wide format support, perfect for creating newspapers, brochures, and more on Mac, Windows, Linux, and BSD.

    26 Scribus alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Oracle Solaris
    • Flatpak
    Scribus screenshot 1
     
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    13
    130
    Comments about Scribus as an Alternative to Adobe InDesign
    Comment summary: Scribus is viewed as a competent alternative to Adobe InDesign, praised for its comprehensive features and ability to produce professional work, especially for users valuing free software. However, it attracts criticism for its outdated user interface and occasional usability issues, such as difficulties in performing basic tasks and a lack of alignment features. While some find it suitable for small projects, others struggle with its more complex functions in comparison to InDesign.
    Top Positive Comment
    maurosoft391
    3

    depsite it's poorly designed, scribus is somewhat easy to use. the font problem can be fixable by writing in the internal editor

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    15

    absolute pain in the $$$ to work with. lacks basic functionality like showing up the font you select in the actual page

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    1

    It's very basic, and needs a lot of work to do even the simplest of things properly.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
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    3 of 13 comments
    Adobe InDesign Icon
    Scribus icon

    • Most users think Scribus is a great Adobe InDesign alternative.

    • Scribus is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Adobe InDesign.

    • Scribus is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Adobe InDesign.

    • Scribus is Free and Open SourceAdobe InDesign is Paid and Proprietary
    • Scribus is Lightweight and Privacy focusedAdobe InDesign is not according to our users
  2. Affinity Publisher icon

    Affinity Publisher

     86 likes
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    Affinity's professional desktop publishing software offers seamless integration with the Affinity suite, live document views, cloud collaboration, and advanced typography tools, providing users a flexible editing experience with support for large files, preflight tools, customizable UI color management features.

    26 Affinity Publisher alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPad
    Affinity Publisher screenshot 1
     
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    8
    57
    Comments about Affinity Publisher as an Alternative to Adobe InDesign
    Top Positive Comment
    Paul
    3

    Until now, QuarkXPress was the only professional alternative to InDesign, but there's now a new contender: Affinity Publisher. I was already using Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo, and it's an essential addition to the suite. Really great to see new professional products breaking the Adobe monopoly.

    Noah
    Positive
    0

    It has the same features as InDesign and a much friendlier financing model without a horrendously expensive subscription and the more intuitive UI im my opinion.

    ashf
    Positive
    0

    Fast, flexible with designing

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    3 of 8 comments
    Adobe InDesign Icon
    Affinity Publisher icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Affinity Publisher is a great Adobe InDesign alternative.

    • Affinity Publisher is the most popular iPad alternative to Adobe InDesign.

    • Affinity Publisher is the most popular commercial alternative to Adobe InDesign.

    • Affinity Publisher is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe InDesign is also Paid and Proprietary
  4. Affinity icon

    Affinity

     49 likes
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    Unified design solution merging advanced photo, vector, and layout tools for seamless workflow, non-destructive editing, RAW support, batch processing, AI enhancements, GPU acceleration, file compatibility, cloud asset integration, and tailored workspace options.

    64 Affinity alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Affinity screenshot 1
     
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Baseline icon
    Baseline

    This tool simplifies brand content creation, offering an easy guide to build consistent designs quickly. It features templates for major platforms, ensuring efficiency and professionalism with no manual alterations. Ideal for tho...

    http://baseline.is
    Learn More
  6. Canva icon

    Canva

     381 likes
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    A comprehensive design application combining innovative photo and video editing with advanced AI capabilities to streamline creating designs. Users can produce unique graphics, engaging social media content using customizable templates and thousands of images, videos, and fonts accessible through its vast library.

    89 Canva alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Canva screenshot 1
     
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    7
    35
    Comments about Canva as an Alternative to Adobe InDesign
    Top Positive Comment
    DalsPhotography
    1

    Canva has now purchased all the Affinity company. Yet, you can still use them as separate software, but I don't know for how long!

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    11

    Canva is a good layout but has none of the advanced text editing functionality that InDesign has.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    1

    Canva is not made for layouts

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
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    3 of 7 comments
    Adobe InDesign Icon
    Canva icon

    • Some users think Canva is a great Adobe InDesign alternative, some don't.

    • Canva is the most popular Web-based, Android, iPhone, SaaS & Android Tablet alternative to Adobe InDesign.

    • Canva is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe InDesign is Paid and Proprietary
    • Canva is Privacy focused and LightweightAdobe InDesign is not according to our users
  7. QuarkXPress icon

    QuarkXPress

     26 likes
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    Page layout tool for print and digital publishing featuring graphics editing, rich illustration support, image correction, responsive design conversion, native object handling, content automation, synchronized updates, and flexible workflow for creative projects.

    22 QuarkXPress alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once or Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    QuarkXPress screenshot 1
     
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    4
    29
    Comments about QuarkXPress as an Alternative to Adobe InDesign
    Paul
    Positive
    2

    Way better than the competition. I learned Adobe InDesign when I was in school but I now use QuarkXPress for work.

    martinturner
    Positive
    4

    2 generations ahead of InDesign and available as a permanent purchase with no subscription. Converts all types of PDF files to native objects and outputs HTML5 and iOS apps in addition to industry-standard PDF for print.

    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Innovative features, like make PDF editable, create HTML5, as many apps as I want etc. And I can buy a license which I keep. At $185 for an upgrade. Plus it is fast, launches within 6 seconds.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
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    3 of 4 comments
    Adobe InDesign Icon
    QuarkXPress icon

    • Almost everyone thinks QuarkXPress is a great Adobe InDesign alternative.

    • QuarkXPress is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe InDesign is also Paid and Proprietary
  8. VivaDesigner icon

    VivaDesigner

     9 likes
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    This economically priced high end DTP program is extremely powerful and still very easy to use. With its innovative concepts, you can decisively improve your working processes and document management. With VivaDesigner, all collaborations between end customers, corporations and...

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    VivaDesigner screenshot 1
     
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    2
    15
    Comments about VivaDesigner as an Alternative to Adobe InDesign
    BlueTen
    Positive
    0

    I moved to Linux recently and honestly didn't think I'd find a way to import my old InDesign files or even find a user-friendly app to recreate them in. Viva's got all that covered. Tried the free version, and it has everything I need!

    Nice and intuitive interface, snappy and performant. For ease of use on Linux, it comes in .appimage format, which means you should be able to run it no matter what distro you've chosen (like a portable .exe on windows).

    Guest
    Positive
    5

    It has 95-99% of all the features of InDesigner, can read and write Adobe InDesign files based on IDML and is the only app that is also available for the browser without any installation for the client. And last but not least you can buy or rent it and there is even a free version!

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Adobe InDesign Icon
    VivaDesigner icon

    • Almost everyone thinks VivaDesigner is a great Adobe InDesign alternative.

    • VivaDesigner is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe InDesign is also Paid and Proprietary
  10. Desygner icon

    Desygner

     95 likes
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    Desygner is an online and mobile design solution, which offers a simpler alternative to expensive and complicated design suites.

    178 Desygner alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Desygner screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Comments about Desygner as an Alternative to Adobe InDesign
    Osiris Berbesia
    Negative
    3

    No similar at all to indesign

    Guest
    Negative
    -6

    It simply doesn't offer file upload. I'm looking for a online solution to edit my .indd files...

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Adobe InDesign Icon
    Desygner icon

    • Some users think Desygner is a great Adobe InDesign alternative, some don't.

    • Desygner is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe InDesign is Paid and Proprietary
  11. Microsoft Publisher icon

    Microsoft Publisher

     60 likes
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    Integrated within the Microsoft Office Suite, this tool empowers users to create, personalize, and share diverse publications and marketing materials. It aids in brand building, track campaigns, and manage customer lists, with capabilities for print, web, and email distribution.

    25 Microsoft Publisher alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once or Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Microsoft Publisher screenshot 1
    Microsoft Publisher screenshot 2
     
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    3
    11
    Comments about Microsoft Publisher as an Alternative to Adobe InDesign
    Guest
    Negative
    8

    Most of the essential InDesign functions are not there.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    3

    Good for very simple job. Nice for merging data (db) and presentation !

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Covers all the essentials of good DTP software if you're willing to get into the help documentation and find them (more complicated features are somewhat hidden). Vastly more affordable than InDesign or Quark, and vastly more capable than most of the rest of the options. I personally like it because I'm old school and was trained on Aldus Pagemaker, and MS Publisher has a Pagemaker-like feel.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Adobe InDesign Icon
    Microsoft Publisher icon

    • This alternative is disputed. Microsoft Publisher is a legitimate Adobe InDesign alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • Microsoft Publisher is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe InDesign is also Paid and Proprietary
  12. Polotno icon

    Polotno

     21 likes
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    A versatile visual design suite offering an intuitive canvas editor, automated template creation for social media and ads, video editing integration for apps, and asset management through unlimited libraries. Supports various storage options and is made for creative scale.

    91 Polotno alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Polotno screenshot 1
     
  13. Marq icon

    Marq

     42 likes
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    Marq, formerly Lucidpress, is a brand-templating platform that empowers everyone to build on-brand.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
     
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    11
  14. Aktivisda icon

    Aktivisda

     10 likes
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    Aktivisda is a web application to facilitate the creation of visuals that use the graphic charter of an organization, and the spreading of this graphic charter.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    Aktivisda screenshot 1
     

    • Aktivisda is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Adobe InDesign.

    • Aktivisda is Free and Open SourceAdobe InDesign is Paid and Proprietary
  15. Swift Publisher icon

    Swift Publisher

     10 likes
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    Swift Publisher is an easy-to-use page layout and desktop publishing app for Mac. This software provides all you need for creating impressive and professional-looking documents such as flyers, brochures, catalogs, magazines, booklets, newsletters, calendars, posters, menus...

    43 Swift Publisher alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Swift Publisher screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about Swift Publisher as an Alternative to Adobe InDesign
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    It's inexpensive and very straightforward. It misses some of the hi-end features of InDesign, but is very good for basic tasks such as designing flyers, posters or brochures. Handling of text could be better though. Overall, it's a very good app for its price.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Adobe InDesign Icon
    Swift Publisher icon

    • Most users think Swift Publisher is a great Adobe InDesign alternative.

    • Swift Publisher is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe InDesign is also Paid and Proprietary
12 of 57 Adobe InDesign alternatives