Free Adobe InDesign Alternatives

    Though its ability to create content for Flash Player-based sites is no longer in high demand, InDesign is still a great piece of software for creating PDFs and other types of content for webpages and print.

    Because of how exporting from InDesign functions, you might need to look for software alternatives that can export designs and layouts to more modern digital frameworks (such as Small QuarkXPress iconQuarkXPress and its ability to export content to HTML5 or Small Scribus iconScribus and its support for creating interactive PDF forms).

    The list of alternatives was last updated on Nov 30, 2020
    Alternatives to Adobe InDesignAdobe InDesign info, screenshots and reviews
    • 41 alternatives
    •  23 showing

    • Scribus

      Scribus is a desktop publishing (DTP) application.
      Most users think this is great alternative to Adobe InDesign.
      • Free • Open Source
      • Mac
      • Windows
      • Linux
      • BSD
      • PortableApps.com
      • Haiku
      Gu
      absolute pain in the $$$ to work with. lacks basic functionality like showing up the font you select in the actual page
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      Negative comment • more than a year ago

      Gu
      I work with designers who send me PDFs as finished products. Sometimes I have to just make a small change here or there, and rather than going through a hassle of contracting someone for 10 minutes of work, I use Scribus to edit the files. I haven't used InDesign because it is too expensive and too much of a hassle to justify purchasing at work. Scribus can do the job that I need it to do. I have also used it to desing my CV and some other small projects, and I am very happy with it.
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      Positive comment • more than a year ago

      Gu
      Powerful and in-depth, lots of features. You can definitely produce professional work with Scribus. Usability is a mixed bag; get ready to meet plenty of quirks and learn some hacks which which really shouldn't be necessary (and some patchy, outdated documentation). In short: can be quite frustrating, but about as good it gets for professional output at the price of free.
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      Positive comment • more than a year ago

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      3 of 8

    • Canva

      Canva gives you everything you need to easily turn ideas into stunning designs. Create designs for Web or print: - blog graphics- presentations - Facebook covers
      Some users think this is a great alternative to Adobe InDesign, some doesn't.
      • Freemium
      • Online
      • iPhone
      • iPad
      Gu
      Canva is a great tool for making a simple social media post, but it is not an industry-standard design software competitor.
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      Negative comment • more than a year ago

      Gu
      Canva is a good layout but has none of the advanced text editing functionality that InDesign has.
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      Negative comment • more than a year ago

      Gu
      Easy to use interface, lots of free photos, templates and fonts. Gives you the opportunity to work fast, in your browser, with professional results.
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      Positive comment • more than a year ago

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      3 of 4

    • Lucidpress

      Lucidpress is a web-based design and layout application that enables anyone to create beautiful print and digital documents.
      Some users think this is a great alternative to Adobe InDesign, some doesn't.
      • Freemium
      • Online

    • Desygner

      Desygner is an online and mobile design solution, which offers a simpler alternative to expensive and complicated design suites.
      • Freemium
      • Online
      • Android
      • iPhone
      • Android Tablet
      • iPad
      Gu
      It simply doesn't offer file upload. I'm looking for a online solution to edit my .indd files...
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      Negative comment • more than a year ago

    • Laidout

      Laidout is desktop publishing software, particularly for multipage, cut and folded booklets, with page sizes that don't even have to be rectangular.
      • Free • Open Source
      • Linux

    • DesignBold

      Graphic Design Simplified. Create a stunning design in just 5 minutes.
      • Freemium
      • Online

    • Polotno Studio

      Free online design editor. Create images for social media, YouTube previews, Facebook covers.
      • Free • Open Source
      • Online

      • Crello

        Crello is an online graphic design editor that offers over 6000 free design templates for social media posts, advertising materials and other graphics.
        • Freemium
        • Online

      • reThumbnail

        Design attention grabbing thumbnails for your videos in less than 60 seconds! No design skills needed.
        • Freemium
        • Mac
        • Windows
        • Linux
        • Online
        • Software as a Service (SaaS)

      • FontPair

        A typography tool that helps you pair beautiful, free Google Fonts together by suggesting pairs.
        • Freemium
        • Online