The Best Microsoft Publisher AlternativesTop Desktop Publishers and other similar apps like Microsoft Publisher

Microsoft Publisher is described as 'Part of the Microsoft Office Suite, this tool helps you create, personalize, and share a variety of publications, including marketing materials, chapbooks, and newspapers' and is a popular desktop publisher in the office & productivity category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Microsoft Publisher for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Web-based and BSD apps. The best Microsoft Publisher alternative is Scribus, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Microsoft Publisher are LibreOffice - Draw, Adobe InDesign, Affinity Publisher and Pages.

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Microsoft Publisher alternatives are mainly Desktop Publishers, but if you're looking for Word Processors or Vector Graphic Apps you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Free, Linux, Desktop Publishing, Online and Mac. 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 Microsoft Publisher.
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Alternatives list

  1. Scribus icon

    Scribus

     408 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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    120
    Comments about Scribus as an Alternative to Microsoft Publisher
    RemovedUser
    Negative
    1

    Publisher only hints at using layers when you move objects in front of or behind other objects. The menus in Scribus aren't comparable or intuitive, and I can't for the life of me figure out how to edit images inside the image frame scribus, which Publisher lets you do.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    2

    It's nothing like publisher: it's very inflexible, the contrary of the drag-and-drop apps nowadays. Not fluent to work with even for texts, not at all for images. The use feels like 20 years back-in-time. In the very past, it will have been really nice, but now it's extremely outdated.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    wyrazik
    Positive
    -2

    Scribus gives full control over the DTP process

    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    Microsoft Publisher Icon
    Scribus icon

    • Most users think Scribus is a great Microsoft Publisher alternative.

    • Scribus is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Microsoft Publisher.

    • Scribus is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Microsoft Publisher.

    • Scribus is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Publisher is Paid and Proprietary
    • Scribus is Lightweight and Privacy focusedMicrosoft Publisher is not according to our users
  2. LibreOffice - Draw icon

    LibreOffice - Draw

     311 likes
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    Draw lets you produce anything from a quick sketch to a complex plan, and gives you the means to communicate with graphics and diagrams. With a maximum page size of 300cm by 300cm, Draw is a an excellent package for producing technical drawings, general posters, and much else.

    97 LibreOffice - Draw alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flathub
    LibreOffice - Draw screenshot 1
     
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    Comments about LibreOffice - Draw as an Alternative to Microsoft Publisher
    Richie Scassellati
    Positive
    1

    When I saw LibreOffice Draw, the first thing I thought of was it being the alternative to Microsoft Publisher. It's nice to use as an alternative.

    Guest
    Negative
    1

    It is more of an alternative to Visio than publisher it is not a Dekstop publishing software Use Scribus for that purpose

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Microsoft Publisher Icon
    LibreOffice - Draw icon

    • Most users think LibreOffice - Draw is a great Microsoft Publisher alternative.

    • LibreOffice - Draw is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Publisher is Paid and Proprietary
    • LibreOffice - Draw is Lightweight and Privacy focusedMicrosoft Publisher is not according to our users
  4. Adobe InDesign icon

    Adobe InDesign

     148 likes
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    Industry-leading software for creating professional layouts, suitable for both print and digital designs, with advanced typographic controls, interactive PDF capabilities, and seamless integration within the Adobe Creative Suite.

    57 Adobe InDesign alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Adobe InDesign screenshot 1
     
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    32
    Comments about Adobe InDesign as an Alternative to Microsoft Publisher
    McFood
    Positive
    0

    It's a lot to learn, but follow a youtube tutorial for the kind of thing you want to make, and you'll be using paragraph and character styles in no time.

    Microsoft Publisher Icon
    Adobe InDesign icon

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

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

    • Adobe InDesign is Paid and ProprietaryMicrosoft Publisher is also Paid and Proprietary
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Adobe FrameMaker icon
    Adobe FrameMaker

    A desktop publishing (DTP) and word processing application that is popular for large documents.

    https://www.adobe.com
    Learn More
  6. 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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    7

    • Almost everyone thinks Affinity Publisher is a great Microsoft Publisher alternative.

    • Affinity Publisher is the most popular iPad alternative to Microsoft Publisher.

    • Affinity Publisher is Paid and ProprietaryMicrosoft Publisher is also Paid and Proprietary
  7. Pages icon

    Pages

     212 likes
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    Pages is a powerful word processor that lets you create stunning documents, and comes included with most Apple devices. And with real-time collaboration, your team can work together from anywhere, whether they’re on Mac, iPad, iPhone, or using a PC.

    77 Pages alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Online
    Pages screenshot 1
     
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    22
    Comments about Pages as an Alternative to Microsoft Publisher
    Guest
    Positive
    4

    Because nowadays is free and it has lots of similar features to Publisher!

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

    • Most users think Pages is a great Microsoft Publisher alternative.

    • Pages is the most popular Web-based & iPhone alternative to Microsoft Publisher.

    • Pages is Free and ProprietaryMicrosoft Publisher is Paid and Proprietary
  8. 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
     
  10. 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...

    42 Swift Publisher alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Swift Publisher screenshot 1
     
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  11. Marq icon

    Marq

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

    61 Marq alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
     
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    2
    15
    Comments about Marq as an Alternative to Microsoft Publisher
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    It's much more modern than Publisher. Love it for my small business!

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    according to the description of what it can do, it might make my life a lot easier

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

    • Some users think Marq is a great Microsoft Publisher alternative, some don't.

    • Marq is the most popular SaaS alternative to Microsoft Publisher.

    • Marq is Freemium and ProprietaryMicrosoft Publisher is Paid and Proprietary
  12. 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...

    48 VivaDesigner alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    VivaDesigner screenshot 1
     
  15. Bookimagic icon

    Bookimagic

     Like
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    Bookimagic revolutionizes self-publishing by empowering anyone to create captivating children's books in just minutes. Using AI-driven tools, you can craft enchanting stories, customize characters, and design vibrant illustrations with ease.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    Bookimagic screenshot 1
     
12 of 25 Microsoft Publisher alternatives