Microsoft Publisher AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Desktop Publishers

The best Desktop Publisher alternative to Microsoft Publisher is Scribus, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 25 alternatives to Microsoft Publisher and 18 are Desktop Publishers so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Desktop Publisher alternatives to Microsoft Publisher are Adobe InDesign, LibreOffice - Draw, Pages and Swift Publisher.

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

     433 likes

    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.

    27 Scribus alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Oracle Solaris
    • Flatpak
    Scribus screenshot 1
     
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    4
    Scribus vs Microsoft Publisher Comments
    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 In the very past, it will have been really nice, but now it's extremely outdated.

    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.

    wyrazik
    Positive
    -2

    Scribus gives full control over the DTP process

    3 of 4 comments
    • 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. Adobe InDesign icon

    Adobe InDesign

     152 likes

    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.

    74 Adobe InDesign alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Adobe InDesign screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Adobe InDesign vs Microsoft Publisher Comments
    McFood
    Positive
    1

    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.

    • Adobe InDesign is Paid and ProprietaryMicrosoft Publisher is also Paid and Proprietary
  4. LibreOffice - Draw icon

    LibreOffice - Draw

     326 likes

    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.

    104 LibreOffice - Draw alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flathub
    LibreOffice - Draw screenshot 1
     
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    2
    LibreOffice - Draw vs Microsoft Publisher Comments
    Richie Scassellati
    Positive
    0

    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
    2

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

    • LibreOffice - Draw is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Publisher is Paid and Proprietary
    • LibreOffice - Draw is a Diagram Editor Microsoft Publisher is a Desktop Publishing
    • LibreOffice - Draw is Lightweight and Privacy focusedMicrosoft Publisher is not according to our users
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Swift Publisher icon
    Swift Publisher

    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, book...

    https://www.swiftpublisher.com
    Learn More
  6. Pages icon

    Pages

     215 likes

    Word processor providing real-time collaboration, over 90 templates, iCloud integration, support for Word and EPUB files, over 700 shapes, advanced formatting tools, change tracking, mathematical equations, multimedia insertion, wireless printing, and flexible export options.

    83 Pages alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Online
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Pages screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Pages vs Microsoft Publisher Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    4

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

    • Pages is Freemium and ProprietaryMicrosoft Publisher is Paid and Proprietary
    • Pages is a Word Processor Microsoft Publisher is a Desktop Publishing
  8. Swift Publisher icon

    Swift Publisher

     10 likes

    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

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Swift Publisher screenshot 1
     
  9. QuarkXPress icon

    QuarkXPress

     27 likes

    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

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    QuarkXPress screenshot 1
     
  10. VivaDesigner icon

    VivaDesigner

     10 likes

    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...

    60 VivaDesigner alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    VivaDesigner screenshot 1
     
  12. Open Publisher icon

    Open Publisher

     2 likes

    Open Publisher is a lightweight, web-based desktop publishing tool that allows you to create documents, flyers, brochures, and fun designs on any device in any modern browser.

    7 Open Publisher alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    Quick and basic ad made using OpenPublisher
     
  13. Omegadoc Publisher icon

    Omegadoc Publisher

     Like

    A DTP app that stands out with: 1 - One click export of fixed-layout eBooks in two popular formats: EPUB3 and Amazon KF8 (Mobi) formats. 2 - Styling modeled after CSS3. 3 - Superior multiple-page viewing capability. 4. Intuitive and easy to use UI.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Omegadoc Publisher screenshot 1
     
  14. RagTime icon

    RagTime

     2 likes

    RagTime is both a traditional Office and DTP layout application. Like an office application, RagTime contains a powerful word processor, a sophisticated spreadsheet, and a tool for slide shows. It supports picture handling and creates business graphics.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    RagTime screenshot 1
     
  15. PageStream icon

    PageStream

     6 likes

    Pagestream is a proprietary desktop publishing program for Linux, Windows, Macintosh, and Amiga. It was originally released under the name Publishing Partner in 1986.

    14 PageStream alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • AmigaOS
    PageStream screenshot 1
     
12 of 18 Microsoft Publisher alternatives