Publisher alternative in 2026

Today, March 24, 2025, I spoke with a supervisor at Microsoft Support about the Publisher discontinuation issue. There was no additional help, but was told to keep watching for updates as a lot could change over the next year and a half. HOWEVER, when I first checked this forum, I didn't pay attention to the above feedback option. Mohammad the supervisor directed me to it, said it goes to the engineers/designers, but my Publisher doesn't give the option of Feedback in the left hand column, just Account and Options at the bottom. He told me to open a new Publisher file, click File at the top left and open Feedback with the Windows key + F. That worked, the Feedback screen opened and I put in my feedback as a Suggestion, not a problem, etc. One thing the online support agent/customer service rep reiterated was that most of the features of Publisher would be available on Word, PowerPoint, or Designer. I asked if they were modifying those programs to add Publisher features. I said it didn't make much sense to change 3 programs instead keeping the one that did it all and that I'd have to decide which program was best to use with any new project (or modifying and old one for that matter). Time-wise and cost-wise, it doesn't make sense for the consumer. The only reason I kept Microsoft and purchased Office Professional in the first place over plain Office was for Publisher. Otherwise I can use Open Office or Google docs, sheets, and presentations, etc.

I had a similar problem. I then created a new folder in 'Program Files (x86)' (called it Publisher 2002 in my case) and installed my old 2002 version of Publisher to that folder. I then registered the copy with only the licence number, ie no name, no email, no phone, etc.

I can open all of my 365 Publisher files and modify them, create new ones from the template I have created, save and export to PDF. I write monthly newsletters for a not-for-profit organisation and do my own Christmas Cards, etc.

Word does not cut it, cannot export from 365 Pub to Word and it is impossible to correct layouts, photo placements, etc.

Best of luck.

Diane

Lorraine,

That piece of information only means that Microsoft won't retire Publisher prematurely.

Also, remember that if you have Office 2021 Professional or some older perpetual license that does include Publisher, you will be able to continue using Publisher even after the retirement date.

I totally agree about Office 365 vs the Google office suite and Open Office. The only thing that makes MS Office stand out is Publisher. When it's gone, I see no reason to pay Microsoft for equivalent apps I can get for nothing.

Thank you for the clarification.

With regards having office 2021 pro that would be great to be able to continue using it after retirement from 365, if only I could install it…