Publisher alternative in 2026

. If anyone has suggestions of other ways to protest Microsoft's plan to discontinue Publisher PLEASE let us know.

A large number of posts here are from people (often volunteers) who use Publisher for community and small charity newsletters, flyers and posters as well as people like you who use MS Publisher to produce church newsletters. Perhaps you could all write letters to relevant church newspapers and post on appropriate church social media to bring this issue to their attention. I’d also recommend writing to your local bishops to explain how important Publisher is to local churches and small community groups and charities. If church leaders petition Microsoft to keep Publisher going on the grounds it is a vital social, charitable and faith service, this may hold more sway than individuals like us.

It appears Microsoft wants to push users into using far more complex programs that rely on AI (Artificial Intelligence). What they don’t realise is many of the volunteers who use Publisher to help run various community services are older people who have no desire whatsoever to use AI or start learning new programs. If MS persist in killing Publisher, I can see lots of small community groups, including charities and faith groups, will stop producing newsletters altogether rather than kowtow to AI!

I'm in the exact same position! I've been spending HOURS trying to figure out an alternative to our weekly program and there is just nothing that compares! Not to mention the numerous hours ahead of me trying to convert all of our different signup sheets, booklets, and brochures. I will repeat what you said: There is "no other product that has the functionality and flexibility of Publisher."

Affinity looks nice - but does it open MS Publisher files? I have literally thousands of files that will become useless. Does anyone know what program will edit pub files?

It's clear MS does not care. I tried asking in in support ticket. No answer.

It looks like Canva is my answer. I have tried everything else with no luck.

Luckily I am fairly knowledgeable with it. It converted my newsletter and other docs well.

So....

Exactly! And after we have supported Microsoft all these years, why can’t they give the program to an entity that we can pay subscription fees to? Affinity Publisher looks good, but I don’t believe will open our MS publisher files.