Why is Publisher being phased out, and what is Microsoft replacing it with? Will Microsoft 365 be cheaper since they are phasing out the program?

I am almost 70. I taught myself to use a computer and use programs like Publisher back in the 90's while taking college classes for a Computer Administration Degree. Other programs even some of the news one don't even come close to what Publisher is and what it does for me, my brother's small business, My Church, and Pastor needs. I've already tried PowerPoint in the beginning. Didn't like it then, don't like it now. Don't like cloud either. It stole a number of my photographs of pets, trips, friends and the like and deleted them back then too. Anyway I digress. Stop changing good things all the time. Just add new ones for those that think they've evolved above their parents, and the older generation.

IHS

WKBC-Midland

I also am unhappy that Publisher is being phased out. It is a great application for some uses. I also know how to use Word and PPT and neither will adequately meet my needs. Does that mean we can no longer use it as of October 2026 or we simply can't buy it or update it? What does it mean when you say 'it is no longer supported'?

I would love to have you show me how Word or PowerPoint can re-create my work. This is terrible news and will require a whole new learning curve. Meanwhile my work takes a back seat. And now we have learned that not only have you deleted this program, you have almost doubled the cost of the suite! Disaster. I am VERY disappointed. If I have to learn something new anyway, I may as well Shop Around.

I just want to note to Microsoft that Word and PowerPoint are NOT replacements for Publisher - they are both very different beasts and do not replicate the ease and functionality of Publisher. Publisher is a far easier and more versatile program particularly when it comes to layout (which Word still has many issues with). I'm a long time computer user, I use more powerful programs such as InDesign and Illustrator for various things, but Publisher fills a niche - I use it for newsletters and simple layout work - it's fast and simple. Much of my work these days is on a volunteer basis for non-profits and I like to set up systems that volunteers can easily learn to use. In terms of newsletters and such (which have a mix of text of graphics that can flow and be independently moved - unlike Word) and also for layout work to real world scales, Publisher works just fine and it quite easy to learn.

While Word can be used for layout, it was never designed to do that and has some significant issues in terms of ease of graphic placement. And I'm very unclear on how PowerPoint can be said to be a replacement for Publisher. Publisher is a DTP program, Word and PowerPoint are not (does nobody at Microsoft understand what a DTP program is and why that type of specific functionality is useful?).

I do echo a comment that I hope Microsoft will lower the price on Microsoft 365 if they strip it of Publisher - they are removing a highly useful program from that suite. I do have a fallback on my computer since Publisher 2003 works just fine on Windows 11 (credit to MS for writing their own software to Windows standards). It can read current Publisher files just fine - so that's a fallback for me if needed.

While I would encourage Microsoft to reconsider this bad decision and stop the fiction that Word and PowerPoint are replacements for Publisher, another option MS could consider, which Adobe did a few years ago, it to release MS Publisher as a free offering - obviously with the understanding that there will be no future updates. Adobe did this several years ago with their CS2 suite. It didn't last long since I think it was Window 10 (or maybe 8) that broke CS2 (Adobe doesn't write software to exacting MS Windows standards) - but still, the concept is there. Older software can be useful. Simply make it available as a free download with no license restrictions. People will still be annoyed at the loss of support, but it would be a nice gesture to those of us that find Publisher a valuable piece of software.

Buying a stand alone older version sounds like about the only option if windows will support it. But shouldn't have to bear the expense.