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?

Creig,

I've looked and there doesn't seem yo be an easy third party program that can do all that Publisher can do. I found a licenseddownload.of Office.2021 with Publisher available from PCWORLD.COM for 47.99. It puts a stand alone copy of office on your computer that will continue to keep Publisher on your computer after the Microsoft Office subscription removes it.in 2026. While Microsoft won't update it after a period of time, it will still be usable for a.good long while. They suggested removing Office 365 before downloading to prevent possibleissues. I did not and have experienced issues, in the monthnand a half I've used it. Thus far it seems the most viable solution the Microsoft ignoring all the feedback from Publisher users. By the way, this forum is not monitored by Microsoft. Go to help in Publisher and find feedback. While there is no Publisher selection to comment, add them to Word is suggested. Not sure Microsoft is listening there either as repeated.requests.for a reply to my feedback have go e unanswered, but not much else to try. Good luck.

I so agree with everyone. I have been using Publisher for personal use and for our Church since its inception in the 1990s. It is intuitive, simple to learn, simple to teach others and does exactly what we need. I am trying very hard to use Word for the same purposes but it is just NOT a viable alternative. We have a page of advertisements at the back of our parish bulletin - even transferring that to a jpeg doesn't work properly when inserting it into the Word document PowerPoint is just as, if not more, clunky!. They too Works away from us - another easy to use program and now Publisher goes the same way. So now I have to find the time to convert over 30 years of documents to pdf - so much of our family and not-for-profit history is going to be lost as we don't have the time or the money to do that transfer. I don't want Copilot or AI - I wrote a letter but AI didn't find a better way of expressing it! I just want Publisher - please re-think this really stupid decision.

THANK YOU for saying this! I had a similar response -- only people who can't design anything would say that Word and PowerPoint are alternatives.

Exactly! Word and PP are not viable options or substitutes for Publisher.

I'm currently trying out Affinity Publisher (a free version for Canva user non-profits) and while I'm learning, it is not easy or very user-friendly.
If I was not already familiar with using Photoshop Elements and EQ quilting program (for my personal use) I would be completely lost.
Publisher works best for almost everything I do.

I'm so upset by MS's business decision...IMO a very poor decision that they should rethink. PLEASE keep Publisher, Microsoft!

I use publisher every day to create posters, brochures, cards and so much more.

I was told, Oh Word does all that NO IT DOES NOT.

I want publisher to continue.

IF I buy my own publisher, will I be able to use it after MICROSOFT so ignorantly stops

it?

Dee,

If you have a version of Office 2021 or older which includes Publisher, you can continue using it even after 2026, for as long as the software is supported by your hardware and operating system.

Note that older versions are not sold by Microsoft. Be very careful if you buy privately; you don't want to pay for a fake product key that doesn't work or stops working shortly after installation.