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?

Anonymous
2025-04-13T17:55:25+00:00

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?

As a senior and a person who has ADHD, I don't like change, I don't like to have to upgrade and purchase programs that were included and continue to pay higher prices for fewer services. I use Publisher a lot. We make camping calendars, calendars for family birthdays, workers' schedules, etc. Soon, there will be nothing in Microsoft to fulfill this. I make camping meal plans, and prep and supplies. and no, word and its things suck. Not even close to being user-friendly for seniors, if you learned to use Word before, the updates are not as user-friendly. Great for kids learning it now, sucks for seniors. I make banners, posters, cards, signs, etc. What will I use now? I had a chat with Mohammad for 20 minutes, and he kept telling me Microsoft has a plan, just wait for it. I did mention that once you state you are phasing things out, you already have a plan and might as well explain it. No large company or corporation says they are phasing something out if they haven't come up with a plan already! When he suggested I wait, I was not impressed at all. Wait for what? Wait to hear we waited too long to be a voice the company needed to hear from us sooner? Not a happy Granny!

The person I spoke with said that the company and higher-ups need to hear from us. If you like Publisher, let them know. I am trying!!

Microsoft 365 and Office | Publisher | Other

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-07-14T03:58:25+00:00

    Sally,

    I frustratingly searched for an alternative as it appears Microsoft has turned a deaf ear to all of these comments. They don't monitor this bulletin board but there is a feedback option in the Help menu. There is no Publisher subject section but many are leaving feedback in the Word section. I've had no reply using that from Microsoft. So not sure if it's being read either. Searching for other software has been futile. But I did find a stand alone licensed download of Office 2021 that includes Publisher at PCWORLD.COM for 47.99 and now I have a copy I can use when the subscription Publisher programs goes away. If you have an old licensed copy you can use that. If not the purchase from PCWORLD.COM seems to be a viable alternative to keeping the software and being able to continue to use it and open your Publsher files. It certainly is no more expensive than other programs that have much less to offer. Hope this helps you.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-07-14T02:55:34+00:00

    Unlike English courses I taught, there is no preparation to replace Publisher. "To wait and see" is not an answer.

    A progressive explanation would keep many folks happy. I've praised Publisher for being a beautiful way to give ethnic groups, reunions, etc. mementos to remember good meetings. Last Saturday I finished 3 of the pages for an August program, intending to complete the document this morning.

    After many frustrated hours, I found that you dropped the quarter-page, one sheet format. Shame! Shame!

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-07-06T18:04:33+00:00

    Here we go again... "charge more, get less" seems to be the MS mantra. Anyone who thinks MS Word is an acceptable substitute for Publisher obviously does not work with true publications and the need to create separate columns/articles and the ability to move them around and quickly change their format. The "pastboard" concept is the backbone of publishing and Publisher. Word provides nothing even close.

    Time to look to Adobe or Affinity to find a replacement.

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  4. Stefan Blom 351.7K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2025-07-06T12:29:45+00:00

    >>As a Microsoft Office subscriber for the last six years, I saw the elimination of Access database [---]<<

    RonS,

    Microsoft Access is still included, even in the consumer (home user) Microsoft 365 subscriptions. See the comparison page at

    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/buy/compare-all-microsoft-365-products.

    Note that you have to scroll down quite a long way to locate Access in the list of apps and services. The screen shot below is from the linked article.

    Image

    P.S. Note that Access has never been included on the Mac platform. That applies to Publisher as well.

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-07-06T00:54:24+00:00

    As a Microsoft Office subscriber for the last six years, I saw the elimination of Access database, and now Publisher from the stack, but the price went up because of the AI crap pushed on us by M$.

    I view this as the last time I renew, and I will allow it to phase out at the end of the subscription, as I can use my Office 2007 (yes, 2007) license to work with all the applications.

    Maybe Linux and LibreOffice would be just the perfect dependency.

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