What's the best replacement for microsoft publisher?

Audrey Turner 50

I produce 60 page newsletters on publisher currently, what is the best replacement?

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Stefan Blom 353.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-06-23T08:05:10.0366667+00:00

One possibility, although an expensive one, would be Office Professional 2021. It is a perpetual license which includes Publisher, and it is still sold by Microsoft (at the time when I am composing this reply, at least). See https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/office-professional-2021/cfq7ttc0hhj9/0003?msockid=3d7c9e3dfa2d635a38908822fba26275&activetab=pivot:overviewtab .

Long term, looking for third-party replacements is obviously a good idea, though.

P.S. It should be noted that Microsoft does not offer a unified product which can replace Publisher. Certain tasks can be done in Word, other tasks in PowerPoint, etc. That is likely not helpful for users who need a page layout program.
David Dilling 0 Reputation points

2026-06-23T11:06:02.47+00:00

Canva is a Microsoft partner, as it is bundled on all new Surface purchases. Markzware offers Publisher to Canva and Microsoft Publisher to Affinity (owned by Canva and free) converters.

Answer accepted by question author

Daniel Sichel 185

There is no solution for this and Microsoft is offering none. No way to change the format of an existing published document that's worth a darn that works. The suggested replacement items are either ridiculously expensive or they don't work. They recommend using Word for a 60-page newsletter in Publish. That's such a bad idea and work so badly. It's not even funny, it's pathetic. And before you slam me, Microsoft, I've tried to use Word for shorter documents, two or three pages, and it turns them into a hash that can't be rearranged or formatted properly without redoing the whole thing from scratch. And yes I have decent skills. I am a 30 year plus IT worker.

Norah-L 10,995 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-04-21T08:07:44.69+00:00

Hi Daniel Sichel!

Thank you again for your time and for raising this concern.

For more information, another option to consider is using a perpetual (one‑time purchase) version of Publisher. This can continue to run after 2026, but it will no longer receive support or updates. Depending on your setup, you may also choose to keep using it on an isolated or offline system once support ends.

References: Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026

Best regards.
Audrey Turner 50 Reputation points

2026-04-21T08:37:42.5433333+00:00

So I have to pay £419.00 for the perpetual version despite having a 365 subscription? I don't think so and those saying word is suitable for editing a 60+ page document obviously have never had to actually do it out in the wild. Yes, it's doable, I did it that way before I got Publisher, but it's neither easy nor convenient. I'll keep looking for alternatives. Word will very much be a last resort.
Norah-L 10,995 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-04-22T08:08:54.7133333+00:00

Hi Audrey,

I understand the given information may not be the answer you were hoping for. I hope you’re able to find a suitable alternative soon.

Best regards.
Paul Cox 10 Reputation points

2026-04-26T20:07:12.6+00:00

I agree. Microsoft continues to alienate its customers by dropping features and programs. Case in Point: it is dropping Publisher that is easy, useful, and used, but is keeping Access, which nobody uses. Case in Point 2: in Office: Over the last several versions, they dropped color categories for Contacts and Calendar, and multiple flag colors for emails. This is NOT the way a company should be run. Why are we paying this arthritic mess for increasingly rotten programs while they try to force their version AI on us. I ain't buying any more--as soon as I find alternatives.
Norah-L 10,995 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-04-27T08:17:26.1133333+00:00

Hi Paul!

From what you described, your concern seems to be not only about Publisher being retired, but also about other features that have changed or been removed over time.

Since this is a user-to-user community forum, we cannot speak for Microsoft’s product decisions. However, I would still encourage you to share your feedback through Microsoft’s official feedback channels, as that gives the product teams the best chance to see customer concerns about discontinued apps, removed features, and other changes.

Thank you so much for your patience!
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Answer accepted by question author

Daniel Sichel 185

Using Word for Desktop Publishing is like recommending NotePad to write software. First reaction is, are you kidding? Second reaction is why did I bother to ask Microsoft? Their answer will always be Microsoft even when it such a bad answer it is literally a joke. A 60 page newsletter in Word? With captions, pull text boxes, illustrations and photographs. Trying to do a graphic background overlayed by text on say 4 or 5 pages with different backgrounds on say 5 separate pages while the text moves around as you edit articles? You would have to be desperate or stupid to try that in Word. Word is a pretty great word processor. Word is not in any way a desktop publishing program and recommending as one borders on the dishonest.

Norah-L 10,995 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-04-12T07:30:37.6333333+00:00

Thank you for sharing your perspective, Daniel!

Just a quick reminder that this is a user‑to‑user community forum, and we ask that everyone keep discussions respectful in accordance with the Microsoft Community Code of Conduct.

Word is mentioned as one of the recommended alternatives to Microsoft Publisher for creating newsletters. However, in scenarios like the one you described, it may not be the best fit for more complex, layout‑intensive projects. In such cases, you might find dedicated third‑party desktop publishing tools more suitable.

Best regards.
DianeHoitenga-4806 190 Reputation points

2026-04-20T17:14:22.8266667+00:00

I totally agree with you Daniel Sichel... I have been trying to find, as Nora mentioned, a third-party desktop publishing tool... Well yeah... How about MS telling us one that will "work" to convert MS Publisher into. I have tried the suggestions you, MS, gave in other comment areas, and none work satisfactorily, or cannot even be downloaded... I'm still looking and open for suggestions...
Daniel Sichel 185 Reputation points

2026-04-20T17:48:40.05+00:00

Add to that publisher is supposed to be available until October of 2026 and there's no download for it in this becomes ridiculous. And it feels like breach of contract with a one year membership.
Norah-L 10,995 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-04-21T08:27:22.7533333+00:00

Hello DianeHoitenga-4806, Daniel Sichel!

Since this is a user‑to‑user community forum, please note we can only share suggestions based on our own experience and findings. At this time, there isn’t a Microsoft‑provided tool that can convert complex Publisher files into another fully editable format while preserving the original layout. Microsoft’s guidance currently focuses on converting files to PDF (for viewing) or to Word (for editing), with the understanding that formatting may not be retained in more complex documents.

You may also consider using a perpetual (one‑time purchase) version of Publisher. It can continue to run after 2026, although it will no longer receive updates or official support.

See more: Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026

Thank you very much for your patience.

Yours sincerely.
Audrey Turner 50 Reputation points

2026-04-22T08:08:45.2+00:00

So even if you were to pay over £400 for something to include a stand alone version of Publisher, support will end so realistically you're potentially only one Microsoft update away from it being rendered unusable anyway! Unless you install it on a computer not internet connected so you can keep it going for longer, of course everyone has spare computers just waiting to be used, and the space to keep them.
Norah-L 10,995 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-04-26T03:16:45.7566667+00:00

Hi Audrey!

If the main need is producing 60-page newsletters, Affinity Publisher is probably the closest fit (as Stefan suggested), because it is designed for multi-page layout work such as newsletters and brochures and is sold without a subscription.
David Dilling 0 Reputation points

2026-06-04T08:20:34.79+00:00

There are also migrations assistants for .pub files to alternatives like Adobe InDesign or Affinity. OmniMarkz SE, for instance, will open your native MS Publisher files in Affinity, InDesign and the likes. MarkzPortal is an online service for one-off Microsoft Publisher native file migration. I hope this helps. For full disclosure I work for Markzware, which produces these tools to help Microsoft users.

5 additional answers

Stefan Blom 353.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-04-20T17:52:59.9366667+00:00

Publisher can still be purchased as part of the Microsoft Office Professional 2021 suite and that version can be used after October 2026. See https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/office-professional-2021/cfq7ttc0hhj9/0003?msockid=3d7c9e3dfa2d635a38908822fba26275&activetab=pivot:overviewtab .

If you want an alternative, Affinity is a free, third-party product which might be worth testing.
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Stefan Blom 353.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-04-21T09:39:57.2733333+00:00

The screen shot below is from the Microsoft page at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/office-professional-2021/cfq7ttc0hhj9/0003?msockid=3d7c9e3dfa2d635a38908822fba26275&activetab=pivot:overviewtab .

Daniel Sichel 185 Reputation points

2026-04-21T14:42:19.43+00:00

So the answer is to pay $439 to get the office suite, which supposedly I already own through my 365 subscription, but now can't get publisher through my 365 subscription. Is that what you're telling me?

Stefan Blom 353.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-04-21T15:02:29.75+00:00

If you want to stay with Publisher, you will need to get an older perpetual license, yes.

Note that Affinity won't cost you anything. It can edit converted PDFs, but I don't know if it can open native Publisher files (probably not).

With any subscription, you get access to the currently provided set of apps. There is no guarantee that a specific app will be included indefinitely. That is how subscriptions work. That is why I am not very happy about subscription models, but it is what commercial software companies offer nowadays.

DianeHoitenga-4806 190 Reputation points

2026-04-22T14:07:40.7166667+00:00

You keep suggesting Affinity. I've tried many times and I'm told it's "unavailable in your market" whatever that means other than it's just plain "unavailable", So I go to Microsoft Store, and I'm told it is "currently unavailable, try again later". Hmmm, probably after October, ya spose. That way you pay $439.99 if you want to keep what you've been paying for already, for years.

Stefan Blom 353.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-04-22T17:59:14.4033333+00:00

You keep suggesting Affinity. I've tried many times and I'm told it's "unavailable in your market" whatever that means other than it's just plain "unavailable"

To be clear, I am only suggesting Affinity because it has a good reputation. I haven't used it much so far. Unless there are specific restrictions in your region, I think you can install via the web site at https://www.affinity.studio/get-affinity (third-party link).
DianeHoitenga-4806 190 Reputation points

2026-04-22T03:38:53.4233333+00:00

A perpetual version only costs $439.99 for 1 computer... What's wrong with that??? Gee everybody has that in pocket change, don't ya know... We are making suggestions based on our experience, which is, there is nothing inside or outside of MS Publisher that produces the same quality. I'm glad to see you, MS, finally admit it... My question now is, will a 2019 Office Professional Plus work?
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Stefan Blom 353.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-04-22T07:45:15.9533333+00:00

@DianeHoitenga-4806,

Note that you are not speaking with Microsoft here, only with your fellow users of Microsoft products.

Office Professional Plus 2019 should definitely work, as long as you have a license for it (from the Home Use Program, for example). I am assuming it includes Publisher, like Office Professional does/did. If you are thinking of buying Office Professional Plus 2019 privately, make sure that you get a valid license, and especially note that Professional Plus is usually a volume license for corporate use.

Alternatively/also, you can try Affinity by Canva which is free. As far as I know, you will have to convert your Publisher files to PDF first (which may obviously be time-consuming).

P.S. Regarding the perpetual licenses, they are not cheap, but they are cheaper than paying for a subscription.

DianeHoitenga-4806 190 Reputation points

2026-04-22T14:17:25.69+00:00

You keep suggesting Affinity. I've tried many times and I'm told it's "unavailable in your market" whatever that means other than it's just plain "unavailable", So I go to Microsoft Store, and I'm told it is "currently unavailable, try again later". Hmmm, probably after October, ya spose. That way you pay $439.99 if you want to keep what you've been paying for already, for years.

As for the 2019 Office Professional Plus, I have the product key, How can I check to make sure it's legit, before I delete MS in order to install it?
Norah-L 10,995 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-04-10T04:11:28.6833333+00:00

Good day Audrey Turner!

Thank you for reaching out and sorry for any inconvenience caused by the upcoming retirement of Publisher.

If you're currently producing 60‑page newsletters in Publisher, Word is suggested as the primary alternative within Microsoft 365, as it is recommended for newsletters and other long, multi‑page documents such as reports or programs. Word is generally suitable for text‑focused publishing tasks like ministry updates, announcements, articles, event calendars, and other structured newsletter content.

PowerPoint can also be used when parts of your newsletter are more visual or layout‑focused.

For more advanced typography and better multi‑page layout control, you may also consider third‑party desktop publishing apps such as Adobe InDesign, Affinity Publisher, or Marq (Lucidpress).

Hope this could help. I'm here if you need further assistance!

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Norah-L 10,995 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-04-12T08:28:56.4166667+00:00

Hello Audrey Turner!

May I know if you have got any chance to check my answer?

I am glad to help if you have any other questions.

SC 0 Reputation points

2026-06-22T19:23:52.45+00:00

Norah-L, would you please comment on this:

"While the software will likely continue to launch and function locally for perpetual license holders, leaving it unsupported introduces these specific vulnerabilities:

No Security Updates: Microsoft will no longer provide security patches, bug fixes, or technical support. If a hacker finds a vulnerability in the software, it will never be fixed, leaving your computer open to malware or viruses.

File Vulnerabilities: Opening malicious or corrupted .pub files could expose your computer to exploits, as the program cannot defend against new threats."