What do you have to replace Publisher

Bert Moody 5 Reputation points
2026-08-11T20:12:05.1533333+00:00

I have used Publisher for over 10 years. Word does not work to layout a newsletter so I need to know what replaces Publisher

Microsoft 365 and Office | Publisher | Other

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  1. Kai-H 26,135 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-08-12T08:00:55.73+00:00

    Hi, Bert Moody

    Sorry for this frustration. If you need freely positioned text boxes, linked columns, images, and multi-page control, a dedicated desktop-publishing app is the better replacement.

    It is recommended that you consider:

    Affinity for the closest overall experience to Publisher. It is designed for newsletters, brochures, booklets, and other multi-page layouts. People have successfully used it for printed newsletters and booklet-style printing.

    Scribus if you want a free, open-source program. It supports text and picture frames, master pages, and reusable newsletter layouts, although it takes more time to learn.

    Canva if you prefer something simpler and template-based. It runs in a web browser, offers ready-made newsletter designs, and can download the finished newsletter for printing.

    Adobe InDesign if you need professional printing and advanced layout tools, but it may be more complex and costly than necessary.

    For someone familiar with Publisher, I would try Affinity first, then Scribus if keeping the cost down is the priority.

    Note: This information is provided as a convenience to you. The sites are not controlled by Microsoft. Microsoft cannot make any representations regarding the quality, safety, or suitability of any software or information found there. Please make sure that you completely understand the risk before retrieving any suggestions from the above sites. 

    Thank you for your patience in reading, I hope this information has been helpful to you. 

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  2. AI answer

    2026-08-11T20:12:23.79+00:00

    There is no direct Microsoft replacement for Publisher. For common Publisher work, Microsoft recommends using other Microsoft 365 apps instead.

    For a newsletter, the recommended Microsoft 365 app is Word.

    Other common replacements are:

    • Word or PowerPoint for ads, flyers, brochures, certificates, business cards, calendars, and cards
    • PowerPoint for banners, signs, and posters
    • Word for invoices, applications, forms, envelopes, labels, letterhead, newsletters, and programs

    If existing Publisher files need to remain editable after October 2026:

    • With a Microsoft 365 subscription, Publisher will no longer be available to install, open, or edit files after October 2026.
    • With a perpetual version of Publisher, the app can still be installed and used after support ends, although support ends on October 1, 2026.

    For existing .pub files, Microsoft recommends converting them before that date:

    1. Open the Publisher file.
    2. Go to File > Save As.
    3. Choose a location.
    4. Select PDF as the file type and save.
    5. If editing is needed, open the PDF in Word using File > Open and confirm the conversion.

    Note: converting PDF to Word is optimized for text editing, so the layout can change, especially for graphic-heavy newsletters.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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