Microsoft Publisher alternatives in 2026
Microsoft 365 subscribers lose access to Publisher on or shortly after October 1, 2026 (Microsoft Support). Here are the main ways to keep making flyers, newsletters and cards, and the one step to do first: get the content out of your old .pub files.
Step 1: rescue your existing .pub files
A new design program will not give you back the text and photos locked in years of .pub files. Microsoft's own advice is to save them as PDF while you still can (Microsoft Support). Without Publisher, you can:
- open a .pub file in the free PUB file viewer on this site: it shows the text and embedded photos in your browser, without uploading the file, and can export PDF, Word or a ZIP of the pictures with a one-time Pro key (€12.99);
- open it in LibreOffice Draw, which imports .pub files through the open-source libmspub library, with an approximate layout.
Details: how to open a PUB file, PUB to PDF, PUB to Word.
Step 2: pick the program for new publications
| Alternative | Runs on | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Word and PowerPoint | Windows, Mac, web | Simple flyers, labels, certificates and branded templates if you already pay for Microsoft 365; Microsoft's support page points Publisher users to them. |
| Canva | Web, phone, desktop | Social posts, posters and flyers from templates; free plan plus paid plans. |
| Affinity | Windows, Mac | Professional page layout (the successor of Affinity Publisher), with print features close to traditional desktop publishing. |
| Scribus | Windows, Mac, Linux | Free, open-source desktop publishing for newsletters, brochures and print-ready PDFs. |
| LibreOffice Draw | Windows, Mac, Linux | Free; simple layouts, and the only one in this list that imports old .pub files (approximately). |
Features and pricing change: check each vendor's site before choosing. This site is independent and is not paid by any of them.
Which alternative should I choose?
- You made simple flyers and signs: Word or PowerPoint if you have Microsoft 365, otherwise Canva's free plan.
- You made newsletters, booklets or print jobs: Affinity or Scribus, which work with pages, master pages and print-ready PDF.
- You need to reuse old .pub content: extract it first (step 1), then paste the text and pictures into the new tool.
Questions
Can I still use Publisher?
Microsoft 365 subscribers lose access on or shortly after October 1, 2026. Perpetual versions (2016, 2019, 2021) keep working on Windows, but their support ended on October 13, 2026 (Microsoft Support).
Will my .pub files still open after I switch?
Not in Word, PowerPoint or Canva directly. Convert them first, or keep them readable with the browser viewer.