About Microsoft Publisher Microsoft Publisher price No longer sold
Microsoft has discontinued Microsoft Publisher, so there is no price left to save.
Every pick below has a free version.
Key file formats .pub .pdf Filter alternatives 3 alternatives
Windows3 macOS3 Linux1 Web1 iOS1 Android1
Open source1 Freeware1 Free tier1
Works offline2 No account needed1
Tool License Platforms Status
Top pick 1 tool The editor’s first choice for most people switching.
1 Af
Best for free page layout with a Canva account
License: Freeware
Status: Verified Oct 7, 2026 PSD PSD: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Layers and adjustment layers import; smart objects are rasterized unless smart-object import is turned on PSB PSB: opens only, partial fidelity. Opens PSB files TIFF TIFF: opens and saves, full fidelity PNG PNG: opens and saves, full fidelity JPG JPG: opens and saves, full fidelity +5 more , 0 people switched from Microsoft Publisher to Affinity Affinity for changes Free since 30 Oct 2025 with a Canva account, for Windows and macOS. Does not open PUB files, so save existing ones as PDF or rebuild them.
Strong 2 tools Covers most of the same work, with trade-offs noted on each card.
2 Sc
Best for print layouts with CMYK and PDF/X
License: Open source
Status: Verified Oct 8, 2026 IDML IDML: opens only, partial fidelity. Basic IDML import; complex layouts, effects and some styles do not carry over PDF PDF: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Exports PDF/X-1a, X-3 and X-4; opening a PDF brings in vector shapes and text with limits PUB PUB: opens only, partial fidelity. Imports Publisher files through libmspub; coverage is spotty , 0 people switched from Microsoft Publisher to Scribus Scribus for changes Open source on Windows, macOS and Linux. The interface is dated and takes longer to learn than Publisher's.
3 Ca
Best for quick flyers and cards from templates
License: Free tier
Windows macOS Web iOS Android Status: Verified Oct 7, 2026 PDF PDF: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Exports PDF; imported PDFs open with limits on fonts and layout , 0 people switched from Microsoft Publisher to Canva Canva for changes Browser-based and needs a Canva account. Best for short documents; long multi-page layouts fit Affinity or Scribus better. Free version: Canva Free covers the editor and many templates. Pro unlocks premium content, more design tools and more AI features.
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Feature parity How each alternative covers what people use Microsoft Publisher for. Numbers link to editor notes.
Feature parity with Microsoft Publisher Feature Affinity Scribus Canva Compatibility PUB file compatibility Note 1Cannot open PUB files; convert them to PDF in Publisher first Note 2Imports PUB files through libmspub; coverage is spotty Note 3Cannot open PUB files Layout Master pages, text frames and layout guides Note 4Master pages and linked text frames Note 5Master pages, linked text frames and guides Note 6Multi-page designs without master pages Content Templates for flyers, newsletters and cards Note 7Few built-in layouts; the large template library lives in Canva Note 8A few bundled templates; most come from the community Note 9Large template library for flyers, newsletters and cards Output Print-ready PDF output Note 10CMYK, ICC profiles and PDF/X export Note 11CMYK, spot colors and PDF/X export Note 12PDF print export with bleed; CMYK output needs Canva Pro Automation Mail merge and catalog merge Note 13Data Merge is built into the layout tools Note 14No built-in data merge; Python scripts or add-ons do it Note 15Bulk create needs a paid Canva plan Parity score 70% 70% 40%
Affinity, PUB file compatibility: Cannot open PUB files; convert them to PDF in Publisher first Scribus, PUB file compatibility: Imports PUB files through libmspub; coverage is spotty Canva, PUB file compatibility: Cannot open PUB files Affinity, Master pages, text frames and layout guides: Master pages and linked text frames Scribus, Master pages, text frames and layout guides: Master pages, linked text frames and guides Canva, Master pages, text frames and layout guides: Multi-page designs without master pages Affinity, Templates for flyers, newsletters and cards: Few built-in layouts; the large template library lives in Canva Scribus, Templates for flyers, newsletters and cards: A few bundled templates; most come from the community Canva, Templates for flyers, newsletters and cards: Large template library for flyers, newsletters and cards Affinity, Print-ready PDF output: CMYK, ICC profiles and PDF/X export Scribus, Print-ready PDF output: CMYK, spot colors and PDF/X export Canva, Print-ready PDF output: PDF print export with bleed; CMYK output needs Canva Pro Affinity, Mail merge and catalog merge: Data Merge is built into the layout tools Scribus, Mail merge and catalog merge: No built-in data merge; Python scripts or add-ons do it Canva, Mail merge and catalog merge: Bulk create needs a paid Canva plan Not covered by any free alternative yet: PUB file compatibility. See all feature gaps
File formats Can each alternative open and save Microsoft Publisher files?
Opening and saving Microsoft Publisher files Format Affinity Scribus Canva .pub Note 1Imports Publisher files through libmspub; coverage is spotty Note 2Cannot open PUB files .pdf Note 3Exports PDF/X-1a, X-3 and X-4; opening a PDF brings in vector shapes and text with limits Note 4Exports PDF; imported PDFs open with limits on fonts and layout
Scribus, .pub: Imports Publisher files through libmspub; coverage is spotty Canva, .pub: Cannot open PUB files Scribus, .pdf: Exports PDF/X-1a, X-3 and X-4; opening a PDF brings in vector shapes and text with limits Canva, .pdf: Exports PDF; imported PDFs open with limits on fonts and layout Microsoft Publisher is a product of Microsoft, named here for comparison only. Platforms listed for Microsoft Publisher: Windows.