If you’ve ever knocked up a quick flyer, menu, newsletter or poster in Microsoft Publisher, you’re not alone. It’s been the easiest design option for years, especially for small businesses, schools, clubs, and anyone who just needs to make something look decent for print.
But Microsoft has confirmed it’s retiring Publisher in October 2026. That means no more support, and it won’t be part of Microsoft 365 going forward.
So… what should you use instead?
Best alternatives to Publisher
1) Affinity Publisher (best “proper replacement”)
If you want something that feels like a real step up from Publisher but without signing your life away to Adobe Affinity Publisher is a great option and the best part is, it’s free!
It’s built for proper layout work: brochures, posters, multi-page docs, and print-ready PDFs. And the big appeal for lots of people is you’re not stuck paying a monthly subscription just to keep using your software.
Why people like it:
- Feels like “Publisher, but grown up”
- Great for print (bleeds, margins, proper PDF export)
- Works nicely alongside Affinity Photo + Designer if you do a bit of everything
Worth knowing:
- Has a bit of learning curve
2) Canva (best for quick flyers + social posts)
If your “Publisher jobs” are mostly quick posters, promos, events, social graphics and you like templates, Canva is hard to beat.
It’s fast, it’s easy, and it’s built for sharing and keeping things consistent.
Why it’s great:
- Loads of templates
- Easy brand colours/fonts
- Brilliant for teams and “non-designers”
But…
- It’s not as precise as a proper layout app if you’re doing complex print jobs
3) Adobe InDesign (the standard, but pricey)
If you work with print houses, designers, or agencies a lot, InDesign is still the industry standard.
The downside is obvious: it’s subscription-based and can feel like overkill if you just need the occasional leaflet. Plenty of people are switching away for that exact reason.
In short, Publisher going away doesn’t have to be a headache it’s really just a nudge to switch to something more modern. If you want a proper replacement for print and multi-page layouts, Affinity Publisher is the closest fit and a solid step up. If you just need quick promos and social graphics, Canva will get you there in minutes. And if you’re working closely with designers or print companies, InDesign is still the industry standard, just with that ongoing cost. The main thing is to export any important Publisher files to PDF now, then start rebuilding your key templates in whichever tool fits how you actually work.
