Publisher replacement?

Gari Voss 0 Reputation points
2026-06-20T16:47:42.54+00:00

I still create small booklets for our church bulletin using Publisher. What is a simple replacement for Publisher?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Publisher | For business

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  1. WordWizzard 1,050 Reputation points
    2026-06-27T02:26:10.7933333+00:00

    If you have a desktop non-365 version of Publisher that has a perpetual license (e.g., Microsoft Office Professional 2021), it won't be deleted from you computer. You can continue to use it after Oct 2026, but it won't be getting any more updates.

    If you have the 365 version of Publisher that is a subscription, then you'll no longer be able to use it to open or edit Publisher files after support ends in Oct 2026. You will need to use another application. I do not recommend using PowerPoint or Word since those applications lack the features found in Publisher. Here are some better options:

    Which of these three options to use depends on your needs. If you want to continue using Publisher, then Microsoft Office Professional 2021 is your best choice. You avoid a learning curve, but you may need a 2nd computer.

    If you are looking for a free option, and only create simple, single-page items (flyers, signs, basic forms), or have a massive archive of old Publisher files that all need to be frequently opened/edited, then choose LibreOffice Draw. However, it lacks precision alignment and advanced commercial print controls like bleed setup and robust CMYK color profiles required by professional printing presses.

    On the other hand, if you routinely design complex, multi-page layouts (newsletters, booklets, catalogs) and need a highly professional tool that functions similarly to Adobe InDesign, then choose Affinity Page Layout.

    There are a number of YouTube videos that describe the features and how to use LibreOffice Draw and Affinity Page Layout. Many features work very similar to Publisher.

    NOTE: Microsoft Office Professional (Pro) is a perpetual license for individuals and you are given a product key. Once installed, the product is in your Microsoft account, and you can download and reinstall it again at a later time, if you need to.

    Avoid Office Professional Plus and Office LTSC Professional Plus. They are for organizations that use volume licensing. Some are illegal copies, do not come with product keys, and will not appear in your Microsoft account.

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  2. Chris Duong 9,770 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-06-20T17:22:59.6033333+00:00

    Hi Gari, 

    Good day. Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum. 

    A simple replacement for Microsoft Publisher that you might consider is Microsoft Word, especially if you are creating small printed booklets or church bulletins. Word can handle text, images, tables, templates, and PDF export, and it is already included in most Microsoft 365 plans. 

    • If you prefer a more visual, drag-and-drop layout experience, Microsoft PowerPoint can also work well for bulletin-style designs, flyers, and simple booklet layouts. 
    • You may also want to try Microsoft Designer for creating more visual content such as announcements, covers, or graphics that can be added to your bulletin. 
    • User's image

    Since Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026, I would recommend saving your existing Publisher files as PDFs so you can still access, share, and print them later. 

    For your references: 

    I hope this helps clarify the available options. Should you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please feel free to share them in the comment below.  

    Thank you again for your patience and understanding. 

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it.

    Note: Follow the steps in our documentation to enable email notifications if you want to receive email notifications related to this topic.     

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