The best free Microsoft Publisher alternative in 2026
PubStudio compared with LibreOffice, Scribus, Affinity and CanvaUpdated ~/best-publisher-alternatives
Short answer: PubStudio. It's the only app here built to open your .pub files laid out as they were, and it works the way Publisher did. The others are good design tools, but they make you start over.
No Windows warningWe make PubStudio. Everything we say about the other apps below is accurate as of the date above.
Why is PubStudio the best Publisher alternative?
- It opens your .pub files. Publications from Publisher 98 through Microsoft 365 open with their text boxes, pictures, tables, shapes and pages where you left them. No rebuilding years of bulletins and newsletters.
- It works like Publisher. A ribbon, a pages pane down the side, master pages and the same kinds of templates, so there's nothing new to learn.
- It does the jobs Publisher did. Flyers, newsletters, church bulletins, booklets, calendars, certificates and Avery labels, with mail merge for address labels and letters in Pro.
- It runs everywhere you do. A Windows app that works offline, plus a web version for Mac and Chromebook. Your files are never uploaded.
- It's free for everyday work. Opening, editing, printing and saving cost nothing, for good. Pro adds clean PDFs, mail merge, the Brand Kit and every template.
How do they compare?
| App | Opens your .pub files | Feels like Publisher | Works on | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PubStudio | Yes, laid out as they were | Yes: ribbon, pages pane, familiar templates | Windows, plus Mac and Chromebook online | Free; Pro $10 a month or $99 a year |
| LibreOffice Draw | Imports them, but layouts can shift | No, it's a drawing app | Windows, Mac, Linux | Free |
| Scribus | Not made for it | No, a pro layout tool with a learning curve | Windows, Mac, Linux | Free |
| Affinity | No | No, a pro design suite | Windows, Mac | Free; AI tools need a paid Canva plan |
| Canva | No, only a PDF made from one | No, an online design tool | Browser, Windows, Mac, phones | Free plan; Pro is paid |
1. PubStudio: the best choice if you have .pub files
If you used Publisher, PubStudio is the one that lets you carry on where you left off. Open last year's newsletter, change the dates, and print it. Make this week's bulletin from a template. Print a sheet of address labels. It runs on Windows 10 and 11, and online in Chrome or Edge on a Mac or Chromebook. Saving as PDF is free with a small PubStudio mark, and clean with Pro.
2. LibreOffice Draw: fine for a quick look, not for your layouts
LibreOffice is a free office suite, and its Draw app can import Publisher files. Simple ones come through, but busier layouts can lose spacing, fonts or items, and Draw is a drawing app rather than a publishing one. It's handy for a one-off peek if you already use LibreOffice.
3. Scribus: powerful, but built for starting over
Scribus is a free, open-source layout app with serious print features, such as colour separations and PDF/X export. It's made for building new documents rather than reopening old .pub files, and it takes real learning if you're used to Publisher.
4. Affinity: for designers starting fresh
Affinity, now owned by Canva, became free in late 2025 and combines photo editing, illustration and page layout for Windows and Mac. It's aimed at designers, and it doesn't open .pub files.
5. Canva: for social posts, not Publisher files
Canva is quick for social posts, posters and invitations, and works best online. It doesn't open .pub files, though you can import a PDF of one and rework it from there.
What about paid apps that open .pub files?
A few paid apps open .pub files too. See how PubStudio compares, with their prices taken from their own websites: PubStudio vs PubKeep and PubStudio vs Korva.
What about Microsoft's own apps?
Microsoft points Publisher users to its other apps, such as Word and PowerPoint. They come with a paid Microsoft 365 plan and can't open .pub files. See what Publisher's retirement means for your files.
Questions
What is the best alternative to Microsoft Publisher?
If you have .pub files, PubStudio. It opens them laid out as they were, works the way Publisher did, and is free for everyday work. For brand-new designs, pro tools like Affinity or Scribus also work, but they can't carry on your old files.
Is there a free version of Microsoft Publisher?
No. Publisher only ever came with paid Office and Microsoft 365 plans, and it's being retired. PubStudio is a free alternative that opens the same .pub files.
Can LibreOffice open .pub files?
LibreOffice Draw can import them, and simple files look right. Complex layouts can shift, so check before you print. PubStudio keeps the layout as Publisher showed it.
What's the best Publisher alternative on a Mac?
PubStudio online, in Chrome or Edge. It opens .pub files with nothing to install, and your file isn't uploaded.
Will my .pub files still open after Publisher is retired?
A copy of Publisher you already have may keep working for a while, but it won't get fixes. PubStudio opens .pub files either way, and Pro can turn a whole folder of them into PDFs.