Forum Discussion
Publisher replacement ideas
Hey All,
Looks like Microsoft won't be supporting Publisher after Oct. I have many hundreds of pages documenting the restoration of our land that I created in Publisher. I know I'll need to convert them to another publishing app. I'm wondering what others in this situation are choosing to do especially since Publisher doesn't convert to Designer. My needs are for an easy to use app as Publisher was and not something complicated. Any thoughts or ideas would be most welcomed!
Marci
Below are the alternatives available:
- Affinity Publisher:
- A popular choice for its simplicity and affordability.
- Offers a one-time purchase (no subscription) and is compatible with macOS, Windows, and iPad.
- Scribus:
- A free, open-source desktop publishing tool.
- Great for creating professional layouts, though it might have a slight learning curve.
- Canva:
- Web-based and very intuitive.
- Ideal for creating visually appealing designs, though it may lack advanced desktop publishing features.
- Affinity Publisher:
45 Replies
To Hugh_B, I've bought the installation software but have not loaded it yet. I am, however, intrigued that this issue/topic is marked "Solved" by a post recommending we move away from an MS product to other applications. (Thank you, Kidd_Ip, for the ideas.) Still totally gutted but just using the current version until Doomsday!
Anyone managed to purchase Publisher 2021 and made it work with an existing Office/365 account?
I keep seeing, on MS as well, use standalone Publisher 2021 but cannot find it? Also, a lot of warnings that it may screw my exixting Office/365 setup. As others have said, trying to use PowerPoint as a replacement is a joke. Has anyone managed to find a solution as we move towards cut off?
I too hate to see MS Publisher go, it was so easy to use, operate, adjust and insert photos etc: I have a family history book that dates back to 1762 and stops in 1995. The lady who put this all together had it professionall bound and published. Unfortunately the name of the publisher is not listed. I intended to use publisher to bring it up to date and and make an insert for our family. So does anyone out there have any ideas or has already found a software that works for updating family history and photos.
I'm in the same boat as you. Similar in many ways. Family history w/pictures, calendars w/pictures, recipes w/columns and pictures
Im a retired designer and do my monthly car club newsletter in Publisher. It has been terrific for a decade. I have been playing with Affinity. It's a possible but much more intense to learn. InDesign is much more difficult to learn. At this point I have not found a good replacment.
I don't know your age but at 61 and still active as a Graphic Designer. I have worked with WordPerfect, Page Maker, to migrate to InDesign and as well sometimes in QuarkXpress, and let me tell you that Publisher still is a powerful tool but not for professionals. Migrate from MSpublisher to anothe prorgram is a painful but achievable task. Of course it will not be cheap since you have to convert all your Publisher files to PDF and then if you want to keep working from that maybe import to another desktop publishing program. There a few very worthly to try such as Canvas, "InkSomething" (can't put it's name in this chat) or better yet, the now free Affinity Publish (Now called just Affinity), which is been a very good InDesign contender. I do understand the frustration (I was very frustated when Adobe killed Page Maker and had to learn InDesign, but it was for the better!). I've been testing Affinity and is very powerfull tool. Of course it lacks some of the features of Quark or InDesign but have very much to offer than MS Publisher. Take your time to export all your very important files to PDF and try of the above mentioned. I remember using Publisher strictly in the company that I work with for making newsletters (because the former designer of the company worked with it), but end up working with the now old Dreamweaver (part of the Adobe Cloud) which is more professional way to do. Yes need to learn new tricks and new interfaces-tools, but let's face it, work can't be stopped because a company dropped it's software.
If you don't have access to a perpetual version of Publisher (desktop, loaded with a CD originally) NOT the web accessible Publisher 365, consider "Adobe InDesign" as a MS Publisher replacement.
Yes, being told to replace with Word and Powerpoint is a joke. There are a plethora of functions that you lose in either app. I use the external work area all the time for juggling elements in the monthly magazine I create for a not-for-profit. I also create signage, certificates and calendars. Usually have elements half on and half off the page, that goes! I'm an Office user since Windows for Workgroups days, have produced my mag for 26 years and now gone!
I also worked in IT for 20 years (back 10+ years ago) and we were an MS house. I trained to a high level in all the Office suite, so I believe I know my way around them and cannot contemplate doing the publisher work in Word.
Sadly, I'll be walking!
I'm intrigued to see that I am a "Brass" Contributor - can you be Lead?
I'm SUFFERING my way through ALL the inadequacies of WORD (add another 4 letter word in front ending with an "ing"!) to try and re-create my book-style publication. It's an absolute nightmare!!! No overflow between Text boxes, no "columns" allowed inside a Text Box or Table Cell, so I'm MANUALLY copying and pasting text between Text Boxes - I have just stepped back to MS of 1995!
I am beyond peeved at this point and just had to vent to like-minded and obviously disregarded MS Users!
Have you found an alternative that has an external workspace like publisher? It’s one of the main features I use when working, it’s my think space.
The reason I gravitated to Publisher was because Word was so limited in its graphic use. RIP Publisher. I will be using my 2007 perpetual version until I find replacement probably something in the Adobe suite. I've looked at Microsoft Designer, it is dumbed down AI slop creating crap.
I am not impressed to be losing Publisher. With a big tech company like Microsoft, why can't they combine the properties that Publisher has such as calendars, banners, posters, etc into Word? Why are they suggesting that we pay for another product and deleting Publisher from Microsoft 365? Is it being replaced by a newer up-to-date product that will be included in Microsoft 365? Or will seniors, ADHD folks, etc all going to have to learn new programs that are not as user friendly and creative as publisher? Yes, I am very upset!
Below are the alternatives available:
- Affinity Publisher:
- A popular choice for its simplicity and affordability.
- Offers a one-time purchase (no subscription) and is compatible with macOS, Windows, and iPad.
- Scribus:
- A free, open-source desktop publishing tool.
- Great for creating professional layouts, though it might have a slight learning curve.
- Canva:
- Web-based and very intuitive.
- Ideal for creating visually appealing designs, though it may lack advanced desktop publishing features.
I have tried all of your suggestions, these 3, and other things you said, ie. convert to Word, PDF, etc., and NONE of them work or are as user friendly as Publisher is. I'm 83 and do not have the time or patience to be learning something that does NOT WORK. Thanks Microsoft for thinking about your decision to ELIMANATE all the years of work of us seniors, and businesses of all sorts. I don't know how you all can sleep at night...
It is not a solution. I have been using Publisher for countless years and I create flyers and Sunday church programs for a global ministry. This is not good and not good at all.
I agree with you Diana. The alternatives suggested do not enable you to read or use existing Publisher documents. I've been using Publisher for well over 30 years for church and other magazines, banners, posters and many other uses. I will not be able to access these now. Microsoft have been particularly unhelpful about this matter - a personal letter by mail to the chairman of MS at their registered US address was returned to me unopened.
Don't forget Adobes' Indesign and Photoshop.
- Affinity Publisher:
