Best Free Microsoft Publisher Alternatives (2026)
With Microsoft Publisher retiring in October 2026, millions of users are looking for alternatives. Here are the best free replacements — and a tool to convert your existing .pub files so you're not starting from scratch.
Convert
.pub
→
.pdf
Convert My File — Free
🔒 Files are processed securely and deleted immediately. No account required.
How to convert in 3 steps
2
Select Microsoft Publisher (.pub) as your input format and choose PDF as the output.
3
Upload your file, click Convert, and download your result in seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest free alternative to Publisher?
LibreOffice Draw is the closest free equivalent — it has similar layout tools and can even open .pub files directly. Canva is more beginner-friendly for newsletters and flyers.
Can Microsoft Word replace Publisher?
For most uses — newsletters, certificates, simple flyers — yes. Word has improved significantly and with the right template can handle most Publisher tasks.
Is Canva a good Publisher replacement?
Canva is excellent for marketing materials, social graphics and simple print designs. For document-heavy or data-driven layouts, LibreOffice or Word may be better.
What about for healthcare or government use?
Word is the standard for regulated environments. LibreOffice is a good free alternative where Microsoft licensing is constrained.
Can I convert my old Publisher templates to Word templates?
Yes — use CalcHive's File Converter to convert .pub files to .docx, then save as a Word template (.dotx).