Publisher Is Retiring — What Should You Use Instead?
Microsoft Publisher is being retired in October 2026. If you're wondering what to switch to and how to preserve your existing Publisher documents, this page has the answers — plus a free converter for your .pub files.
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's the fastest Publisher replacement to learn?
Canva has the shortest learning curve for design work. Word is best if you're already in the Microsoft ecosystem.
What if I just need to open old Publisher files occasionally?
Convert them to PDF now using CalcHive — that's the simplest long-term solution. PDFs open anywhere, forever.
Does LibreOffice Draw open .pub files?
Yes — LibreOffice Draw has partial Publisher file support and can open most .pub files directly without conversion.
Should I migrate to PDF or Word?
PDF if the document is final and just needs to be shared/printed. Word if you need to continue editing the content.
How long does migration take?
A single .pub file converts in 5–15 seconds. For large archives, plan a few hours to convert and review all files.