The End of Microsoft Publisher: Where to Go From Here?

After 35 years, Microsoft is retiring Microsoft Publisher. Starting in October 2026, Publisher will no longer be supported—and you won’t be able to access or open Publisher files (.pub). If you use Publisher for flyers, brochures, newsletters, or other everyday marketing pieces, now is the time to plan your switch and protect the files you’ll still need later.

The good news: there are several easy alternatives that can replace (or improve on) your workflow—depending on how simple or complex your designs are.

3 Publisher Alternatives to Consider:

1) Canva

A highly accessible, browser-based design platform that makes it easy to create flyers, posters, social graphics, and more.

Best for: quick marketing pieces and templates

Benefits:

• Simple to learn (great for non-designers)
• Fast design with lots of ready-made templates
• Easy to collaborate and share with a team

Common issue: designs can start to look “template-y” unless you customize them, and it may feel limiting for complex print layouts.

2) Affinity by Canva

A professional publishing application for more complex designs—ideal when you want more precision, stronger layout control, and print-ready output.

Best for: brochures, newsletters, multi-page pieces, detailed layouts

Benefits:

• More advanced layout and typography control
• Better suited for complex, print-focused documents
• Great for brand-level design consistency

Common issue: steeper learning curve than Canva, especially for teams used to Publisher’s simplicity.

3) Adobe Express

A cloud-based design tool that’s best for lightweight graphics and quick branded content—especially for digital use.

Best for: lightweight designs, web graphics, and social content

Benefits:

• Quick creation of modern digital marketing pieces
• Helpful for maintaining a consistent brand look
• Easy sharing and access from anywhere

Common issue: not ideal for highly detailed, multi-page print layouts.

📢 Don’t Wait Until the Deadline!

If you have important Publisher files you’ll want to reuse, it’s smart to start converting or rebuilding key templates now—so you’re not scrambling when Publisher goes away.

And of course, Coughlin is here to help—whether you want guidance choosing the right tool, need help recreating your Publisher designs in a new platform, or want us to handle the design work for print, web, or social.

Need help? Get in touch:
watertown@coughlin.co | 315-788-8560