Quick answer: nothing replaced Publisher directly. Microsoft suggests Word, PowerPoint and Microsoft Create, but none of them can open a .pub file. To keep using existing publications, open them in a tool that reads the Publisher format, such as Free Pub Editor (free, in your browser), LibreOffice Draw or Scribus.
What did Microsoft say would replace Publisher?
Microsoft's support article on the retirement is blunt: "In October 2026, Microsoft Publisher will reach its end of life." It recommends Word and PowerPoint for most of the things people used Publisher for, including brochures, business cards, calendars, labels and newsletters, and points to Microsoft Create for ready-made templates (Microsoft Support).
That covers new work. For files you already have, Microsoft's advice is to "convert your existing files to another format before 10/1/2026", either to PDF or, via PDF, to Word. That step needs Publisher itself, which is exactly what most people no longer have.
Which apps can actually open a .pub file?
This is the question most "Publisher alternative" lists skip. Here is how the main options compare, checked against each product's own documentation.
| App | Suggested by Microsoft? | Opens .pub files? | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Word | Yes | No (opens a PDF you made from Publisher) | Microsoft 365 |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Yes | No | Microsoft 365 |
| Microsoft Create | Yes, for templates | No | Free, paid features |
| Free Pub Editor | No | Yes, with layout, and keeps it editable | Free |
| LibreOffice Draw | No | Yes, imports it; can't save back to .pub | Free |
| Scribus | No | Basic import | Free |
| Canva | No | No (imports PDFs instead) | Free, paid plans |
| Affinity | No | No (imports PDFs instead) | Free for individuals |
Why can't Word or PowerPoint open .pub files?
A .pub file is a page-layout document: every text box, picture and shape sits at a fixed position on the page, often across master pages and linked text boxes. Word is built around flowing text, and PowerPoint around slides. Neither includes a reader for Publisher's format, and Microsoft never published that format. Microsoft even notes that "Publisher doesn't have a viewer" for .pub files (Microsoft Support).
Converting through PDF has limits too. Word's own help says PDF conversion "works best with files that are mostly text", and on graphics-heavy pages "the whole page might show up as an image" (Microsoft Support). A newsletter or poster is exactly that kind of page.
What are the honest pros and cons of each option?
Free Pub Editor
Good: opens Publisher 2002 to Microsoft 365 files with their text boxes, pictures, shapes, tables, master pages and colours, and keeps them editable. It runs in the browser, so there is nothing to install, and your file is never uploaded. Exports a PDF at the exact page size. Not so good: Publisher 2000 files open as text only, Publisher 97 and earlier don't open yet, and text in linked text boxes is gathered into the first box.
LibreOffice Draw
Good: free, open source, and has imported .pub files for years using the libmspub library. Not so good: a large desktop install, it can't save back to .pub, and its export options are drawing formats and PDF rather than Word (LibreOffice Help). In our tests so far on four real files, its rendering was close, but it broke one calendar's tab-stop columns badly.
Scribus
Good: a serious free layout program, with a .pub importer built on the same libmspub library (Libre Arts). Not so good: the import is basic, and Scribus takes time to learn.
Canva and Affinity
Good: excellent for new designs. Affinity says it is "free for individuals (seriously)" (Affinity), and Canva has a huge template library. Not so good: neither opens .pub files. Canva's list of supported uploads includes Word, PowerPoint and PDF but not Publisher (Canva Help). See Can Canva open .pub files? for the workaround.
So what should you use?
- You have .pub files to update or reprint: open them in Free Pub Editor, edit, and export a PDF.
- You want to move to Word or Canva for good: open each file here, export a PDF, and import that PDF into your new app as a starting point.
- You're starting from scratch: Word for simple flyers, Canva for social graphics, Affinity for professional print.
Whatever you choose, save a PDF and an editable copy of every publication you still need. Our full comparison of Publisher alternatives goes into more detail, and the retirement timeline explains what changed when.