Which Program Should I Use Instead of Publisher?
Short answer: Canva for most visual projects, Word for text-heavy or mailing-list jobs, PowerPoint for single-page pieces, and LibreOffice if you need free software or must reopen old .pub files. Four quick questions get you the answer for your project.
Find your best fit in four questions
Pick one answer for each question, then get a recommendation for your project. Your answers stay in your browser — nothing is saved or sent.
Prefer to skip the questions? Start here.
Every project type at a glance, with a link to the full guide for each.
| If you make… | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Church bulletins | Canva | Free bulletin templates with the folding done for you. Word works if yours is mostly text. |
| Newsletters | Word if you mail to a list; Canva for photo-heavy issues | Word has multi-column layout and mail merge. Canva is faster to design in. |
| Flyers | Canva, or PowerPoint | Canva’s templates and resizing are the fastest. PowerPoint’s free-form canvas works if you would rather stay in Microsoft 365. |
| Posters | Canva, or PowerPoint | Canva supports large-format sizes. PowerPoint supports custom slide sizes. |
| Brochures | Canva | Bi-fold and tri-fold templates with the panel widths already set. |
| Business cards | Canva | Bleed guides are built in, but confirm your printer’s exact specs. |
| Labels | Word for address labels; Canva for decorative ones | Word has an Avery label picker and mail merge. Canva is quicker for jar and product labels. |
| Event programs | Canva | Booklet-fold templates. Word is enough for a text-only order of service. |
| Calendars | Canva | The grid and date layouts are already built. |
| Old .pub files you need to keep editing | LibreOffice Draw | The only option here that opens .pub files directly. Test a copy first. |
Three things the tool takes into account
What you make comes first
The project decides most of the answer. A photo-heavy flyer, a mailed newsletter, and a sheet of address labels each need different strengths from a program.
Old files and mailing lists change it
Only LibreOffice Draw can open old .pub files directly, and only Word and LibreOffice Writer do mail merge. If either matters to you, the answer shifts.
Your preference is respected
If you want to stay in the Microsoft apps you already have, or you want free software, the tool works within that and tells you where it falls short.
Questions about the tool
Does this tool save or send my answers?
No. It runs entirely in your browser, and your answers aren’t stored or sent anywhere. Close the tab and they’re gone.
Is it really free?
Yes. There’s no account, no email address, and no catch. The Publisher Retirement Kit is a separate, paid guide for people who want the full step-by-step migration plan.
Which program can open my old .pub files?
Of the options here, only LibreOffice Draw can open .pub files directly, and it isn’t perfect, so test a copy. Canva, Word, and PowerPoint can’t, so export to PDF from Publisher first, while you still have access, and rebuild.
What if my project isn’t on the list?
Choose “Something else.” You’ll get a general recommendation based on your other answers. For a visual piece, Canva is the safest starting point.
Why aren’t InDesign or Affinity in the tool?
The tool covers the four options most Publisher users can start with today. Professional layout programs like InDesign and Affinity are more powerful, but they have a steeper learning curve than most bulletins and flyers need. The Retirement Kit covers them briefly.
Want the full plan, not just the program?
The Publisher Retirement Kit walks you through finding, saving, and rebuilding your files, step by step.
Get the Retirement Kit