By Project Type

What Should You Use Instead of Publisher for Brochures?

Short answer: Canva, for most tri-fold and bi-fold brochures. Its templates already account for the fold lines and panel layout Publisher used to handle for you.

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The Short Version

Here's the fast path for your brochure

Canva has fold-ready brochure templates

Tri-fold and bi-fold layouts already sized and marked for you, so you're not guessing at panel widths.

Your old .pub brochure rebuilds panel by panel

Export to PDF, then recreate each panel in Canva using it as a guide — budget more time than a single-page flyer.

LibreOffice can reopen it directly, fold guides and all

Draw opens .pub brochures without a PDF step, though double-check the panel folds render correctly.

Word can do a simple brochure, but folds are manual

Its column layout can approximate a brochure, but you're setting fold-line margins by hand, not using a template built for it.

Your Options

Three tools that can replace Publisher for brochures

Best For Most Brochures

Canva

Tri-fold and bi-fold templates with panel widths already worked out, plus an easy library to browse for your industry.

Compare Canva to Publisher
Best If You Have an Archive to Reopen

LibreOffice

Opens existing .pub brochures directly via Draw — free forever, though fold-line setup is more manual than Canva's templates.

Compare LibreOffice to Publisher
Best For Text-Only, Simple Tri-Folds

Word

Column layout can approximate a basic tri-fold, but you're setting panel margins by hand rather than using a template.

Compare Word to Publisher
Getting Started

How to actually make the switch

  1. Export your current brochure to PDF today

    Do this panel by panel if it helps, while you still have Publisher access.

  2. Find a fold-format template that matches yours

    Bi-fold or tri-fold — pick the matching Canva template rather than setting up panels from scratch.

  3. Rebuild each panel using your PDF as reference

    A typical tri-fold takes longer than a single-page flyer, so plan a real working session.

  4. Print and physically fold a test copy first

    Confirm your panels line up correctly before committing to a full print run.

Common Questions

Brochure questions people actually ask

Does bi-fold vs. tri-fold matter for the software?

Mostly, it affects which template you start from. Canva has separate templates for each fold type, so you don't have to calculate panel widths yourself.

Can LibreOffice open my old tri-fold Publisher brochure?

Yes, via Draw — but double-check the fold lines and panel widths rendered correctly before you rely on it for a reprint.

Do I need to know exact panel measurements?

Not if you start from a template — Canva's brochure templates already have standard panel widths built in.

Is Word good enough for a simple brochure?

For a text-only, no-photo tri-fold, yes. The moment images and precise panel alignment matter, move to Canva.

Should I test-print before a big run?

Always, especially for folded pieces. Print one copy, fold it physically, and check the alignment before ordering a large quantity.

Not sure which tool fits your brochure?

The Publisher Retirement Kit includes a decision guide made for exactly this kind of call — no guessing required.

Get the Retirement Kit