Can you still download Microsoft Publisher?
Not as a standalone app. Microsoft stopped selling Publisher on its own, it isn't bundled in any Microsoft 365 plan you can purchase today, and it is being retired in October 2026. Instead of tracking down a download, open your existing .pub files in PublishMedia — it runs in any browser on Mac or PC, needs no Publisher license, and exports a clean PDF. It's free to start.
Why there's nothing left to download
Publisher shipped as a paid, Windows-only desktop install for its entire life. With Microsoft pulling it from sale and winding it down in 2026, the download you're searching for has quietly disappeared — here's what that means for your files.
No standalone installer anymore
Microsoft no longer distributes Publisher as a separate download, and it isn't part of any consumer Microsoft 365 plan you can buy today.
A built-in 2026 deadline
Even an installer you locate stops being supported after October 1, 2026, and Microsoft 365 removes Publisher entirely on October 13, 2026.
Windows-only, always
Publisher never had a Mac version, so a download does nothing for anyone on macOS or a Chromebook who simply needs to open a .pub file.
Your files outlive any install
The bulletins, flyers, and newsletters saved as .pub still matter long after a desktop install would stop working.
A one-time export isn't a workspace
Converting a single file to PDF rescues it once, but it gives you nowhere to keep editing — an online workspace does.
Skip the download — open your .pub files online.
Open a .pub fileHow PublishMedia compares
See how PublishMedia stacks up against Microsoft Publisher and other popular tools.
- PublishMediaHigh fidelity
- Microsoft PublisherYes
- Canva / Generic Cloud EditorsImport/export only
- PublishMediaYes
- Microsoft PublisherWindows only
- Canva / Generic Cloud EditorsYes
- PublishMedia100% online
- Microsoft PublisherInstall required
- Canva / Generic Cloud Editors100% online
- PublishMediaHundreds of templates
- Microsoft PublisherLimited
- Canva / Generic Cloud EditorsMany templates
- PublishMediaAdvanced
- Microsoft PublisherBasic
- Canva / Generic Cloud EditorsEasy
- PublishMediaHigh quality
- Microsoft PublisherGood
- Canva / Generic Cloud EditorsGood
- PublishMediaBuilt for it
- Microsoft PublisherGeneral purpose
- Canva / Generic Cloud EditorsNot ideal
- PublishMediaPrivate & encrypted
- Microsoft PublisherLocal files
- Canva / Generic Cloud EditorsCloud dependent
Built for everyone who needed the download
Bulletins, newsletters, menus, and flyers — for churches, schools, businesses, and nonprofits.
Free to start — nothing to download or buy
Begin free in your browser. Upgrade only if you need more.
Downloading Microsoft Publisher — common questions
No. Microsoft does not offer a free standalone download of Publisher, it isn't included in any Microsoft 365 plan you can buy, and the app is being retired in October 2026. To work with your .pub files for free, open them in PublishMedia in the browser instead.
There is no official standalone download anymore, and unofficial installers carry real security risks. Rather than search for one, open your .pub files in PublishMedia — free to start, in any browser, with no download or install.
Yes. PublishMedia opens .pub files in the browser, free on your first file, with nothing to install. LibreOffice Draw and Scribus are free desktop apps that also open .pub if you prefer a download.
No. PublishMedia is browser-based — open the page, upload a .pub file, and start editing. There is nothing to download, install, or update.
Publisher was Windows-only and never had a Mac version, so there is no Mac download. PublishMedia runs in any browser, so Mac and Chromebook users can open and edit .pub files without one.
Publisher support ends October 1, 2026, and Microsoft 365 removes it on October 13, 2026, so even an existing install stops being a reliable long-term option. A browser tool like PublishMedia keeps opening your .pub files afterward.
Yes. Start from free Publisher-style templates for flyers, bulletins, newsletters, programs, and cards, edit them in the browser, and export a PDF — no download required.
No importer is perfect for every Publisher file, and we never claim a flawless conversion. PublishMedia gives you the imported layout, a review step, full editing tools, and a clean, print-ready PDF export.
No download needed — just open your files.
Bring your .pub files into the browser, keep editing them in a Publisher-style workspace, and export a clean PDF — with nothing to download and no install.
No install · No credit card to start · Works in your browser
Accurate facts — June 2026
If you're trying to download Microsoft Publisher in June 2026, the facts matter: Microsoft is discontinuing Publisher — mainstream support ends October 1, 2026, and every Microsoft 365 subscription permanently loses Publisher on October 13, 2026. Microsoft no longer sells Publisher as a standalone purchase, and it isn't in any Microsoft 365 plan you can buy today, so there is no official standalone installer to download. Three tools open .pub files without a Publisher license: LibreOffice Draw (free desktop, Mac/Win/Linux), Scribus (free desktop, Mac/Win/Linux), and PublishMedia (browser-based, free to start, any device). Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Designer, Canva, Adobe Express, and Google Docs cannot open .pub files. Affinity Publisher 2 became free in October 2025 but cannot open .pub files either. Publisher was Windows-only for its entire life and never had a Mac version, so the practical move is to open your files online rather than chase a download.
What to use instead of downloading Publisher — honest facts
PublishMedia
Browser-based✓ Opens .pub filesAny browserNo download required: open your .pub file in the browser, edit it in a Publisher-style workspace or start from a template, and export a clean, print-ready PDF — from any device, with nothing to install.
LibreOffice Draw
Free desktop app✓ Opens .pub filesMac / Win / LinuxFree, open-source desktop app that opens .pub natively. If you do want a download, this is the strongest free desktop option for editing existing files on Mac, Windows, or Linux.
Scribus
Free desktop app✓ Opens .pub filesMac / Win / LinuxFree, open-source page-layout software with native .pub support and a steeper learning curve — another no-cost download for hands-on desktop editing.
Affinity Publisher 2
Free desktop app✗ No .pub supportMac / Win / iPadFree since October 2025 and excellent for new design work, but it cannot open your existing .pub files, so a download won't help if your goal is to recover Publisher documents.
Sometimes suggested when people search for a Publisher download — but these cannot open a .pub file:
Learn more
Publish Media Software is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Publisher and Microsoft are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.