Is Microsoft Publisher 2021 the last version of Publisher?
Effectively, yes — Publisher 2021 was the last standalone release, Microsoft no longer sells it separately, and it isn't part of any Microsoft 365 plan you can buy today. Mainstream support ends October 1, 2026, and Microsoft 365 permanently removes Publisher on October 13, 2026. To keep using the .pub files you made, open them in PublishMedia: it runs in any browser, needs no Publisher license, and exports a clean PDF, free to start.
Why Publisher 2021 is the end of the line
Publisher 2021 was a paid, Windows-only desktop app, and it never got a successor. A few realities explain why it's the last stop — and why your files need a new home.
No version came after it
Publisher 2021 was the final release. Microsoft pulled it from standalone sale and left it out of the Microsoft 365 plans you can buy today, so there's nothing newer to move up to.
A 2026 retirement date
Mainstream support for Publisher ends October 1, 2026, and Microsoft 365 removes the app entirely on October 13, 2026 — so even an installed copy of 2021 is on a clock.
Windows-only, start to finish
Publisher never shipped a Mac version in its entire life, so Publisher 2021 does nothing for the Mac and Chromebook users who simply need to open a .pub file.
Your .pub files outlast the app
The bulletins, flyers, and newsletters you saved in Publisher 2021 still matter long after the program stops being supported — they deserve a tool that keeps opening them.
A converter isn't a workspace
A one-off PDF export can rescue a single file, but it gives you nowhere to keep editing the document. An online workspace lets you carry the work forward.
Bring your Publisher 2021 files online in seconds.
Open a .pub filePublisher 2021 vs. opening your files online
An installed copy of Publisher 2021 still opens .pub files on Windows — until the 2026 shutdown. PublishMedia opens those same files on any device, with no license and no install.
| Features | PublishMediaBrowser-based · free start | Microsoft Publisher | Canva / Generic Cloud Editors | LibreOffice / Scribus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opens your .pub files | ✓Yes — in the browser | ✓Yes, on Windows | ✗No .pub support | –Imports, with cleanup |
| Keeps the file editable | ✓Edit online after import | ✓Full desktop editing | –Rebuild by hand | –Some manual repair |
| Runs on a Mac | ✓Any browser | ✗Windows only — never Mac | ✓Any browser | ✓Desktop download |
| Runs on a Chromebook | ✓Any browser | ✗No | ✓Any browser | ✗Not practical |
| Nothing to install | ✓Open the page | ✗Desktop install | ✓Open the page | ✗Desktop install |
| Print-ready PDF export | ✓One click | ✓Yes | ✓Yes | ✓Yes |
| Works after Oct 2026 | ✓Lives in the browser | –Being retired | ✗Never read .pub | –Desktop fallback |
No installation. No credit card. Start for free.
For everyone still working in Publisher 2021
Bulletins, newsletters, menus, and flyers — for churches, schools, businesses, and nonprofits.
Free to start — no Publisher 2021 license required
Begin free. Upgrade only when you need more.
Microsoft Publisher 2021 — common questions
Yes, in practice. Publisher 2021 was the last standalone release; Microsoft never shipped a newer one, no longer sells it separately, and doesn't include it in any current Microsoft 365 plan you can buy. The app is being retired in 2026.
Its support does. Mainstream support for Publisher ends October 1, 2026, and Microsoft 365 permanently removes Publisher on October 13, 2026. A standalone Publisher 2021 install may keep launching for a while, but it's no longer a dependable long-term tool — so it's worth moving your files now.
Three tools open .pub files without a Publisher license: PublishMedia in your browser (free to start), and LibreOffice Draw and Scribus on the desktop (both free). PublishMedia is the option that needs no install and works on any device.
Yes, with PublishMedia. Publisher was Windows-only its whole life and never had a Mac version, but PublishMedia runs in any browser, so Mac and Chromebook users can open and edit .pub files made in Publisher 2021.
No. Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Designer, Canva, Adobe Express, and Google Docs cannot open .pub files. To open a Publisher 2021 document you need PublishMedia, LibreOffice Draw, or Scribus.
Not for your existing files. Affinity Publisher 2 became free in October 2025 and is good for new layouts, but it cannot open .pub files — so it won't help you reopen documents built in Publisher 2021.
No. Open the page, upload a .pub file, and edit it in the browser. There's nothing to purchase, download, or install, and it's free to start.
Yes. Start from Publisher-style templates for flyers, bulletins, newsletters, programs, and cards, edit them in the browser, and export a print-ready PDF.
Publisher 2021 was the last version. Your files can still move forward.
Open your Microsoft Publisher 2021 .pub files in the browser, keep editing them in an online workspace, and export a clean PDF — no license, nothing to install.
No install · No credit card to start · Works in your browser
Accurate facts — June 2026
Microsoft Publisher 2021 (as of June 2026): Publisher 2021 was effectively the last version of the app — Microsoft never released a newer one, no longer sells Publisher as a standalone purchase, and does not include it in any Microsoft 365 plan you can buy today. Microsoft is discontinuing Publisher: mainstream support ends October 1, 2026, and every Microsoft 365 subscription permanently loses Publisher on October 13, 2026. Three tools open .pub files without a Publisher license: LibreOffice Draw (free desktop app for Mac, Windows, and Linux), Scribus (free desktop app for Mac, Windows, and Linux), and PublishMedia (browser-based, free to start, works on 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. Publisher was Windows-only for its entire life and never had a Mac version. PublishMedia opens and edits .pub files in any browser, offers Publisher-style templates, and exports a clean, print-ready PDF.
What opens Publisher 2021 files — the honest facts
PublishMedia
Browser-based✓ Opens .pub filesAny browserPublishMedia opens your Publisher 2021 .pub file right in the browser, lets you edit it in an online Publisher workspace or start from a template, and exports a clean, print-ready PDF — from any device on Mac, PC, or Chromebook, with nothing to install and free to start.
LibreOffice Draw
Free desktop app✓ Opens .pub filesMac / Win / LinuxLibreOffice Draw is a free, open-source desktop app for Mac, Windows, and Linux that opens .pub files natively — the strongest free desktop option for editing documents made in Publisher 2021.
Scribus
Free desktop app✓ Opens .pub filesMac / Win / LinuxScribus is a free, open-source page-layout app for Mac, Windows, and Linux with native .pub support. It's very capable and has a steeper learning curve for full hands-on control.
Affinity Publisher 2
Free desktop app✗ No .pub supportMac / Win / iPadAffinity Publisher 2 became free in October 2025 and is excellent for new design work, but it cannot open .pub files — so it won't reopen your existing Publisher 2021 documents.
Often suggested for Publisher 2021 files, 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.