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Is Microsoft Publisher free?

No — and it's being discontinued

Publisher was bundled with certain Microsoft 365 Business plans. It was never a free product, and Microsoft is discontinuing it in 2026. Support ends October 1, 2026. M365 subscribers lose access on October 13, 2026.

If you're looking for a free way to open, edit, or replace Publisher files, there are good options — including tools that open .pub files without needing a Publisher license.

Free alternatives that open .pub files

These tools open your existing .pub files directly — no conversion step, no layout guesswork.

LibreOffice Draw

Desktop · Free

Free, open-source. Opens .pub files natively (libmspub). Full editing — text boxes, images, shapes, pages. Desktop app for Mac, Windows, Linux.

Scribus

Desktop · Free

Free, open-source. Professional desktop publisher with native .pub support. Steeper learning curve; better for complex, print-ready layouts.

Affinity Publisher V3

Desktop · Free

Opens .pub files. Free desktop download since October 2025. Polished UI, good for regular print/design use. Mac, Windows, iPad.

Publish365

Browser · First file free

Browser-based. Upload your .pub — edit online and export a PDF. No install. First file free; plans from $9/month for ongoing use.

Open your first .pub file free

Which M365 plans included Publisher?

✓M365 Business Standard
✓M365 Business Premium
✗M365 Business Basic
✗M365 Personal
✗M365 Family
✗Microsoft 365 Apps for Business(Varies by plan)

All M365 subscriptions lose Publisher on October 13, 2026 regardless of tier.

Questions

Is Microsoft Publisher free?
No. Publisher has never been offered as a standalone free product. It was bundled with certain Microsoft 365 Business subscription tiers (Business Standard and higher). It is being discontinued in 2026 and will not be replaced by a free alternative from Microsoft.
Was Publisher included with Microsoft 365?
Yes, in specific tiers: Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Business Premium included Publisher on Windows. Basic plans (M365 Business Basic, Personal, Family) did not include Publisher. It was never included in M365 Personal or Family plans.
Are there free Publisher alternatives that open .pub files?
Yes. LibreOffice Draw is free and open-source and opens .pub files natively. Scribus is also free and open-source with native .pub support. Affinity Publisher V3 made its desktop apps free to download in October 2025 and opens .pub files. Publish365 is free for your first file conversion.
Does Microsoft offer a free replacement for Publisher?
No. Microsoft has not announced a free replacement for Publisher. Microsoft Designer, Sway, and PowerPoint all lack native .pub file support. Microsoft suggests exporting to Word or PDF as a migration path.

Related questions

Publisher alternativesIs Publisher discontinued?Can I still buy Publisher?What replaces Publisher?

Publish365 is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Publisher and Microsoft are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.