Microsoft Publisher is a desktop publishing software available through a Microsoft 365 subscription. It offers tools for creating professional layouts, designing unique materials, and publishing in various formats. The software integrates with other Microsoft products, providing a comprehensive suite for both personal and business use.
What is Microsoft Publisher?
Microsoft Publisher is a desktop publishing software designed to help users create polished, professional layouts with ease. It allows precise layout and styling of text, pictures, borders, calendars, and more. The software is available for PC only and can be accessed through a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Users can create a variety of materials, from simple greeting cards and labels to professional newsletters and marketing materials, using a wide range of pre-designed templates. The software allows users to share pixel-perfect printouts, send professional-quality email publications, or export to industry-standard non-editable formats.
What to Consider When Selecting a Microsoft Publisher Alternative?
Ease of Use Look for software with an intuitive interface that allows you to create professional designs without a steep learning curve. Tools like Fotor and BeFunky are known for their user-friendly interfaces.
Template Variety Ensure the alternative offers a wide range of pre-designed templates for various purposes, such as social media posts, business cards, and flyers. Platforms like VistaCreate and PicMonkey provide extensive template libraries.
Collaboration Features For team projects, choose a tool that supports real-time collaboration and sharing. Vectr and RelayThat offer features that facilitate teamwork and project management.
Export Options Check if the software allows you to export your designs in various formats like PDF, JPEG, and PNG. This flexibility is crucial for different publishing needs. Microsoft Publisher and Desygner excel in providing multiple export options.
Brand Consistency Opt for tools that help maintain brand consistency by storing brand assets like logos, fonts, and colors. Piktochart and Marq are excellent choices for ensuring your designs stay on-brand.
Best Alternatives to Microsoft Publisher
1. Piktochart
Piktochart is a tool designed to transform complex ideas into captivating visuals such as infographics, reports, and presentations. It leverages AI to help users create professional-quality visuals quickly and without any design experience. Try Piktochart For Free!
Pros of Using Piktochart
AI-Powered Design Generator: Quickly create professional visuals from any prompt.
Instant Visual Generation: Transform ideas into infographics, banners, flyers, and posters in seconds.
Document Conversion: Convert documents into engaging data visualizations without copying and pasting content.
Text-to-Image: Generate custom AI images from text prompts.
Comprehensive Visual Tools: Includes tools for charts, graphs, diagrams, icons, illustrations, photos, design components, maps, processes, flowcharts, and tables.
Who should use Piktochart?
Piktochart targets businesses, educators, and individuals who need to create professional-quality visuals quickly and efficiently. It's ideal for marketers, content creators, and teams looking to maintain brand consistency.
Pricing
For businesses, Piktochart offers several pricing packages:
Free: $0 (Free forever)
Pro: $14 per member/month, billed annually
Business: $24 per member/month, billed annually
Enterprise: Custom Pricing
Campus: Custom Pricing (Minimum 3000 seats)
Reviews
Piktochart has an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Users appreciate its ease of use and the variety of tools available. Check out more of our reviews here!
2. Fotor
Fotor is an online photo editor that offers a comprehensive suite of tools for enhancing and editing photos. It provides a user-friendly interface with powerful features similar to Photoshop but with fewer learning curves.
Pros of Using Fotor
AI-Powered Tools: Advanced AI tools for photo enhancement, background removal, and object removal.
Batch Editing: Ability to edit multiple photos at once.
Design Assets: Access to high-resolution photos, stickers, icons, and fonts.
Cons of Using Fotor
Limited Advanced Features: May not have all the advanced features of professional software like Photoshop.
Subscription for Pro Features: Some advanced features require a subscription to Fotor Pro.
Pricing
Fotor Basic: Free
Fotor Pro: $3.33 per month (billed annually)
Fotor Pro+: $7.49 per month (billed annually)
Reviews
Fotor has an overall rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars. Users generally find the platform easy to use but note limitations in advanced features. Check out more Fotor reviews here.
3. DesignBold
DesignBold is a digital agency that aims to inspire people to make their imagination come true. Their mission is to democratize design by making it accessible to everyone, regardless of their skill level or background. They offer a variety of services and products, including a Graphics Marketplace, Graphic Design Platform, Website Builder Platform, and Design and Digital Agency services.
Pros of Using DesignBold
User-Friendly Interface: DesignBold offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for users to create stunning visuals.
Vast Library of Templates and Graphics: Users have access to a vast library of templates, graphics, and fonts.
Versatile Design Tools: The platform provides easy tools and beautiful templates to make graphical ideas come true.
Cons of Using DesignBold
Potential Learning Curve: While the interface is user-friendly, new users might still face a learning curve when getting started.
Limited Information on Pricing: The webpage does not provide detailed information on the pricing of all services and products, which might require users to contact the agency for more details.
Pricing
DesignBold's pricing is not public. Contact their support for more info.
Reviews
DesignBold has an overall rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars. Users generally find the platform easy to use but note issues with drag-and-drop functionality and occasional bugs. Check out more DesignBold reviews here.
4. PicMonkey
PicMonkey is a photo editing and design tool that allows users to create eye-catching images for social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, as well as for ads and logos. It offers a wide range of templates for various design needs, including flyers, presentations, logos, and invitations.
Pros of Using PicMonkey
Wide Range of Templates: Offers stunning templates for logos, banners, thumbnails, and more.
Advanced Photo Editing Tools: Includes features like Touch Up, Color Changer, and background remover.
Extensive Library: Provides access to 9,000+ graphics and textures, 100s of fonts, and thousands of templates.
Cons of Using PicMonkey
Browser Compatibility: Some features may not be supported by all browsers.
Subscription Required: Full access to all features likely requires a subscription.
Pricing
Business Plan: $228.00 USD annually per user or $23.00 billed monthly
Reviews
PicMonkey has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Users generally find the platform easy to use but note limitations in advanced features. Check out more PicMonkey reviews here.
5. Vectr
Vectr is an AI-powered vector graphics editor that allows users to create and edit vector images online. It offers tools for background removal, converting images to vectors, real-time collaboration, and cross-platform synchronization.
Pros of Using Vectr
No Quality-Loss: Ensures high-quality prints and display with scalable vector graphics.
Real-Time Collaboration: Allows users to share their design workspace live and collaborate instantly with integrated chat features.
Cross-Platform Sync: Keeps designs synchronized across all devices in real-time.
Generative AI Tools: Automates complex tasks like background removal and text to image conversion, saving time and enhancing creativity.
Cons of Using Vectr
Premium Account Required for Some Features: Sharing vector graphics with others or downloading them requires a premium account.
Browser Compatibility: Works best on Chrome; other browsers may have issues.
Pricing
Vectr's pricing is not public. Contact their support for more info.
Reviews
Vectr has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Users generally find the platform easy to use but note limitations in advanced features. Check out more Vectr reviews here.
6. Lucidpress
Lucidpress is a web-based design and publishing tool that allows users to create and collaborate on various types of visual content such as brochures, flyers, newsletters, presentations, and more. It offers a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality, making it accessible to users with varying design skills.
Pros of Using Lucidpress
Brand Consistency: Guarantees brand consistency by locking critical elements like logos, fonts, and colors.
Speedy Content Creation: Speeds up content creation, allowing for faster delivery to the audience.
Reduced Creative Requests: Reduces creative requests, freeing up time for strategic work.
Easy Personalization: Enables easy personalization and sharing of branded templates across teams.
Cons of Using Lucidpress
Internet Dependency: Requires an internet connection to use the web-based platform.
Learning Curve: New users might face a learning curve when getting started.
Pricing
Lucidpress's pricing is not public. Contact their support for more info.
Reviews
Lucidpress has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Users generally find the platform easy to use but note limitations in advanced features. Check out more Lucidpress reviews here.
7. BeFunky
BeFunky is an all-in-one online creative platform that offers tools for photo editing, graphic design, and collage making. It aims to simplify the creative process with features like crop and resize, batch editing, background remover, and customizable design templates. The platform is designed to be user-friendly, making it accessible for everyone, regardless of their skill level.
Pros of Using BeFunky
Ease of Use: The platform is designed to be user-friendly, making it accessible for users of all skill levels.
All-in-One Solution: BeFunky offers a comprehensive suite of tools for photo editing, collage making, and graphic design.
AI Features: Advanced features like the AI-powered Background Remover and Batch Processing enhance productivity.
Cons of Using BeFunky
Limited Advanced Features: While BeFunky is user-friendly, it may lack some advanced features that professional designers might need.
Subscription for Full Access: Some of the more powerful features are locked behind a subscription service (BeFunky Plus).
Pricing
Annual Plan: $6.99 per month, billed annually at $83.88 (Save 53%).
Monthly Plan: $14.99 per month, billed monthly.
Reviews
BeFunky has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars. Users generally find the platform easy to use but note limitations in advanced features. Check out more BeFunky reviews here.
8. RelayThat
RelayThat is a design automation tool that helps marketing managers, agencies, and teams create consistent, on-brand digital marketing materials, display ads, and social media content. It automates the design process across various channels, ensuring brand guidelines are maintained with minimal effort.
Pros of Using RelayThat
Brand Management: Easy management and switching between multiple workspaces and campaigns.
Headline Generator: Quick generation of copy to overcome writer's block.
One Click Resize: Effortless resizing and remixing of layouts for different channels.
Cons of Using RelayThat
Subscription Management: Some users find it difficult to cancel subscriptions.
Customer Support: Criticized for slow response times.
Pricing
PRO: $15 per month per user.
PRO PLUS: $25 per month, which includes 2 users.
RelayThat 's pricing is not public. Contact their support for more info.
Reviews
RelayThat has a rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars. Users generally appreciate the automation features but criticize customer support and subscription management. Check out more RelayThat reviews here.
9. Desygner
Desygner is an all-in-one business growth and marketing solution that allows users to create, manage, and distribute marketing materials efficiently. It offers a range of features including design tools, PDF editing, AI-powered design, a vast library of royalty-free images, and more. The platform is designed to be user-friendly, catering to individuals, small to medium-sized businesses, and large enterprises, helping them save time and money while maintaining brand consistency.
Pros of Using Desygner
Cost-Effective: Significant cost savings on design and marketing materials.
User-Friendly: No design expertise needed; easy for anyone to use.
Comprehensive Features: Includes design tools, PDF editor, AI text generator, stock images, and more.
Collaboration: Allows team collaboration with controlled access.
Cons of Using Desygner
Learning Curve: While user-friendly, new users might need some time to explore and utilize all features effectively.
Subscription Cost: Although cost-effective, there is a monthly subscription fee which might be a consideration for very small businesses or startups with tight budgets.
Pricing
Business: $19.08 per month for the first 6 people (billed annually)
Enterprise: Pricing not public; requires contacting Desygner for a quote.
Reviews
Desygner has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars. Users generally find the platform easy to use but note the high subscription costs and occasional slow performance. Check out more Desygner reviews here.
10. Crello
VistaCreate is a free graphic design tool that offers thousands of free templates for various formats such as social media, print, web, and ads. Users can pick a template, adjust it to their project, and post or print. The platform aims to help users tell their brand story uniquely and effectively.
Pros of Using Crello
Extensive Template Library: Over 150,000 professionally-designed templates.
Creative Assets: 70 million+ royalty-free photos, videos, and vectors.
Animation and Video: Tools for adding animated text effects, transitions, and objects.
Background Remover and Sticker Maker: Simplifies the process of creating clean backgrounds and stickers.
Cons of Using Crello
Limited Free Features: Some advanced features and a larger library of assets are only available with the Pro plan.
Storage Limitations: The free plan offers limited storage (10 GB), whereas the Pro plan offers unlimited storage.
Pricing
Crello's pricing is not public. Contact their support for more info.
Reviews
Crello has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Users generally find the platform easy to use but note issues with downloading designs and slow performance. Check out more Crello reviews here.
Which One Should You Go With?
While each of these tools offers unique features and benefits, Piktochart stands out for its AI-powered design capabilities and ease of use. Whether you're a business, educator, or individual, Piktochart can help you create stunning visuals quickly and efficiently. If you're looking for a versatile and user-friendly alternative, Piktochart is a fantastic choice to consider.
Piktochart Team
