Publish Media Software

Honest answer — updated June 2026

Trying to buy Publisher? You don't need to. Here's why.

Publisher is discontinued — no new licenses exist

Microsoft has discontinued Publisher. New licenses are not sold anywhere. Publisher is being permanently removed from all Microsoft 365 subscriptions on October 13, 2026. Even if you found a “resale” copy, it would be an old, unsupported version with zero security updates.

The better question: what do you actually need Publisher for? If it's opening old .pub files, editing a bulletin, or creating a flyer — you can do all of that right now, for free, without buying anything.

  • ✓ No new Publisher licenses available — discontinued 2026
  • ✓ Publisher removed from all Microsoft 365 on October 13, 2026
  • ✓ .pub files are safe — you just need a different tool to open them
  • ✓ LibreOffice Draw opens .pub files free — Mac, Windows, Linux
  • ✓ PublishMedia opens .pub files in your browser — first file free
  • ✓ 200+ Publisher-style templates for bulletins, menus, flyers

What to do with your existing .pub files

Your .pub files are still readable — Publisher's file format is well-documented and several tools open it without needing a Publisher license. You don't need to buy anything to keep working with your files.

Open in browser

Upload your .pub to PublishMedia — no install, no license. Edit and export a PDF. First file free.

Open your .pub file

LibreOffice Draw (free)

Free download from libreoffice.org. Opens .pub files natively on Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Scribus (free)

Free professional desktop publisher at scribus.net. Native .pub support.

Affinity Publisher 2 (free)

Free desktop download from affinity.serif.com. Good for new design work — does not open .pub files natively. Use LibreOffice or PublishMedia for existing .pub files.

Questions

Can I still buy Microsoft Publisher?
No. Microsoft has discontinued Publisher — new licenses are not available for purchase. Publisher was bundled with M365 Business Standard and Premium plans and is being removed from those plans on October 13, 2026. There is no standalone Publisher product to buy anywhere.
Can I buy a used or existing Publisher license?
Used software licenses for standalone Publisher (pre-M365) may exist on third-party markets, but Microsoft's terms of service generally restrict license transfer. Even if you found one, it would be an old unsupported version with no updates — a growing security risk. A modern alternative is a better choice.
Does Microsoft 365 still include Publisher?
No — not for new M365 subscribers, and only temporarily for existing ones. Publisher is being removed from all M365 plans on October 13, 2026. Even if you're a Business Standard or Premium subscriber today, you lose Publisher on that date.
What should I use instead of Publisher?
LibreOffice Draw (free, desktop) and Scribus (free, desktop) both open .pub files natively. Affinity Publisher 2 became free in October 2025 but cannot open .pub files. PublishMedia (browser-based, first file free) opens .pub files for editing and has 200+ Publisher-style templates for new documents.
I have .pub files. How do I keep using them?
Your .pub files stay safe on your hard drive — they are not deleted. To open and edit them, use LibreOffice Draw (free), Scribus (free), or PublishMedia (browser-based, first file free). None require a Publisher license.
My church or organization uses Publisher. What should we do?
Open your existing .pub files now using PublishMedia, LibreOffice Draw, or Scribus. Export each as a PDF to preserve the layout. Then move new document creation to a replacement tool. PublishMedia is purpose-built as a Publisher replacement for exactly this audience — with templates for bulletins, newsletters, flyers, and certificates.

Accurate facts — June 2026

Can you buy Microsoft Publisher? (as of June 2026):No. Microsoft has discontinued Publisher — no new licenses are available for purchase. Publisher was bundled only with Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Business Premium plans; it was never sold as a standalone retail product after Office 2019. All M365 subscribers permanently lose Publisher on October 13, 2026. Used or resale perpetual licenses may exist on third-party markets, but Microsoft's terms of service restrict transfer, and any such copy is unsupported. Publisher never ran on Mac. No new Publisher installer exists. Only three tools natively open .pub files: LibreOffice Draw (free), Scribus (free), and PublishMedia (browser-based).

Related

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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.