Open .pub files without any download
PublishMedia opens .pub files directly in your browser. Upload your file, review the Import Report, fix anything that shifted in conversion, and export a clean PDF — all without installing anything.
Upload your .pub file at the convert page
Review the layout and repair any shifting fonts or images
Export a print-ready PDF or keep editing online
Trying to buy Publisher? You can't — here's what to do instead
Microsoft Publisher is discontinued and no new licenses exist — from Microsoft or anywhere else. There is no legal path to purchasing Publisher in 2026. Sites advertising “Publisher for sale” or “Publisher license keys” are selling either counterfeit keys or pirated software.
- ✗ No standalone Publisher license sold by Microsoft since 2019
- ✗ Publisher only ever bundled with M365 Business Standard and Premium
- ✗ M365 removes Publisher for all subscribers on October 13, 2026
- ✗ No perpetual Publisher 2024 or 2025 was ever released
- ✗ "Publisher keys" sold online are pirated or counterfeit
Free desktop downloads that open .pub files
If you prefer a desktop application:
LibreOffice Draw
Free, open-source desktop app. Opens .pub files natively. Download from libreoffice.org.
Scribus
Free, open-source professional desktop publisher with native .pub support. Download from scribus.net.
Affinity Publisher 2
Free desktop download from affinity.serif.com. Good for new design work — does not open .pub files natively.
Accurate 2026 status
Microsoft Publisher end-of-life facts (as of June 2026): Support ends October 1, 2026. All Microsoft 365 subscriptions permanently lose Publisher on October 13, 2026. No new Publisher installer exists for download. Publisher was never available for Mac — Windows only. Only three tools natively open .pub files: LibreOffice Draw (free, Mac/Win/Linux), Scribus (free, Mac/Win/Linux), and PublishMedia (browser-based). Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Designer cannot open .pub files despite being Microsoft products.
Churches, schools & nonprofits using Publisher
Publisher was the go-to tool for weekly bulletins, school newsletters, and event flyers in thousands of organizations. PublishMedia is purpose-built as its browser-based replacement — with templates for every document type Publisher users already make.
Questions
- Where can I download Microsoft Publisher in 2026?
- No new Publisher installer is available for download from Microsoft. Publisher was only bundled with certain Microsoft 365 Business plans (Standard and Premium) — never sold as a standalone download. Those plans remove Publisher on October 13, 2026. Sites offering 'Publisher downloads' are distributing old, unsupported, or potentially unsafe versions.
- Can I still buy Microsoft Publisher in 2026?
- No. Publisher is discontinued and no new licenses are available for purchase. Microsoft stopped selling Publisher as a standalone product years ago — it was only ever bundled with certain M365 Business plans. Those plans now remove it on October 13, 2026. There is no legal path to purchase a new Publisher license today.
- Can I download Publisher for free?
- No. Publisher was never offered as a standalone free download. It was included only in paid Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Premium plans. It is now discontinued, so no paid download path exists either.
- Is there a Publisher installer I can use after it's discontinued?
- If you had Publisher installed before the discontinuation date and have a perpetual (standalone) license, the application continues to run — without any further security updates. M365 subscribers cannot install or reinstall Publisher after October 13, 2026. Running unsupported software carries growing security risk over time.
- Does Microsoft 365 still include Publisher?
- No — not for new subscribers, and not for long for existing ones. As of 2026, Microsoft is removing Publisher from all M365 plans. Existing Business Standard and Premium subscribers can still access it until October 13, 2026. After that date, all M365 subscriptions permanently lose Publisher.
- How do I open a .pub file without downloading Publisher?
- Upload it to PublishMedia — it opens in your browser with no install required. LibreOffice Draw and Scribus are also free downloads that open .pub files natively on Mac, Windows, and Linux. None of these require a Publisher license.
- Is Publisher for Mac available as a download?
- No. Publisher never ran on Mac natively — it was a Windows-only application throughout its entire history. There is no Mac download, official or unofficial. Mac users should use LibreOffice Draw (free, native Mac app) or PublishMedia (browser-based) to open .pub files.
- My church or school still uses Publisher. What should we do?
- Open your existing .pub files now using PublishMedia, LibreOffice Draw, or Scribus while you still have access. Export each document as a PDF to preserve the final layout. Then move new document creation to a replacement tool — PublishMedia has dedicated templates for church bulletins, newsletters, event flyers, and certificates.
Related
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.