Comparison of desktop publishing software

The following is a comparison of major desktop publishing software.

Overview

This table provides general software information including the developer, latest stable version, the year in which the software was first released, and the license under which it is available.

class="wikitable sticky-header sortable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: center;"

|+

! Desktop publishing software

! Developer(s)

! Latest stable version

! Initial release

! License

Affinity Publisher

|Serif Europe

|2.3.0 {{Start date and age|2023|11|30|df=yes}}{{cite web|website=Affinity Newsroom|url=https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/170203-latest-affinity-v2-releases-on-each-platform-by-store/|title= Latest Affinity V2 releases on each platform by store |date=8 November 2022 |access-date=2023-10-01}}

|{{start date|2019}}

| {{nonfree|Proprietary}}

Apache OpenOffice Writer

| Apache Software Foundation and others

| {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q2858086|P348|P548=Q2804309}} {{start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q2858086|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}}}

| {{Start date|2002}}{{Cite press release |title=The Apache OpenOffice Project Announces Apache OpenOffice 3.4 |date=8 May 2012 |publisher=Apache Software Foundation |url=http://www.openoffice.org/news/aoo34.html |access-date=9 May 2012}}

| {{Free|Apache License 2.0 (Apache OpenOffice 3.4 and later)}}

Canva

|Canva Pty Ltd

|Rolling updates

|{{Start date|2013}}

| {{nonfree|Proprietary SaaS}}

Collabora Online{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Create great flyers, newsletters, brochures and more with open source software|url=https://opensource.com/alternatives/microsoft-publisher|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108105638/https://opensource.com/alternatives/microsoft-publisher |archive-date=2016-11-08 |access-date=|website=opensource.com}}

| Collabora

| {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q30585118|P348|P400=Q6368|P548=Q2804309}} {{start date and age| {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q30585118|P348|P400=Q6368|P548=Q2804309|P577}}}}

| {{Start date|2016}} {{cite press release | url=https://www.collaboraoffice.com/press-releases/collabora-productivity-releases-collabora-online-cool-1-0-engine-for-hosters-and-clouds/ | title=Collabora Productivity releases Collabora Online 1.0 "Engine" for Hosters and Clouds.|publisher=Collabora Productivity|date=2 June 2016|access-date=15 June 2016|quote=Collabora Productivity, the driving force behind putting LibreOffice in the Cloud, has released the first production grade version of Collabora Online, its flagship cloud document suite solution.}}

| {{Free|MPL-2.0 and others}}

CorelDRAW

| Corel

| 24.5 {{Start date and age|2023|09|18}}

| {{Start date|1989}}

| {{nonfree|Proprietary}}

InDesign

|Adobe

|CC 2024 20.0 {{Start date and age|2024|10}}

|{{start date|1999}}

|{{nonfree|Proprietary Trialware}}

LibreOffice Draw{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Create great flyers, newsletters, brochures, and more with open source software|url=https://opensource.com/alternatives/microsoft-publisher|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108105638/https://opensource.com/alternatives/microsoft-publisher |archive-date=2016-11-08 |access-date=|website=opensource.com}}

| The Document Foundation

| {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q10135|P348|P548=Q2804309}} {{start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q10135|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}}}

| {{Start date|2011}}

| {{Free|LGPL v3}}

LyX

| The LyX Team

| {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q823591|P348|P548=Q2804309}} {{start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q823591|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}}}

| {{Start date|1995}}

| {{Free|GPL}} v2{{cite web|website=Lyx|url=https://www.lyx.org/License|title=License|access-date=2024-04-02}}

Marq

|Draper

|Rolling updates

|2013

| {{nonfree|Proprietary SaaS}}

Microsoft Publisher

| Microsoft Corporation

| 2021 {{Start date and age|2021|10|05}}{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/get-started-with-office-2021 |title=See what's in Office 2021|website=Microsoft |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330103316/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/get-started-with-office-2021 |archivedate=2023-03-30}}

| {{Start date|1991}}

| {{nonfree|Proprietary Trialware}}

Pages

| Apple Inc.

| 13.2 {{Start date and age|2023|09|21}}{{Cite web |url=https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/pages/id409201541 |title=Pages on the Mac App Store |website=Mac App Store|date=June 13, 2023 }}

| {{Start date|2005}}

| {{nonfree|Proprietary}}

QuarkXPress

| Quark, Inc.

| 2024 20.0.0 {{start date and age|2023|11|14}}

| {{Start date|1987}}

| {{nonfree|Proprietary}}

Scribus

| The Scribus Team

| 1.6.1{{Cite web|url=https://www.scribus.net/scribus-1-6-1-released/|title=Scribus 1.6.1 Released|website=scribus.net}} {{Start date and age|df=yes|2024|01|07}}

| {{Start date|2003}}

| {{Free|GPL}}

The Print Shop

| Broderbund

| 23.1 {{Start date and age|2009}}{{efn|release date not stated on vendors web page}}

| {{Start date|1984}}

| {{nonfree|Proprietary}}

class="sortbottom"

! Desktop publishing software

! Developer(s)

! Latest stable version

! Initial release

! License

OS and Online support

This table shows Operating System (OS) compatibility with the latest version of the desktop publishing applications, there are five possibilities:

No indicates that it does not exist or was never released.
Partial indicates that the application lacks important functionality and it is still being developed.
Beta indicates that while a version of the application is fully functional and has been released, it is still in development (e.g. for stability).
Yes indicates that the application has been officially released in a fully functional, stable version.
Dropped indicates that while the application works, new versions are no longer being released for the indicated OS; the number in parentheses is the last known stable version which was officially released for that OS.

Application names that are on a light purple background are discontinued.

class="wikitable sticky-header sortable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: center"

|+

! Desktop publishing software

! Android

! ChromeOS

! iOS

! iPadOS

! Linux

! MacOS

! Microsoft Windows|Windows

! Web, Online, Cloud

! Other OS

Affinity Publisher

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{no}}{{cite web|website=Affinity|url=https://affinity.help/photo/en-US.lproj/index.html?page=pages/Appendix/system_requirements.html?title=System%20requirements|title=System requirements|access-date=2024-03-31}}

Apache OpenOffice Writer

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes}}{{efn|name=Rosetta|Rosetta 2 emulation is required to run on all current Apple macOS hardware which use Apple silicon (M1, M2, M3...). Native CPU support remains for previous Intel based macOS devives.}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}{{cite web|website=Apache_Software_Foundation_and_others|url=https://www.openoffice.org/dev_docs/source/sys_reqs.html#:~:text=The%20following%20platforms%20are%20supported,X%20(x86%2D64%20only)title=System%20requirements|title=System requirements|access-date=2024-03-31}}{{efn|name=byo|Build your own application from source code}}{{efn|name=unsupported|unsupported}}

Canva

|{{yes}}{{efn|name=notmobbrowsers}} (App{{cite web|website=Google Play|url=https://play.google.com/store/search?q=canva&c=apps|title=Canva: Design, Photo & Video|access-date=2024-04-02}} and Online)

|{{yes}} (App and Online)

|{{yes}}{{efn|name=notmobbrowsers}} (App{{cite web|website=Apple|url=https://apps.apple.com/au/app/canva-design-photo-video/id897446215|title=Mac App Store Preview|access-date=2024-04-02}} and Online)

|{{yes}} (App and Online)

|{{yes}}

|{{yes}} (App and Online)

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}{{cite web|website=Canva|url=https://www.canva.com/en_au/help/technical-requirements/|title=Technical requirements|access-date=2024-03-31}}

Collabora Online

|{{yes}}{{efn|name=notmobbrowsers}} (App{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Google Play Store|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.collabora.libreoffice&hl=en_AU&gl=US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108022406/https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.collabora.libreoffice&hl=en_AU&gl=US |archive-date=2020-11-08 |access-date=2021-01-20|website=Google Play|quote=Collabora Office - LibreOffice based editor for Microsoft Office, LibreOffice and OpenOffice docs.}} and Online)

|{{yes}} (App{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=2020-12-02|title=Collabora Office 6.4 Launches For Android, iOS & Chrome OS|work=KYM Know Your Mobile|url=https://www.knowyourmobile.com/news/collabora-office-6-4-launches-for-android-ios-chromeos/|access-date=2021-01-15|quote=...it works on desktop and mobile, and it will sync up between devices too, so you can start something on your desktop PC and then pick it up later on your phone and/or tablet.}} and Online)

|{{yes}}{{efn|name=notmobbrowsers}} (App{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Apple App Store|url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/collabora-office/id1440482071|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301213457/https://apps.apple.com/us/app/collabora-office/id1440482071 |archive-date=2020-03-01 |access-date=2021-01-20|website=App Store|quote=Collabora Office - This app is available only on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.}} and Online)

|{{yes}} (App and Online)

|{{yes}} (App{{cite web|website=Collabora Productivity|url=https://www.collaboraoffice.com/collabora-office/|title=Collabora Office Enterprise-ready Office Suite for Windows, MacOS and Linux|access-date=2024-04-01}} and Online)

|{{yes}} (App and Online)

|{{yes}}

|{{yes}}{{efn|name=byo-or-online|Online or Build your own application from source code}}{{efn|name=unsupported|unsupported}}

CorelDRAW

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{no}}{{cite web|website=coreldraw|url=https://www.coreldraw.com/en/pages/product-info-sheet/|title=Product Info Sheet|access-date=2024-04-01}}

InDesign

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{no}}{{cite web|website=Adobe|url=https://helpx.adobe.com/au/indesign/system-requirements.html|title= InDesign system requirements|access-date=2024-03-27}}

LibreOffice

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}{{cite web|website=chromeunboxed|url=https://chromeunboxed.com/3-alternatives-for-microsoft-publisher-on-your-chromebook/#:~:text=To%20install%20Scribus%2C%20you%20can,when%20the%20installation%20is%20complete.|title=3 alternatives for Microsoft Publisher on your Chromebook| date=17 August 2020 }}{{efn|name=unsupported|unsupported}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}{{efn|name=byo-or-online|Online or Build your own application from source code}}

LyX

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}{{cite web|website=Lyx|url=https://wiki.lyx.org/Chrome/Chrome|title=How to setup Lyx on a Chromebook|access-date=2024-04-02}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}{{cite web|website=Baeldung|url=https://www.baeldung.com/cs/lyx-installation|title=Step-By-Step Installation of Lyx on Linux, macOS, and Windows|date=14 August 2023 |access-date=2024-04-02}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes|OS/2, Haiku}}

Marq

|{{yes}}{{efn|name=notmobbrowsers|not supported on mobile web browsers.}}{{cite web|website=Marc|url=https://help.marq.com/system-requirements|title=System requirements|access-date=2024-04-02}} (Online)

|{{yes}} (Online)

|{{yes}}{{efn|name=notmobbrowsers}}{{cite web|website=Marc|url=https://help.marq.com/system-requirements|title=System requirements|access-date=2024-04-02}} (Online)

|{{yes}} (Online)

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

Microsoft Publisher

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

Pages

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}{{cite web|website=

Apple|url=https://support.apple.com/en-ie/guide/pages/tan72489eaa/mac#:~:text=Minimum%20system%20requirements&text=An%20iPhone%20with%20iOS%2016.0,computer%20and%20a%20supported%20browser|title=

Pages User Guide for Mac|access-date=2024-04-02}}

|{{no}}

QuarkXPress

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}{{cite web|website=

QuarkEXpress|url=https://www.quark.com/documentation/quarkxpress/2023/english/Getting%20Started%20with%20QuarkXPress%202023/_f51cb2db-ae89-4578-9354-0a3e6060c9c9.html|title=Getting Started with QuarkXPress 2023|access-date=2024-04-02}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

Scribus

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}{{cite web|website=chromeunboxed|url=https://chromeunboxed.com/3-alternatives-for-microsoft-publisher-on-your-chromebook/#:~:text=To%20install%20Scribus%2C%20you%20can,when%20the%20installation%20is%20complete.|title=3 alternatives for Microsoft Publisher on your Chromebook| date=17 August 2020 }}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes|OS/2 Warp 4, ArcaOS, eComStation, OpenIndiana, Solaris, Haiku}}

The Print Shop

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

class="sortbottom"

! Desktop publishing software

! Android

! ChromeOS

! iOS

! iPadOS

! Linux

! MacOS

! Windows

!Web, Online, Cloud

! Other OS

Input format

This table gives a comparison of the file formats that can be opened or imported.

class="wikitable sticky-header sortable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: center"

|+

! Desktop publishing software

! PDF

! EPS

! SVG

! HTML

! OpenDocument ODT

! Microsoft DOCX

! Other

Affinity Publisher

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes}}{{cite web|website=Affinity|url=https://affinity.help/designer/en-US.lproj/index.html?page=pages/Appendix/fileformat.html|title=Import and export file formats|access-date=2024-03-27}}

Apache OpenOffice Writer

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}{{cite web|website=Apache Software Foundation and others|url=https://wiki.openoffice.org/wiki/Documentation/OOoAuthors_User_Manual/Getting_Started/File_formats|title=File Formats|access-date=2024-03-31}}

Canva

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes|PNG, WebP, audio, video, fonts, others{{cite web|website=Canva|url=https://www.canva.com/help/upload-formats-requirements/|title= Upload formats and requirements |access-date=2024-03-27}}}}

Collabora Online

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes|PUB, TeX/LaTeX, WebP, others}}{{cite web|website=Collabora Productivity|url=https://www.collaboraoffice.com/libreoffice-from-collabora/|title=interoperability with over 100 third party documents formats|access-date=2024-04-01}}{{cite web|website=Collabora Online|url=https://sdk.collaboraonline.com/docs/faq.html|title= Which formats can the programs of Collabora Online read?|access-date=2024-03-28}}

CorelDRAW

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes|others{{cite web|website=CorelDRAW help|url=https://product.corel.com/help/CorelDRAW/540111147/index.html?app=CorelDRAW&lang=en#/l2TOC481|title= Supported file formats|access-date=2024-03-27}}}}

InDesign

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes|WebP, others{{cite web|website=Adobe|url=https://helpx.adobe.com/au/indesign/using/supported-file-formats.html|title= Supported file formats for InDesign|access-date=2024-03-27}}}}

LibreOffice

|{{yes}}

|{{yes|PUB, WPD, TeX/LaTeX, RTF, others{{cite web|website=LibreOffice Productivity|url=https://books.libreoffice.org/en/GS74/GS7410-FileFormatsSecurityExporting.html|title=Working with File Formats, Security, and Exporting|date=18 January 2023 |access-date=2024-04-01}}}}

LyX

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes|CSV, TeX/LaTeX}}, others{{cite web|website=Lyx|url=https://wiki.lyx.org/LyX/Manuals|title=UserGuide, see IMPORT|access-date=2024-04-02}}

Marq

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes|PNG}}

Microsoft Publisher

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes|RTF}}

Pages

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes|RTF}}{{cite web|website=

Apple|url=https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/pages-iphone/tancdeedb11c/ios#:~:text=doc%20or%20.,in%20PDF%20or%20EPUB%20formats.|title=

Pages User Guide for iPhone|access-date=2024-04-02}}

QuarkXPress

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes|PSD, AI, SWF, PNG PDF, RTF}}

Scribus

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes|PUB, TeX/LaTeX, others [http://wiki.scribus.net/index.php/Export/Import_capabilities_of_Scribus,_OpenOffice.org,_Inkscape,_GIMP,_and_Krita List]}}

The Print Shop

|{{no}}

class="sortbottom"

! Desktop publishing software

! PDF

! EPS

! SVG

! HTML

! OpenDocument ODT

! Microsoft DOCX

! Other

Output format

This table gives a comparison of the file formats each software can export or save.

class="wikitable sticky-header sortable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: center;"

|+

! Desktop publishing software

! PDF

! EPS

! PNG

! SVG

! WebP

! EPUB

! HTML

! Other

Affinity Publisher

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}, others{{cite web|website=Affinity|url=https://affinity.help/designer/en-US.lproj/index.html?page=pages/Appendix/fileformat.html|title=Import and export file formats|access-date=2024-03-27}}

Apache OpenOffice Writer

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes

}{{cite web|website=Apache OpenOffice|url=https://wiki.openoffice.org/wiki/Documentation/OOoAuthors_User_Manual/Getting_Started/File_formats|title= File Formats |access-date=2024-03-27}}

|-

|Canva

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}{{efn|The free version of Canva does not support transparent backgrounds. Canva Pro or Enterprise have an option to “Remove Background” from images}}{{cite web|website=

Canva|url=https://www.canva.com/help/transparent-background/#:~:text=Downloading%20with%20a%20transparent%20background,and%20Canva%20for%20Nonprofits%20users.&text=Set%20your%20background%20color%20to,the%20toolbar%20above%20the%20editor.|title=Download design with transparent background|access-date=2024-04-02}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes|JPEG, Video:GIF, MP4}}, others{{cite web|website=Canva|url=https://www.canva.com/help/download-file-types/|title= Supported download file types |access-date=2024-03-27}}

|-

|Collabora Online

|{{yes}}

|{{yes|ODF}}, others{{cite web|website=Collabora Productivity|url=https://www.collaboraoffice.com/libreoffice-from-collabora/|title=interoperability with over 100 third party documents formats|access-date=2024-04-01}}{{cite web|website=Collabora Online|url=https://sdk.collaboraonline.com/docs/faq.html|title= Which formats can the programs of Collabora Online read?|access-date=2024-03-28}}

|-

|CorelDRAW

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes|PSD, AI, SWF, WPD}}, others{{cite web|website=CorelDRAW help|url=https://product.corel.com/help/CorelDRAW/540111147/index.html?app=CorelDRAW&lang=en#/l2TOC481|title= Supported file formats|access-date=2024-03-27}}

|-

|InDesign

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes|JPG, RTF, others{{cite web|website=Adobe|url=https://helpx.adobe.com/au/indesign/using/supported-file-formats.html|title= Supported file formats for InDesign

|access-date=2024-03-27}}}}

|-

|LibreOffice

|{{yes}}

|{{yes| ODF, JPEG, RTF}}, other{{cite web|website=LibreOffice Productivity|url=https://books.libreoffice.org/en/GS74/GS7410-FileFormatsSecurityExporting.html|title=Working with File Formats, Security, and Exporting|date=18 January 2023 |access-date=2024-04-01}}

|-

|LyX

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes|PS, ODF, TeX/LaTeX}}, DOCX, others{{cite web|website=Lyx|url=https://wiki.lyx.org/LyX/Manuals|title=UserGuide, see EXPORT|access-date=2024-04-02}}

|-

|Marq

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes|JPEG, GIF, MP4}}, others{{cite web|website=Canva|url=https://help.marq.com/download-export-settings|title= Download export settings |access-date=2024-03-27}}

|-

|Microsoft Publisher

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes|JPG, TIFF}}

|-

|Pages

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes|RTF}}{{cite web|website=

Apple|url=https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/pages-iphone/tancdeedb11c/ios#:~:text=doc%20or%20.,in%20PDF%20or%20EPUB%20formats.|title=

Pages User Guide for iPhone|access-date=2024-04-02}}

|-

|QuarkXPress

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes|Kindle}}{{cite web|website=

QuarkEXpress|url=https://www.quark.com/documentation/quarkxpress/2022/english/Digital%20Publishing%20with%20QuarkXPress%202022/_339c7525-6885-45ed-b6e6-3c0578a00e6b.html|title=Digital Publishing with QuarkXPress 2022

|access-date=2024-04-02}}

|-

|Scribus

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|{{yes}}

|{{yes|[http://wiki.scribus.net/index.php/Export/Import_capabilities_of_Scribus,_OpenOffice.org,_Inkscape,_GIMP,_and_Krita List], TeX/LaTeX}}

|-

|The Print Shop

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

|- class="sortbottom"