Top 10 Adobe InDesign Alternatives & Competitors

(3,377)4.6 out of 5

Research alternative solutions to Adobe InDesign on G2, with real user reviews on competing tools. Other important factors to consider when researching alternatives to Adobe InDesign include projects and files. The best overall Adobe InDesign alternative is Canva. Other similar apps like Adobe InDesign are Microsoft Publisher, QuarkXPress, Marq, and Affinity Publisher. Adobe InDesign alternatives can be found in Desktop Publishing Software but may also be in PDF Editors or Display Ad Design Software.

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Best Paid & Free Alternatives to Adobe InDesign

Canva
Microsoft Publisher
QuarkXPress
Marq
Affinity Publisher
Foxit PDF Editor
Scribus
iStudio Publisher

Top 10 Alternatives to Adobe InDesign Recently Reviewed By G2 Community

Browse options below. Based on reviewer data, you can see how Adobe InDesign stacks up to the competition, check reviews from current & previous users in industries like Design, Higher Education, and Publishing, and find the best product for your business.

Canva

By Canva

4.7/5

(6,645)

Product Description

Reviewers say compared to Adobe InDesign, Canva is:

More usable

Easier to set up

Easier to admin

Categories in common with Adobe InDesign:

By Microsoft

Product Description

Microsoft Publisher is a desktop publishing application designed to help users create professional-quality publications with ease. It offers a range of pre-designed templates and intuitive tools, enabling the creation of various materials such as brochures, newsletters, greeting cards, and more. With a focus on page layout and design, Publisher allows for precise control over text, images, and other elements, ensuring that the final product appears exactly as intended, whether in print, online, or via email. Key Features and Functionality: - Pre-Designed Templates: Access a wide array of customizable templates to quickly start projects like brochures, newsletters, and postcards. - Advanced Layout Tools: Utilize detailed rulers and guides for accurate placement of text and images, ensuring a polished and professional appearance. - Image Editing Capabilities: Incorporate high-quality images with built-in editing tools, allowing for adjustments and enhancements directly within the application. - Mail Merge Functionality: Personalize publications by merging text and images from databases, ideal for creating tailored marketing materials. - Versatile Publishing Options: Share publications through various formats, including print, email, or export to industry-standard non-editable formats. Primary Value and User Solutions: Microsoft Publisher empowers users, particularly small businesses and individuals without formal design training, to produce high-quality, professional publications in-house. By providing user-friendly tools and templates, it eliminates the need for expensive design software or professional designers, making it accessible for creating marketing materials, event invitations, and more. This accessibility ensures that users can maintain brand consistency and effectively communicate their messages to their target audience.

Reviewers say compared to Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Publisher is:

More usable

Easier to admin

Easier to set up

Categories in common with Adobe InDesign:

By Quark

Product Description

Reviewers say compared to Adobe InDesign, QuarkXPress is:

Slower to reach roi

Categories in common with Adobe InDesign:

Desktop Publishing

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Affinity Publisher

By Serif

4.7/5

(71)

Product Description

Affinity Publisher is a professional desktop publishing application developed by Serif, designed to create a wide range of publications, including books, magazines, brochures, and marketing materials. Launched in 2019, it offers a seamless and intuitive experience for combining text, images, and graphics into polished layouts. In 2025, Affinity Publisher was integrated into a unified Affinity application, combining vector design, photo editing, and page layout functionalities into a single platform. Key Features and Functionality: - StudioLink Technology: Allows seamless integration with Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo, enabling users to access vector and raster editing tools directly within the layout environment. - Advanced Typography: Supports OpenType features, text decorations, drop caps, and text on a path, providing extensive control over text styling. - Master Pages: Facilitates consistent design across multiple pages by allowing the creation and application of master templates. - Text Flow and Wrapping: Offers linked text frames with advanced flow options and precise text wrapping controls. - Comprehensive File Support: Compatible with various file formats, including PSD, AI, PDF, JPG, TIFF, PNG, and EPS, ensuring smooth import and export processes. - Professional Output: Provides end-to-end CMYK and spot color support, along with PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, and PDF/X-4 output for professional print production. Primary Value and User Solutions: Affinity Publisher addresses the needs of designers and publishers seeking a cost-effective, high-performance alternative to traditional desktop publishing software. Its integration with Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo through StudioLink streamlines the creative workflow, eliminating the need to switch between separate applications. The software's advanced typography tools and master page functionality ensure consistency and precision in complex documents. By supporting a wide range of file formats and offering professional print output capabilities, Affinity Publisher empowers users to produce high-quality publications efficiently.

Reviewers say compared to Adobe InDesign, Affinity Publisher is:

Easier to admin

Easier to set up

Better at support

Categories in common with Adobe InDesign:

By Foxit

Product Description

Founded in 2001, Foxit is a leading provider of innovative PDF and eSignature products and services, helping knowledge workers increase productivity and do more with documents. Foxit combines easy-to-use desktop software, mobile apps, and cloud services in one powerful solution: The Foxit PDF Editor. This Intelligent Document Platform allows users to create, edit, fill, and sign documents through their integrated PDF Editor and eSign offerings – from anywhere and on any device. Foxit also enables software developers to incorporate innovative PDF technology into their applications via powerful, multi-platform Software Developer Kits (SDK). Winner of numerous awards, Foxit has over 700 million users and has sold to over 485,000 customers, ranging from SMBs to global enterprises worldwide. Foxit products are ISO 32000-1/PDF 1.7 standard compliant, therefore, compatible with your existing PDF documents and forms.

Reviewers say compared to Adobe InDesign, Foxit PDF Editor is:

Slower to reach roi

More usable

Better at support

Categories in common with Adobe InDesign:

Desktop Publishing