Desktop publishing software has long been dominated by InDesign, but some users are getting tired of Adobe’s hidden fees . If you don’t want to enter Adobe’s “walled garden” of applications and pay for a subscription, we’ve rounded up the best InDesign alternatives.
1. Affinity Publisher by Serif
Platform: Windows, macOS, iPad
Price: Windows/Mac $34.99, iPad $9
Like Adobe InDesign, Affinity Publisher is a professional page layout and design software that boasts similar functionality and features. Affinity Publisher is geared toward professional users who are already familiar with layout applications, supporting industry standards like Master Pages and OpenType.
Additionally, Affinity Publisher has a number of vector tools for drawing shapes and raster tools to apply various effects. It also ensures accurate color reproduction with CMYK and Pantone color support. Affinity Publisher is a capable alternative to InDesign, and the best part is that a license is a one-time purchase, unlike Adobe, which requires an ongoing subscription.
2. QuarkXpress
Platform: Windows, macOS
Price: $699 (perpetuity) $259 (annually)
QuarkXpress excels in virtually all the areas InDesign does; however, it has some nifty tricks up its sleeve that merits a closer look. While both applications are known for their sophisticated typography features, QuarkXpress is known for detailed text features, like the integration of GREP to automate changes in text patterns. Additionally, QuarkXpress easily converts traditional print layouts to digital formats without requiring HTML coding.
QuarkXpress has a pretty steep learning curve, making it less accessible than others on the list. It offers multiple licensing options, including an admittedly pricey one-time perpetual license and an annual subscription. There’s even a free trial so that you can test it out before committing.
3. Swift Publisher
Platform: Mac, iPad, iPhone
Price: Free with premium option
Swift Publisher positions itself as a layout application that parrots the most widely used features of Adobe InDesign, while maintaining a more accessible interface. This makes Swift Publisher ideal for folks who want more control but don’t want to have to enroll in a design course to learn how to use the software.
Granted, Swift Publisher is less feature-packed than InDesign, but it still uses that familiar system of layers, grids and myriad formats that make it more advanced than something like Microsoft Publisher or LibreOffice Draw. For the one-off fee, you get access to over 500 templates, for things like posters, business cards, websites, and newsletters. Unfortunately for Windows users, Swift Publisher is only available on Apple products. It also supports iPhone and iPad in addition to traditional desktops.
4. Scribus
Platform: Windows, Mac, most Linux distros
Price: Free
Scribus is a full-featured desktop publishing application that boasts much of the same functionality as Adobe InDesign. However, the big difference between the two is that Scribus is completely open source and distributed under the GNU General Public License as free software. You don’t have to pay for it – ever. Scribus is designed for professional layout and typesetting, complete with support for most major bitmap formats, including those composed in Adobe Photoshop.
Being open source, Scribus does receive updates; however, they are not as frequent as InDesign. Furthermore, the Scribus interface is a bit dated when compared to that of InDesign, which may turn some users off. The sharing features integrated into Scribus are generally not as good as InDesign, so if collaboration is a must, you may want to consider other options.
5. Desygner
Platform: Web
Price: Free with premium option
As an application that focuses on simplicity and ease of use, Desygner isn’t really competing with Adobe InDesign. Desygner is far more accessible for beginners and design novices, boasting an easy-to-understand drag-and-drop user interface. Desygner has a wide range of customizable templates and basic design tools, making it easy for anyone to jump in and start creating. In addition, Desygner is completely Web-based, so you do not need to install any software. Simply point your browser to Desygner, and start designing.
Desygner lacks many of the advanced features found in Adobe InDesign, so it can really only be recommended for folks who are beginners or need a simpler solution. Desygner is free; however, to unlock certain features, you’ll need to pay a monthly subscription fee.
6. Marq
Platform: Web
Price: Free with premium options
Marq (formerly known as Lucidpress) is another beginner-friendly Web-based design platform. It specializes in helping businesses create branded content that can easily be shared via lockable templates, ensuring brand consistency across team members. Like Desygner, Marq is not as robust as Adobe InDesign, lacking many professional design features used in print and digital media.
Marq is user friendly and offers a plethora of customizable templates, as well as the ability to import existing logos and color schemes. Marq automatically changes templates to align with brand identities with minimal user input. In addition, Marq can be used to create customer consumables, like brochures, QR codes and more. This makes Marq an excellent option for businesses that don’t want to allocate a ton of time and effort toward branding, while still maintaining brand coherence.
7. Canva
Platform: Web
Price: Free with premium options
Canva is best suited for those needing quick, simple graphics, positioning itself as more of a graphic design tool. As we’ve established, InDesign is more appropriate for professional designers and those creating complex print-based projects that require detailed layout and typography control.
Users will find that Canva excels at creating things that are heavy on graphics, like posters and flyers. Canva is easy to learn, utilizing drag-and-drop elements, and offering a large selection of free fonts, colors and stock photos. The premium version of Canva gives users access to an even broader range of tools and design elements. Canva utilizes ready-to-go customizable templates, allowing for quick creation. Comparatively, InDesign allows users to create things from scratch. Which one is best suited to you is going to depend on your level of expertise and the amount of time you’re willing to put into your project.
While the Adobe InDesign alternatives listed above may not be as powerful as InDesign itself, they can prove to be the right choice in many cases. There are also some great Adobe Photoshop alternatives. Have you had enough of Adobe’s Creative Cloud products altogether? We don’t blame you. Follow these steps to uninstall Adobe products from your Windows PC.
For more design-related guides, check out how to embed a Google Form poll into an email and our tips on how to draw arrows in the open-source Adobe Photoshop alternative, GIMP.
Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Ryan Lynch.
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