The best Adobe InDesign Alternatives, Adobe made the software tool InDesign, which is used for typesetting and desktop publishing. It lets you make flyers, posters, brochures, books, newspapers, magazines, and more. But InDesign has some limitations, like making it hard to change math equations or formulas.
Also, it takes a lot of work to find the right distance between the two texts. The page layout tool is easy to use and comes with a lot of templates, tools, and fonts that make it easier to design printed assets. So, if you want to design magazines, flyers, posters, and even books with new software, the best Adobe InDesign alternatives need to be very good.
But some people don’t like Adobe’s popular desktop publishing programme. The Creative Cloud tool, which can only be used with a paid subscription, and the cluttered interface are two of the biggest complaints. For people who aren’t used to working with Adobe tools like Photoshop, Lightroom, and Premiere Pro, it can take a while to get used to. Below we mentioned the best Adobe InDesign alternatives.
Best Adobe InDesign Alternatives
Affinity Publisher
Features
- Feature-rich
- cheap
- Interoperable with other Affinity apps
Affinity Publisher is a cheaper alternative for designers that opens in a new tab. It is one of the best Adobe InDesign alternatives for people who don’t want to sign up for a subscription plan. Affinity Publisher is easier to use than InDesign because its layout is simpler and easier to understand. This makes it easier to find the tools you need.
Even though the desktop publishing software has a simple interface, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t do anything. Whether you’re designing for print or the web, there are a lot of tools to help you put what’s in your head onto the screen. There is a smart colour picker and a very helpful preflight checker among these.
Pros
- Feature-rich
- Cheap and subscription-free
- Intuitive layout makes designing easy
Cons
- No footnotes or endnotes
- No support for GREP-based styles
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite
Features
- Publishing
- illustration
- image editing in one app
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is a complete set of tools for designing and illustrating. One reason why people choose InDesign is that it works well with Adobe’s other editing apps in the Creative Cloud. Corel combines all of these tools into one app, which makes it one of the best Adobe InDesign alternatives, Photoshop, and Illustrator. And you don’t have to pay a lot for a subscription.
CorelDRAW is probably best known for its drawing tools, but its publishing tools are just as powerful. There are many layout and typography tools here, and the 2021 release added a multipage view that makes it easier to move assets between pages and organise them. If you need some more details then visit its official websites.
Pros
- Efficient layout tools
- Smooth performance
Cons
- High price
Microsoft Publisher
Features
- Feature-rich
- Runs on all desktop operating systems and all browsers
- Compatible with Adobe and MS
Microsoft Publisher is a layout programme that is easy to use and has a wide range of users, but it doesn’t have many features. It has been around for a long time, just like Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, which are also part of the company’s office software suite.
It’s one of the best alternatives to Adobe InDesign if you are used to Microsoft apps because it has the same “second-nature” interface as all Microsoft 365 apps and yes, unfortunately, Publisher does require a Microsoft 365 subscription. For now, this is one of the Best Adobe InDesign alternatives.
Layout and typesetting tools are not as flexible as they used to be. There are no controls that let you change numbers. No tools for managing colours in depth. For people who are used to a toolkit with a lot of features, the list can seem endless.
Pros
- Beginner-friendly
- Familiar MS interface
Cons
- Basic feature set
- Windows only
- Subscription required
QuarkXPress
Features
- Feature-rich
- Can import InDesign files
QuarkXPress used to be known as the best software for desktop publishing. It came out in 1987, but it really took off in the 1990s. Even though Adobe has taken the program’s thunder and crown in recent years, the programme still gets regular updates and is still a powerful alternative to InDesign.
It’s a versatile tool that makes it easy to work with books and magazines. It also lets you make web content that works well on both desktop computers and mobile devices. With a large set of effects and tools for editing images, you have full control over every part of your design.
The built-in tools for editing images and drawing are a nice touch that helps keep workflows in one app. They’re like the ones in Photoshop and Illustrator, but they don’t go as deep as either of those. Currently, this is one of the Best Adobe InDesign alternatives.
Pros
- Good features for print and web design
- Built-in image editing tools
Cons
- Premium pricing
Scribus
Features
- Free,
- Includes free templates
- Available for Linux
Even though it’s free, Scribus does well against its rivals. Even though it’s probably never going to be as powerful or in-depth as InDesign or QuarkXPress, it has almost all of the features you’d expect from the paid versions. Overall, this is one of the Best Adobe InDesign alternatives.
The software’s color management tools, such as color separations, CMYK, and a mode that simulates color blindness to make your designs easier for people to see, are a big plus. It also has a lot of PDF support and lets you edit vector drawings directly.
The layout is similar to that of InDesign, so it’s easy to get around, but the tools can be harder to learn. There are a number of templates for people who are just starting out. Scribus has grown a passionate community of developers, so it gets regular updates and help.
Pros
- Open-source
- Most functions of paid equivalents
- Great color management tools
Cons
- Can’t import other DTP software’s file formats
Xara Page & Layout Designer
Features
- desktop publishing programme
- making digital documents
- Affordable
- Easy to use
Xara Page & Layout Designer is an easy-to-use desktop publishing programme for people who are just starting out with making digital documents. Still, this is one of the Best Adobe InDesign alternatives.
The interface is easy to use, and there are a number of ready-made templates to help you get started. So, even if you have never used design software before, you will soon be able to use it to make magazines, brochures, and business cards.
But it doesn’t have as many features as InDesign. Shorter by quite a bit. This will make the tool less appealing to professional designers and more advanced users. Xara will be fine for quick tweaks and edits, but they will quickly outgrow it for other things.
Pros
- Cheap
- Wide range of pre-made templates
Cons
- Less powerful than other tools
- Mac-only
How to choose the best Adobe InDesign alternative?
Before you can choose the best InDesign alternative, you need to know what you want to avoid about Adobe, whether it’s the interface, the cost, the workflow, or something else. Check to see how each software sub is the same or different from Adobe’s best DTP tool.
If you’re new to digital desktop publishing, try an alternative for beginners. Simple user interfaces don’t always mean less powerful tools. If you’re a good designer, choose a programme like Affinity Publisher that has a lot of features and lets you make new things even without Adobe.
How we test the best alternatives to Adobe InDesign?
When we test the best alternatives to Adobe’s InDesign, we look at how well the DTP software matches or doesn’t match Adobe’s toolset and performance.
To compete with the industry leader, the best alternatives to InDesign must have a lot of features. This is important when making professional page layouts. We want to see a wide range of powerful tools, how well they are used, and how well they do what they say they will do.
FAQs
What is the best free alternative to Adobe InDesign?
Scribus is the best free alternative to Adobe InDesign that a lot of people use. The open-source tool works a lot like InDesign and is easy to use. It is worth a try because it has great free templates and great features.
Is there a free version of Adobe InDesign?
Yes, Adobe InDesign has a free version or a free 7-day trial that you can use. It has all of the latest features and updates, as well as templates and tutorials.
Is there a free program similar to InDesign?
Scribus is a good free open-source alternative to InDesign. It’s not easy to find a good one, but you can. Scribus was first released in 2001 as an alternative to QuarkXPress. It has an interface like InDesign and a lot more features than you’d expect from a free package.
