Best Desktop Publishing Software in 2026
Updated
In short: QuarkXPress is ranked #1 of 27 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Affinity and VivaDesigner. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Affinity. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Megal Publisher at $5/mo.
Desktop publishing software helps you arrange text and images into pages for print or digital publication. Compare master pages, color management, and preflight tools for control over layout and output, then check PDF and EPUB export against the formats you need. Collaboration level and supported platforms offer further ways to assess workflow fit; free-plan availability and paid-from pricing provide cost context. QuarkXPress, Affinity, and Blurb BookWright are among the entries to consider, as are iStudio Publisher and Megal Publisher. Use the listed features to weigh layout, export, and platform needs for the publications you plan to produce.
27 desktop publishing software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 QuarkXPress iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.8
- 2 Affinity No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.3Free
- 3 VivaDesigner No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9€299/mo Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Web browserPDF export: YesEPUB export: Yes
- 4 Megal Publisher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8$5/mo Supported platforms: webPDF export: Yes
- 5 Adobe InDesign No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.2
- 6 iStudio Publisher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.2Free Supported platforms: macOSPDF export: YesEPUB export: Yes
- 7 Blurb BookWright No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.0Free PDF export: Yes
- 8 PageStream No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9 Supported platforms: Windows, Macintosh OS X, Linux, AmigaPDF export: Yes
- 9 Scribus No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.8
- 10 Swift Publisher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.7 Supported platforms: macOSPDF export: Yes
- 11 PublishMedia No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.7$8.25/mo Supported platforms: web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iPadPDF export: Yes
- 12 RagTime No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.6 Supported platforms: macOS, WindowsPDF export: YesEPUB export: No
- 13 Microsoft Publisher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.5 Supported platforms: windowsPDF export: YesEPUB export: No
- 14 Xara Page & Layout Designer No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4 Supported platforms: WindowsPDF export: Yes
- 15 Calamus SL No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4 Supported platforms: Windows, macOSPDF export: Yes
- 16 InPage No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2 Supported platforms: WindowsPDF export: YesEPUB export: Yes
- 17 Vellum No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.0 Supported platforms: macOSPDF export: YesEPUB export: Yes
- 18 Layout Department No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.9 Supported platforms: macOS, WindowsPDF export: Yes
- 19 Kindle Create No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.8 Supported platforms: Windows, macOSPDF export: NoEPUB export: Yes
- 20 Laidout No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.7 Supported platforms: LinuxPDF export: Yes
- 21 Publisher Plus No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Supported platforms: macOSPDF export: Yes
- 22 Lacuna No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Supported platforms: Windows, macOSPDF export: YesEPUB export: Yes
- 23 The Print Shop No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Supported platforms: WindowsPDF export: Yes
- 24 Flipsnack No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1 Supported platforms: web, apiPDF export: Yes
- 25 PrintMaster 10 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.0 Supported platforms: Windows, macOSPDF export: Yes
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | PDF export |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | QuarkXPress | 8.8 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 2 | Affinity | 8.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 3 | VivaDesigner | 7.9 | Free plan | €299/mo | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web browser | Yes |
| 4 | Megal Publisher | 7.8 | Free plan | $5/mo | Yes | — | web | Yes |
| 5 | Adobe InDesign | 7.2 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | iStudio Publisher | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | No | — | macOS | Yes |
| 7 | Blurb BookWright | 7.0 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 8 | PageStream | 6.9 | No | — | No | — | Windows, Macintosh OS X, Linux, Amiga | Yes |
| 9 | Scribus | 6.8 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 10 | Swift Publisher | 6.7 | No | — | No | — | macOS | Yes |
| 11 | PublishMedia | 6.7 | Free plan | $8.25/mo | Yes | — | web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iPad | Yes |
| 12 | RagTime | 6.6 | No | — | No | — | macOS, Windows | Yes |
| 13 | Microsoft Publisher | 6.5 | No | — | No | — | windows | Yes |
| 14 | Xara Page & Layout Designer | 6.4 | No | — | No | — | Windows | Yes |
| 15 | Calamus SL | 6.4 | No | — | No | — | Windows, macOS | Yes |
| 16 | InPage | 6.2 | No | — | — | — | Windows | Yes |
| 17 | Vellum | 6.0 | No | — | Yes | — | macOS | Yes |
| 18 | Layout Department | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | macOS, Windows | Yes |
| 19 | Kindle Create | 5.8 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, macOS | No |
| 20 | Laidout | 5.7 | No | — | Yes | — | Linux | Yes |
| 21 | Publisher Plus | 5.4 | No | — | Yes | — | macOS | Yes |
| 22 | Lacuna | 5.4 | No | — | No | — | Windows, macOS | Yes |
| 23 | The Print Shop | 5.2 | No | — | No | — | Windows | Yes |
| 24 | Flipsnack | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | 16 /user/mo | web, api | Yes |
| 25 | PrintMaster 10 | 5.0 | No | — | No | — | Windows, macOS | Yes |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which desktop publishing software is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
QuarkXPress is ranked #1 of 27 with a score of 8.8. Affinity is second and VivaDesigner third.
How many of these have a free plan?
6 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Megal Publisher has the lowest first paid tier we found: $5/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.