Top 8 InDesign Alternative (Free and Open Source)

Elise Williams

2021-07-16 15:40:31 • Filed to: Indesign Features • Proven solutions

InDesign has been on the market for quite some time now. There are many InDesign alternative programs that can be used to perform the same level of work, and the outcome is generally the same. There are many free InDesign alternative tools that are being used by designers, but you need to research which ones will work the best for your needs. In this article, we’ve outline the most popular InDesign alternatives, comparing pros, cons, price and operating system.

Top 8 InDesign Alternative for Windows

1. PDFelement

PDFelement is without a doubt one of the best and the most advanced alternatives to InDesign that you can find. It is a one-stop PDF solution to solve all your PDF needs. This simple program can perform the same level of functionality as InDesign.

Free Download

Pros:

The advanced editing features makes for a smooth and simple PDF editing experience.
Rotate, move, and resize graphical elements in your PDF file.
Approve and sign PDF documents digitally.
The built in OCR can be used to transform scanned PDFs into editable text.
Secure PDFs with password protection and redactions.
The program is available for Windows, Mac OS, iOS and Android.
The interface is interactive and easy to use.

System Support:

Windows
Mac
iOS
Android

2. Microsoft Office Publisher

This is another alternative to InDesign. The interface is very simple and allows users to publish their work directly to other websites.

Pros:

The program is easy to use for those used to using word processors.
The design process is streamlined with built-in-tools.

Cons:

The trial version is free, but you need to pay for the full version.
The program freezes for no reason and slows the system down.

System Support:

Windows

3. QuarkXPress

This is a proprietary software that was launched in 1987. It is used for complex layouts in WYSIWYG. The interface is interactive and allows the users to design elements effortlessly.

Pros:

The program designs layouts using simple processes.
It is quick, easy to use, and includes many tutorials online.

Cons:

The Quark interactive designer is slow.

System Support:

Windows
Mac

4. Serif Pageplus

Also known as Pageplus this InDesign alternative is used to publish interactive elements with a single click.

Pros:

The price is low.
The program is fast.

Cons:

The program is only available for Windows.
The stable release is yet to be launched.

System Support:

Windows

5. Affinity Publisher

This is a new graphics editor that was developed by Serif and has gained popularity in recent years.

Pros:

The interface of the program is stable and interactive.
It is simple to use.

Cons:

The program is highly unstable when it comes to large projects.
The beta has been released which means there are many bugs.

System Support:

Windows
Mac
iOS

6. Spring Publisher

This easy to use desktop publishing app is regarded highly by professionals due to its creative design and interactive nature.

Pros:

The program is reliable.
The price is low.

Cons:

The program can be slow.
It is not for professional use on a large scale.

System Support:

Windows

InDesign Open Source Alternative

7. Scribus

This open source InDesign alternative is very popular and is used all over the world. It is highly interactive and allows users to publish their designs online easily.

Pros:

The program is open source with unlimited support.
It comes with an HLC color atlas.
It is interactive.
It has many tutorials.

Cons:

It is not as interactive as many paid programs.
The stable release contains bugs.
This InDesign alternative has limited support.
It is not as fast as paid programs.

System Support:

Windows
Mac
Linux

8. PDFrizator

This program is mainly used for PDF editing but is also a full-fledged desktop publishing app that allows users to work with design and graphics. It also supports MP3 format.