Alternatives to Scribus

Free desktop publishing for posters, magazines and books, with real CMYK output a printer will accept. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Scribus.

  • Affinity

    Free professional app from Canva that combines vector design, photo editing and page layout.

    FreeProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    Affinity is a free Windows and macOS app from Canva combining page layout with vector and photo tools, importing IDML files, but it is closed source and needs a Canva account.

  • Xara Designer Pro+

    Desktop design software combining vector illustration, photo editing, page layout and no-code web design.

    PaidProprietaryWindows

    Xara Designer Pro+ is paid Windows-only software that combines page layout with vector drawing, photo editing and no-code web design, using proprietary files.

  • PhotoLine

    An all-purpose image editor for Windows and macOS covering photo editing, vector graphics and page layout.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    PhotoLine is a paid Windows and macOS program adding page layout and multipage PDF export to photo and vector editing, with CMYK and ICC color management.

  • CorelDRAW

    Commercial vector illustration, layout and graphic design software for Windows, Mac and the web.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOSWeb

    CorelDRAW is paid vector and layout software for Windows, Mac and the web, aimed at print and sign-making, replacing Scribus's free open-source license.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.