Best Desktop Publishing Software in 2026
Updated
In short: VivaDesigner is ranked #1 of 29 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of QuarkXPress and iStudio Publisher. The best-ranked option with a free plan is iStudio Publisher. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Megal Publisher at $5/mo.
Preparing pages for print or digital publication involves both layout tools and reliable output. Compare master pages, color management, and preflight tools, then check PDF and EPUB export against the formats you need. Collaboration level and supported platforms can help you judge how an option fits your production setup, while free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add cost context. VivaDesigner, QuarkXPress, and Affinity are among the entries shown. Weigh the layout and output capabilities your publications require against platform support and the degree of collaboration your workflow calls for.
29 desktop publishing software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
29ranked
6free plans on this page
$5/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Desktop Publishing Software 25 channels on this page · 103 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromSupported platformsPDF exportEPUB exportMaster pagesPreflight toolsColor management Spec sheet Score
01 VivaDesigner Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS, Linux, Web browserPDF exportYesEPUB exportYesMaster pagesYesPreflight toolsYesColor managementYes 7/8spec lines stated 8.0
02 QuarkXPress Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsnot statedPDF exportnot statedEPUB exportnot statedMaster pagesnot statedPreflight toolsnot statedColor managementnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.5
03 iStudio Publisher Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsmacOSPDF exportYesEPUB exportYesMaster pagesYesPreflight toolsnot statedColor managementYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.4
04 PublishMedia Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsweb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iPadPDF exportYesEPUB exportnot statedMaster pagesnot statedPreflight toolsnot statedColor managementnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.4
05 Affinity Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsnot statedPDF exportnot statedEPUB exportnot statedMaster pagesnot statedPreflight toolsnot statedColor managementnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.3
06 Blurb BookWright Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsnot statedPDF exportYesEPUB exportnot statedMaster pagesnot statedPreflight toolsnot statedColor managementnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.3
07 Megal Publisher Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformswebPDF exportYesEPUB exportnot statedMaster pagesYesPreflight toolsYesColor managementYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.3
08 Lacuna Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOSPDF exportYesEPUB exportYesMaster pagesnot statedPreflight toolsYesColor managementYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.1
09 PageStream Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, Macintosh OS X, Linux, AmigaPDF exportYesEPUB exportnot statedMaster pagesYesPreflight toolsnot statedColor managementYes 5/8spec lines stated 7.1
10 RagTime Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsmacOS, WindowsPDF exportYesEPUB exportNoMaster pagesYesPreflight toolsnot statedColor managementYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.0
11 Calamus SL Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOSPDF exportYesEPUB exportnot statedMaster pagesYesPreflight toolsYesColor managementYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.9
12 Swift Publisher Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsmacOSPDF exportYesEPUB exportnot statedMaster pagesYesPreflight toolsnot statedColor managementYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.9
13 Vellum Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsmacOSPDF exportYesEPUB exportYesMaster pagesnot statedPreflight toolsnot statedColor managementYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.4
14 GraphicConverter Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsmacOSPDF exportYesEPUB exportnot statedMaster pagesnot statedPreflight toolsnot statedColor managementnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.1
15 Joomag Email Marketing Suite Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsnot statedPDF exportnot statedEPUB exportnot statedMaster pagesnot statedPreflight toolsnot statedColor managementnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.1
16 Scribus Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsnot statedPDF exportnot statedEPUB exportnot statedMaster pagesnot statedPreflight toolsnot statedColor managementnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.1
17 Kindle Create Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOSPDF exportNoEPUB exportYesMaster pagesnot statedPreflight toolsnot statedColor managementnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.0
18 Laidout Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsLinuxPDF exportYesEPUB exportnot statedMaster pagesNoPreflight toolsNoColor managementNo 6/8spec lines stated 6.0
19 Microsoft Publisher Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSupported platformswindowsPDF exportYesEPUB exportNoMaster pagesYesPreflight toolsnot statedColor managementYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.0
20 Xara Page & Layout Designer Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindowsPDF exportYesEPUB exportnot statedMaster pagesnot statedPreflight toolsnot statedColor managementYes 4/8spec lines stated 6.0
21 Xara Web Designer Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindowsPDF exportYesEPUB exportnot statedMaster pagesnot statedPreflight toolsnot statedColor managementYes 4/8spec lines stated 6.0
22 Flipsnack Free planYesPaid from16/user/moSupported platformsweb, apiPDF exportYesEPUB exportnot statedMaster pagesnot statedPreflight toolsnot statedColor managementYes 5/8spec lines stated 5.9
23 Layout Department Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsmacOS, WindowsPDF exportYesEPUB exportnot statedMaster pagesnot statedPreflight toolsnot statedColor managementnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 5.9
24 Print Artist Platinum 27 Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOSPDF exportYesEPUB exportnot statedMaster pagesnot statedPreflight toolsnot statedColor managementnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 5.9
25 InPage Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindowsPDF exportYesEPUB exportYesMaster pagesYesPreflight toolsnot statedColor managementnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.8
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | PDF export |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VivaDesigner | 8.0 | Free plan | €299/mo | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web browser | Yes |
| 2 | QuarkXPress | 7.5 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 3 | iStudio Publisher | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | No | — | macOS | Yes |
| 4 | PublishMedia | 7.4 | Free plan | $8.25/mo | Yes | — | web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iPad | Yes |
| 5 | Affinity | 7.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 6 | Blurb BookWright | 7.3 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 7 | Megal Publisher | 7.3 | Free plan | $5/mo | Yes | — | web | Yes |
| 8 | Lacuna | 7.1 | No | — | No | — | Windows, macOS | Yes |
| 9 | PageStream | 7.1 | No | — | No | — | Windows, Macintosh OS X, Linux, Amiga | Yes |
| 10 | RagTime | 7.0 | No | — | No | — | macOS, Windows | Yes |
| 11 | Calamus SL | 6.9 | No | — | No | — | Windows, macOS | Yes |
| 12 | Swift Publisher | 6.9 | No | — | No | — | macOS | Yes |
| 13 | Vellum | 6.4 | No | — | Yes | — | macOS | Yes |
| 14 | GraphicConverter | 6.1 | No | $39.95/mo | No | — | macOS | Yes |
| 15 | Joomag Email Marketing Suite | 6.1 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 16 | Scribus | 6.1 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 17 | Kindle Create | 6.0 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, macOS | No |
| 18 | Laidout | 6.0 | No | — | Yes | — | Linux | Yes |
| 19 | Microsoft Publisher | 6.0 | No | — | No | — | windows | Yes |
| 20 | Xara Page & Layout Designer | 6.0 | No | — | No | — | Windows | Yes |
| 21 | Xara Web Designer | 6.0 | No | $12/mo | No | — | Windows | Yes |
| 22 | Flipsnack | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | 16 /user/mo | web, api | Yes |
| 23 | Layout Department | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | macOS, Windows | Yes |
| 24 | Print Artist Platinum 27 | 5.9 | No | — | No | — | Windows, macOS | Yes |
| 25 | InPage | 5.8 | No | — | — | — | Windows | Yes |
Is your tool 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 Specifiction?
VivaDesigner is ranked #1 of 29 with a score of 8.0. QuarkXPress is second and iStudio Publisher 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 on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.