Best Layout Department Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 tools from desktop publishing software ranked against Layout Department on the same published basis.
- 1Layout Department vs VivaDesigner
- 2Layout Department vs QuarkXPress
- 3Layout Department vs iStudio Publisher
- 4Layout Department vs PublishMedia
- 5Layout Department vs Affinity
- 6Layout Department vs Blurb BookWright
- 7Layout Department vs Megal Publisher
- 8Layout Department vs Lacuna
- 9Layout Department vs PageStream
- 10Layout Department vs RagTime
- 11Layout Department vs Calamus SL
- 12Layout Department vs Swift Publisher
- 13Layout Department vs Laidout
- 14Layout Department vs Vellum
- 15Layout Department vs GraphicConverter
- 16Layout Department vs Joomag Email Marketing Suite
- 17Layout Department vs Scribus
- 18Layout Department vs Kindle Create
- 19Layout Department vs Microsoft Publisher
- 20Layout Department vs Xara Page & Layout Designer
Layout Department alternatives compared
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VivaDesigner | 8.0 | Free plan | €299/mo | API, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| 2 | QuarkXPress | 7.5 | No | — | Android, iOS, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 3 | iStudio Publisher | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Mac |
| 4 | PublishMedia | 7.4 | Free plan | $8.25/mo | Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 5 | Affinity | 7.3 | Free plan | Free | Mac, Windows |
| 6 | Blurb BookWright | 7.3 | Free plan | — | Mac, Web, Windows |
| 7 | Megal Publisher | 7.3 | Free plan | $5/mo | Web |
| 8 | Lacuna | 7.1 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 9 | PageStream | 7.1 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 10 | RagTime | 7.0 | No | — | Mac, Windows |
| 11 | Calamus SL | 6.9 | No | — | Mac, Windows |
| 12 | Swift Publisher | 6.9 | No | — | Mac |
| 13 | Laidout | 6.4 | No | — | Linux |
| 14 | Vellum | 6.4 | No | — | Mac |
| 15 | GraphicConverter | 6.1 | No | $39.95/mo | Mac |
| 16 | Joomag Email Marketing Suite | 6.1 | No | — | Web |
| 17 | Scribus | 6.1 | No | — | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 18 | Kindle Create | 6.0 | No | — | Windows, Mac |
| 19 | Microsoft Publisher | 6.0 | No | — | Windows |
| 20 | Xara Page & Layout Designer | 6.0 | No | — | Windows |
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Questions about Layout Department alternatives
What is the best alternative to Layout Department?
VivaDesigner, number 1 in desktop publishing software with a score of 8.0 out of 10. The others here: QuarkXPress, iStudio Publisher, PublishMedia and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to Layout Department?
VivaDesigner is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 6 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How are these alternatives 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.