The biggest drawback is that you can’t open files from other desktop publishing software, such as InDesign or Quark. There are good forums and documentation that can help you get up and running quickly, and the software even comes with a free selection of templates for things like business cards, brochures and newsletters. It supports most of the desktop publishing features you find in paid software, including support for OpenType, CMYK colours, spot colours, ICC colour management and versatile PDF creation, and there are some surprising extras like vector drawing tools, emulation of colour blindness and the rendering of markup languages like LaTeX or Lilypond. It offers an interface that’s pretty similar to InDesign, and it boasts an unexpectedly broad feature set for a free tool. Launched in 2001, Scribus has an enthusiastic developer community that keeps it updated and ensures its stability. If you’re looking for an open-source free InDesign alternative, take a gander at Scribus. That really makes this an InDesign alternative for those who have a personal preference for the software or need to use it in a specific job.Ĭan’t import files from InDesign or QuarkXPress It's not as expensive as it used to be, but still fairly pricy considering the cost of the options higher up on our list. The pricing still seems aimed at the corporate market, with a new one-year licence for the 2021 version starting at $474. The main reason it's not higher on our list is the cost.

It offers impressive functionality for both print and digital design, and, it can import InDesign files. It can be used to create everything from posters and flyers to brochures, catalogues, and magazines, as well as ebooks and web and mobile apps. QuarkXpress is still a reliable, feature-rich package that can do almost everything that InDesign can do, so much so that it seems almost a little unfair that InDesign stole its throne.Īvailable for PC or Mac, the software is still updated on an annual basis, usually around late spring/early summer. However, many designers who were working back then (QuarkXPress launched in 1987), continue to use the software, whether out of habit or preference.

Back in the hazy days of the 1990s, QuarkXPress was the industry standard for desktop publishing, and the obligatory software for in-house designers, newspaper subs and publishing houses everywhere.

Free indesign alternative open indd