Top 10 Best Page Layout Software of 2026

Adobe InDesign is the industry-leading desktop publishing software for creating professional multi-page layouts, including books, magazines, brochures, and interactive PDFs. It offers precise control over typography, images, and graphics, with advanced tools for print and digital publishing. Seamlessly integrated with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps, it supports complex workflows from design to production.

Affinity Publisher is a professional page layout software for creating multi-page documents like books, magazines, brochures, and reports, featuring advanced typography, master pages, and precise control over text flow and images. It supports high-quality PDF export, print-ready output, and seamless integration with Affinity Photo and Designer for a unified creative workflow. As a one-time purchase alternative to subscription-based tools like Adobe InDesign, it delivers robust performance across desktop and iPad platforms.

QuarkXPress is a professional page layout software with over three decades of history, specializing in precise typesetting, graphics management, and multi-channel publishing for print and digital formats. It provides advanced tools for handling complex documents like books, magazines, and brochures, with strong emphasis on typography, color accuracy, and automation. As a robust alternative to Adobe InDesign, it supports perpetual licensing and excels in high-volume production environments.

Scribus is a free, open-source desktop publishing (DTP) software designed for creating professional layouts such as brochures, newsletters, posters, books, and magazines. It provides tools for precise page layout, vector graphics, image import, text formatting, and advanced PDF export with full support for print standards like CMYK, ICC profiles, and PDF/X. As a cross-platform solution for Windows, macOS, and Linux, it serves as a powerful no-cost alternative to commercial tools like Adobe InDesign.

Microsoft Publisher is a desktop publishing application from Microsoft, primarily used for creating flyers, brochures, newsletters, business cards, and other marketing materials. It provides an extensive library of templates and straightforward tools for layout design, making it accessible for non-professionals. Seamlessly integrated with other Microsoft Office apps like Word and Excel, it excels in mail merge and data-driven publications but is limited to Windows platforms.

Apple Pages is a powerful yet user-friendly word processing and page layout application available on macOS, iPadOS, and iOS devices. It enables users to create professional-looking documents such as flyers, brochures, newsletters, books, and reports using a vast library of stunning templates and intuitive design tools. Pages combines simplicity with advanced features like multi-column layouts, image editing, and precise object placement, making it ideal for both casual and semi-professional page layout tasks.

Canva is a cloud-based graphic design platform renowned for its drag-and-drop interface, enabling users to create professional page layouts for posters, flyers, brochures, social media graphics, and presentations without advanced design skills. It provides an extensive library of customizable templates, millions of stock photos, icons, fonts, and elements, along with collaboration tools for teams. While versatile for digital and basic print outputs, it prioritizes speed and accessibility over the precision of traditional desktop publishing software like Adobe InDesign.

Marq (formerly Lucidpress) is a cloud-based page layout and design platform specializing in creating marketing collateral like flyers, brochures, banners, and social graphics using a vast library of customizable templates. It excels in team collaboration, brand asset management, and automating design workflows for print and digital publishing. With drag-and-drop simplicity, it's tailored for non-designers to produce professional on-brand materials quickly and consistently.

Swift Publisher is a macOS-exclusive page layout software from Belight Software, designed for creating professional flyers, brochures, newsletters, business cards, calendars, and other print materials. It features an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, over 2,000 customizable templates, layers, master pages, and built-in photo editing tools for quick image adjustments. While it excels in simplicity for everyday desktop publishing, it falls short of enterprise-level tools in advanced scripting and collaboration features.

VivaDesigner is a professional desktop publishing (DTP) software offering comprehensive page layout tools for creating print and digital media like brochures, magazines, books, and interactive PDFs. It provides advanced typography, precise object management, color management, and scripting capabilities comparable to industry leaders. Cross-platform support for Windows, macOS, and Linux, along with a free community edition, makes it accessible for various users.