Alternative to Microsoft Publisher for making simple A5 charity booklets

[OldJohn]

I have produced handbooks for a charity, and I have always used Microsoft Publisher.

I have read that in October 2026, Microsoft Publisher will reach its end of life. After that time, it will no longer be included in Microsoft 365, subscribers will no longer be able to open or edit Publisher files in Publisher.
Does anyone know of a programme that can be easily used to produce a booklet. I had them as a 16 page A5 booklet that was printed on 4 pages of A4 then folded and stapled.

I know I could do this by working out the order and setting it all out in word but publisher made it so easy

If you are a registered charity try Canva. It’s great software and they give it free to charities.

I was just about to say CANVA as well.

Also, sign up to charity digital and you'll get loads of tech/software at discounted prices for charities.
https://charitydigital.org.uk/

Charity excellence for free policy templates plus more https://www.charityexcellence.co.uk/free-laptops-for-charities/

Does the charity really need handbooks in 2026? If you put all the information on a website it's far easier to update when needed and no printing costs. You can use Canva to design postcards with the web address/a QR code on if you really must.

Powerpoint and Word both have the ability to do what you need.

Lots of people still can't easily access the Internet. I offer a service to people of all ages and there are 90 year olds who give me their email address and book everything online and working age adults who ring up to book and ask for things to be written or printed for them because they don't/can't 'do anything online'.

I'm sure the OP knows the needs of the people she is providing the information to.

Publisher will still work - you just cant get any updates or support.

Canva is the pits!

No, it says to open publisher documents you'll need to use PDF.

So if I open Adobe I could still open a publisher file, just not edit it?

Just use word or powerpoint. Both are fine.

I agree - PowerPoint equates most closely to Publisher.
The only important thing is to make sure you have saved any precious Publisher documents in a format that you can open. You will not be able to edit them but can dro-pthem into Powerpoint for some changes

I stand corrected - Publisher will vanish from those whose programme is simply a part of the parcel with Microsoft 365. But Powerpoint is the thing to go for not Canva.

Thanks for all the replies. I would much prefer to put the handbook on the web site but some of the elderly users can't understand the Internet (a lot are younger than me and I edit the Web site).
I will look at PowerPoint for this. If not I will use word and sort out the page order myself

Canva is hands down the best option as the things you create can be used both digitally and printed. It is easy to use and once I transitioned from Publisher to Canva I never looked back and the things I create are much better and I find it much easier.

I used to use publisher years ago when I was at college, I remember it and used to like it, I didnt know it still existed :)

Canva is very similar. Why dont you try watching some youtube videos "how to make a booklet in canva" and see what you think?

And if you dont like it then watch some vids on "how to make a booklet in word" and see if you can get any helpful tips.

Good luck x

If you’re using PowerPoint you can also resize the slides to help get the look you’re after

Canva is great, but quite different imo.

We use word, A4 16 font, then tell the printer to use A5 booklet form in settings.

So check out your printer advanced settings.

Try Affinity - https://www.affinity.studio/

It is owned by Canva now but is a separate standalone desktop software (and it’s free).