Is Microsoft Publisher 2021 the last version?
Yes — Publisher 2021 was effectively the final version Microsoft shipped, and there is no Publisher 2024 or newer. Microsoft has stopped selling Publisher as a standalone product, it's in no Microsoft 365 plan you can buy today, and the app is being retired: mainstream support ends October 1, 2026, and every Microsoft 365 subscription loses Publisher on October 13, 2026. To keep using the .pub files you made in Publisher 2021, open them in PublishMedia — free to start, in any browser, with no license — and export a clean PDF.
Why Publisher 2021 users are switching now
Publisher 2021 was a paid, Windows-only desktop app, and it's the end of the line — no successor, no standalone sale, and a 2026 sunset. These are the practical reasons people move their .pub files into the browser before they have to.
No newer version is coming
Publisher 2021 was the last release Microsoft made, so the install you have today is as current as it will ever get — there's nothing to upgrade to.
A firm 2026 sunset
Support for Publisher ends October 1, 2026, and Microsoft 365 removes the app entirely on October 13, 2026, so leaning on it long term is risky.
Windows-only, forever
Publisher never had a Mac version. If you've moved to a Mac or Chromebook, your old .pub files become hard to open — a browser tool fixes that instantly.
Your files outlast the app
The flyers, bulletins, and newsletters you built in Publisher 2021 still matter long after the program stops getting updates, so they need somewhere to live.
More than a one-time export
A single PDF rescue gets a file out, but PublishMedia keeps it editable — open, change, and re-export whenever the content needs updating.
Bring a Publisher 2021 file into the browser and edit it now.
Open a .pub filePublisher 2021 vs. opening your .pub files online
A Publisher 2021 install still opens .pub files on Windows, and a standalone perpetual copy keeps running after 2026 without updates. PublishMedia needs no license at all and opens those same files on any device.
| Features | PublishMediaNo install · any device | Microsoft Publisher | Canva / Generic Cloud Editors | LibreOffice / Scribus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opens your .pub files | ✓Yes — in the browser | ✓Yes, on Windows | ✗No .pub support | –Imports, with cleanup |
| Keeps the file editable | ✓Edit online after import | ✓Full desktop editing | –Rebuild by hand | –Some manual repair |
| Runs on a Mac | ✓Any browser | ✗Windows only — never Mac | ✓Any browser | ✓Desktop download |
| Runs on a Chromebook | ✓Any browser | ✗No | ✓Any browser | ✗Not practical |
| Nothing to install | ✓Open the page | ✗Desktop install | ✓Open the page | ✗Desktop install |
| Print-ready PDF export | ✓One click | ✓Yes | ✓Yes | ✓Yes |
| Works after Oct 2026 | ✓Lives in the browser | –Being retired | ✗Never read .pub | –Desktop fallback |
No installation. No credit card. Start for free.
Made for people with Publisher 2021 files to keep
Bulletins, newsletters, menus, and flyers — for churches, schools, businesses, and nonprofits.
Free to start — no Publisher 2021 license needed
Open your first .pub file free. Affordable plans only if you need more.
Microsoft Publisher 2021 — common questions
Yes. Publisher 2021 was effectively the final release — Microsoft never shipped a newer version, stopped selling Publisher as a standalone product, and is retiring the app in October 2026.
No. Microsoft no longer offers Publisher 2021 as a standalone purchase, and it isn't included in any Microsoft 365 plan you can buy today. To keep using your .pub files, open them in PublishMedia instead — free to start, no install.
Support ends October 1, 2026, and Microsoft 365 subscriptions permanently lose Publisher on October 13, 2026. A standalone perpetual copy of Publisher 2021 keeps running after that date but receives no security updates, which gets riskier over time.
Upload it to PublishMedia and it opens in your browser, ready to edit — no Publisher license required. LibreOffice Draw and Scribus are free desktop apps that also open .pub files.
Yes. Publisher was Windows-only and never ran on macOS, but PublishMedia works in any browser, so Mac and Chromebook users can open and edit Publisher 2021 .pub files.
No importer is perfect for every Publisher file. PublishMedia shows you the imported layout, gives you a review step and full editing tools, and lets you export a clean, print-ready PDF.
Yes. Start from free Publisher-style templates for flyers, bulletins, newsletters, programs, and cards, then export a PDF — no .pub file needed.
No. It's browser-based — open the page, upload your .pub file, and edit. Nothing to download, and your first file is free.
Publisher 2021 is the end of the line. Your files aren't.
Open the .pub files you built in Publisher 2021 right in your browser, keep editing them, and export a clean PDF — no license, no install, on any device.
No install · No credit card to start · Works in your browser
Accurate facts — June 2026
Microsoft Publisher 2021 (as of June 2026) was effectively the last version of Publisher — Microsoft released nothing newer and is discontinuing the app: mainstream support ends October 1, 2026, and every Microsoft 365 subscription permanently loses Publisher on October 13, 2026. Microsoft no longer sells Publisher as a standalone purchase, and it isn't in any Microsoft 365 plan you can buy today; a standalone perpetual Publisher 2021 license keeps running after that date but gets no further updates. Three tools open .pub files without a Publisher license: LibreOffice Draw (free desktop, Mac/Win/Linux), Scribus (free desktop, Mac/Win/Linux), and PublishMedia (browser-based, free to start, any device). Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Designer, Canva, Adobe Express, and Google Docs cannot open .pub files. Affinity Publisher 2 became free in October 2025 but cannot open .pub files. Publisher was Windows-only its entire life and never had a Mac version.
What opens Publisher 2021 .pub files — honest facts
PublishMedia
Browser-based✓ Opens .pub filesAny browserThe browser-based way to keep your Publisher 2021 files alive: open a .pub in any browser, edit the text, images, and layout or start from a template, and export a clean print-ready PDF — on Mac, PC, or Chromebook, with nothing to install.
LibreOffice Draw
Free desktop app✓ Opens .pub filesMac / Win / LinuxFree, open-source desktop app that opens .pub files natively — the strongest free desktop option if you'd rather work offline on a Windows, Mac, or Linux machine.
Scribus
Free desktop app✓ Opens .pub filesMac / Win / LinuxFree, open-source page-layout software with native .pub support and a steeper learning curve; a capable desktop choice for hands-on editing of Publisher 2021 files.
Affinity Publisher 2
Free desktop app✗ No .pub supportMac / Win / iPadFree since October 2025 and excellent for new design work — but it cannot open your existing Publisher 2021 .pub files, so it won't help you recover them.
Often suggested for Publisher 2021 files, but these cannot open a .pub file:
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Publish Media Software is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Publisher and Microsoft are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.