Where Can You Buy Microsoft Publisher 2021?
Last updated: September 25, 2026 · Maintained by Publish Media Software. Checked against Microsoft's Publisher retirement notice and the Office 2021 lifecycle page on September 25, 2026.
Where Can You Buy or Download Microsoft Publisher 2021?
Microsoft Publisher 2021 is the last version of Microsoft Publisher sold as a one-time purchase (perpetual), for Windows, and it is still listed by third-party software sellers. For example, OfficeASAP lists Microsoft Publisher 2021 standalone. Buying Publisher 2021 gets you a license, and downloading it is a separate step. A license redeemed to a Microsoft account is installed from that account, and a license bought from a seller is installed using the seller's instructions. Before you buy, know that Microsoft is retiring Publisher: support for Publisher 2021 ends on October 13, 2026. After that date, Microsoft says perpetual copies can still be installed and used, but they no longer receive updates or support.
| Product | Microsoft Publisher 2021, a desktop publishing app from Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Platform | Windows 10 and Windows 11 (no Mac version) |
| Released | October 5, 2021, with Office 2021 |
| Purchase model | One-time purchase (perpetual), no subscription |
| Newer version? | None. Publisher 2021 is the last version of Publisher; Office 2024 doesn't include Publisher |
| Microsoft 365 Publisher | Removed for subscribers after October 1, 2026 |
| End of support | October 13, 2026 (can still be installed and used afterwards) |
| Also included in | Office Professional 2021 |
| Where to buy | Third-party sellers, for example OfficeASAP — Microsoft Publisher 2021 standalone |
Where Can You Buy Microsoft Publisher 2021?
Microsoft Publisher 2021 is available from third-party software sellers. If you specifically want a standalone Publisher 2021 license, OfficeASAP lists Microsoft Publisher 2021 at officeasap.com/asap-shop/buy-publisher-standalone. Check that product page for current availability, price, and license terms.
Microsoft Publisher 2021 is also included in Office Professional 2021, along with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access. Office Home & Student 2021 and Office Home & Business 2021 do not include Publisher.
Where Can You Download Microsoft Publisher 2021?
You download Microsoft Publisher 2021 after you own a license, and where you download it from depends on how the license was delivered.
- License redeemed to a Microsoft account: sign in at account.microsoft.com/services and install it from there, as described in Microsoft's install and reinstall guide.
- License bought from a seller: follow the download and activation instructions the seller sends with your order.
Only download Publisher 2021 installers from Microsoft or from the seller you bought the license from. Don't use "Publisher 2021 free download" sites, torrents, ISO mirrors, modified installers, or activators. These often carry malware, and they don't give you a valid license.
Can You Still Buy Microsoft Publisher 2021 in 2026?
Yes. As of September 25, 2026, Microsoft Publisher 2021 is still listed by third-party sellers, including OfficeASAP. Microsoft has announced that Publisher is being retired:
- Publisher for Microsoft 365 (the subscription version) stops being available to Microsoft 365 subscribers after October 1, 2026.
- Perpetual Publisher 2021 reaches end of support on October 13, 2026, the same day Office 2021 does. Microsoft says perpetual copies can still be installed and used after that date.
A Microsoft Publisher 2021 license bought in late 2026 lets you keep a local copy of Publisher. It is not a supported, long-term Microsoft product, so buy it because you need Publisher itself.
Is Microsoft Publisher 2021 the Latest Version of Publisher?
Yes. Microsoft Publisher 2021 is the latest and final version of Microsoft Publisher sold as a one-time purchase. There is no Publisher 2024: Microsoft states that Publisher is not included in Office LTSC 2024because Publisher is being retired, and the consumer Office 2024 editions don't include it either. If you want to own a copy of Microsoft Publisher today, Publisher 2021 is the version to look for. It is available as a standalone app from third-party sellers, such as OfficeASAP's Microsoft Publisher 2021 listing, or as part of Office Professional 2021.
Microsoft Publisher 2021 vs. Publisher for Microsoft 365
Microsoft Publisher 2021 and Publisher for Microsoft 365 are different products, and Microsoft's retirement affects them differently.
| Microsoft Publisher 2021 | Publisher for Microsoft 365 | |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | One-time purchase | Included with a Microsoft 365 subscription |
| After October 1, 2026 | Keeps working | No longer available to subscribers |
| After October 13, 2026 | Still installs and runs, but no updates or support | Not available |
| Opens and edits .pub files | Yes, including after support ends | No, once Publisher is removed |
| Where to get it | Third-party sellers, or Office Professional 2021 | No longer offered |
For someone losing Publisher when it leaves Microsoft 365, a Microsoft Publisher 2021 license is the way to keep using the Publisher desktop app itself.
Which Version of Microsoft Publisher Should You Buy?
If you buy Microsoft Publisher today, choose Publisher 2021. It is the newest version and the only one Microsoft still supports, until October 13, 2026. Support for Publisher 2019 and Publisher 2016 ended on October 14, 2025 (see the Office 2019 and Office 2016 lifecycle pages), and no Publisher version newer than 2021 will be released.
- Only need Publisher: a standalone Microsoft Publisher 2021 license, for example from OfficeASAP.
- Also need Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook: Office Professional 2021, which includes Publisher 2021.
- On a Mac, iPad, or Chromebook: no version of Microsoft Publisher runs natively on those platforms. See the alternatives below.
How to Buy and Install Microsoft Publisher 2021
- Choose a Publisher 2021 license. Pick a standalone Publisher 2021 license, such as OfficeASAP's Publisher 2021 listing. If you also want Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, choose Office Professional 2021 instead.
- Read the license terms. On the product page, check how many PCs are covered, the refund policy, and how the license is delivered.
- Download from the right source.Use Microsoft's account page if your license was redeemed there, or the seller's instructions if it wasn't. Never use an unknown download site.
- Activate and check. Activate with your product key, then open File → Account in Publisher and confirm that the product shows as activated.
Microsoft Publisher 2021 at OfficeASAP
- Product
- Microsoft Publisher 2021, standalone (Publisher only, not the full Office suite)
- Platform
- Windows (Publisher has no Mac version)
- Product page
- https://officeasap.com/asap-shop/buy-publisher-standalone
Price, license terms, delivery, and refund policy are set by OfficeASAP and shown on its product page.
Is Microsoft Publisher 2021 a One-Time Purchase?
Yes. Microsoft Publisher 2021 is a perpetual version of Publisher: you pay once and there is no subscription. Publisher for Microsoft 365 is different: it came only with a Microsoft 365 subscription and is removed from Microsoft 365 after October 1, 2026. A perpetual license means the software keeps working, but it doesn't mean support continues forever. Support for Publisher 2021 ends on October 13, 2026.
Does Microsoft Office 2021 Include Publisher?
Only some Office 2021 editions include Microsoft Publisher 2021. Office Professional 2021 includes it. Office Home & Student 2021, Office Home & Business 2021, and the Office 2021 for Mac editions do not. Check the list of included apps for the exact edition before buying. For every one-time Office edition and where to buy it, see where to buy Microsoft Office as a one-time purchase.
Will Microsoft Publisher 2021 Still Work After October 2026?
Yes. Perpetual copies of Microsoft Publisher 2021 keep working after Microsoft's October 13, 2026 support deadline. Microsoft says people with the perpetual version "will still be able to install and use the app" and can still open and edit their files. The change is that Publisher 2021 stops getting security updates, bug fixes, and Microsoft technical support. Microsoft 365 subscribers lose Publisher after October 1, 2026.
When Does Microsoft Publisher 2021 Support End?
Microsoft Publisher 2021 support ends on October 13, 2026, according to Microsoft's Publisher retirement notice. That is also the end of support for Office 2021. Microsoft's Office 2021 lifecycle page lists the retirement as 10/14/2026 06:59:59 UTC, which is October 13, 2026 in U.S. time zones. After that date, treat a Publisher 2021 installation as unsupported software: keep backups of your .pub files and export important documents to PDF.
What Should You Check Before Buying Microsoft Publisher 2021?
- The exact edition, and that Publisher 2021 itself is included.
- That you have a Windows PC. Publisher 2021 does not run on macOS.
- How many PCs the license covers, and what happens if you replace your PC.
- Any regional or language restrictions.
- Whether the license is tied to a Microsoft account, and how reinstalls work.
- How the software is downloaded and activated.
- The refund policy and how to contact support.
- The October 13, 2026 end-of-support date.
A low price doesn't prove a Publisher 2021 license is legitimate, and a high one doesn't either. Check the seller's stated terms and refund conditions instead.
Is It Safe to Download Publisher 2021 From a Third-Party Website?
It depends on the website. A seller you bought a license from is a very different source from an anonymous site offering a free "Publisher 2021 download." Only run a Publisher 2021 installer that comes from Microsoft or from the seller you paid, and keep your order details. Never run cracked installers, key generators, KMS activators, or ISO files from file-sharing sites.
Who Should Still Buy Microsoft Publisher 2021?
- People who need to open and edit existing .pub files in Publisher itself, with the layout kept exactly.
- Churches, schools, clubs, and small businesses with newsletters, labels, or mail merges built in Publisher.
- Anyone who needs Publisher installed on their own PC without a subscription.
- Teams keeping legacy Publisher documents usable while they move to another format.
What Are the Alternatives to Microsoft Publisher After 2026?
If you're starting a new design workflow in late 2026, a supported application may suit you better than Publisher 2021. For common Publisher tasks, Microsoft suggests Word (newsletters, labels, envelopes, calendars) and PowerPoint (posters, brochures, banners), with templates at Microsoft Create. Other options include Affinity Publisher and Scribus for page layout, and LibreOffice Draw, which can open .pub files. Browser-based editors can also open existing .pub files; PublishMedia, made by the company that runs this site, is one of them. See the Microsoft Publisher alternative overview for a comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buying and Downloading Publisher 2021
Is there a Microsoft Publisher 2024?
No. Microsoft did not release a Publisher 2024, and Microsoft says Publisher is not included in Office LTSC 2024 because Publisher is being retired. The consumer Office 2024 editions don't include it either. Microsoft Publisher 2021 is the last version sold as a one-time purchase, and third-party sellers such as OfficeASAP still list it.
Can I still buy Microsoft Publisher 2021 after October 2026?
Possibly. The end of support on October 13, 2026 doesn't make existing licenses stop working, and Microsoft says perpetual copies can still be installed and used. Whether a seller still lists Publisher 2021 after that date depends on the seller, so check the product page, such as OfficeASAP's Publisher 2021 listing, for current availability.
What are the system requirements for Microsoft Publisher 2021?
Microsoft Publisher 2021 runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs. It does not run on macOS, iPad, Android, or ChromeOS. Microsoft Publisher has never been released for those platforms.
Should I buy Publisher 2019 or Publisher 2016 instead of Publisher 2021?
Publisher 2021 is usually the better choice. Support for Office 2019 and Office 2016, including their Publisher versions, already ended on October 14, 2025. Publisher 2021 is the newest Publisher release and is supported until October 13, 2026.
Can I download Publisher 2021 directly from Microsoft?
Only if you already own it. If a Publisher 2021 or Office Professional 2021 license has been redeemed to your Microsoft account, you can install it from that account's Services & subscriptions page. If you bought a license from a third-party seller, use the download and installation instructions that seller provides with the order.
Can I reinstall Publisher 2021 if I already own it?
Yes. A Publisher 2021 license linked to your Microsoft account can be reinstalled from account.microsoft.com. Microsoft also says perpetual Publisher can still be installed after support ends in October 2026. If your license came from a reseller, keep your order details and ask the seller how reinstalls work.
Is Publisher 2021 available for Mac?
No. Microsoft Publisher has never had a macOS version, and Publisher 2021 runs only on Windows. Office 2021 for Mac editions do not include Publisher.
Do I need a Microsoft account for Publisher 2021?
It depends on how the license is delivered. A license redeemed through Microsoft is tied to a Microsoft account, and that account is what lets you reinstall later. Before buying from any seller, ask whether the license is tied to an account and how activation works.
Can I use Publisher 2021 after Microsoft ends support?
Yes. Microsoft says people with the perpetual version of Publisher "will still be able to install and use the app" and can still open and edit their files after support ends on October 13, 2026. Microsoft will no longer provide security updates, bug fixes, or technical support for Publisher 2021 after that date.
Sources and Further Reading
- Microsoft Support — Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026Confirms the retirement, the October 1, 2026 removal from Microsoft 365, the October 13, 2026 end of support for perpetual Publisher, and that perpetual copies can still be installed and used. It also names Word and PowerPoint as suggested replacements.
- Microsoft Learn — Office 2021 lifecycleThe lifecycle record for Office 2021, including the Professional edition that contains Publisher. It shows a retirement time of 10/14/2026 06:59:59 UTC, which is October 13, 2026 in U.S. time zones.
- Microsoft Learn — Overview of Office LTSC 2024States that Microsoft Publisher is not included in Office LTSC 2024 because Publisher is being retired. This is why Publisher 2021 is the last version you can buy as a one-time purchase.
- Microsoft Learn — Office 2019 lifecycleOffice 2019, including Publisher 2019, reached end of extended support on October 14, 2025 (U.S. time).
- Microsoft Learn — Office 2016 lifecycleOffice 2016, including Publisher 2016, reached end of extended support on October 14, 2025 (U.S. time).
- Microsoft Support — Download and install or reinstall OfficeMicrosoft's steps for installing or reinstalling Office licenses that are linked to a Microsoft account.
- Microsoft account — Services & subscriptionsThe page where products redeemed to a Microsoft account are listed and can be installed.
- OfficeASAP — Microsoft Publisher 2021 standalone product pageThe seller's own listing, with current price, license terms, delivery, and refund policy.
About this page: microsoftpublisheralternative.com is operated by Publish Media Software. We are not Microsoft. Microsoft facts on this page come from the Microsoft documentation linked above. For seller terms, see the OfficeASAP product page.
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.