Free & open source alternatives to InDesign

3 free page layout and publishing apps to use instead of InDesign by Adobe

The best free alternative to InDesign is Affinity. Layout on par with InDesign, imports .idml files and exports print-ready PDF.

Other great options: Scribus and LibreOffice.

Quick pick: Free professional layout: Affinity (imports InDesign .idml files). Open source: Scribus.

Reviewed November 2026 against each vendor's official website.

Official ways to use InDesign for free

7-day free trial from Adobe.

Free plans and trial lengths are set by the vendor and can change. Check the official website before signing up.

3 best alternatives to InDesign

Affinity

Design & photo

FreeSome learning curve

Layout on par with InDesign, imports .idml files and exports print-ready PDF.

A professional design suite combining photo editing, vector and page layout in one app. Since late October 2025 Canva offers it free with a Canva account.

Adobe-level quality for photo, vector and layout in a single app
Opens .psd, .ai (PDF-compatible) and InDesign .idml files
Full CMYK and print-ready export

Platforms: Windows · Mac

Affinity details Official website ↗

Scribus

Design & photo

Open sourceSome learning curve

Open source with CMYK and PDF/X; imports .idml partially and can't open .indd.

Open-source desktop publishing for magazines, books, flyers and catalogs. It exports print-ready PDF with CMYK and PDF/X.

Proper CMYK and PDF/X for print
Free for business use too

Platforms: Windows · Mac · Linux

Scribus details Official website ↗

LibreOffice

Office & PDF

Open sourceEasy to use

Writer handles simple books and reports with a table of contents.

Open-source office suite that replaces Microsoft Office: Writer, Calc, Impress and Draw. Works fully offline and is available in many languages.

Free for organizations and businesses, no license fees
Opens and saves .docx, .xlsx and .pptx
Many interface languages, works without internet

Platforms: Windows · Mac · Linux

LibreOffice details Official website ↗

Quick comparison

App	Type	Platforms	Ease of use	GitHub stars
Affinity	Free	Windows, Mac	Some learning curve	—
Scribus	Open source	Windows, Mac, Linux	Some learning curve	—
LibreOffice	Open source	Windows, Mac, Linux	Easy to use	—

Open source: anyone can use, study and modify it, including businesses. Free: no cost, but the code is closed. Freemium: a lasting free plan with paid tiers for extra features. Source available: code is public but the license adds conditions.

FAQ

What is the best free alternative to InDesign?

The most popular picks are Affinity, Scribus and LibreOffice. Free professional layout: Affinity (imports InDesign .idml files). Open source: Scribus.

What software opens .indd files?

No free software opens .indd yet. Ask for an .idml export (opens in Affinity, and partially in Scribus) or a PDF.