Designers working with desktop publishing may want to take a look at Affinity Publisher. The tool, which is now available for Mac and Windows platforms, is emerging as a powerful and flexible design option.
High sierra dmg. The tool is part of the Serif line of graphic design products, which also includes Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer, both super-capable platforms in their own right.
Affinity Publisher is a great, affordable alternative to Adobe InDesign. And much like InDesign, Affinity Publisher also supports pre-made templates. With Affinity Publisher templates, you can easily create professional-looking documents, brochures, flyers, and more with just a few clicks. Bring your vision to life with Affinity Publisher, the most advanced professional publishing software from the developers of the award-winning Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo apps. Whether you’re creating a book, magazine, marketing materials, social media template, website mock-up or something else, this incredibly smooth, intuitive app.
Here’s a look at Affinity Publisher and how it compares to a tool you may already be familiar with – Adobe InDesign.
What is Affinity Publisher?

Affinity Publisher is a professional design software package. It’s made for desktop publishing, including books, magazines, marketing collateral but can also be used for digital materials as well.
The app allows you to manipulate and work with images, graphics, and text to create almost endless layout possibilities with workflow boosts to make large documents easy to work with and manage.
It works with other Serif products as well as native Adobe files and has the power to handle complex vector elements without losing functionality or speed.
The biggest reason Affinity Publisher may be growing in the marketplace is cost. It does not include a subscription model and runs off your local machine. It works on Mac or Windows computers and the download is $49.99 with a free trial available. (You can get it directly from the Affinity Publisher website or in the Mac App Store.)
Affinity Publisher Basics
Affinity Publisher makes it easy to try this tool with a great price and single app download pricing model. It’s robust and includes everything you would want in a desktop publishing app.
The only downsides are that it can feel unfamiliar and a little clunky if you are used to InDesign. Some of that is likely because it is different or maybe because the tool is a little newer and they are still working out some of the finer details.
The Affinity package of tools has a neat feature – StudioLink – that lets you hop between tools in the same app. If you are planning to switch to all Affinity products for design tasks, this is a time-saving option that’s highly functional.
When you get into the software itself, everything is there – you can see some of these key features in the next section – although some things work a little differently than what you may be accustomed to with Adobe products.
Key differences include lack of document setup presets on launch – although you can find third-party templates on design marketplaces – and master pages and layers that require a little more thought until you get used to us.
Designers working on laptops may love this: The software is light and fast without losing render or image quality.
Affinity Publisher Key Features
So, what can Affinity Publisher do? That’s always the big question when it comes to using or switching to a new tool.
Key features include:
- Layout functionality for double page spreads, live master pages, custom shaped frames (including for text), frame linking, tables, and ability to share across apps or devices
- Tons of text manipulation options and control with decorations, drop caps, paths, artistic options, baseline grid, and flow features
- Pixel-perfect graphics that you can link or embed, plus non-destructive layer adjustments
- Pen and node tools, boolean operations, layer effects, and fill options
- Ability to package and export files
- Data merge tools for complex documents with an external data element (supports text/CSV, JSON, and Excel files)
- Live preflight checks
- Color control with end to end CMYK, spot color support, Pantone library, and ICC color profiles
- Asset management tools to help you keep most-used elements at hand
- Preview mode for grids, guides, bleed, and margins
Affinity Publisher vs. Adobe InDesign
The biggest tool comparison is Affinity Publisher vs. Adobe InDesign when it comes to desktop and print publishing. For those not working with either tool on a daily basis, they may seem almost identical at a glance.
They are pretty stiff competitors with the edge going to InDesign because of time on the market and familiarity for so many users. But cost and function could negate that advantage.
Affinity Publisher Website
Affinity Publisher has all the layout tools regularly use including master pages, spreads, grids, tables, typography options, text flow, presentation or print output settings, and more. You can import IDML files, use the preflight checker, create smart master pages, and work with OpenType fonts. Linking or embedding graphics files is a non-issue.
There are plenty of other similarities as well.
- Works on Mac and Windows desktops
- Have fairly intuitive interfaces
- Allows you to work with native Adobe files
- Ability to create pro quality documents for print or digital publishing
- Plenty of tutorials and templates available
- Include free trials (Affinity Publisher’s is 30 days, compared to 7 for Adobe InDesign)
- Core tools and publishing functionality are similar
- Excellent export capability in a number of file formats
The most obvious difference between Publisher and InDesign is probably price and pricing structure. Adobe 2019 mac torrent.
Affinity Publisher comes with a one-time fee when you download it, $49.99.
InDesign is part of Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite of software and comes with a monthly fee, which is based on your plan. The single app price is $20.99 per month.
Conclusion
Affinity Publisher is a powerful design and layout tool that’s highly comparable to Adobe InDesign.
Affinity Publisher Website Design
It’s flexible and easy to learn. And the price is hard to beat.
For current Adobe InDesign users, it could be a little tougher to switch software because while it has much of the same functionality and end result, it just feels different to use. Switching will totally depend on your comfort level.
Either way, the download and trial are worth a try!
Affinity Publisher Templates
In this feature, we've covered the basics of Affinity Publisher with tutorials and software comparisons, as well as the best Affinity Publisher templates.
| Developer(s) | Serif Europe |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 19 June 2019; 21 months ago |
| Stable release | 1.9.3 / 13 April 2021; 1 day ago[1] |
| Operating system | macOS and Windows |
| Available in | 9 languages |
English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Russian | |
| Type | Desktop Publisher |
| License | |
| Website | affinity.serif.com/publisher/ |
Affinity Publisher is a desktop publishing application developed by Serif for macOS and Microsoft Windows, with an iPadOS version planned for release in 2020. It is a part of the Affinity product line along with Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer.
Overview[edit]
Affinity Publisher serves as a successor to Serif's own PagePlus software, which the company discontinued in August 2017 in order to focus on the Affinity product range.[2] It has been described as an alternative to Adobe InDesign,[3][4][5] due to its primary focus on desktop publishing workflows for both printed and online media, including common features from this industry, such as master pages, OpenType support, linked text frames, and end-to-end support for the CMYK color model.[6]
Docker setup in windows 10. Affinity Publisher includes StudioLink technology,[7] developed by Serif, which allows owners of Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo to use the vector and raster graphic editing functionality of those applications for editing content directly within Publisher[3][8] (in addition to its own, smaller set of native vector and raster editing features).[6]
File format support[edit]

Affinity Publisher Website Mockup
File formats supported by Affinity Publisher (in addition to the Affinity suite's native file format) include Adobe InDesign Markup Language (IDML),[9]Adobe Photoshop PSD, Adobe Illustrator AI, PDF, JPG, TIFF, PNG, and EPS,[10] with export functionality for the PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, PDF/X-4 standards of the PDF/X file format.[11]
The iPadOS editions of Affinity Photo and Designer also include support for Affinity Publisher files.[10]
Development[edit]
The first promotional video for Affinity Publisher was shown by Serif in December 2017, demonstrating features such as the drag & drop functionality, and text flow between frames.[12][13] A free public beta of the software was made available for both macOS and Windows on August 30, 2018.[14][15]
The first full version of Publisher (using the 1.7 version number, to align with other Affinity products) was first released on June 19, 2019,[16] in conjunction with Serif's 2019 'Affinity Live' event,[17] during which the company also announced the StudioLink integration features for the first time.[18] Publisher was made available for purchase directly from Serif's website and also available from the Mac App Store and Microsoft Store.
Affinity Publisher Template Website
Publisher was updated to version 1.8 in February 2020, introducing support for importing Adobe InDesign's IDML file format.[9]
Serif have stated that an iPadOS version of the software is planned for release in 2020.[16][18]

Reception[edit]
Affinity Publisher received generally favorable reviews following its initial release in 2019, with the application's range of features, its StudioLink integration with Affinity Designer/Photo, and non-subscription pricing model commonly cited as positive areas.[19][20][21] Limitations noted by reviewers of the initial release included its lack of support for InDesign's document (INDD) & markup (IDML) files[19][20] (although Serif added IDML support in February 2020[9]),[22] for footnotes & endnotes,[23] and for GREP-based and nested styles.[23]
Many reviews drew comparisons between Publisher and InDesign,[19][23][22] often noting that Publisher's first release did not have all of the features required to serve as a full replacement;[19][22] however, CreativePro also acknowledged it as having additional tools that are not present in InDesign or other desktop publishing applications.[23]
In December 2019, Apple named Publisher the “Mac App of the Year”.[24]
References[edit]
- ^'Affinity Publisher for Windows - 1.9.0'. Affinity Forum. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- ^Eccles, Simon (2019-09-17). 'Star product: Serif Affinity Publisher'. PrintWeek. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
- ^ abPruitt, Ant (2019-06-24). 'Affinity Publisher creates competition for Adobe's InDesign'. TechRepublic. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^Antunes, Jose (2018-08-31). 'Affinity Publisher: an affordable alternative to Adobe InDesign'. ProVideo Coalition. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^Sartain, JD (2019-08-27). 'Alternatives for Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop and more'. PC World. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
- ^ abEndicott, Sean (2019-06-19). 'Affinity Publisher is now available from Serif'. Windows Central. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^Banks, Adam (2019-09-01). 'Affinity Publisher: Layout for Less'. MacLife. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
- ^'Serif launches Affinity Publisher with new StudioLink technology'. MacDailyNews. 2019-06-19. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ abcBenjamin, Jeff (2020-02-26). 'Affinity Photo, Publisher, and Designer updated to version 1.8'. 9to5Mac. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
- ^ abLee, Giacomo (2019-06-19). 'Serif just launched its InDesign killer Affinity Publisher'. Digital Arts. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^Becker, Leo (2019-06-20). 'DTP: Affinity Publisher tritt gegen Adobe InDesign an'. Heise.de. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
- ^Benjamin, Jeff (2017-12-14). 'Affinity Publisher for Mac teased on video ahead of 2018 beta release'. 9to5Mac. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^Antunes, Jose (2017-12-18). 'Affinity Publisher: a sneak peek at Serif's DTP by Jose Antunes'. ProVideo Coalition. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^Benjamin, Jeff (2018-08-30). 'Affinity Publisher free public beta goes live for Mac users'. 9to5Mac. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^Lee, Giacomo (2018-08-30). 'Affinity Publisher: a free beta of the new InDesign rival is now available'. Digital Arts. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ abGallagher, William (2019-06-19). 'Mac page design app Affinity Publisher comes out of beta'. AppleInsider. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^'Affinity Live Event Scheduled for June 19'. Mac Sources. 2019-06-17. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ abHamilton, Ruth (2019-06-19). 'Affinity Publisher launches, and reveals a ridiculously cool new feature'. Creative Bloq. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ abcdParis, Steve (2019-07-16). 'Affinity Publisher DTP software review'. TechRadar. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ abEndicott, Sean (2019-06-28). 'Affinity Publisher is professional-grade but doesn't require a subscription'. Windows Central. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^Evenden, Ian (2019-10-01). 'Work With Images in Affinity Publisher'. Maximum PC. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
- ^ abcJefferis, David (2019-06-25). 'Affinity Publisher review: can it replace InDesign?'. The Big Tech Question. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ abcdCaplin, Steve (2019-07-02). 'Review: Affinity Publisher'. CreativePro. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^'Apple celebrates the best apps and games of 2019'. Apple.com. 2019-12-02. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
External links[edit]
