Discover the Best Laidout Alternatives for Your Desktop Publishing Needs
Laidout is a unique desktop publishing software known for its flexibility with multipage, cut, and folded booklets, even supporting non-rectangular page sizes and advanced features like page rotation and warping. It offers robust export options to formats like Postscript, PDF, PNG, SVG, SLA, and PP. However, if you're looking for different features, a more mainstream approach, or simply exploring other options, there are several excellent Laidout alternatives available that cater to a wide range of desktop publishing requirements.
Top Laidout Alternatives
Whether you need a free, open-source solution, a powerful professional suite, or a web-based tool, this list of Laidout alternatives will help you find the perfect software to bring your creative visions to life.
Scribus
Scribus is a powerful, free, and open-source desktop publishing (DTP) application available across multiple platforms including Mac, Windows, Linux, and BSD. It's designed for flexible layout and typesetting, offering features like color management, interactive PDF forms, and the ability to prepare files for professional-quality printing, making it a robust Laidout alternative for those seeking a no-cost, feature-rich solution.
Affinity Publisher
Affinity Publisher is a highly regarded commercial Laidout alternative for Mac and Windows users, known for its one-time purchase model (no subscription) and intuitive interface. It's praised for being inexpensive yet powerful, offering excellent desktop publishing capabilities, PDF editing, and brochure printing features, making it a great choice for those seeking a modern and efficient DTP experience.
Adobe InDesign
Adobe InDesign is an industry-standard commercial desktop publishing software available for Mac and Windows. As a premium Laidout alternative, it offers comprehensive features for creating newsletters, brochures, and interactive PDF forms, making it ideal for professionals who require advanced DTP capabilities and integration within the Adobe ecosystem.
Microsoft Office Publisher
Part of the Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Office Publisher is a commercial DTP application exclusively for Windows. It helps users create a wide range of publications and marketing materials in-house, making it a straightforward Laidout alternative for those already familiar with the Microsoft Office environment and needing basic yet effective publishing tools.
QuarkXPress
QuarkXPress is a powerful commercial desktop publishing application for Mac OS X and Windows, known for creating and editing complex page layouts in a WYSIWYG environment. It offers a comprehensive set of features including HTML export, built-in image and PDF converters, InDesign import, and JavaScript support, positioning it as a professional-grade Laidout alternative with extensive capabilities.
Lucidpress
Lucidpress is a freemium, web-based design and layout application that allows users to create beautiful print and digital documents directly in their browser. With features like cloud sync, Google Drive integration, online sharing, and PDF export, it serves as an excellent online Laidout alternative for individuals and teams needing collaborative and accessible DTP tools.
Swift Publisher
Swift Publisher is a commercial desktop publishing app exclusively for Mac users, offering an easy-to-use interface for creating professional-looking publications. It provides essential features like layer support and brochure printing, making it a user-friendly Laidout alternative for Mac owners seeking a straightforward DTP solution.
Webworks ePublisher
Webworks ePublisher is a commercial desktop publishing solution for Windows, focusing on helping users leverage new technologies and maintain the integrity of their message across various formats. It's a specialized Laidout alternative for those involved in technical documentation and content publishing that requires robust output options.
PageStream
PageStream is a proprietary commercial desktop publishing program available for Linux, Windows, Macintosh, and Amiga. With a long history dating back to 1986, it continues to offer desktop publishing capabilities and PDF export, serving as a versatile Laidout alternative across multiple legacy and modern platforms.
Adobe FrameMaker
Adobe FrameMaker is a commercial desktop publishing and word processing application for Windows, particularly popular for authoring large, complex documents. It offers robust features like document structure management and XML import/export, making it a powerful Laidout alternative for technical writers and those dealing with structured content.
Ultimately, the best Laidout alternative for you will depend on your specific needs, budget, operating system, and desired features. We encourage you to explore these options further to find the perfect fit for your desktop publishing projects.