Affinity Publisher 2 cannot open PUB files natively. The PUB format has no published specification and no third-party application reads it completely. The migration path is: convert PUB files to high-resolution PDF using Univik PUB Converter or Publisher’s own export, place the PDFs into Affinity Publisher 2 as reference layers and rebuild layouts from scratch. For text-heavy documents, convert to DOCX first and flow the copy into Affinity text frames. Affinity Publisher 2 is the closest feature equivalent to Microsoft Publisher available today master pages, linked text frames, CMYK support, bleed and one-time purchase pricing.
Affinity Publisher 2 Cannot Open PUB Files
Despite the similar name, Affinity Publisher 2 and Microsoft Publisher are entirely different applications from different developers. Affinity Publisher 2 is made by Serif. Microsoft Publisher is made by Microsoft. The name similarity causes genuine confusion but there is no relationship between the two products.
Affinity Publisher 2 has no PUB import. File then Open does not recognise the format. There is no plugin or conversion tool within Affinity that reads PUB files. This is the same situation as Adobe InDesign the PUB format’s proprietary nature makes third-party reading structurally unreliable.
The migration from Publisher to Affinity is a rebuild process, not a file conversion. PUB files inform the rebuild as visual references. The actual content text, images, brand assets is brought into Affinity from its source formats.
Why Affinity Publisher 2 Is the Strongest Replacement
Of all the Publisher alternatives, Affinity Publisher 2 comes closest to matching Publisher’s specific combination of capabilities: multi-page layout, master pages, linked text frames, professional colour management and a price point accessible to small businesses and individual designers.
Three things make Affinity Publisher 2 stand out from the other alternatives:
One-time purchase, no subscription. Affinity Publisher 2 costs around $55 as a permanent licence. No monthly fees. No subscription. This mirrors Publisher’s original licensing model (for perpetual Office users) and is a significant differentiator from Adobe InDesign ($20 to $55 per month) and Canva Pro ($15 per month).
Professional CMYK and print output. Affinity Publisher 2 supports CMYK colour profiles, spot colours, PDF/X-1a and PDF/X-4 export, bleed and crop marks and pre-flight checking. This makes it suitable for commercial print work the class of Publisher output that Canva and Word cannot handle at the same quality level.
Windows and Mac, with the same file format. Publisher was Windows-only. Affinity Publisher 2 runs on both Windows and Mac with the same native file format (.afpub). Teams with mixed devices can work on the same documents across platforms without compatibility issues.
Path 1: Convert PUB to PDF and Rebuild in Affinity
This is the most reliable migration path for layout-heavy Publisher documents. The PDF preserves the visual layout exactly. Affinity Publisher 2 accepts PDF pages as placed content, which serves as a pixel-accurate reference while rebuilding.
Convert PUB to high-resolution PDF. Use Publisher’s File then Export then Create PDF/XPS at the highest quality setting. For batch conversion of multiple PUB files, Univik PUB Converter converts to PDF without requiring Publisher to be installed. Export at print quality 300 DPI minimum for print-destined documents.
Create a new Affinity Publisher 2 document. Match the page dimensions, margins and bleed of the original Publisher document. Set up master pages for recurring design elements headers, footers, page number placeholders, background elements.
Place the PDF as a reference layer. In Affinity Publisher 2, add a new layer below your working layer and label it “Reference.” Use Place (File then Place) to insert each PDF page onto the reference layer. Reduce the layer opacity to 40 to 50% so it reads clearly without dominating. Lock the reference layer to prevent accidental edits.
Rebuild on the working layer. Draw text frames matching the Publisher layout. Set character and paragraph styles in Affinity’s Styles panel to match the original fonts and formatting. Place images from their source files rather than from the PDF. Build up the layout element by element using the reference beneath.
Delete the reference layer and preflight. When the rebuild is complete, delete the reference layer. Run Document then Preflight to check for missing fonts, missing links and colour mode issues before exporting or handing off.
Path 2: Extract Text via DOCX and Flow Into Affinity
For text-heavy Publisher documents where the copy needs to be editable and accurate, extract the text as DOCX first and place it into Affinity Publisher 2 text frames.
Convert PUB to DOCX. Use Publisher’s Save As or Univik PUB Converter to produce a DOCX file. The text content including headings, body copy and captions transfers to DOCX. Images and layout elements do not transfer reliably through this path and come from source files separately.
Flow the DOCX into Affinity text frames. In Affinity Publisher 2, draw text frames in the layout. Use File then Place to select the DOCX. Affinity imports the text content and basic styling. Flow long documents through linked text frames using Affinity’s frame threading click the out port of one frame and click the in port of the next to link them.
Apply Affinity paragraph styles. After placing the DOCX, apply Affinity’s defined paragraph styles to replace any Word styles that came in with the text. This ensures consistent formatting across the document and gives you full style control in Affinity’s Styles panel.
Combine this path with Path 1 for complete migration: the DOCX provides live editable text in the correct positions, while the PDF reference provides the visual layout guide. This approach is more efficient than rebuilding from a visual reference alone for documents with large amounts of copy.
Publisher vs Affinity Publisher 2: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Microsoft Publisher | Affinity Publisher 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Licence model | Subscription (M365) or perpetual (Office 2021) | One-time purchase (~$55) |
| Platforms | Windows only | Windows and Mac |
| Master pages | Yes | Yes (master pages and spreads) |
| Linked text frames | Yes | Yes (frame threading) |
| CMYK colour support | Limited mostly RGB | Full CMYK and spot colour |
| Bleed and crop marks | Basic | Professional-grade |
| PDF/X export | PDF/X-1a basic | PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-4 and PDF/X-4p |
| Preflight | Basic | Full preflight with custom profiles |
| Open PUB files | Yes native format | No |
| Learning curve vs Publisher | N/A (familiar) | Moderate closer to InDesign than Publisher |
The Learning Curve: What to Expect
Affinity Publisher 2 is closer in design philosophy to Adobe InDesign than to Microsoft Publisher. Publisher users switching to Affinity will find some concepts familiar (master pages, text frames, image placement) but the interface and workflow differ meaningfully from Publisher.
The areas where the adjustment is largest:
Styles-first working method. Publisher lets you format text ad hoc without defining styles. Affinity Publisher 2 works best when paragraph and character styles are defined and applied consistently the same discipline InDesign requires. Former Publisher users who formatted text manually throughout a document will need to adopt a styles-based workflow.
Frame threading for multi-page text flow. Publisher’s text overflow handling is more automated than Affinity’s. In Affinity, you manually thread frames to flow long articles across pages. This is more work up front but gives more precise control over text placement.
Studio panel layout. Affinity’s UI uses a panel-based layout where tools, properties and assets live in panels that can be arranged and docked. Publisher’s interface is more ribbon-based and menu-driven. Most users adapt within a few weeks of regular use.
Affinity’s learning resources are strong video tutorials, community forums and documentation are all available at affinity.serif.com. The learning investment for a Publisher user becoming productive in Affinity is typically two to four weeks of regular use.
The Affinity Suite Advantage
Affinity Publisher 2 is part of a three-application suite with Affinity Photo 2 (image editing, Photoshop equivalent) and Affinity Designer 2 (vector design, Illustrator equivalent). All three can be purchased together for around $165 one-time.
The suite integration is particularly useful for Publisher users who previously relied on Publisher for layout and Photoshop or Illustrator for image editing: Affinity Publisher 2 supports Studio Link, which lets you switch directly to Photo 2 or Designer 2 editing mode from within a Publisher document no round-tripping files, no relaunching applications.
Note: Affinity was acquired by Canva in 2022. As of 2026, Affinity products remain available as standalone one-time-purchase applications. Canva has not announced plans to discontinue Affinity’s perpetual licence model, but this is worth monitoring given the acquisition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Affinity Publisher 2 open Microsoft Publisher files?
No. Despite the similar name, Affinity Publisher 2 has no PUB import capability. The two applications share a product category but are otherwise unrelated. Affinity Publisher 2 is made by Serif and uses its own native format (.afpub). PUB files must be converted to PDF or DOCX before their content can be brought into Affinity.
Is Affinity Publisher 2 worth buying for a Publisher migration?
Yes, for users who need genuine desktop publishing capability and do not want a subscription. The one-time purchase price (~$55) is lower than a single month of Adobe Creative Cloud. The feature set master pages, linked text frames, CMYK, professional PDF export is materially closer to Publisher’s professional output capability than Canva or Word. The learning investment is real but bounded.
How does Affinity Publisher 2 compare to Adobe InDesign?
Affinity Publisher 2 covers 80 to 90% of what most Publisher users need from InDesign at a fraction of the cost. InDesign has deeper support for long-document features (book panels, cross-document styles), commercial font integration via Adobe Fonts and broader third-party plugin support. For professional studios doing high-volume commercial print production, InDesign remains the stronger choice. For individual designers and small organisations migrating from Publisher, Affinity Publisher 2 is the better value proposition.
Can I open an Affinity Publisher 2 file in Microsoft Publisher?
No. Affinity uses its own .afpub format which Publisher cannot read. Affinity can export to PDF, DOCX, EPUB and IDML for handoff to other applications, but the native .afpub file is not compatible with any Microsoft application.
What happened to Affinity after Canva acquired it?
Canva acquired Serif (the maker of Affinity) in 2022. Affinity products remain available as separate one-time-purchase applications at affinity.serif.com. As of 2026, Canva has not discontinued or replaced the Affinity product line. Some Affinity features have been integrated into Canva’s platform, but Affinity Publisher 2 continues to be sold and updated as a standalone desktop application.
Conclusion
Affinity Publisher 2 is the right Publisher replacement for anyone who needs real desktop publishing capability master pages, linked text frames, professional CMYK output without a subscription. The migration from PUB files to Affinity is a rebuild rather than a conversion, but the rebuild produces properly structured documents that are production-ready for print from day one.
The learning curve is real and worth naming directly. Publisher users will find Affinity more demanding than Publisher was the interface is closer to InDesign than to Publisher’s familiar ribbons and menus. For users willing to invest the learning time, the capabilities justify it.
Are the Publisher documents you are migrating primarily for print or for digital use? If print particularly commercial print Affinity Publisher 2 is the strongest non-subscription option available. If the documents are primarily for screen viewing, sharing or office printing, Canva or Word may be a simpler switch.