Microsoft Publisher Alternative — Accessible PDFs & Web Forms

Publisher is being retired in October 2026. FormGenius is the accessible replacement — WYSIWYG editor, PDF/UA compliant export, and live web forms that Publisher never had.

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Microsoft Publisher reaches end of support in October 2026. If your organisation uses Publisher to create PDF documents — forms, information sheets, reports, policy documents, surveys — you need a replacement. FormGenius does everything Publisher did for document creation, and adds what Publisher never had: built-in accessibility checking, PDF/UA tagged export that works with screen readers, and the ability to publish forms as live web forms that collect encrypted submissions. Every document you create in FormGenius is accessible by design.

Why organisations are switching from Publisher to FormGenius

WYSIWYG editor, just like Publisher

Drag-and-drop canvas, pixel-level positioning, fonts, colours, images, shapes, multi-page documents. If you know how to use Publisher, you will be productive in FormGenius within minutes — no learning curve.

Accessible PDFs Publisher never produced

Publisher exports PDF, but not tagged PDF. Screen readers cannot navigate Publisher PDFs reliably, and they fail PDF/UA (ISO 14289-1) compliance. Every FormGenius export is a properly tagged, accessible PDF that works with NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver.

Live web forms — Publisher could not do this

Turn any document into a live WCAG 2.2 AA web form. Collect encrypted submissions, export to CSV, embed on your website with a two-line snippet. Publisher had no equivalent.

No software licence, no installation

Publisher requires a Microsoft 365 subscription. FormGenius is free to start — no account, no installation, no licence. The free tier is genuinely useful, not a crippled trial.

What Publisher users create in FormGenius

Application and referral forms

Recreate Publisher forms in FormGenius and get accessible PDF and live web form outputs from the same design — something Publisher never offered.

Information sheets and policy documents

Multi-page documents with headings, paragraphs, images, and branding. Export as tagged PDFs that screen readers can navigate, unlike Publisher's flat exports.

Survey and feedback forms

Replace Publisher feedback forms with web forms that collect and store encrypted responses automatically, with CSV export included.

Registration and event documents

Event or course registration. Publish as a web form for online capture, or export as an accessible PDF for paper distribution — or both.

Consent, declaration, and safeguarding forms

Documents that carry legal obligations. Export as fillable PDF/UA tagged forms with correct reading order and field structure.

Reports and checklists

Multi-page inspection or audit documents. Accessible structure means anyone — including disabled colleagues or clients — can navigate and complete them.

How to replace Publisher with FormGenius

From design to published form in minutes — no technical knowledge required.

Design your document

Use the WYSIWYG canvas to position elements, add headings, images, form fields, shapes, and text. It works like Publisher — everything is visible as you build, no code required.

Check accessibility

The built-in Accessibility Wizard checks heading hierarchy, image alt text, tab order, colour contrast, and field labels. It tells you exactly what to fix in plain language.

Export or publish

Export as a tagged PDF/UA accessible PDF, or publish interactive fields as a live WCAG 2.2 AA web form — or both. Same design, multiple accessible outputs.

Collect responses

If you publish a web form, submissions are encrypted at rest. Export to CSV, get email digests, or import filled PDFs back as submissions.

Oct 2026

Microsoft Publisher end-of-support deadline

14.6M

disabled people in the UK who need accessible documents and forms

Publisher PDFs that pass PDF/UA accessibility checks — Publisher does not produce tagged PDF

£0

cost to try FormGenius — free tier, no account required

What Publisher users need to know about accessibility law

Publisher's PDFs are not tagged for accessibility. That matters more than most Publisher users realise — because UK law requires accessible documents and forms if your organisation serves the public.

PDF/UA (ISO 14289-1)

Publisher does not produce tagged PDFs. Its exports are flat documents with no structure tree, no reading order, and no alt text metadata. FormGenius exports PDF/UA compliant tagged PDFs that screen readers can navigate correctly.

WCAG 2.2 AA

WCAG applies to web content, but increasingly to downloadable PDFs provided as the primary means of accessing a service. FormGenius web form output meets WCAG 2.2 AA; its PDF export meets PDF/UA.

Equality Act 2010

Organisations providing services to the public must make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. Using accessible document tools — rather than inaccessible ones like Publisher — is exactly the kind of reasonable adjustment the law expects.

European Accessibility Act 2025

In force across the EU from June 2025. UK equivalents are expected. FormGenius already meets the higher WCAG 2.2 AA standard, so organisations using it are ahead of the curve.

This is not legal advice. Consult a qualified legal professional for guidance on your specific obligations.

Simple, transparent pricing

Start for free — no account needed. Upgrade when you need cloud storage, web forms, and team features.

Free

£0

Try it immediately. No account needed.

All design tools & elements
Unlimited PDF exports
Full 6-tab Accessibility Wizard
PDF/UA tagged structure
Multi-page forms
FormGenius watermark on PDFs

No account required

Start for Free

Starter

£5/mo

For freelancers & small teams.

Everything in Free
Watermark-free PDFs
50 cloud-saved forms
500 MB storage
3 live web forms
CSV submission export

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Frequently asked questions

When is Microsoft Publisher being retired?

Microsoft Publisher is scheduled to reach end of support in October 2026, after which it will no longer receive security updates or technical support. Microsoft is not replacing Publisher with another desktop publishing product.

Is FormGenius a like-for-like replacement for Microsoft Publisher?

FormGenius replaces Publisher for creating accessible PDF documents — forms, information sheets, reports, checklists, policy documents, and more — using a similar WYSIWYG drag-and-drop editor. It also adds live web form publishing that Publisher never had. It is not primarily a newsletter or print advertising tool, but for document and form creation it is a capable, accessible replacement.

Can FormGenius open or import Microsoft Publisher files?

FormGenius cannot directly import .pub files. The most practical approach is to recreate your Publisher documents in FormGenius — most forms and information sheets can be rebuilt in under an hour. If your Publisher documents were exported as PDFs, FormGenius can import fillable PDF fields on Growth and Business tiers.

Do Publisher PDFs work with screen readers?

No. Publisher does not produce tagged PDFs. Its exports lack the structure tree, reading order, and alt text metadata that screen readers require. FormGenius exports fully tagged PDF/UA (ISO 14289-1) PDFs that work correctly with NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver.

How much does FormGenius cost compared to Publisher?

FormGenius is free to start — no account required. The free tier includes all design tools, unlimited PDF exports, and the full Accessibility Wizard. Paid plans start at £5/month for cloud storage, watermark-free PDFs, and live web forms. Publisher requires a Microsoft 365 subscription (from £7.99/user/month for Business Basic).

Ready before Publisher is retired?

Try FormGenius free today — no account needed. Build an accessible document or form in minutes.

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FormGenius provides tools to help you build accessible forms. You remain responsible for ensuring your forms meet all applicable legal requirements in your jurisdiction.

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