Microsoft Publisher 2021 is a standalone, one-time purchase licence for Windows 10 and 11 — not a subscription. It is the way to keep desktop Publisher after Microsoft removes it from Microsoft 365 in October 2026: it stays on your PC and keeps working, though Microsoft's own support for it ends on October 13, 2026. Delivered by email within minutes, it opens your existing .pub files. It cannot be installed on the same PC as the Microsoft 365 desktop apps.

Microsoft Publisher 2021 — One-Time Purchase
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Microsoft Publisher 2021 — One-Time Purchase
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Microsoft Publisher 2021 — Keep Publisher After Microsoft 365

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$159.99$99.00SAVE 38%

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Before you buy — one quick check
Do you already have Microsoft Office on the PC you will use this on? That means any version — Microsoft 365, or a one-time Office 2016, 2019, 2021 or 2024.
No Office on that PC
Yes, I have Office / Microsoft 365

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  • Instant License Key Delivery by Email
  • Fast Support by Email and Live Chat
  • 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
  • Easy License Key Activation
  • No Hidden Fees

How do you keep using Publisher after Microsoft 365?

Microsoft 365 subscribers can no longer open Publisher after October 1, 2026. A one-time Publisher keeps working and keeps your .pub files editable.

  1. Check what you already own. A one-time Publisher you already have (2016, 2019 or 2021, on its own or inside Office Professional) keeps working after October 2026. If you have one, you may not need to buy.
  2. Choose the PC Publisher will run on. Microsoft does not allow a one-time Publisher and the Microsoft 365 desktop apps on the same Windows PC. Use a PC without them, make this your Publisher PC and use Microsoft 365 in the browser, or choose Office Professional 2021, which includes Publisher with Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
  3. Order Publisher 2021 for 1, 2, 3 or 5 PCs. The product key and the download link arrive by email within minutes.
  4. Install from the download link. Run the installer from your delivery email and let it finish; it can take 10 to 15 minutes.
  5. Activate and open your files. Open Publisher, click "Enter product key instead" (or Account, bottom left, then Activate Product), type your key once (Publisher then activates over the internet by itself). Your existing .pub files open and stay editable.

Publisher 2021 vs Office Professional 2021 vs Microsoft 365

Which option still gives you Publisher now that Microsoft 365 no longer includes it?

ComparePublisher 2021Office Professional 2021Microsoft 365
PublisherYesYes, with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and AccessNo: subscribers cannot access it after October 1, 2026
How you payOnceOnceMonthly or yearly subscription
Edits your .pub files after October 2026YesYesNo
Microsoft support and security updatesUntil October 13, 2026; keeps working afterUntil October 13, 2026; keeps working afterWhile you subscribe
On the same PC as the Microsoft 365 desktop appsNoNo: it replaces them on that PC—

Before you buy Publisher 2021

Four checks that decide whether Publisher 2021 is the right fit.

  • Windows only: Publisher runs on Windows 10 and 11. There is no Mac version, and no browser version at office.com.
  • Microsoft 365 on the same PC: Microsoft does not allow a one-time Publisher and the Microsoft 365 desktop apps on one Windows PC. Use another PC, use Microsoft 365 in the browser on this one, or choose Office Professional 2021.
  • Already own a one-time Publisher (2016, 2019 or 2021)? It keeps working after October 2026, so you may not need a new one.
  • It installs on the PC itself: Publisher cannot run from a USB stick or an external drive.

What you get with your order

Everything arrives by email, usually within minutes.

  • Your Microsoft Publisher 2021 product key and download link by email, usually within minutes.
  • A one-time purchase: no subscription and nothing to renew.
  • Activation on 1, 2, 3 or 5 Windows PCs, depending on the option you choose.
  • Step-by-step install and activation instructions in the same email.
  • Support by email and chat, and a refund within 30 days if we cannot make the key work.

What has Microsoft said about Publisher's retirement?

Microsoft publishes these statements; each links to Microsoft's own page.

More questions about Microsoft Publisher 2021

Will there be a newer version of Publisher than 2021?

No. Microsoft is retiring Publisher and Office 2024 does not include it, so Publisher 2021 is the last version. It keeps working after Microsoft's end-of-support date of October 13, 2026.

Is there a browser or online version of Publisher?

No. Office on the web (office.com) has Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, but never Publisher. Publisher is a Windows desktop app only.

What’s Included?

This listing is a one-time, perpetual license for Microsoft Publisher 2021 — the dedicated desktop publishing application in the Microsoft Office family — for a single Windows PC.

What You Can Create

  • ✅ Flyers, brochures, and tri-fold leaflets
  • ✅ Newsletters and multi-page catalogs
  • ✅ Postcards, greeting cards, and invitations
  • ✅ Business cards, letterheads, and envelopes
  • ✅ Calendars, certificates, labels, and signs
  • ✅ Banners and posters for print or PDF

Key Features

  • ✅ Hundreds of professionally designed, fully customizable templates
  • ✅ Precise page layout with rulers, alignment guides, and exact object positioning
  • ✅ Mail merge to personalize mailings, labels, and catalogs from an Excel sheet or Outlook contacts
  • ✅ Professional typography — OpenType ligatures, stylistic sets, drop caps, and text effects
  • ✅ Photo tools — swap, crop, recolor, and caption pictures inside reusable placeholders
  • ✅ Building blocks and master pages for consistent, reusable design elements
  • ✅ High-quality PDF / XPS export and CMYK output for commercial printers

One-time purchase for 1 Windows PC. No subscription, no expiry, no recurring fees. Publisher is Windows-only (there is no macOS version).

Already Need the Full Office Suite?

Microsoft Publisher 2021 is also bundled inside Microsoft Office Professional 2021. If you also want Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access, the full suite may be the better value — this standalone listing is for buyers who only need Publisher.

System Requirements

  • ✅ Windows 10 (64-bit, version 1909 or later) or Windows 11
  • ✅ 4 GB RAM and 4 GB of available disk space recommended
  • ✅ An internet connection to download the installer and activate

Why Choose This Listing?

  • ✔ One-time purchase — no monthly or yearly fees
  • ✔ Instant email delivery of your license key
  • ✔ 30-day money-back guarantee if your key has any activation issue
  • ✔ Friendly after-sales support by email and live chat

Let customers speak for us

4.9 out of 5from 442 reviews

Needed publisher for our small buisness marketing…

needed publisher for our small buisness marketing materials. no bloat just the apps i actually use. genuinely surprised how painless it was.

Iona W.

Read all 442 reviews for this product

Frequently asked questions

After checkout, check your email for your license key and download link. Download and run our installer, then open Publisher and type your key once ("Enter product key instead" in the window that asks you to activate, or Account, then Activate Product): Publisher then activates over the internet by itself. Activation happens inside the app, not at setup.office.com. Full step-by-step instructions are in your delivery email; if anything does not activate, just reply to that email and we will help.

This listing is for Microsoft Publisher 2021 as a standalone application only — it does not include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook. If you need the full suite, Publisher is also bundled in Microsoft Office Professional 2021, which may be better value when you want all the apps.

Publisher is a desktop publishing app for designing flyers, brochures, newsletters, postcards, greeting cards, business cards, calendars, catalogs, labels, banners, and more. It gives you precise control over page layout, typography, and images that goes beyond what Word offers, with hundreds of ready-made templates to start from.

Yes. Microsoft Publisher 2021 runs on Windows 10 (64-bit, version 1909 or later) and Windows 11. A minimum of 4 GB RAM and 4 GB of free disk space is recommended. Note that Publisher is Windows-only — there is no macOS version.

A one-time purchase. You pay once, with no monthly or annual fees, and Publisher 2021 keeps working on your PC. Microsoft's support for Publisher 2021, including security updates, ends on October 13, 2026; after that date it keeps working, without further updates.

This license activates Publisher 2021 on 1 Windows PC. The license is tied to that installation; if you replace your computer, contact support and we will help you reactivate on the new machine.

Yes. Publisher 2021 opens and edits .pub files created in earlier versions such as Publisher 2016 and 2019, and can export your work to PDF or XPS for sharing and commercial printing.

Keys are typically delivered within minutes of payment. Check your spam or junk folder first. If you still haven't received the key after 15 minutes, contact us at contact@formfy.ai with your order confirmation number and we will resend it promptly.

Yes. If your key has any activation issue, reply to your delivery email or write to contact@formfy.ai and we will help you resolve it. Our support team typically responds within a few hours.

We offer a 30-day return window. If the license key does not work and our support team is unable to resolve the issue, we will issue a full refund. Please see our Refund Policy for full details.

Yes. The standalone Publisher 2021 perpetual license is yours for good and keeps working on your PC, unaffected by the retirement of Publisher from Microsoft 365 subscriptions. In fact, once Microsoft removes Publisher from 365 in October 2026, your standalone Publisher 2021 is exactly what keeps Publisher available to you. Microsoft's own support for Publisher 2021 ends on October 13, 2026: after that date it keeps working, without further security updates.

Not on the same PC. By default Microsoft 365 installs its own copy of Publisher, and Microsoft does not allow its one-time editions and the Microsoft 365 desktop apps on the same Windows PC — its installer asks you to remove one before it installs the other, in either direction, and no setup option changes that (October 2026 does not either). So the practical setups are to install Publisher 2021 on a PC that does not run the 365 desktop apps, or to make this your Publisher PC and use your 365 apps in the browser at office.com. If you would rather keep Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on that same PC, Office Professional 2021 includes Publisher and installs as one suite with no conflict at all. Your subscription, files, and apps like Word, Excel, and Outlook always stay safe in your Microsoft account.

On the same Windows account, Microsoft generally requires removing Microsoft 365 first before a standalone Publisher 2021 will install (their installers conflict) — your files and email always stay safe in your Microsoft account. To keep both, install Publisher 2021 on a separate PC — a separate Windows user account on the same PC does not work, and neither does waiting for October 2026, since Microsoft keeps the one-per-PC installer rule even after it removes Publisher from 365. On a single PC you can keep Publisher 2021 installed and use your 365 apps in the browser at office.com.

On the same Windows account, an active Microsoft 365 and a standalone Publisher 2021 cannot both be installed at once — a Microsoft limitation, not a problem with the license. Microsoft removes Publisher from 365 in October 2026, but that does not lift the rule — the two still cannot be installed on the same PC, so use a second PC for Publisher 2021 or run your 365 apps in the browser at office.com. Your Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook are never lost; they live in your Microsoft account. Publisher 2021 opens your existing .pub files with the same familiar Office look.

Yes. Publisher 2021 opens and edits .pub files from earlier versions, so all your existing brochures, flyers, and newsletters keep working.

Until October 13, 2026. Microsoft provides quality and security updates for Publisher 2021 until its support ends on that date. After that, Publisher 2021 keeps working, but Microsoft releases no further updates for it. It is a one-time purchase, not a subscription.

Yes. Once activated it runs fully offline. An internet connection is only needed to activate the key and download the installer.

Microsoft Publisher is a Windows-only application. It runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11 and is not available natively for macOS.

Yes. You type it once inside Publisher ("Enter product key instead", or Account, then Activate Product), and Publisher then activates with Microsoft over the internet by itself. If it does not activate, reply to your delivery email and our support team will resolve it.

Publisher removed from your Microsoft 365? Read our guide: how to keep using Microsoft Publisher