Adobe InDesign vs Scribus
InDesign is a subscription from Adobe that works with its other apps; Scribus is free, open-source layout software that makes print-ready PDFs.
Pick Adobe InDesign if…
Pick InDesign if you work with other Adobe apps or want its newer layout and AI features, and you are fine paying monthly.
Pick Scribus if…
Pick Scribus if you want free, open-source page layout, you use Linux, or you only need print-ready PDFs now and then.
Price
- Paid
- Free
- Open source
Starting price
Free plan
Open source
Works on
| Feature | Adobe's page layout app for print and digital publishing, sold as a subscription. | Free, open-source page layout and desktop publishing program with CMYK, spot colors and PDF output. |
|---|---|---|
| Price |
|
|
| Starting price | US$22.99/mo (Annual, billed monthly) | — |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Works on | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Try Adobe InDesign (opens the Adobe InDesign website in a new tab) | Try Scribus (opens the Scribus website in a new tab) |
Both are page layout programs for print and digital publishing. InDesign is US$22.99 per month on the 'Annual, billed monthly' plan, with a 7-day free trial. Scribus is free software released under GPL v2 or later.
InDesign's product page lists multipage layouts and typesetting, Flex Layout, PDF-to-InDesign conversion and review tools. It works with Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat and InCopy, and Adobe's trial page lists macOS and Windows.
Scribus describes itself as producing commercial-grade output in PDF and PostScript, with CMYK and spot colors, EPS import and export, and color separations. It runs on Linux, macOS and Windows, and supports right-to-left, bi-directional and Indic scripts. The 1.7.x versions are development builds.
If layout is a regular part of your paid work, the integration and features of InDesign may justify the subscription. If you want to lay out newsletters, booklets or posters without a recurring cost, Scribus is free to download and test.
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Last updated 16 October 2026. How we make money