Best Scribus Alternatives in 2025
Looking for alternatives to Scribus? In this comparison, we take a closer look at Scribus alongside similar software solutions including Scribus, Nero CoverDesigner, PDFCreator, iTop PDF, Nuance PaperPort, LibreOffice, Adobe Acrobat XI Pro, PDF Architect, Ashampoo PDF Pro, Adobe Acrobat Standard and Adobe Illustrator.
Our detailed comparison table highlights key features, pricing, and performance of these leading solutions, empowering you to make an informed decision. Whether you're seeking robust functionality, user-friendly design, or cost-effective alternatives, explore how Scribus, Nero CoverDesigner, PDFCreator, iTop PDF, Nuance PaperPort, LibreOffice, Adobe Acrobat XI Pro, PDF Architect, Ashampoo PDF Pro, Adobe Acrobat Standard and Adobe Illustrator stack up to find the perfect software for your goals.
License Type
 Scribus
|
Free and open-source software under the GNU General Public License |
 Nero CoverDesigner
|
Commercial software |
 PDFCreator
|
Free and open source with a paid version available |
 iTop PDF
|
Subscription-based payment model with free trial |
 Nuance PaperPort
|
Commercial software with free trial |
 LibreOffice
|
Free and open-source software |
 Adobe Acrobat XI Pro
|
Commercial software with a single license and subscription options |
 PDF Architect
|
Free version with paid licenses |
 Ashampoo PDF Pro
|
Commercial software with free trial |
 Adobe Acrobat Standard
|
Commercial software with subscription and one-time purchase options |
 Adobe Illustrator
|
Subscription-based (monthly or annual) commercial software |
Supported Platforms
|
Scribus
|
Windows, Linux/Unix, Mac OS X |
|
Nero CoverDesigner
|
Windows, Mac OS |
|
PDFCreator
|
All Windows operating systems |
|
iTop PDF
|
Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
|
Nuance PaperPort
|
Windows operating system |
|
LibreOffice
|
Windows, Linux, macOS |
|
Adobe Acrobat XI Pro
|
Mac and Windows operating systems |
|
PDF Architect
|
Windows |
|
Ashampoo PDF Pro
|
Windows |
|
Adobe Acrobat Standard
|
Windows, iOS, Android |
|
Adobe Illustrator
|
Windows and Macintosh computer systems |
Primary Functionality
|
Scribus
|
Desktop publishing with advanced typographic features, CMYK color support, templates, scripting and PDF/X-3 standard support. |
|
Nero CoverDesigner
|
Designing CD/DVD covers using templates and images; batch printing support. |
|
PDFCreator
|
Creating PDFs from any printable document with encryption and merging capabilities. |
|
iTop PDF
|
PDF editing, conversion, secure sharing, markup tools, collaboration features. |
|
Nuance PaperPort
|
Document management, scanning, OCR technology to create searchable PDFs. |
|
LibreOffice
|
Office productivity suite including word processing, spreadsheets, presentations and database management. |
|
Adobe Acrobat XI Pro
|
Advanced PDF editing, OCR technology, digital signature support, compliance tools. |
|
PDF Architect
|
PDF editing and creation with basic to advanced features; supports secure signing. |
|
Ashampoo PDF Pro
|
PDF editing including text editing, annotations, OCR and document security. |
|
Adobe Acrobat Standard
|
Editing PDFs, form creation and filling, digital signatures and document security. |
|
Adobe Illustrator
|
Vector graphics editor for creating illustrations, logos and complex designs. |
Choosing the right software isn’t just about features. Size, license type, user ratings, and popularity also matter.
This quick comparison shows how Scribus stacks up against Scribus, Nero CoverDesigner, PDFCreator, iTop PDF, Nuance PaperPort, LibreOffice, Adobe Acrobat XI Pro, PDF Architect, Ashampoo PDF Pro, Adobe Acrobat Standard and Adobe Illustrator in these key areas—helping you find the best alternative for your needs.
Size
|
Scribus
|
|
|
Nero CoverDesigner
|
|
|
PDFCreator
|
42.1MB |
|
iTop PDF
|
|
|
Nuance PaperPort
|
|
|
LibreOffice
|
|
|
Adobe Acrobat XI Pro
|
|
|
PDF Architect
|
9.5MB |
|
Ashampoo PDF Pro
|
900.4MB |
|
Adobe Acrobat Standard
|
|
|
Adobe Illustrator
|
3MB |
License
|
Scribus
|
Open Source |
|
Nero CoverDesigner
|
Commercial |
|
PDFCreator
|
Commercial |
|
iTop PDF
|
Commercial |
|
Nuance PaperPort
|
Commercial |
|
LibreOffice
|
Open Source |
|
Adobe Acrobat XI Pro
|
Commercial |
|
PDF Architect
|
Commercial |
|
Ashampoo PDF Pro
|
Commercial |
|
Adobe Acrobat Standard
|
Commercial |
|
Adobe Illustrator
|
Commercial |