--- title: "Adobe InDesign Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra" description: "Is Adobe InDesign the right Graphic Design solution for you? Explore 344 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/233314/Adobe-InDesign/reviews/" page_type: "reviews" language: "en" --- Adobe InDesign 4.8 (344) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/233314/Adobe-InDesign/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated August 20th, 2026 # Reviews of Adobe InDesign Ease of use 4.1 Customer Service 4.2 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews JO Joshua O Instructional DesignerFacilities Services, 1,001 - 5,000 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “InDesign is incredible tool for designing templates and documents that allows for great flexibility and customization.“ December 10, 2025 JR Josep R Graphic designerFurniture, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “It does not offer many options for simple photo editing, nor does it offer many vector editing options, so for any minor touch-ups you will need to use other software.“ September 29, 2025 RQ Renea Q Graphic DesignerGraphic Design, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “It’s an incredibly powerful tool with virtually unlimited options for layout, typography, and customization, making it ideal for crafting professional, detailed templates that I sell to clients.“ October 31, 2024 Kwesi R DesignerDesign, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Also as part of the CS subscription based model it can be costly to run particularly for hobbyist or freelancers.“ March 25, 2026 RQ Renea Q Graphic DesignerGraphic Design, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “InDesign shines with its extensive export options and seamless integration with other Adobe products like Photoshop and Illustrator, which are essential when working on intricate projects across multiple platforms.“ October 31, 2024 VL Vivien L Graphic designerDesign, Self-employedUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “My least favorite part is not being able to work with vector graphics directly in the program and having to switch back-and-forth to illustrator.“ October 10, 2025 DB David B MarketingMachinery, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “InDesign is a top-tier tool for publishing and layout design. Once you get used to its workflow, it becomes an invaluable resource for creating magazines, books, and marketing materials.“ March 24, 2025 TS Travis S Communications DirectorReligious Institutions, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “I do not use it for creating web pages or other formats that it can create.“ August 19, 2025 ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-25 of 344 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use Aneesa A. UI UX Financial Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Great software to use" July 4, 2026 5.0 Overall experience with Adobe InDesign is that it's a great software to use and I love using it when I am working on Print on demand Pros What I like most about Adobe InDesign is that I like teh alignment and grid tool for when I am working on print-on-demand work Cons What I least liked about Adobe InDesign is that the software can be very slow, and sometimes it gets stuck and shuts down. Review Source Joshua L. Head of Brand and Design Education Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The industry leader in desktop publishing" November 10, 2025 5.0 Having switched from Quark XPress many many years ago, InDesign has evolved into a power piece of desktop publishing software. It's range of features and integration with the rest of the Adobe suite make this an essential application for our design team. Pros Adobe InDesign allows my team and I to consistently create high quality, professional print ready publications. Cons It's inability to work effectively from files saved on network drives means i have to copy files to a local drive before working on them. Switched from [QuarkXPress](https://www.capterra.com/p/178598/QuarkXPress/) InDesign surpassed Quark in terms of functionality and reliability Review Source JI Jennifer I. Graphic Designer Education Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Consider another option" October 29, 2025 1.0 I've been using InDesign since it was Aldus PageMaker (over 30 years), and have never been more disappointed. Adobe is moving into a subscription-based model to boost profits while cutting corners (a recent forced "upgrade" removed access the entire Pantone library of colors). If you're looking to get started in layout, use a web-based option, or consider QuarkXpress or Corel Draw. These fat-cat companies need to be called out on their cheap practices. Pros I've been using InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop for decades. They do the same functions as expected, until recently when they refused to pay for Pantone color access. Makes me wonder how much functionality will be lost in future "upgrades." Cons Subscription based, no Pantone color library access. Less and less features, more and more cost. Web-based, free options are taking the design world by storm and will soon out-pace Adobe products, and similar. Review Source RP Raegan P. Graphic Designer Education Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "InDesign is worth it" May 1, 2026 5.0 Overall I am a huge fan of Adobe InDesign. I use it all the time in my job. It is a valuable asset to me. It helps me do my job well. Pros I love Adobe InDesign! I use it for print designs for books, newsletters, cards and so much more. It is one of my everyday essentials. The program is easy to use and is worth every penny. I am such a fan of Adobe Indesign. I could not do my job without it. Cons I wish that Adobe Indesign had an automatic save feature. It would be helpful to not have to think about saving the program but rather let it be an automatic feature. Review Source AM Anna M. Owner, designer, web designer Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Number one design tool" March 25, 2025 5.0 It’s my number one tool, I design 99% of my designs using InDesign. I love the fact that it has advanced text options while being vector programme at the same time. In designing layout options are crucial and it has the best layout options for print and web (and mobile) Pros I think it is the most powerful tool for a graphic designer. The combination of all the options for typesetting and designing and vector editing and creating makes it number one for me. Cons Limited options for gradients and also the lack of angled grid lines. Switched from [QuarkXPress](https://www.capterra.com/p/178598/QuarkXPress/)[CorelDRAW](https://www.capterra.com/p/124823/CorelDRAW/) Cause InDesign is much better especially for publications. It works with vectors and text si it was almost like combination of the two software I used before. Review Source CH Clifford H. Graphic Designer Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The industry standard these days - popular, low cost, fairly easy to use." April 11, 2025 3.0 As you might expect, it's compatible with other Adobe products (Illustrator, Photoshop etc) which is helpful when you're designing and you get various files you need to import into the layout. Pros It's the industry standard these days - everybody uses it. Cons I personally prefer Quark Express for DTP design, though I realise Indesign is preferred by others, and Quark can work out more expensive. Alternatives considered [QuarkXPress](https://www.capterra.com/p/178598/QuarkXPress/) Reason for choosing Adobe InDesign Everyone was switching to Indesign from Quark, so I needed to be compatible. Switched from [QuarkXPress](https://www.capterra.com/p/178598/QuarkXPress/) Everyone was switching to Indesign, and at the time it was cheaper. Review Source Charles A. Creative Director Cosmetics Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Still the best despite all the competition out there." February 21, 2025 5.0 I use it regularly though not as much as Illustrator. It does the job and makes things look beautiful and nice with the right steps. I tried to not use Adobe but I can't, it's engrained into half the things I do in a day, Pros It's just as good as it used to be. Easy, intuitive. Good for PDFs, books and syncs well with what the printers also use. Cons Nothing. It's just a useful application which hasn't changed much over the years, and I hope it doesn't. Switched from [QuarkXPress](https://www.capterra.com/p/178598/QuarkXPress/) It was a long time ago when Adobe Indesign came out and Indesign was part of the Photoshop package. Review Source VL Vivien L. Graphic designer Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "My favorite DTP program" October 10, 2025 5.0 Pros InDesign being an Adobe product makes it so easy to use and connect with other Adobe programs, all the features that it offers makes my work so much easier. Cons My least favorite part is not being able to work with vector graphics directly in the program and having to switch back-and-forth to illustrator. Switched from [QuarkXPress](https://www.capterra.com/p/178598/QuarkXPress/) It became the new industry standard and being an Adobe product was a must for me Review Source RM Ryan M. Owner Design Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "The only choice for print design!" February 7, 2025 5.0 Indesign is so easy to use but like other Adobe apps, it's really powerful. Pros Started using Indesign from the first version, I never really got on with Quark and pushed my agency to Adopt it. Cons I think it's pretty great to be honest, I'm using a slightly older version due to my older setup. Switched from [QuarkXPress](https://www.capterra.com/p/178598/QuarkXPress/) Indesign was much better and aligned to the other apps I was already using. Review Source LL Lydia L. Lydia Lee Photo Photography Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The reference to design my photo albums and printed materials" August 6, 2026 5.0 Adobe InDesign is a demanding tool but essential as soon as you want to offer professional quality printed products to your photo clients. Pros For creating photo albums, portfolios or catalogs made for print, InDesign stays an essential tool in my work. The smooth integration with Photoshop and Lightroom really helps to import my already edited photos. The final result in high quality PDF is perfectly adapted to professional printers requirements. Cons The software is complex and needs real time to learn, especially to master paragraph styles and master pages. The Adobe Creative Cloud subscription is also a monthly cost that is not negligible for an independent activity. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Associate Director of Foundation Relations Higher Education Used the software for: 2+ years ### "InDesign is the Premiere Document Layout Tool" November 12, 2021 5.0 I have been using InDesign for over fifteen years and have used it to successfully design everything from reports and infographics to album and novel covers. After learning it once, it remains intuitive and powerful--it is the only document layout tool I've used where I am able to create whatever design I can imagine. It has earned me plaudits for good design and clarity of communication. Above all, it has enhanced the professionalism of the materials I produce, always making the information contained therein clearer. Pros InDesign is the most powerful and fully featured document layout tool available. It provides flexible, easy to use layering that enables advanced overlays and far more complicated designs than are possible with a more traditional layout tool. What's more, with a wide variety of font types and masking tools, the sky is the limit for making professional looking documents. It is flexible enough to lay out everything from infographics to multi-column reports to covers and posters. Plus, it brings the power of the Adobe Suite through integrations with Photoshop, Illustrator, and more. Cons There are few features I've encountered that are missing for InDesign. That said, the learning curve for can be steep for someone who has no experience with design products, particularly those of the Adobe Suite. That said, Adobe provides ample learning resources so that users can get up to speed fairly quickly. InDesign integrated seamlessly into our report production workflow, so I fully recommend it. Switched from [Microsoft Publisher](https://www.capterra.com/p/233254/Microsoft-Publisher/) Publisher was far more limited in its capabilities. InDesign is lightyears ahead of Publisher and I was immediately able to realize my most creative document designs as a result. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Facilitator Education Management Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Adobe InDesign - A software that caters to your design needs." July 12, 2022 5.0 Once I got a hang of it, I started to really enjoy all its features from being able to collaborate, to adding in custom fonts and its variety of ready to use templates. I do hope that in the near future Adobe InDesign does add in some training so people that aren't accustomed to this type of software are able to catch on a lot faster making it much more user friendly. Pros I enjoy how I can easily make changes to all my files in the format of my choosing. It also saves me time by being able to collaborate with stakeholders all from one app. I like how when editing images it integrates with other Adobe software so I can quickly switch between them. Cons In the beginning, it is very difficult to use. I would like a few tutorials added in or mini interactive training videos just to help get used to the software. Switched from [Canva](https://www.capterra.com/p/168956/Canva/)[Microsoft Publisher](https://www.capterra.com/p/233254/Microsoft-Publisher/) At the time, Adobe InDesign was able to meet my needs. Review Source TS Travis S. Communications Director Religious Institutions Used the software for: 2+ years ### "A Great Tool for the Print Professional" August 19, 2025 5.0 Overall, I love using InDesign to create books, posters, and other print media. I do not use it for creating web pages or other formats that it can create. Pros I love the ease of duplicating print layouts and expanding book layouts in intuitive ways. The follow-up step of creating templates for future use is incredibly easy. Cons The learning curve is a bit steep and the tool shortcuts differ from other Adobe products, which requires either customizing them to match or learning a new set of shortcuts. Review Source RN Rumbani N. Creative Director Media Production Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "InDesign Scissor Hands (Compression like a king)" January 22, 2025 5.0 InDesign is an amazing app and I highly recommend it to anyone doing really large books down to 1 pagers. This software would be perfect if the images weren't a headache to handle. Pros I love that no matter how many pages and how heavily I load ID with graphics and images, the final PDF export is super light. Whatever compression works with InDesign, that is epic. The layout features and possibilities are incredible and make this a contender amongst similar apps even within the Adobe family. Cons The most annoying thing about InDesign is the way it handles images in the editing process. There has to be a more intuitive way of adding and editing images. Drag and drop is good but when i have to adjust the image on 2 fronts, first the actual image and then the bounding box, it slows me down in image intensive designs. Review Source DB David B. Marketing Machinery Used the software for: 2+ years ### "A powerful tool for print and digital publishing" March 24, 2025 5.0 InDesign is a top-tier tool for publishing and layout design. Once you get used to its workflow, it becomes an invaluable resource for creating magazines, books, and marketing materials. Pros Adobe InDesign is perfect for creating professional layouts for print and digital media. It offers precise control over typography, page design, and multi-page documents. Cons It can be complex for new users, especially those unfamiliar with layout design software. The subscription model may also be costly for occasional users. Review Source CM Carl M. Director of Visual Media Photography Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Perfect for contract building." February 18, 2025 5.0 Overall I love InDesign and will use it weekly. This software has got me in the room with millionaires and has changed the look of my business. I will continue to recommend it to all of my associates. Pros I love that I am able to create professional proposals for my business. Being in government contracting requires professional quotes and Adobe InDesign allows me to do that with ease. Cons They don't have tutorials to teach you how to use features. That would make the software that much better. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer RFP Writer Architecture & Planning Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Steep Learning Curve = High Rewards" March 28, 2025 5.0 Pros I like that their Properties, GREP styles, styles, etc. make everything more complicated at the beginning... in order to make things absolutely seamless in the middle of a given project! I'm never going back to Canva for polished publications. Cons The learning curve is steep, although ultimately worthwhile. Review Source KB Kelly B. Owner Arts and Crafts Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Excellent user friendly design software " February 17, 2025 5.0 I use the Adobe software together and InDesign is the perfect software to begin designing my projects. Pros I really enjoy all the products by Adobe for graphic arts and design. InDesign is the beginning software when I am creating flyers, pamphlets for companies. User friendly and allows you to create the design you imagine. Cons Honestly, I haven't found anything that stands out in this software. Review Source SK Sanaa K. Owner Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Professional Layout Design with Precision" February 7, 2025 4.0 A top choice for designers working on publications, offering powerful tools for layout and print, but requires time to master. Pros Excellent for creating print and digital layouts with precise typography control and seamless integration with other Adobe tools. Cons Has a steep learning curve, and the subscription cost can be high for casual users. Review Source TN Tyler N. Owner Accounting Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Industry standard for print design" April 2, 2025 4.0 Pros I like the level of detail & functionality and general ease of use. Cons I don't like how the resolution of the page preview thumbnails was reduced in an update a few years ago. Review Source RQ Renea Q. Graphic Designer Graphic Design Used the software for: 1-2 years ### " Industry Standard for Professional Publishing, but Costly for Small Businesses" October 31, 2024 5.0 Despite the cost, InDesign remains my top choice for high-quality, professional publishing. For those who need top-tier tools and work on larger projects regularly, it’s worth the investment. Pros Adobe InDesign is my go-to for complex and detailed design projects in my genealogy and family history business. It’s an incredibly powerful tool with virtually unlimited options for layout, typography, and customization, making it ideal for crafting professional, detailed templates that I sell to clients. The learning curve can be steep, but once you get the hang of it, the flexibility and precision are unmatched. InDesign shines with its extensive export options and seamless integration with other Adobe products like Photoshop and Illustrator, which are essential when working on intricate projects across multiple platforms. That said, Adobe’s monthly subscription can get pricey, especially for small business owners who don’t need the full suite every month. Cons Expensive monthly subscription and a steeper learning curve for beginners. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Business Intelligence Analyst Higher Education Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Higher Education User Review of More than 6+ Years" May 16, 2024 5.0 Pros I like how Adobe InDesign is fully integrated into the Adobe Suite (Adobe Creative Cloud). After you learn to navigate the tool, the ability to create high-level content that has reliable access, several import/exporting mediums, and access to various assets is a major plus for InDesign. Cons There is a bit of a learning curve with Adobe InDesign. You don't need to necessarily pay for training as there are numerous free trainings and DIY videos to learn from. Review Source Adham H. Senior Social Media Specialist, Senior Graphic Designer Broadcast Media Used the software for: 2+ years ### "From portfolios to 100 page catalogs, InDesign is capable of that" January 7, 2024 5.0 I've used Adobe In-design for the first time back in 2017, i created my first portfolio for my design business, and that's when all the doors opened, i've used InDesign since then for all of my top clients, from company profiles to product catalogs, i've done it all and it always had my back. i recommend it for everyone who wants to create anything for digital publishing and offline brochures, catalogs, product base, online and offline portfolios, and magazines Pros I usually use it for catalog design and portfolios and company profiles, it certainly have the best features, easy to use most of the time, exporting is pretty fast, the fact that you can add multiples layers of complex designs and even edit your previous PDF's. Cons Sometimes the app crashes out of the sudden, but that's about it, and i wish there was more templates to use. Review Source Marija Š. Geaphic Designer Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Best Layout and Publishing software for proffesionals" May 13, 2022 5.0 Adobe InDesign is easy to work with once you get a hang of it. I also have Adobe CC so it is my go to for 99% of all of the publishing and printing projects. Pros Adobe InDesign is NOT an easy drag and drop software, and as such it takes some time to master it, but if you do you will get all encompassing tool for printing and publishing. It offers all the functions to make your designs work in almost any scenarios. Master pages are amazing time savers so you don't need to copy and paste repeating elements on each and every page of your book, magazine or brochure. You can also setup automatic page numbering, chapter naming or Table of contents, which are all huge time savers. It is the best software for text editing especially for the large text blocks like books or magazines. Cons Adobe InDesign's biggest strength is also it's biggest weakness, it should be used as a part of Adobe Creative Cloud collaborative tools, which means if you need Photo Editing or Vector Editing and design you will need to that in Photoshop because these tools are non existent in InDesign. So if you are looking to by cheap software you need to look somewhere else, this is not for you. In order to unlock all of the powerful tools you need to have all of Adobe's Creative Cloud suite of applications. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Owner and Designer Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Still Worth Every Penny" October 26, 2023 5.0 I am more than happy with Adobe InDesign. I love that Adobe is constantly innovating, which makes me feel content with the subscription model. For a few years I had been more comfortable with the idea of purchasing actual software (back when it came in a physical box!), but the hassle of having to buy new software every couple of years got old. In this technology age, we as professional designers have to stay on top of innovations, and Adobe keeps the tools updated so I can in turn innovate in my creative field. Pros I have been using InDesign on a daily basis ever since Adobe donated software to my student-run college newspaper in 1999. That donation opened the door to exploring a world of print layout that I never knew existed, and eventually led to a career in graphic design. InDesign is the main tool in my tool belt, and without it I would have a different occupation altogether. Some people like to complain about the price point, but when you consider a) the value it provides creatives as a tool b) the innovation required by Adobe over decades to produce and constantly refine the software, and c) the lack of a comparatively robust or functional alternative for the design professional, it's a wonder that it's as cheap as it is. Cons I wish InDesign had a chart-making tool. Illustrator has one, but it is in dire need of updating. Review Source Similar Products Featured