The best digital magazine maker - 10+ tools compared cover
Published on: November 14, 2023
Last updated: December 8, 2025
As digital content becomes central to both internal communication and external marketing, more businesses are investing in tools that help them create impactful, on-brand publications—without relying on complex design workflows.
From internal magazines that connect global teams to interactive product catalogs that drive engagement, digital magazine makers have evolved to serve serious business needs. And for many companies, including Electrolux and Estée Lauder, Flipsnack has become a trusted solution for delivering professional, secure, and scalable content.
In this guide, we objectively compare the best digital magazine platforms—and highlight what to look for if you’re choosing with business in mind.
A digital magazine is exactly what it sounds like—the online version of a print magazine. Same look, same purpose, but designed for screens instead of paper. It’s accessible on devices like laptops, tablets, or phones, and it’s built for flexibility: easier to share, update, track, and interact with.
For many businesses, digital magazines are becoming a go-to format—whether for sharing product updates, publishing internal stories, or creating branded experiences that feel polished and professional without the overhead of print.
What sets them apart? A few key advantages:
In short, digital magazines aren’t just a new format—they’re a better one. And for companies looking to connect with employees or customers in a more engaging way, they offer a smarter path forward.
A digital magazine publishing platform is an app or a tool that allows you to make your own electronic magazine and share your content online through digital channels.
Usually, you can create an online magazine in three different ways when using this type of platform:
It all depends on the functionalities available on each digital magazine platform.
What these digital magazine publishing platforms have in common is the subscription model. Once users create an account and subscribe to a plan, they can start working on their digital magazines.
Once you’ve moved past PDFs or traditional print, the next step is choosing a platform that actually supports how your team works and what your audience needs.
Not all magazine makers are designed with business use in mind. Some tools are great for simple designs or personal projects. But if you’re building branded content at scale—whether for internal updates or customer-facing publications—it’s worth looking for a platform that can keep up.
Here are a few things to consider as you narrow your options:
These kinds of questions help move you past surface-level features and focus on long-term fit—especially if your magazine is more than just a design project, but part of how you communicate and grow.
So, whether you’re looking for magazine software for its security or interactivity, here’s a list of platforms that will help you start a digital magazine.
The following list of online magazine platforms provides information for each tool: a brief description, key features, target audience, notable customers, pricing details, and reviews from three major review platforms—G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot. Why these three? Because these are the most popular review platforms for reviewing software apps.
To compile this list, I created free accounts for each platform and tested the available features. The information here is based on my hands-on experience and details provided by the platforms on their websites. However, since some advanced features require paid subscriptions, I could not test every aspect.
A few platforms I wanted to test did not offer free accounts, so I couldn’t explore them firsthand.
That’s why I decided it would be unfair to include them based on external information alone. I will still mention them, though, since their appearance in multiple search results suggests that they are actually worth using.
If you’re looking for a platform that combines ease of use with business-ready features, Flipsnack is a strong choice. It’s used by teams at companies like Electrolux and Estée Lauder to create everything from product catalogs to employee magazines and branded sales materials.
There are a few ways to get started. You can upload a PDF and enhance it with interactive elements, design a magazine from a blank canvas, or pick from a collection of templates if you’re short on time. Each option leads into a straightforward editing experience where you can easily add videos, slideshows, links, product tags, shopping buttons, forms, or even charts—no design background needed.
Where Flipsnack stands out is in the details that matter to companies working at scale. You get granular privacy controls like password protection, sharing with specific users, or SSO access. And with AI features, you can translate entire flipbooks or generate alt text for improved accessibility, which is especially useful when publishing across global teams or channels.
I signed up for an account and got access to a 14-day Premium trial, which includes most features from the Enterprise plan, with a few exceptions. With this, I can start creating my digital magazine either by uploading a PDF or building one from scratch.
Note: Flipsnack also has a free plan, which activates after the 14-day trial in case you don’t purchase a paid plan.
If I upload a PDF, I can choose a file from my device or directly from my Google Drive. After uploading, I’m taken to the customization page, where I can tweak settings like Appearance, Branding, and Analytics, much the same as you’d edit PDFs in a standard editor, but with more advanced options for design and interactivity.
To make the publication interactive, I can use the Design Editor by clicking on the left side button Add links, videos, buttons. Here, I can add videos, links, slideshows, product tags, and more. This is also where I can preview or publish the final flipbook.
If I choose to create a virtual magazine from scratch, the process starts by selecting the size. There are predefined formats to choose from, or I can set custom sizes. Once that’s done, I’m taken to the Design Editor, which starts with a blank page. If I don’t want to start from zero, I can pick from a variety of templates. When everything’s ready, I have the same options to customize or share my flipbook.
Overall, the process is straightforward and intuitive. The PDF upload is fast, and the multiple interactive options make it suitable for different purposes.
Similar to digital tools, virtual assistant pricing packages provide tiered options tailored to various business needs.
FlipHTML5 is an online digital publishing platform that can create various types of publications, including magazines, catalogs, brochures, and more. Thanks to its intuitive interface, it is a great magazine software for beginners.
Once you log into this online magazine platform, you can upload your file and start customizing it. On the left-hand side, you have different sections: Library, Digital Sales, Branding, Statistics, Account, Support, and Notification.
To create your virtual magazine, you only need to click on the Upload button. This allows you to add local files or to upload from iCloud Link, Google Drive, or Dropbox. If you don’t have a file, you can easily download a sample PDF file.
Once you upload the file, you can access the Book info and different settings for Customize, Branding, Share, Monetize, Visibility, Accessibility, and more.
Here, you can edit your publication with various interactivity options such as links, videos, shapes, or forms. Then, you can share it in various ways, such as a poster, GUF, embed, or download it.
Overall, the process of using this magazine creator is simple, making it ideal for a beginner.
Publuu is another great magazine layout software that allows you to convert PDF files into interactive flipbooks and customize them to be on-brand by adding logos and background colors. SEO-friendly and share them with your readers, either by embedding them on your website or distributing them through email, social media, a link, or a QR code. Users can also display and sell their publications on the “Web Kiosks.”
Once I have created my account, I am greeted by the login page. Its straightforward design allows me to understand the entire process and the platform’s functionalities: upload, customize, publish, and track document statistics.
I can upload a PDF or try a sample. There is no design-from-scratch option.
I used the sample PDF version, and once the file has been uploaded, I can proceed with customizing it.
The page has different options neatly placed on the left. I can change the publication’s name and description, the background, the security options, or show or hide flipbook settings, just to name a few.
I can also access the editing part by clicking on the Add hotspots button. On this page, I can make my flipbook interactive through links, photos, videos, sounds, gifs, and product buttons.
Once I finish editing, I can share my flipbook in multiple ways. Accessing the flipbooks page reveals additional options, such as access to statistics, duplicate, delete, and tracking links.
I found the process very intuitive and enjoyed the initial page, which presents the entire process.
Overall, this magazine creator provides quite a smooth workflow when it comes to editing and sharing digital publications.
Marq (formerly Lucidpress) is a tool that makes design and branding easier for businesses. It helps creative teams by letting anyone in the company—designer or not—create and share marketing materials that stay on brand. In short, it’s all about making life simpler for both designers and marketers.
The process of creating a flipbook in Marq differs from many of the other magazine makers in this article. You can upload a PDF and convert it, but you cannot edit it.
If you want to customize your flipbook, you can either import it from InDesign from the templates section, which you can find on the left-hand side, start from scratch, or start with a predefined template.
If you start with a template, you can easily use the search function to find what you need. The magazine selection is varied, so you will have no problem finding something that you can use.
Starting from scratch allows you to control the process from start to finish. You can add these elements to the page: images, text, shapes, tables, smart fields, and formulas and functions.
Once shared, you can use Marq’s analytics feature, which gives you insights into how your publications perform.
FlippingBook is a magazine-making software that allows you to create professional-looking magazines and documents with a fun twist. You can add videos, pop-up images, and GIFs to bring your pages to life. Plus, it comes with handy tools to help you step up your marketing and sales game.
TTo create a publication in FlippingBook, you must upload a PDF or work with a demo PDF—you cannot start from scratch or use a template. For this walkthrough, I started with a demo PDF.
Once created, I was redirected to the dashboard with several customization sections. The main area offers design options for the flipbook’s appearance, while additional sections let you control functionality: the Control section determines usage permissions (like downloads), Privacy settings manage sharing options, and you can add features like Lead Capture Forms, a Table of Contents, videos, and links.
The interactivity options are somewhat limited, but I appreciated being able to add images, GIFs, and videos using either local files or online links. Each element type has its own set of editing options. I tested several features, including changing the skin, setting password protection, and adding a lead form—all worked smoothly.
After clicking Finish, I was taken to a summary page displaying the created flipbook alongside quick-access options: Customize, Share, Embed, View Stats, and more.
The entire process is straightforward—once you create your account, you’re ready to start publishing.
Issuu is an online magazine publishing tool that makes it easy to create, share, host, and even sell your magazines or publications. You can add your work to their content library to reach a wider audience. Whether you want to showcase your work, promote your business, or sell your publications, Issuu provides the tools and resources to help you succeed.
Creating a flipbook in Issuu starts with uploading a PDF or various other file formats—epub, mobi, .pptx, and more. For this test, I downloaded a magazine template from Issuu’s library and uploaded it to the platform.
Once uploaded, I could set a title and description, then add interactive elements like links (go to page, shopping, or web URLs) and videos. However, the editing process felt different from other platforms—somewhat unintuitive—and the interactive features are more limited compared to competitors.
After finishing my edits, I published the flipbook and found several sharing options: share as a link, post to social media, generate a QR code, embed it on a website, or download/share it as a GIF.
Beyond the basics, Issuu offers some standout features. I particularly liked the ability to repurpose your flipbook into an article or social media post, which makes the platform quite versatile. You also get access to statistics and selling settings to help distribute and monetize your content.
Additional features—like privacy controls, removing banner ads, and allowing downloads—are available, though they require a paid plan.
PubHTML5 is yet another great magazine creator software that offers professional HTML5 publishing solutions. It allows users to create professionally-looking digital publications such as magazines, brochures, catalogs, newsletters, and more. Its intuitive interface makes it ideal for anyone, from beginners to more experienced users.
The process starts with a file upload. Besides PDF, PubHTML5 also supports converting MS Office files. With the PDF uploaded, I can set keywords, choose a category, set a label, and choose whether to allow my readers to download the magazine or not.
Then, I can choose a template and a theme, and on the next page, I can access all sorts of settings for the player, toolbar, and so on. Interactivity-wise, you can embed videos, insert links, or image slides.
YUMPU is a digital publishing platform designed to turn static PDFs into interactive, SEO-friendly ePapers. It helps businesses, publishers, and creators attract more readers and customers by transforming their content into dynamic flipbooks, brochures, catalogs, or magazines with ease. With award-winning technology, YUMPU ensures your publications achieve top rankings on Google and gain visibility among millions of readers worldwide.
Similar to other magazine-making software programs, the process starts with uploading a PDF. Once uploaded, you have multiple settings on the page: basic information (included in the free plan), visibility settings, player settings, PROKuisk Settings, embed, analytics, and QR code.
Here is also where you can also add interactivity through the Hotspot editor. But it doesn’t work with the free version.
Yumpu’s viewer provides page flip animation and supports multimedia links, videos, and audio embedding in the publications (on paid plans).
Sharing-wise, there’s social media sharing and an embed option in the free version.
Overall, YUMPU is an online magazine software with limited options.
Canva is an online platform that empowers any individual or team, regardless of experience, to create impressive designs. Users can choose between thousands of professionally made templates and then customize and share them with a few clicks. Additionally, you can create a Canva flipbook using Flipsnack for an engaging, interactive design experience.
The process of creating a magazine in Canva is easy.
I start by clicking on Create a Design and start with a magazine template. I choose a cover and add it to the blank page.
Next, I want to make it interactive, and the Elements tab gives me many options: stickers, shapes, frames, tables, and even AI-generated images and videos. I added an AI-generated image and chose my sharing option. I chose to share it with anyone with the link and to give editing rights.
I also checked the dashboard, which gives me access to projects, templates, brand settings, and apps, and its Magic Studio, which is all about AI tools.
Canva is one of the best online magazine platforms, with a great focus on collaboration.
However, keep in mind that if you want the flipping effect for your magazine, you will probably need to import your Canva design to another platform that offers that effect.
Simplebooklet transforms your static PDFs, presentations, and documents into interactive, engaging flipbooks. It’s designed to make sharing content easy, professional, and impactful, whether you’re promoting marketing materials, sales collateral, or support documents. With Simplebooklet, you can upload, customize, share, and track your flipbooks—all from a single, branded link.
Once you created your account, you can start working on your flipbook. In the free trial, you have one simplebooklet available.
Upload your PDF, and then start editing. Once uploaded, you can choose the page flip style, click on Convert, and start working on your interactive PDF.
In the dashboard, you’ll find options to Edit, Design, or Record your PDF. In the Edit tab, you can add interactive elements, but also text, which you can animate after.
When you finish your design, you can preview it or share it. If you click on share, you’ll be able to change the URL, send it in an email, post it on social media, share it on messaging apps, embed it on a page, or add it to your Google My Business page.
Paperturn is a magazine software platform that turns your PDFs into engaging online flipbooks with a realistic page-turning effect. Whether you’re working with magazines, brochures, catalogs, or eBooks, Paperturn helps you make your content more interactive and accessible.
You can upload a PDF file or download and use a demo PDF they provide. Once the PDF is uploaded, you can start editing its design, add links and videos, or determine how your digital magazine will look when embedded on a website. This digital magazine software is more limited in customization than others on this list, but it does have basic interactivity features.
Envato offers a different advantage—a massive library of stock photos, videos and music to streamline the creative process. Instead of starting from scratch, users can customise professional layouts to match their branding and avoid copyright issues, saving time while maintaining high-quality design standards.
If you’ve ever struggled with designing a magazine from scratch, Envato Elements can be a game-changer for you. The pre-made templates give you a strong starting point, so instead of worrying about layouts, you can focus on crafting great content. With easy customization, you can quickly adapt designs to match your brand’s style. If you want professional-looking results without the hassle, this tool is for you.
Envato is perfect for designers, marketers, and publishers who need high-quality, customizable templates without hiring a designer or spending hours on layouts. It’s also a great tool for content creators and creative professionals who make a living producing digital and print materials. With millions of assets available, it’s an essential resource for those looking to streamline their workflow and maintain a professional look across all their projects.
Other magazine creators did not make the list since I could not actually test the platform. I will still mention them since they are known, and they also show up in search results for relevant queries: Turtl.co, Joomag, Blurb, Magloft, Foleon, and Mag+.
Each platform brings something useful to the table, depending on what you’re looking for—price, design simplicity, or specific features like interactivity or branding.
But if you’re creating digital magazines for business purposes—whether it’s internal communication, product storytelling, or brand marketing—Flipsnack stands out as the most complete solution.
It checks every box that matters to companies: fast publishing workflows, deep customization, rich interactivity, secure sharing, and actionable performance insights. It’s also built with teams in mind, offering automation, collaboration tools, and brand control at scale.
That’s why brands like Estée Lauder, Electrolux, and Pandora use Flipsnack to power their digital publications.
If your goal is to create polished, professional content that supports your brand and drives results, Flipsnack is the platform to beat.
That depends on what you need, but if you’re creating content for work—like product catalogs, employee magazines, or marketing campaigns—Flipsnack is one of the best all-around platforms. It’s easy to use, looks great, and includes advanced features like team collaboration, brand controls, automation, and secure sharing.
Definitely. A lot of companies use digital magazines to share internal news, HR updates, onboarding materials, or even company culture stories. Tools like Flipsnack make it easy to control who sees what with features like password protection, private links, and SSO login.
Platforms like Flipsnack are built with business security in mind. You get features like 2FA, SSO, and strict access controls, which means you can confidently share internal or private content with only the people who need to see it.
Yes. Many platforms come with built-in analytics to track views, clicks, and shares. Some even integrate with tools like Google Analytics for deeper insights.
No. Digital magazine platforms like Canva or Flipsnack allow you to create professional magazines without any coding knowledge.
Yes, and it’s something worth prioritizing—especially for internal communication or public-facing content. Platforms like Flipsnack include accessibility features like alt text generation, screen reader support, and keyboard navigation, so your magazines can be used by everyone, including people with visual impairments or other disabilities.
Definitely. If you’re publishing regularly—like a monthly newsletter or seasonal catalog—you’ll want a platform that makes it easy to update content and organize it in one place. With Flipsnack, you can update existing magazines without sending new links, and group multiple editions together in a branded bookshelf so readers can browse past issues in one spot.
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View Comments
You never mentioned Folean. Any reason why?
They David, thanks for your comment! You're right—Foleon wasn't mentioned because, when the article was originally published in 2023, they weren't as prominent in the space. Since then, they’ve grown significantly, and we'll consider including them in future updates. We appreciate you pointing this out!