Should you use QuarkXPress in 2025?

QuarkXPress is a tool that has been with me for years, long before the Easy Web adventure. I have seen its evolution, its ups and downs, but one thing has remained constant throughout all these versions: its robustness and unmatched precision for print layout.

For complex publishing projects—magazines, catalogs, technical books—it's a real workhorse. Its handling of text, typographic grids, and colors is rock-solid reliable, which is essential when every millimeter counts for the final print. This is where it excels, where it justifies its status in traditional workflows.

That said, we need to be realistic. Its interface may seem outdated compared to more modern software, and its learning curve is steeper if you're not used to the demands of desktop publishing. For web or UI/UX design, it's clearly not the first tool I would put in your hands.

If you're new to professional design, QuarkXPress may seem like a mammoth task. However, it has unexpected advantages that can help you build your foundations. Its highly structured approach, with its precise grid systems and dedicated boxes (text, image), requires a level of rigor that pays off from the very beginning. For a simple flyer, business card, or basic report, you'll quickly find your feet. And its stability? A valuable asset when you're just starting out.

And the advantage it offers you right from the start is its mastery of Master Pages. Even without experience, you can design consistent templates, a cornerstone for building any project. QuarkXPress immerses you directly in "real" publishing design, far from the distractions of all-in-one tools. It teaches you the value of structure and precision.

In 2025, let's be clear about the cost of QuarkXPress: it's a significant investment. Far from traditional subscription models, QuarkXPress mainly opts for a perpetual license, often costing around $1,000 to $1,300. Add to that an annual budget of $300 to $400 for updates and advanced support. Who is it for? Definitely not for novice freelancers or small web agencies. At Easy Web, we know that this tool is aimed at established publishing agencies and print design studios that handle large volumes or complex projects (catalogues, magazines). Their need for precision and robustness fully justifies this financial commitment.

When I look at QuarkXPress, its historical strength in layout and advanced typography is still there. The precision of the controls over each element, from kerning (adjusting the spacing between characters) to basic grids, remains impressive. For complex print projects or documents requiring absolute precision, this is a major asset. This granular control, I assure you, makes all the difference for a flawless result.

Another strong point, especially for us in 2025, is its ability to handle multiple channels. QuarkXPress allows you to convert your print designs into various digital formats such as HTML5 or interactive eBooks. This is an essential feature if you are working on projects that need to be published on different media. Although less focused on "pure web design" than others, it offers a consistent solution for expanding the reach of your publications.

Honestly, when I have to juggle layouts for a thousand different media, I often turn to QuarkXPress FlexLayouts. It's a real breath of fresh air. Imagine: you design once, and the software automatically adapts to different screen ratios, from print to mobile. For us at Easy Web, it saves us a tremendous amount of time on multi-platform projects, where every pixel counts for brand consistency.

And that's not all. Its ability to export to interactive HTML5 is a gold mine. No more complicated conversions! You can create digital magazines, interactive reports, or eBooks with videos and animations directly from the software. This is a major asset for agencies like ours that want to offer rich and immersive digital experiences without having to worry about third-party tools.