Brochure Design Software: Types, Features, and Evaluation Criteria

Brochure design has expanded far beyond traditional print layouts. Today, organizations use brochure design software to plan, design, structure, and produce brochures across both print and digital formats. 

This category includes professional layout programs, template-driven design tools, illustration software, and platforms built specifically for interactive online brochures. These solutions help teams organize information, shape visual hierarchy, and publish brochures that match their channel needs.

As brochures continue to evolve from static documents into digital assets with flexible structures and interactive elements, understanding the landscape of available tools is essential. 

This article outlines what brochure design software includes, how capabilities differ, and what to evaluate when choosing a tool.

What Brochure Design Software Is

Brochure design software refers to a wide range of tools used to create multi-page brochures in bifold, trifold, or booklet formats for both print and digital use. 

These tools organize information into structured layouts that support clear reading flows, making brochures effective for presenting detailed content. 

While traditional solutions focused on print-only production and precise prepress control, modern options now include browser-based platforms that support collaborative editing, flexible design, and digital publishing. 

Brochures differ from flyers because they contain multiple pages and are intended for deeper information sharing rather than quick announcements or weekly offers.

The category has expanded significantly as organizations adopt digital formats. 

Many tools now allow teams to publish brochures online, add interactive elements, and track reader engagement. 

Despite changes in technology and distribution, brochures remain a widely used format across industries such as retail, real estate, travel, education, and B2B, where structured, easily digestible content is essential.

Features of Modern Brochure Design Software

Contemporary brochure tools include features that address layout, collaboration, digital publishing, and analysis. These capabilities allow teams to produce and maintain brochures more efficiently.

Templates and Layout Tools

• Pre-designed templates: Tools offer predefined layouts suited for different brochure structures. These templates reduce the time needed to build multi-page documents from scratch.
• Layout precision: Editors often include grids, typography controls, spacing tools, and multi-page design features to ensure visual consistency.

Online Publishing and Distribution

• Browser-based access: Brochures can be shared through links or embedded on websites without requiring downloads.
• Expanded distribution: Tools often support sharing through email, QR codes, or social placements, giving teams more control over access points.

Editing, Versioning, and File Management

• Real-time updates: Published brochures can be updated without replacing files or redistributing assets.
• Version tracking: Version history and rollback options ensure accuracy across iterative changes.
• Centralized asset management: Design files, imagery, and reusable components are stored in a shared environment, reducing duplication and ensuring consistency across brochure versions.

Asset Import and Libraries

• Robust import options: Teams can import logos, images, charts, and other brand assets.
• In-editor editing: Cropping and adjusting imported content reduces the need for external tools.
• Built-in libraries: Stock photos and icons help fill gaps when custom imagery is unavailable.

Collaboration, Permissions, and Workflow

• Multi-user editing: Multiple contributors can work on a brochure at the same time.
• Commenting workflows: Reviewers can leave notes directly on the document, guiding revisions.
• Access management: Roles and permission controls protect brand integrity during editing.

Interactivity and Multimedia Support

• Interactive elements: Digital brochures can include clickable links, embedded videos, image galleries, animations, buttons, and maps. These elements increase clarity and allow more layered storytelling.

Analytics and Engagement Tracking

• Page and click activity: Teams can see which sections receive the most attention.
• Reading behavior: Time spent on each page shows how readers move through content.
• Improvement indicators: Insights help refine structure or content in future versions.

Together, these features define what modern brochure design software should enable.

Types of Brochure Design Software

Different brochure design software categories support different production needs. The sections below outline the primary approaches used to create brochures across print and digital formats.

Desktop Publishing Tools

These solutions provide advanced layout precision for print-first brochures that require detailed control over typography, spacing, and multi-page structures.

Platforms in this category: Adobe InDesign, Scribus.

Web-Based Template-Driven Tools

These platforms focus on accessible browser-based editing, offering drag-and-drop interfaces and ready-made templates that support fast digital creation.

Platforms in this category: Canva, Venngage, Marq, Visme.

Open-Source or Low-Cost Layout Tools

These options provide practical layout capabilities for teams with limited budgets that still need structured brochure designs.

Platforms in this category: Scribus, Swift Publisher.

Illustration and Image Editing Tools

These applications specialize in creating custom artwork and refining images, and they are often used to develop visual assets that appear within brochures rather than to produce full layouts.

Platforms in this category: Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer, Photoshop.

Office and Presentation Tools

These general-purpose programs offer basic layout functionality and are sometimes used when dedicated design tools are unavailable or unnecessary.

Platforms in this category: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint.

Interactive Brochure Platforms

These digital-first platforms support multimedia, online hosting, and measurable engagement for brochures published on the web. They allow teams to add interactive elements and update content instantly.

Platforms in this category: Publitas.

This breakdown illustrates the wide range of brochure design software available and how each category aligns with different design and publishing needs.

Criteria for Choosing Brochure Design Software

The right brochure design software depends on production complexity, format requirements, and distribution channels. The following criteria outline how to evaluate different options and align them with your workflow.

Format and Production Requirements

The intended output should be the first filter when selecting software.

• If the brochure will go to print: Choose software that provides precise control over spacing, typography, color handling, and page structure. This ensures the final document prints accurately and remains consistent across versions.
• If the brochure will be used online: Prioritize systems that support responsive layouts, embedded media, and easy web publishing. These platforms make updates simple and allow content to load cleanly in a browser.
• If both print and digital are needed: Look for tools that export both print-ready PDFs and online formats from a single master file, reducing duplicated work.
• If the brochure needs interactive elements such as video or clickable content: Select a digital-first platform that can publish to the web, since print-focused tools cannot support interactive formats.

Output and Distribution Needs

How the brochure reaches its audience influences which tools are viable.

• For campaigns shared via email, links, or QR codes: Browser-based systems are the most efficient because they avoid downloads and provide a controlled viewing experience.
• For situations requiring frequent revisions: Select software that updates brochures instantly without regenerating new files.
• For high-traffic environments like product launches: Choose tools that host brochures in the cloud, ensuring versions remain current and accessible across regions.

Workflow and Collaboration

The complexity of the team and approval cycle matters as much as the design itself.

• If many contributors are involved: Choose software with real-time co-editing, granular permissions, and integrated commenting so feedback stays in one place.
• If designers and non-designers work together: Software with templates and guardrails ensures non-designers can contribute without compromising structure.
• If work must move quickly: Prioritize tools with short learning curves and predictable workflows to reduce bottlenecks.

Design Control and Templates

Visual consistency is a deciding factor in most brochure projects.

• For brand-driven layouts: Tools with strong typographic control, grid systems, and flexible style settings help maintain alignment with brand standards.
• For high-volume brochure programs: Template libraries with reusable structures make it easier to produce multiple brochures that feel cohesive.
• For teams with limited design expertise: Platforms with guided layouts and drag-and-drop assembly reduce errors and rework.

Asset Management and Scalability

A brochure project rarely exists in isolation.

• If the organization manages many images or product visuals: Select software that allows efficient importing, organizing, and reusing assets so teams do not manually reassemble materials.
• If brochure volume may grow: Look for pricing tiers, user controls, and storage structures that can expand without disruption.
• If multiple regions or departments contribute: Choose systems that centralize assets so teams can produce variations without rebuilding files.

These criteria give readers a practical way to evaluate brochure design software by aligning their requirements with the strengths of each tool category.

How Publitas Supports Interactive Digital Brochure Workflows

Digital-first brochures require formats that support interactivity, ongoing updates, and consistent delivery across devices. Publitas operates within this environment by enabling browser-based publishing, structured layouts, and measurable engagement for online brochures.

• Interactive publication structure: Publitas allows brochures to be published directly in the browser, supporting video, links, embedded content, and other interactive elements that enhance clarity.
• Instant updates at any stage: Because brochures are hosted online, teams can adjust content at any time without recreating files or redistributing new versions.
• Centralized asset handling: The platform keeps imagery, brand elements, and layout components organized in one place, helping maintain consistency across multiple brochures and save time during the design process.
• Clarity on reader behavior: Built-in analytics show how readers navigate each brochure, including where they click and which sections hold attention, creating a clear feedback loop for future versions.
• Efficient production workflows: Browser-based editing reduces tool friction, supports team collaboration, and streamlines brochure updates during launches, seasonal changes, or content revisions.

These capabilities make Publitas well-suited for teams that rely on dynamic, interactive brochures and require a format that evolves along with their content.

Selecting Brochure Design Software for Ongoing Content Updates

Brochure creation has expanded from fixed layouts to flexible, digital formats that adapt as information changes. Choosing the right brochure design software means finding a balance between layout control, collaboration, distribution needs, and long-term maintainability. Teams that work across regions, update content frequently, or rely on interactive elements benefit most from platforms that support continuous publishing, centralized asset management, and clear visibility into reader behavior.

Publitas brings these capabilities into a single environment, allowing brochures to remain accurate, measurable, and easy to update. 

For teams evaluating brochure design software for digital-first use cases, Publitas provides a structured way to publish, update, and measure online brochures at scale.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is brochure design software?

Brochure design software is a set of tools used to plan, design, and publish brochures in print or digital formats. It typically provides templates, layout controls, asset management, and exporting or online publishing features. Modern versions often support multimedia, links, and analytics, allowing brochures to be distributed online and updated without reprinting.

What is the difference between brochures and flyers?

Brochures are multi-page documents that organize detailed information in structured sections. Flyers are single-page materials used for concise announcements. Brochures support deeper evaluation, while flyers serve quick awareness. Digital brochures can also include interactivity and tracking, which flyers generally do not offer.

What types of brochure design software are available?

Several categories of tools can create brochures. Desktop publishing tools like Adobe InDesign support advanced print layouts. Browser-based template tools like Canva or Venngage simplify design for non-specialists. Open-source tools, illustration software, office programs, and interactive brochure platforms such as Publitas each serve different needs depending on the complexity and distribution format.

Can digital brochures be tracked?

Digital brochures can be tracked when created with interactive, online-focused platforms. These tools measure views, page engagement, click activity, and time spent on each page. Analytics provide insight into which sections perform well and help teams refine content or adjust layout strategies.

Which industries use brochures?

Brochures are widely used in retail, real estate, travel, education, wholesale, and B2B marketing. These sectors often need to communicate structured information in formats that readers can review independently. Digital brochures allow these industries to distribute updated content quickly and monitor reader engagement.

Do digital brochures replace print brochures entirely?

Digital brochures do not fully replace print, although they address distribution speed and update limitations. Print brochures are still used in environments where physical materials are expected, while digital brochures offer flexibility, interactivity, and analytics. Many organizations use both formats depending on context.