Choosing an app to create a ZINE: Canva, InDesign, Word... What do you recommend?

You can create a ZINE with any app. And of course, you don't even need an app! You can also create one by hand-drawing on paper, cutting, pasting, and then copying. If you want to use an app (software), common choices include Canva, Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Word, PowerPoint, and Affinity.

This is one of the most frequently asked questions at DIY BOOKS' DIY ZINE School. The answer is "use whatever you're most comfortable with" or "choose software that's easy to use," but here's a summary of the features of each.

Canva

Canva has become the most popular app among ZINE creators in recent years. It's free to use, offers a rich selection of fonts and materials, and is intuitive to operate.

Setting bleed is also easy from the file menu. It also supports downloading as PDF (print).

However, Canva was originally a tool for creating web-based images. Some adjustments are needed for print. Since it's based on raster data formats like JPEG and PNG, the resolution might not be sufficient for enlarged printing (resulting in jagged edges). For A5-sized prints, this is usually not an issue.

A huge advantage is that there's a wealth of information on how to use it if you search online, making it easy to find answers when you're stuck.

One thing to note is font embedding and the "flatten" function. Submission data requires fonts to be embedded or outlined (vectorized, like extracting contours) so that it can be printed in any environment. Fonts are embedded when converting to PDF, but with Canva, some fonts may not be embedded. Also, be careful with the "flatten" checkbox option when downloading as "PDF (Print)."
Unlike outlining, flattening processes the entire page, including text, into an image, which can slightly reduce the resolution (to about 300dpi). It's likely not an issue for A5-sized on-demand printing, but it's good to be aware of this potential effect.

Canva

Adobe Illustrator / InDesign

If you want to create professional print-ready data, Adobe software would be a choice.

Adobe Illustrator is suitable for creating single-page flyers or covers, or for creating spreads. Adobe InDesign is specialized software for creating multi-page books and booklets, with professional features like column layout and formatting. It's convenient that pages automatically expand according to the template when you flow in text. Both can be used in CMYK mode (grayscale mode), and setting bleeds and trim marks is easy. Vector data (data that doesn't become pixelated when enlarged) created in Illustrator can also be used in InDesign. Outlining text, converting to PDF, etc., can be done without issues.

The downsides are that it takes a certain amount of time to get used to the operations due to the many features, and there's a monthly fee (Creative Cloud subscription). For those who want to seriously create ZINEs or use it for work, it might be worth the investment in the long run. They also have sales occasionally, so keep an eye out.

Word

You can perfectly create ZINEs with Microsoft Word. It excels at typesetting, and flowing long text can sometimes be easier in Word. Margin settings (gutter and fore-edge distances) can be precisely adjusted from the page setup. Many printers provide Word templates, so be sure to download them. Some printers also offer cover creation services.

Setting bleeds isn't as straightforward as in Canva, but it's often not a major issue if you maintain appropriate margins. For submission, convert to PDF before sending. However, Word doesn't allow specifying color profiles, so if color accuracy is a concern, it's better suited for monochrome-based ZINEs.

PowerPoint

PowerPoint actually has a similar feel to Canva and Illustrator in terms of operation. It's easy to freely move and arrange images. You can create a ZINE with the sensation of building vertical slides one by one. There are even people who create ZINEs using PowerPoint. For this too, finally export to PDF for submission.

Affinity Publisher

"Affinity" is a software acquired by Canva, and it's currently free to use. It's like a combination of Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, with a very rich set of features. It can export vector data (a format that doesn't degrade when enlarged). It also supports CMYK color mode, making it suitable for creating print-ready data.

The only drawback is that it doesn't support vertical writing. It would be a good option for those creating ZINEs with horizontal text and left-page opening. It's closer to professional-grade software, so it takes time to master the operations, but it's worth learning if you plan to use it long-term.

Criteria when in doubt

Choose based on "Do I want to start immediately, or use it long-term?" If you want to start immediately, Canva is a good choice. If you get stuck, you can find answers by searching on Google. If you want to use it long-term and focus on quality, a combination of Affinity or Illustrator + InDesign will likely be stable in the future.

If you can create print-ready PDFs, any software you use will process it almost identically. I believe that completing one ZINE with familiar software is more important than choosing the software itself.
Please use this as a reference.