7 Free Online Magazine Creator in Comparison [1 BIG WINNER]
When it comes to geocaching, I’m a bit of a nerd. Well, actually a lot of a nerd. And I’m not the only one. I’ve recently begun a Facebook group of like-minded geocachers and we decided we wanted to grow our network into something bigger and to do so we’d need to create an online magazine. Hence the reason why I needed a magazine creator. But, as much as I’m a nerd, this is my free time we’re talking about so I needed a magazine creator that did what I wanted, quickly and without taking up too much of my time. Hence why I was looking for a magazine creator that would make digital magazine publishing as easy as possible.
So, I put a request on the Facebook group for anyone who might know of a magazine creator I could use for the magazine that came with free magazine templates.
Boy, did it lead to a lot of arguments.
One of the guys in the Facebook group told me about one magazine creator, another jumped on the magazine creator post insisting his magazine creator was superior, and then everyone wanted to put their opinion in about what magazine creator was the best magazine creator about.
It got a little heated and there were even threats to block some magazine creator posters from the group.
Anyhow, I digress.
I decide to take the 7 most suggested magazine creator software options and try them out (don’t worry — I didn’t post the magazine creator results on the group — that would have led to yet another magazine creator argument — one I didn’t want to be in the middle of).
So, for your eyes only, here are the 7 magazine creator options I tried and the results.
But first, you need to know why you might need to know about how to publish your own magazine before I get on with the magazine creator review.
Why create a digital magazine?
This had some heated debate in the Facebook group too.
One guy asked why create a digital magazine when we could just invite more users to the Facebook group?
Did we really need a magazine creator to put our emagazine together and take up some of my time to do so?
Most of the group (surprisingly) were in agreement that yes, we did need free online magazines, as people like to see video, pictures and information all in one handy document, and so would need a magazine creator like me to sort something out with a magazine maker app or suchlike.
The reason you might want to make your own magazine with an e magazine creator might be different than ours though.
You might want a magazine creator to create a virtual magazine for your business, to promote items you’re selling or you might want a magazine creator to finish a school project.
Online magazine software can help with almost any purpose, and a magazine creator can really help you grow reach online, as these shareable e-magazines are becoming more and more popular — as is magazine maker software!
How to make a digital magazine?
I guess before I go onto the 7 magazine creator options I tried, you might want to know more from a magazine creator like me how to create your own magazine with a digital magazine creator.
Well, it depends on what magazine creation software you choose really.
How create magazine?
Is one of the most searched phrases for how to use a free online magazine maker and though the phrase sounds a bit caveman like, the results are diverse, and the answer depends on the magazine creator you’re using.
If you use certain online magazine software as a magazine creator, you’ll likely use a free online magazine creator to make your magazine from scratch entirely online, using a magazine cover creator then going through and doing it page by page.
If you’re a magazine creator that likes to use pdf, then you’ll need a magazine maker software free download that lets you upload the pdf, make the tweaks you need and then go ahead and share, embed etc. where you want it.
Other magazine publishing software lets you, as a magazine creator, use a magazine maker online that uses templates where you just have to fill in the content.
So, like I said, there are various magazine creator options for any magazine creator and a hundred different ways to do it.
I preferred, as a lazy magazine creator, that I’d choose the best digital magazine software based on speed, features and ease of use of the magazine creator.
And here’s what I took a look at.
The entrants
The magazine creator options I looked at all came from Facebook group recommendations and while some magazine creator options were costly, other magazine maker free printable options really didn’t come with extra costs.
A bonus for me as I needed the money for a new pair of walking boots, so I didn’t want a magazine creator I’d have to pay out for.
1. Canva
First magazine creator was Canva, a magazine creator that promised to be the best online magazine publishing software for those who like to create eyecatching magazines. As a magazine creator I was intrigued, but then quickly disappointed when I found this magazine creator was really only good for a great looking front page. Thumbs down!
2. FlippingBook
FlippingBook magazine creator was a bit of a pleasant surprise after Canva. This magazine layout design software free download allows self hosting and you can easily share the magazine creator final product. The magazine creator itself was easy to use too -it let me, as a magazine creator, quickly come up with a design, but then I found one big problem — FlippingBook magazine creator isn’t free ongoing. Onto the next magazine creator. By the way, I didn’t post these magazine creator pros and cons on the group — I value my life too much!
3. Flip PDF Professional
Now this was a magazine creator for a magazine creator that didn’t want to put much effort in but wanted maximum magazine creator results. This easy-to-use magazine creator does not require a single line of code, meaning it was quick and easy as a magazine creator to use. Using a pdf, I uploaded into the magazine creator, added video and flash and used the magazine creator to share it to a few geocaching friends for review. They thought I was a great magazine creator! Result! The only problem was that this magazine creator was a bit tricky to get to grips with and I feel like I wasted a little time training myself on this magazine creator.
4. Flipsnack
While a couple of the Facebook group swore by this magazine creator, as a magazine creator myself I had to say this magazine creator wasn’t all that. Don’t get me wrong, with this magazine creator you can use it in one of two ways. You can upload a pdf to the magazine creator or you can user the magazine creator from scratch online, so it is flexible. I just thought this magazine creator had too many bells and whistles and wasn’t simple enough to use.
5. Lucidpress
This magazine creator was only recommended by one of the Facebook group but since it was one of the main instigators of the argument, I thought I’d better give this magazine creator a go. As a magazine creator that gives advice on their site, I thought this was a magazine creator worth looking at and while it was easy to use as a magazine creator, I didn’t like the layout options and found this magazine creator a little restrictive. Sorry Chris!
6. MagLoft
An online magazine creator for me needs to be able to be flexible but this one wasn’t as easy to use as this magazine creator wanted it to be. While I eventually got to grips with this magazine creator, it took up far too much of my time, although this magazine creator did allow easy social sharing, which some of the magazine creator other options didn’t.
Wait! You said 7!
I guess I’d better save the best magazine creator until last.
And I hate to admit it, but this was the magazine creator suggestion from one of my least favorite members.
The best magazine creator I finally ended up with was a magazine creator that let me easily upload my pdf, then add GIFs (yes, even geocachers love the odd GIF) as well as video, audio and maps.
As of now you are probably dying to get to know which software I am talking about — it’s…. Calameo.
With this magazine creator I was very happy with the end result, and though once I’d finished with the magazine creator, I was a bit apprehensive about posting the end product, every single member of the group complimented me on the end product, which made me a very happy magazine creator indeed.
