Funeral program business software

Now that you've decided what computer equipment you need, it's time to choose your software. Many programs can create funeral programs. Some are installed on your computer, and others run in a web browser or "in the cloud."

Below is an overview of tools that work well today. Once you've looked them over, pick one main design program and one photo tool, and use them for most of your funeral programs.

Buying, maintaining and learning too many programs takes time away from your families. Many of these tools do the same job, so choose the ones you're most comfortable with and stick with them.

Word processors

If you're just starting out, you'll probably use a word processor. Most people already know the basics, and today's word processors handle photos, clipart, fonts, borders and color fills very well.

• Microsoft Word. The most widely used word processor, available for Windows, Mac and iPad, and as part of Microsoft 365. It's a great choice for funeral and memorial programs using Word, and our templates are offered in Word format (check each listing for the formats it includes).
• Apple Pages. Apple's word processing and page layout app for Mac, iPad and iPhone. It can open and save Word documents. Some of our designs are also offered in Pages format, so check each template's listing for the formats it includes.
• LibreOffice Writer (free, open source). A free word processor that opens and saves Word documents, and it's updated regularly. It's a good way to get started before you buy other software. Layouts can shift a little when moving files between LibreOffice and Word, so print a proof before sending a program to the printer.
• Apache OpenOffice Writer (free, open source). Still available and still receiving occasional security updates, but LibreOffice is updated more often and is usually the better pick today.

Online design tools

• Canva. A browser and app-based design tool that many people find easy to learn. It's handy for programs, memorial cards and social media posts. Select Elegant Memorials designs are available as Canva templates, so look for the Canva option on the template page.

Desktop publishers

Desktop publishing programs are made for page layout. They give you a lot of control, but they can take some time to learn.

• Microsoft Publisher (retired in October 2026). Publisher has been a favorite for funeral programs because it makes moving photos and text boxes easy. Microsoft has now retired it. Microsoft 365 subscribers lost access to Publisher on or shortly after October 1, 2026, and support for the one-time purchase versions (such as Publisher 2021) ended on October 13, 2026. If you own a one-time purchase version, you can still install and use it, but it no longer receives updates. If you're starting fresh, we suggest Word instead. If you have saved Publisher files, Microsoft recommends saving them as PDF or Word files. See our article on creating a funeral program in Microsoft Publisher if you still use it.
• Affinity (free). Canva's Affinity app combines photo editing, illustration and page layout in one desktop program for Windows and Mac. The core app is free with a Canva account. Microsoft mentions Affinity as an option that may be able to import Publisher files.
• Adobe InDesign. A professional layout program. It's powerful but can feel overwhelming if you're new to design software, and fewer funeral program templates are made for it.
• Scribus (free, open source). A free layout program with solid design features. It doesn't open Word or Publisher files directly, so you'd usually send finished programs to families and printers as PDFs.

Photo editing software

As you grow, you'll want better tools for cropping, resizing, brightening old photos and removing backgrounds.

• Apple Photos. Comes with every Mac, iPhone and iPad. It handles cropping, straightening and light and color fixes well.
• Google Photos. Works in a web browser and on phones. It's useful for collecting photos that family members share with you, and it includes basic editing tools.
• Windows Photos. Comes with Windows and covers basic cropping and adjustments.
• GIMP (free, open source). A full-featured free photo editor for Windows, Mac and Linux. It can do much of what Photoshop does, with a learning curve.
• Affinity (free). The same Affinity app mentioned above also includes strong photo editing tools.
• Adobe Photoshop Elements. A simpler version of Photoshop for photo editing and basic design. Good for removing backgrounds, color correction and special effects.
• Adobe Photoshop. The professional standard for photo editing and design. It's sold by subscription and takes time to learn.

There are many other free and paid tools for editing photos and adding effects, but try not to get carried away. Pick one or two programs, learn them well and use them for most of your work. It will save you time and money in the long run.

Also see our article about funeral program collage websites for quick ways to make photo collages.