I highly recommend Illustrator, but check with your own printer or service bureau for compatibility. But they are a must. There is no really cheap way out. You get what you pay for. There is also a pretty steep learning curve involved in using each of these programs.
Every file has to be prepared correctly to look the way it was intended to look.
The way your file looks on your monitor is not necessarily the way it will print. A lot of printers and service bureaus will not accept files if prepared incorrectly. Others will charge substantial fees to correct them. Again, always contact your printer or service bureau before going in uncharted waters. Provide Fonts Two of the biggest problems we face at San Antonio Press are fonts and missing links.