The best replacement for mdf is plywood.

The best alternatives to mdf are rated as following:
★★★★★  plywood
★★★  particle board
★★★  idf
★★  mdo
★★  pine
★  melamine
★  hdf
★  osb
★  wood trim
★  wood cabinets
★  ndf
★  mds
★  sdf
  pine moulding
  solid wood
  littmann stethoscope
  plywood for cabinets
  wood molding
  plywood cabinets
  birch
  pine crown molding
  littmann
  pine baseboard
  wood interior doors
  ldf
  plywood strength
  particleboard
  wood crown molding
  maple cabinets
  pine baseboards
  birch plywood
  slate pool table
  hardboard
  wood baseboard
  finger joint pine
  poplar
  masonite

Your alternative for mdf is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about mdf, one probably shouldn't forget about veneer.

Other search terms related to mdf and their ratings are:
★★★★★ veneer
★★★★ melamine
★★★ mds
You have in mind a companion for mdf and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of mdf in all years. Click on graph for more.
mdf
plywood
particle board