What is ArtCraft?
- ArtCraft builds open-source tools for artists. Its GitHub repository describes it as “an intentional crafting engine for artists, designers, and filmmakers”.
- The suite lists 12 Craft apps, most of them rebuilt from scratch in Rust. The apps are free with no subscription; only optional AI image and video generation is paid for with credits.
- ArtCraft is not made by or affiliated with Adobe. “Craft Adobe” is simply how many people search for it.
Every ArtCraft app and its Adobe counterpart
Names, categories and status are as listed on getartcraft.com/apps. The Adobe column is our own mapping by category.
| App | Category · status | Closest Adobe app |
|---|---|---|
| PhotoCraft | Image editor · Early alpha | Photoshop |
| VectorCraft | Vector illustration · In development | Illustrator |
| FilmCraft | Video editor · In development | Premiere Pro |
| LightCraft | Photo library & raw developer · In development | Lightroom |
| PdfCraft | PDF workbench · Early alpha | Acrobat |
| EffectCraft | Motion graphics & VFX · In development | After Effects |
| DesignCraft | Page layout & publishing · In development | InDesign |
| WordCraft | Word processing · In development | No Adobe equivalent |
| SoundCraft | Digital audio workstation · In development | Audition |
| DeckCraft | Presentations & slide shows · In development | No Adobe equivalent |
| CADCraft | Computer-aided design & drafting · In development | No Adobe equivalent |
| GridCraft | Spreadsheets & data analysis · In development | No Adobe equivalent |
ArtCraft vs Adobe Creative Cloud
The short version: ArtCraft wins on price and openness, Adobe on maturity. Here is how they compare today.
| Feature | ArtCraft | Adobe Creative Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, no subscription. Optional plans and credit packs pay only for AI generations. | Paid subscription, per app or for the full bundle. |
| Source code | Open source on GitHub under MIT or Apache-2.0. | Closed source. |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows and the web. PhotoCraft and VectorCraft also ship Linux builds. | Windows and macOS; some apps also on iPad and the web. |
| Maturity | PhotoCraft and PdfCraft are early alpha; the other ten apps are in development. | Mature, industry-standard tools. |
| Photoshop & Illustrator files | PhotoCraft opens and saves layered PSD and PSB. VectorCraft imports and exports SVG and PDF. | Native PSD, AI, INDD and every other Adobe format. |
| Account | PhotoCraft needs no account and works offline. | Adobe ID required to sign in and license the apps. |
| Ecosystem | New: few plug-ins, templates and tutorials so far. | Huge library of plug-ins, templates, courses and stock. |
How to download and install ArtCraft
- Recommended: download the ArtCraft Launcher from getartcraft.com/apps. It installs every Craft app and keeps them all up to date.
- Only need one app? Each app page on getartcraft.com links to its own installers on GitHub, for example a Mac .dmg, a Windows .msi and a Linux Flatpak for VectorCraft.
- Prefer to build it yourself? The apps build from source with Rust 1.90 or newer, which is also how you run the full studio on Linux.
Step-by-step PhotoCraft guides on this site: Download · Windows · macOS · Linux
Is ArtCraft legit? What the community signals say
- The ArtCraft repository on GitHub has more than 20,000 stars and 3,400 forks (October 2026).
- The code is dual-licensed MIT or Apache-2.0, so anyone can read, fork or audit it.
- PhotoCraft's Windows builds are code-signed and its Mac builds are notarized by Apple.
- It is early software: expect missing features and crashes, and keep backups of important files.
Frequently asked questions
What is “Craft Adobe”?
It is how many people search for ArtCraft, a family of free, open-source Craft apps that cover the same jobs as Adobe Creative Cloud, such as PhotoCraft for photo editing and VectorCraft for illustration. ArtCraft is not affiliated with Adobe.
Is ArtCraft really free?
Yes. The apps are free and open source with no subscription. ArtCraft sells optional plans and credit packs only for AI image and video generations, and you can skip those by bringing your own compute.
Can ArtCraft replace Adobe Creative Cloud today?
Not fully yet. PhotoCraft and PdfCraft are early alpha and the other apps are still in development. It is worth trying for personal work, but keep Adobe for paid projects with deadlines.
Can ArtCraft open Photoshop and Illustrator files?
PhotoCraft opens and saves layered PSD and PSB files; the ArtCraft team reports that 134 of 135 real-world test files round-trip byte for byte. VectorCraft imports SVG and PDF, and its page does not mention .ai files.
Is ArtCraft safe to download?
Yes, from getartcraft.com or the storytold repositories on GitHub. The code is public and PhotoCraft's installers are signed. Avoid third-party download portals that repackage the apps.
Which operating systems does ArtCraft support?
ArtCraft lists macOS, Windows and the web. PhotoCraft and VectorCraft also publish Linux and FreeBSD builds, and everything can be built from source.