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ArtCraft: Free Open-Source Alternatives to Adobe Apps

In October 2026 software engineer Brandon Thomas shipped seven Adobe-style desktop apps written in Rust with help from Claude Opus 5.5 - PhotoCraft, LightCraft, FilmCraft, VectorCraft and more - all free and open source, running natively on macOS, Windows and Linux

Tool Interface

Interactive tool will be available soon

Features

  • ✓ Seven Adobe-style apps: PhotoCraft for Photoshop, LightCraft for Lightroom, FilmCraft for Premiere and VectorCraft for Illustrator among them
  • ✓ Written entirely in Rust and running natively on macOS, Windows and Linux - not a web wrapper
  • ✓ Clean-room implementation with no Adobe proprietary code - similar workflows, legally distinct from Adobe
  • ✓ Completely free and open source on GitHub - no subscription and no cancellation fees
  • ✓ The same author then extended the idea to office software: GridCraft for Excel, DeckCraft for PowerPoint and WordCraft for Word

How to Use

  1. Start at the ArtCraft site or GitHub repo, then download only the apps you need rather than the whole suite
  2. For images, open a PSD in PhotoCraft to check compatibility, and load RAW files or Lightroom presets in LightCraft
  3. Run a small project through the video and vector apps first - GPU acceleration and export encoding are where differences show up
  4. Check the official roadmap status before using it for production work, and keep a commercial tool as a fallback for critical deliveries

FAQ

What is ArtCraft?

A free and open-source suite of desktop creative apps released by software engineer Brandon Thomas in October 2026. It contains seven apps modelled on Adobe Creative Suite, written in Rust and running natively on macOS, Windows and Linux.

Does it create legal problems with Adobe?

According to published reports, ArtCraft is a clean-room implementation: it replicates workflows and layout without using Adobe proprietary code, and is described as legally distinct. That is the author and press framing - Adobe has not endorsed or commented on it publicly, so do your own legal review before commercial use.

Can it replace Photoshop outright?

Not yet. PhotoCraft opens PSD files and mirrors the Photoshop layout, but its own roadmap rates practical usability at roughly 45%. LightCraft has the more mature RAW and preset support. Fine for light editing and non-critical work, risky for professional delivery.

Which platforms are supported?

macOS, Windows and Linux, as native applications. It matters most on Linux, where professional creative software has been practically unavailable - now there is at least an open-source starting point.

Does it cost anything?

It is free and open source, with the code public on GitHub, so you can build from source or download a build. No subscription means no cancellation fee. Open source does not equal commercial support, though - expect to read issues yourself when something breaks.

Why did the author build it?

Reports say Brandon Thomas has 15 years of development experience and snapped after repeatedly paying Adobe cancellation fees. Adobe previously settled with the US Department of Justice for $150 million over allegedly concealing early termination fees and making subscriptions hard to cancel, while denying wrongdoing.