ArtCraft vs Adobe: Can free creative apps replace Adobe?

Switching creative software usually means leaving a few familiar things behind. You’ve learned where the tools are, built up a collection of templates, and probably have projects you’d like to keep working on. So how much of that can you bring with you?

That’s the big question behind ArtCraft vs Adobe. ArtCraft offers free, open-source creative apps with interfaces that will look familiar if you’ve used Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, or After Effects. But can these Adobe alternatives handle the files and everyday tasks you already work with?

In this article, we’ll take a look at the apps, walk through getting started, and put them to work with a selection of Envato assets. We’ll try customizing a Photoshop template, editing a vector design, and working with stock footage to see where ArtCraft could fit into your creative workflow.

TL;DR

ArtCraft offers free, open-source alternatives to popular Adobe Creative Cloud apps, with familiar interfaces for photo editing, vector design, video editing, and animation. But can ArtCraft replace Adobe? We’re testing four Craft Apps with real Envato assets to explore their features, file compatibility, and limitations, and see where they could fit into your creative workflow.

What you’ll need

To follow along, download the Envato assets we’ll be using for the tests:

1. Luxury Business Card Mockup
2. Abstract Decorative Vector Design
3. Golden Retriever Running in Grassy Field at Sunset

What is ArtCraft?

ArtCraft brings together tools for image editing, illustration, video editing, and more! It also has an AI image and video studio, but here we’re focusing on its individual creative applications, known as the Craft Apps.

If you use Adobe software, you’ll probably recognize the type of work each app is designed for:

Those are the four we’ll be trying in this article. The wider collection also includes LightCraft for organizing and developing photos, DesignCraft for page layouts, and PdfCraft for working with PDFs (and even more!).

The Craft Apps are free and open source, which means their source code is available for people to inspect and contribute to. Developer Brandon Thomas used AI coding tools, including Claude, to help build them.

For Adobe users, the familiar layouts are likely to be the first thing that stands out. Tools and panels appear where you expect to find them, giving you a place to start without having to learn an entirely different workspace.

But familiar interfaces don’t necessarily mean identical features. The biggest differences between ArtCraft and Adobe become clearer when you start opening existing projects, editing templates, and exporting finished work.

ArtCraft vs Adobe: Key differences

Before we put the apps to work, let’s look at how ArtCraft compares with Adobe Creative Cloud. Both offer tools for common creative tasks, but they take different approaches to pricing, software development, and project compatibility.

The most obvious advantage of ArtCraft is the price. You can experiment with its creative apps without committing to a subscription. Adobe, meanwhile, offers an established collection of professional tools with native support for its own project formats.

The real question isn’t simply which software has more features. It’s whether ArtCraft can handle the creative tasks you rely on most. That’s what we’ll explore in the following tests.

Is ArtCraft legal, and is it safe to use?

The developers say they built the apps without copying Adobe’s code (The developers describe their approach as “clean-room”: recreating functionality without copying Adobe’s proprietary code). PhotoCraft’s open-source licenses allow commercial use, so you can use it for paid projects under those terms. However, that doesn’t guarantee the software will never face a legal challenge.

As for safety, being open source means people can inspect the code, but it doesn’t guarantee the apps are secure or free of bugs. Download them from the official ArtCraft website or its linked repositories, and use copies of your files while you try them out. Before using an app for client work, check that your projects save and export correctly.

How to download and install ArtCraft

1. Download the Launcher

Go to the ArtCraft website and open the Crafting Apps page. You’ll find the ArtCraft Launcher download there. Install it, then open it to browse the available apps.

2. Install the apps you want to try

We’ll be using PhotoCraft, VectorCraft, FilmCraft, and EffectCraft, so find each one in the Launcher and click to install it. You can also just pick one to begin with. PhotoCraft is a good place to start if you want to follow our first template test.

ArtCraft vs Adobe: Comparing the interfaces

One of the first things Adobe users will notice about ArtCraft is how familiar the workspaces feel. Each Craft App follows a layout similar to its Adobe counterpart, making it easier to find basic tools and panels. Let’s compare them.

PhotoCraft vs Adobe Photoshop

Open PhotoCraft alongside Photoshop and you’ll probably know where to look first. The editing tools sit down the left, with the Layers panel over on the right. If you’ve spent time in Photoshop, it’s an easy layout to find your way around.

The familiar arrangement is helpful for everyday photo editing and layered design work. However, a similar interface doesn’t guarantee that every Photoshop feature, adjustment, or smart object will behave the same way. We’ll explore that in our PSD template test.

VectorCraft vs Adobe Illustrator

VectorCraft feels familiar too. The selection and drawing tools are on the left, while the panels for adjusting and organizing your artwork sit on the right. Coming from Illustrator, I had a pretty good idea of where to start.

For designers who regularly work with logos, icons, or illustrations, the important comparison is whether VectorCraft preserves editable shapes, groups, colors, and text when opening existing artwork.

FilmCraft vs Adobe Premiere Pro

Over in FilmCraft, you have space for your imported footage, a video preview, and a timeline underneath for arranging clips and audio. Premiere Pro users will recognize the setup straight away.

That makes FilmCraft approachable for basic video editing tasks such as importing footage, trimming clips, and making simple visual adjustments. But an Adobe-style timeline doesn’t automatically mean Premiere Pro projects or effects will transfer across.

EffectCraft vs Adobe After Effects

EffectCraft follows a similar pattern to After Effects, with a project panel, a composition preview, and layers and animation controls below.

The layout provides a familiar starting point for motion graphics and animation, particularly if you’ve worked with keyframes in After Effects. We’ll test a simple title animation to see how that workflow translates.

My first impression was that getting started would be fairly straightforward. I didn’t have to spend much time hunting for the basics. The next question was how these apps would handle the Envato files and whether I could actually edit and export something useful.

PhotoCraft vs Photoshop: Testing a PSD template

Photoshop templates often rely on layered files, smart objects, and effects to make customization easier. Testing one in PhotoCraft gives us a practical way to explore compatibility beyond the familiar interface.

1. Open the mockup

Open the PSD in Photoshop first and keep it handy as a reference. Then open another copy in PhotoCraft. Take a moment to compare them. Look at the cards, the background, and the shadows, then have a look through the layers. Can you find the parts you’ll need to customize?

2. Replace the card artwork

Check the instructions supplied with the mockup to find out where your design goes. If it uses a smart object, this is where we’ll find out whether that part of the workflow works in PhotoCraft.

Try replacing the placeholder artwork with your own business card design or logo. Once you’ve made the change, return to the mockup and take a closer look. Your artwork should follow the card’s angle, with the mockup’s lighting and texture still visible.

3. Save and export

Save a new copy so you still have the original to work with. Reopen the saved file to check your edits, then export an image and view it outside PhotoCraft.

You can now compare the finished mockup with your Photoshop reference. Did the artwork update properly? Did the effects carry through? These checks help establish whether you could use this particular template in PhotoCraft.

What does this tell us about PhotoCraft vs Photoshop?

Being able to open a PSD is only part of the story. For template-based design work, you’ll also want to check whether the layers remain editable, smart objects behave as expected, and the exported image matches your intended design. A successful test with one mockup is encouraging, but more complex Photoshop files may present different challenges.

VectorCraft vs Illustrator: Editing vector artwork

For this test, we’ll use the abstract decorative vector design from Envato. We’ll try a few simple edits to see whether we can customize the artwork in VectorCraft.

Vector editing is another important part of the ArtCraft vs Adobe comparison. Illustrator users often need to adjust individual shapes, colors, and typography without losing the flexibility of the original artwork. Let’s see how VectorCraft handles those tasks.

1. Open the design

Open the template in Illustrator first, then open a separate copy in VectorCraft. Use the same file format in both apps for a fair comparison. Check how the artwork looks, then click on a few elements. Can you select the shapes individually, or has the design come through as one flat image? If the objects are grouped, try selecting something inside a group.

2. Change the colors and shapes

Pick a shape and give it a different fill color. Then move another element and resize it using the selection handles.

These are small changes, but they’re the sort of adjustments you might make when adapting a template for a project. Try zooming in as well, particularly around curves and overlapping shapes, to check for anything unexpected.

If the file contains editable text, try changing a few words. You’ll need the relevant font installed to compare the results properly.

3. Save your edited version

Save a separate copy of the design, then reopen it and check the elements you changed. Export a finished version too, using a format available in the app that suits your project.

Compare the export with the artwork on your canvas. Check that the colors, shapes and positioning have carried through, and make a note of any differences. We’re testing one template here, so the result gives us a starting point for deciding what else to try.

What does this tell us about VectorCraft vs Illustrator?

For straightforward vector edits, the key questions are whether individual objects remain editable and whether your changes survive saving and exporting. If you regularly customize vector templates, these are useful first checks before exploring more advanced illustration features.

It’s also worth testing the specific file formats you use most often. A successful edit with one vector design doesn’t necessarily mean every Illustrator project will behave the same way.

FilmCraft vs Premiere Pro: Editing stock footage

For the video test, we’ll use this golden retriever clip from Envato. We’ll make a short edit in FilmCraft, then use the same footage for a title animation in EffectCraft.

The versions covered in this test don’t directly open Premiere Pro or After Effects project files, so we’re starting with the footage itself. That’s an important limitation if you’re hoping to bring over existing Adobe projects or video templates.

This is one of the biggest differences to consider when comparing ArtCraft with Adobe for video editing. Starting a new project with stock footage is different from continuing an existing Premiere Pro edit, particularly when that project includes effects, transitions and other assets.

1. Trim the clip in FilmCraft

Import the downloaded footage into FilmCraft and drag it onto the timeline. Play through it and choose the section you want to keep, then trim the beginning and end.

With the shorter clip in place, try a small adjustment to brightness or color. Keep it subtle; you just need enough of a change to see how the controls respond. Compare it with the original before exporting.

Open the exported video in a separate player and watch it through. Check that it starts and ends where you intended and that your adjustment appears in the finished file.

For this simple editing workflow, the important things to evaluate are timeline responsiveness, the available adjustment controls, and the quality of the exported video. More demanding projects would need further testing before drawing conclusions about FilmCraft as a Premiere Pro alternative.

EffectCraft vs After Effects: Creating a title animation

Next, we’ll compare EffectCraft with Adobe After Effects by creating a simple text animation. This is a useful starting point because it involves several familiar motion graphics tasks: importing footage, adding a text layer, setting keyframes, and exporting a composition.

1. Add a title in EffectCraft

Next, import the original footage into EffectCraft and add it to a composition. Create a text layer, type a short title, and position it over the video. Something simple like “Happy Dog” will do.

We’ll use opacity keyframes to fade the title in. Set the text’s opacity to zero at the point where the animation should begin, then move forward on the timeline and set it to full visibility.

Play it back to check the timing. If the title appears too quickly, move the keyframes further apart. Bring them closer together for a faster fade.

2. Check the finished animation

Export the composition and open the result outside EffectCraft. Watch the title appear over the footage and check that its font, position, and fade look as expected.

These two exercises cover a few useful basics: trimming footage, making a visual adjustment and animating text. They give us somewhere to start, although we’d need to try more demanding projects before judging how either app fits into a regular video workflow.

What does this tell us about FilmCraft and EffectCraft compared with Adobe?

Both exercises focus on fundamental video and animation tasks rather than complex professional projects. They’re a useful way to explore the Craft Apps, but they don’t establish whether FilmCraft or EffectCraft can replace Premiere Pro or After Effects for advanced editing, motion graphics, or collaborative workflows.

Project compatibility is especially important here. If you rely on existing Adobe video templates or unfinished project files, you’ll need to account for the limitations before considering a switch.

Can ArtCraft replace Adobe Creative Cloud?

Would I move all my Adobe work over to ArtCraft? Not yet. I’m interested enough to keep trying it, but I’d want more time with the apps before relying on them for a client deadline.

The familiar layout certainly helps. When you open a new app and already have an idea of where the tools are, it’s much easier to get started. There’s also no subscription to commit to while you find out whether it suits you.

ArtCraft has plenty of appeal as a free Adobe alternative, especially if you’re learning creative software or experimenting with new workflows. But whether it can replace Adobe depends on the kind of projects you create, the features you need and how often you exchange files with other creatives.

Where I’d start

I’d begin with a small project: a business card mockup, a vector design or a short video. Something I could finish in one sitting and compare with my usual Adobe workflow.

That would give me a chance to spot any missing features or awkward steps before taking on a bigger job. I’d also save, reopen and export the project early on. I’d rather discover a problem then than after spending hours on the details.

What would hold me back?

For my video work, existing project files would be a sticking point. The versions covered here don’t directly open Premiere Pro or After Effects projects, so I couldn’t simply pick up an unfinished edit and carry on.

I’d need to check the plug-ins and effects I use too. Those details might not matter much for a quick personal project, but they can make a big difference when someone sends you a file to work on.

For now, ArtCraft is something I’d explore alongside my usual software. If you’re curious, grab one of the Envato assets above and try a task you know well. You’ll soon get a feel for what works for you, and what you’d miss.

ArtCraft vs Adobe: Which should you choose?

Choosing between ArtCraft and Adobe comes down to what you need from your creative software. The two offer tools for similar types of work, but they aren’t necessarily interchangeable.

Choose ArtCraft if…

• You want free creative software. The Craft Apps let you experiment with image editing, illustration, video editing and animation without a subscription.
• You’re learning creative skills. Familiar Adobe-style layouts can make it easier to explore editing tools and techniques.
• You’re working on smaller projects. Personal designs, simple video edits, and practice projects are useful places to begin.
• You’re curious about open-source alternatives. ArtCraft gives you an opportunity to explore creative tools developed outside the established commercial software ecosystem.

Stick with Adobe if…

• You regularly work with Adobe project files. Compatibility matters when you’re sharing editable designs or continuing existing projects.
• You depend on advanced features and plug-ins. You’ll need to confirm that ArtCraft supports the specific tools your workflow requires.
• You collaborate with other creatives. Working in the same software can simplify revisions, handovers, and project management.
• You’re managing demanding client projects. Established workflows and predictable exports can be especially important when deadlines are tight.

For now, I’d treat ArtCraft as an alternative worth exploring rather than a complete replacement for Adobe. Start with the tasks you know best, compare the results, and see how the software fits into your workflow.

Try ArtCraft with Envato assets

If you’re learning design, making things as a hobby or just curious about alternatives to Adobe, ArtCraft could be worth trying. The free apps give you room to practice without taking on another software subscription. Experienced Adobe users may also want to try a small project and see how it compares with their usual tools.

The templates and footage used here are linked in the What you’ll need section above. Pick a test that interests you and give it a go.

Whether you’re comparing PhotoCraft with Photoshop, VectorCraft with Illustrator, or exploring alternatives to Adobe’s video editing tools, testing real creative assets is one of the best ways to understand what works for you.

Which app did you try, and did anything surprise you? Share your experience in the comments.

Conclusion: Is ArtCraft worth trying instead of Adobe?

ArtCraft vs Adobe isn’t simply a question of free software versus paid subscriptions. It’s about finding creative tools that support the way you work.

ArtCraft’s familiar interfaces and free, open-source apps make it an interesting option for designers, video editors, and other creatives who want to experiment with alternatives. But compatibility with existing projects, advanced features, and export requirements are all worth testing before making a complete switch.

If you’re curious, start small. Download an Envato template or stock video, open it in the relevant Craft App and try a familiar task. Compare the result with your usual Adobe workflow and decide whether ArtCraft could become part of your creative toolkit.

You might discover a useful new alternative, even if you’re not ready to say goodbye to Adobe just yet.