Developer builds free Rust alternatives to seven Adobe apps, and we tried them
A developer used AI assistance to recreate seven major Adobe applications in native Rust, offering them for free. The suite, called ArtCraft, includes tools for photos, video, vectors, design, effects, and PDFs. A TechRadar writer tested the apps to see how they compare with Adobe's Creative Cloud.
ArtCraft groups seven free programs under clear names: PhotoCraft handles images, LightCraft catalogues them, VectorCraft works with vectors, DesignCraft covers desktop publishing, FilmCraft addresses filmmaking, EffectCraft creates special effects, and PrintCraft manages PDFs. The creator, who said he had spent fifteen years in the industry, noted that Opus 5.5 helped rebuild seven major Adobe programs in native Rust.
The software is offered for PCs, Macs, and Linux, with web-based editions also available. A TechRadar writer installed it on a 16-inch Intel MacBook Pro by dragging the app icon into Applications, then compared PhotoCraft with Photoshop and FilmCraft with Premiere Pro. For scale, Photoshop occupied 6.4GB and Premiere Pro 6.8GB on that machine.
If ArtCraft proves usable, it could give budget-conscious creators, students, and small studios an alternative to subscription-only creative tools, potentially lowering entry barriers and reducing lock-in. Adobe may face pressure to adjust pricing or offer more flexible options. However, legal uncertainty, limited feature parity, and reliance on AI-assisted development may slow adoption. The impact likely depends on whether the apps can handle professional workflows and maintain long-term support.