Subscriptions are everywhere, and we all hate them. Between streaming services, cloud storage, and AI features on some of the best Android phones, the monthly bills add up fast. And few companies have angered subscribers quite like Adobe. It makes cancellation incredibly hard, sometimes forcing an early termination fee. Now, one developer is using AI to fight back with free clones of its biggest apps.
According to TechSpot, developer Brandon Thomas has launched Artcraft, a suite of seven open-source apps designed to replace Adobe’s lineup. Photocraft takes on Photoshop, Vectorcraft replaces Illustrator, and Filmcraft goes after Premiere. There’s also Lightcraft for Lightroom, Effectcraft for After Effects, Designcraft for InDesign, and Printcraft for Acrobat Pro.
All seven are completely free, with no subscription required. Thomas says he built them in Rust using Anthropic’s Claude Opus 5.5. Since they’re open source, anyone can download the code, modify it, and contribute fixes.
Thomas says Adobe’s cancellation fees helped motivate the project. That’s a sore spot for many people. The US government sued Adobe in 2024 over hidden early termination fees, and Adobe agreed to a $150 million settlement earlier this year, while still denying any wrongdoing.
The promise is big, but the apps aren’t there yet
Thomas is making some bold claims. He initially said Artcraft would reach 100% parity with Adobe within a month, though he later walked that back, saying 99% parity would take months instead of years.
The reality right now is a lot rougher. Early users have reported problems with basic functionality, so these apps may look like Adobe’s, but they aren’t ready to replace them for professional work. Funding is another question. Thomas says Artcraft’s separate business, which sells tokens for AI image and video models, will help cover development costs.
Then there’s the legal side. Adobe probably won’t be thrilled if these apps imitate its products too closely.
Thomas thinks this is only the beginning. He predicts AI will let developers build free versions of all kinds of paid software, even taking on Google Search and smartphones. He even went so far as to declare that “software is over.”
That’s a stretch. AI tools like Claude and Gemini can write a lot of code quickly, but polishing and supporting software for years is a different challenge. Still, if Artcraft puts even a little pressure on Adobe’s pricing, that’s a win for everyone tired of paying for another subscription.
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