Developer Uses Claude AI to Build 7 Free Adobe Alternatives

Adobe’s subscription-based creative software has an unlikely new challenger: a collection of free applications built with the help of AI.

Developer Brandon Thomas has created ArtCraft, an open-source project that recreates the look and some functionality of popular Adobe applications, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro. Using Anthropic’s Claude AI and the Rust programming language, Thomas has developed alternatives that users can access without Adobe’s subscription fees.

The project shows how AI-assisted coding can help individual developers tackle complex software projects. But early reviews suggest that recreating familiar interfaces is easier than matching the functionality of professional applications.

Seven AI-built apps recreate Adobe’s creative tools

ArtCraft’s initial releases include seven applications modeled after Adobe’s creative software.

According to AppleInsider, Thomas along with other vibe coders developed the applications using AI-assisted programming, in which developers use natural-language prompts to help generate and refine software. The project includes:

The applications and their source code are available through Thomas’s GitHub repositories.

Thomas describes the software as clean-room implementations, meaning the applications are intended to reproduce functionality without copying Adobe’s proprietary source code. That remains the developer’s characterization rather than an independently verified legal assessment.

The project targets macOS, Windows, and Linux, although compatibility and available features may vary by application.

How well do the free Adobe alternatives work?

ArtCraft’s most recognizable feature is its resemblance to Adobe’s interfaces.

AppleInsider tested PhotoCraft and found a familiar layout, including editing tools, icons, and a layers panel resembling Photoshop.

However, the similarities do not necessarily extend to the underlying functionality.

In separate testing, TechRadar reported problems with PhotoCraft’s HEIC image support and file-saving options. Its review also identified limitations in FilmCraft, including missing or incomplete video-editing functions.

These shortcomings matter for professionals who depend on reliable editing tools, consistent file handling, and compatibility with existing projects.

For now, the applications remain experimental, and independent testing has not established that they can replace Adobe’s software in demanding production workflows.

What ArtCraft reveals about vibe coding

ArtCraft’s significance extends beyond the possibility of free creative software.

With Claude assisting in development, Thomas has built applications resembling products that typically require considerable programming effort.The project illustrates how AI coding assistants can help developers create interfaces, prototype features, and refine software without manually writing every component.

However, the limitations identified in early testing reveal an important distinction between building software quickly and making it dependable.

A convincing interface may be relatively straightforward to reproduce, but professional applications also require reliable file handling, accurate output, and consistent performance across different workflows.

That distinction matters for businesses evaluating AI-generated software. Development speed may reduce the effort needed to produce an initial application, but it does not eliminate the work required to test, secure, maintain, and support it.

ArtCraft offers a visible example of that trade-off. Its applications demonstrate the possibilities of AI-assisted development while showing why functional completeness remains a challenge.

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Could AI-built software challenge subscription tools?

ArtCraft also raises questions about how AI-assisted development could affect competition in the software market.

Thomas has cited frustration with Adobe’s subscription and cancellation practices as part of his motivation for creating free alternatives. By helping smaller developers build recognizable applications, AI coding tools could lower some of the barriers to entering markets dominated by established software providers.

However, competing with Adobe involves more than reproducing its interface or basic editing features.

Businesses rely on file compatibility, technical support, ongoing updates, and established workflows. These factors can make switching software costly even when an alternative is free.

Thomas has already extended his approach beyond Adobe, developing open-source applications inspired by Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, according to Tom’s Hardware.

For IT leaders, the development highlights a potential shift in software purchasing decisions. As AI makes it easier to build alternatives, organizations may have more options, but they will still need to weigh cost savings against reliability, security, and long-term support.

ArtCraft may not be ready to replace Adobe Creative Cloud, but it raises a question for businesses: as AI makes software easier to build, what will make it worth paying for?

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