Switch Kit › Free alternatives to Adobe Creative Cloud apps
Comparison · updated 31 October 2026
Free alternatives to Adobe Creative Cloud apps
Adobe's apps are excellent, and many people need them. Others use one or two apps occasionally and wonder whether a free option would do. This page maps each Creative Cloud app to free alternatives, with a neutral guide for each switch.
App by app
| If you use | ArtCraft alternative (guide) | Other free options |
|---|---|---|
| Photoshop | PhotoCraft Early alpha (v0.17, October 2026) | GIMP, Krita, Photopea, Affinity |
| Illustrator | VectorCraft Alpha (v0.19), about 65% ready by its developers' estimate | Inkscape, Affinity |
| Premiere Pro | FilmCraft Alpha (v0.15), about 56% ready by its developers' estimate | DaVinci Resolve, Kdenlive, Shotcut |
| Lightroom | LightCraft Alpha (v0.16), about 61% ready by its developers' estimate | darktable, RawTherapee, digiKam |
| After Effects | EffectCraft Alpha (v0.19), not yet for production client work | Blender, Cavalry |
| InDesign | DesignCraft Pre-alpha (v0.15), about 47% ready by its developers' estimate | Scribus, Affinity |
| Acrobat | PdfCraft Alpha (v0.16), about 55% ready for mainstream use | PDF24 Creator, Okular, LibreOffice Draw |
ArtCraft apps are free and open source but still in early development; maturity is shown in the developers' own words. Commercial apps remain the reference for professional work.
Guides for every switch
GUIDE 04 · €7 PDFSwitching to PhotoCraft
Free Photoshop alternative
GUIDE 05 · €7 PDFSwitching to VectorCraft
Free Illustrator alternative
GUIDE 06 · €7 PDFSwitching to FilmCraft
Free Premiere Pro alternative
GUIDE 07 · €7 PDFSwitching to LightCraft
Free Lightroom alternative
GUIDE 08 · €7 PDFSwitching to EffectCraft
Free After Effects alternative
GUIDE 09 · €7 PDFSwitching to DesignCraft
Free InDesign alternative
GUIDE 10 · €7 PDFSwitching to PdfCraft
Free Acrobat alternative
GUIDE 16 · €7 PDFSwitching to Affinity
Affinity is free
GUIDE 02 · €9 PDFLeaving a creative-software subscription
Adobe Creative Cloud
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free alternative to Adobe Creative Cloud?
It depends on the app you use. Affinity is a mature free option for photo, vector and layout; open-source apps such as the ArtCraft suite, GIMP, Inkscape, DaVinci Resolve and darktable cover specific apps.
Can I cancel Creative Cloud without a fee?
Within 14 days of your first order, yes. On an annual plan paid monthly, cancelling later usually costs 50% of the remaining payments; month-to-month plans have no fee.
Will my Adobe files open in free apps?
Often, with limits. PSD, PDF-compatible AI and IDML files open in several free apps; complex files need testing.