VectorCraft: The Free, Open-Source Illustrator Alternative (GitHub, Download & Status)
VectorCraft is a free, open-source vector illustration app from the ArtCraft team: a clean-room rebuild of the Adobe Illustrator workflow, written in Rust. Its official GitHub repository is storytold/vectorcraft. The latest release there is v0.10.0 (October 12, 2026), with builds for Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD and the web. It is alpha software: the developers estimate it covers about 88% of Illustrator 2026’s menus, tools, effects and formats, but is only about 65% “ready for real work”. The easiest install is the official VectorCraft page on getartcraft.com.
VectorCraft at a glance
| What it is | Vector illustration: the work people use Adobe Illustrator for |
| Made by | ArtCraft (the team behind PhotoCraft, FilmCraft, PdfCraft and the other Crafting Apps) |
| Official repository | github.com/storytold/vectorcraft (created September 30, 2026) |
| Price & licence | Free; open source under MIT or Apache-2.0 (your choice) |
| Latest version | 0.10.0 on GitHub (October 12, 2026). The getartcraft.com download page may still show 0.9.0 for a day or two after a release |
| Status | Alpha, in active development (new releases every one to two days in October 2026) |
| Platforms | Windows (x64, ARM64, 32-bit), macOS (universal: Apple silicon + Intel), Linux (x86_64, ARM64, RISC-V tarball), FreeBSD, and a WebAssembly build that runs in the browser |
| Native file format | .vectorcraft (documented JSON) |
Is “storytold/vectorcraft” the real one?
Yes. storytold is the GitHub organisation that publishes all of ArtCraft’s Crafting Apps (PhotoCraft, FilmCraft, PdfCraft, EffectCraft, WordCraft and more), and the official getartcraft.com page links to it. Look-alike domains and repositories with “VectorCraft” in the name exist. Download only from getartcraft.com or the Releases page of storytold/vectorcraft, and check the file against SHA256SUMS.txt.
Which VectorCraft download should I pick?
All files are on the latest GitHub release. The getartcraft.com page also offers the ArtCraft Launcher, which installs VectorCraft and the other Crafting Apps and keeps them updated.
| Your computer | Pick this file | Other options |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10/11, most PCs (Intel/AMD 64-bit) | vectorcraft-<version>-windows-x64.msi (installer, code-signed) |
…-windows-x64-portable.zip (no install) |
| Windows on ARM (Snapdragon laptops) | …-windows-arm64.msi |
…-windows-arm64-portable.zip |
| Old 32-bit Windows | …-windows-x86.msi |
…-windows-x86-portable.zip |
| Mac (Apple silicon or Intel) | vectorcraft-<version>-macos-universal.dmg (signed and notarized) |
vectorcraft-cli-<version>-macos-universal.zip (command-line tool) |
| Linux, any distro | …-linux-x86_64.AppImage (self-updates via .zsync) |
Flatpak, .deb, .rpm, .tar.gz; ARM64 builds; RISC-V tarball |
| FreeBSD | …-freebsd-x86_64.tar.gz |
— |
| Browser (self-hosted) | vectorcraft-web-<version>.zip (static site) |
Host on any static web server |
Install a Linux Flatpak with flatpak install --user <file>. On Windows, you can check a download with Get-FileHash <file> and compare it to SHA256SUMS.txt.
How to build VectorCraft from the GitHub source
You need a recent Rust toolchain (the repository’s Cargo.toml asks for Rust 1.95 or newer). Then:
git clone https://github.com/storytold/vectorcraft
cd vectorcraft
cargo run --release -p vectorcraft
Other commands from the README:
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
cargo run --release -p vectorcraft -- examples/dusk-poster.vectorcraft |
Opens an example document |
cargo run --release -p vectorcraft-cli -- mcp |
Starts the MCP server so AI agents can drive VectorCraft |
cargo run --release -p vectorcraft-cli -- run --in <file> --export out.pdf |
Headless batch export |
cd apps/vectorcraft-web && trunk build --release |
Builds the browser (WebAssembly) version |
Japanese fonts come from the optional storytold/craft-fonts repository; without it, Japanese text uses your system fonts.
What VectorCraft can do
- Illustrator-style tools: Pen and Direct Selection with real Bézier handles, Pathfinder and Shape Builder, Smart Guides, Appearance, Swatches and Layers panels, with Illustrator’s layout and shortcuts.
- Live, editable effects: blends, Envelope Distort, Gradient Mesh, radial/grid/mirror Repeat, glows and drop shadows, plus a Perspective Grid.
- Image Trace: turn raster images into vector paths with 12 presets.
- Speed: the developers report 20,000 shapes rendering in about 27 ms at retina resolution, with the interface at 120 fps.
- Files: SVG, PDF and PDF-compatible
.aiimport/export, EPS, DXF, EMF/WMF, PNG/JPEG/WebP export, Export for Screens. Affinity files (.af,.afdesign,.afpub) open, but VectorCraft doesn’t save them. - Automation: every menu, tool and dialog can be driven over a JSON control channel or an MCP server, so scripts and AI agents (such as Claude) can draw and export.
- Languages: the interface is available in English, German, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Spanish, French, Italian, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian and more.
VectorCraft vs Adobe Illustrator
| VectorCraft 0.10 | Adobe Illustrator | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free, open source | Paid subscription |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, browser | Windows, macOS (iPad app separately) |
Opens real .ai files |
Partly: reads the PDF part; layer structure and Illustrator editing data aren’t reliable yet | Yes |
| 3D & Materials | Only an initial live Revolve | Full |
| Generative AI features | None | Yes (Firefly) |
| Scripting | Not yet (MCP/JSON control instead) | Yes |
| Maturity | Alpha (since October 2026) | Industry standard |
Bottom line: VectorCraft is worth trying for new personal projects, SVG work and learning vector illustration for free, and it’s unusually easy to automate. Keep Illustrator for client work, existing .ai projects and anything that needs 3D, scripting or generative features.
Known limitations (October 2026)
From the project’s own status notes:
- No reliable round trip of Illustrator
.aifiles (layer structure in real files; Illustrator’s editing data isn’t written). - Tool behaviour isn’t fully Illustrator-identical yet: a pass over every tool’s modifier keys is next on the roadmap.
- 3D and Materials beyond an initial live Revolve are missing.
- About half of the Photoshop-style raster effects (28 of 57) and the Effect Gallery are missing.
- No scripting yet, and no generative AI features.
- Linux (native Wayland): dropped files don’t arrive. Use File ▸ Open, or switch Preferences ▸ Performance ▸ Linux Display Server to X11 (XWayland).
- The readiness percentages are self-assessed by the developers against Illustrator’s public documentation, not independent tests.
More ArtCraft guides
Frequently asked questions
Where is VectorCraft on GitHub?
The official repository is github.com/storytold/vectorcraft, published by ArtCraft’s storytold organisation. Releases (installers for every system) are on its Releases page; the official getartcraft.com/apps/vectorcraft page links to the same files.
Is VectorCraft free?
Yes. VectorCraft is free and open source, dual-licensed under MIT or Apache-2.0. The ArtCraft name and logos are trademarks and aren’t covered by that licence.
What is the latest VectorCraft version?
Version 0.10.0, released on GitHub on October 12, 2026. VectorCraft is in alpha and new versions come out every day or two, so check the Releases page for the newest build.
Can VectorCraft open Adobe Illustrator .ai files?
Partly. It reads PDF-compatible .ai files through their PDF part, but layer structure in real Illustrator files isn’t reliable yet and it can’t write Illustrator’s editing data. SVG and PDF are the safest exchange formats.
Which file do I download for Windows?
For most PCs, the windows-x64.msi installer (code-signed). Use windows-arm64 for Snapdragon/ARM laptops and windows-x86 only for old 32-bit Windows. Portable .zip versions run without installing.
Does VectorCraft run in a browser?
Yes, as a WebAssembly build. The release includes a vectorcraft-web zip you can host on any static web server, or you can build it yourself with Trunk from apps/vectorcraft-web.
Is VectorCraft made by Adobe?
No. It is an independent ArtCraft project that recreates Illustrator’s workflow from public documentation (a clean-room rebuild), not Adobe’s code, and isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by Adobe.
What do I need to build VectorCraft from source?
Git and a recent Rust toolchain (the repository asks for Rust 1.95 or newer). Clone storytold/vectorcraft and run cargo run --release -p vectorcraft.