Independent comparison. VectorCraft is not Adobe Illustrator, is not an Adobe product, and is not the unrelated vectorcraft math crate on crates.io. This site is not affiliated with Adobe Inc. or the ArtCraft / storytold team.
VectorCraft vs Adobe Illustrator
TL;DR: VectorCraft is ArtCraft’s free, open-source vector editor, formerly announced as DrawCraft — the same product, not a second app. It is not Adobe Illustrator and not the crates.io “vectorcraft” math crate. Its .ai support is PDF-compatible import/export plus legacy version 7 layers; it does not write Illustrator’s proprietary editing data. Use it for local vector work with alpha expectations; keep Illustrator for guaranteed live .ai handoff, plug-ins and mature print production.
- One product, three names to separate: VectorCraft, DrawCraft (old name), crates.io crate (unrelated).
- Not Adobe, not Illustrator, not an Adobe subscription.
- .ai is PDF-compatible; proprietary Illustrator editing data is not written.
- Free/open source, alpha, with broad SVG/PDF/EPS/DXF and raster export.
VectorCraft guide and safe downloadOfficial VectorCraft pageDesignCraft for page layout
Page revised: · Site stamp: · Checked VectorCraft v0.21.0 on GitHub, the official standalone list (0.20.0 files) and Adobe’s Illustrator page.
Comparison table
| Dimension | VectorCraft | Adobe Illustrator |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | ArtCraft / storytold (independent open source) | Adobe Inc. |
| Price / licence | Free. MIT or Apache-2.0, at your option. No paid unlock. | Paid subscription. See Adobe Illustrator for the current plan. This guide does not quote a price that was not re-checked today. |
| Name | VectorCraft. Announced as DrawCraft until around October 2026; same product and repository. | Adobe Illustrator. No name relationship. |
| Native format | Readable .vectorcraft JSON; SVG/SVGZ, PDF, PDF-compatible .ai, EPS, DXF, EMF/WMF and raster export. | Native .ai documents and the Adobe ecosystem. |
| .ai exchange | Imports/exports PDF-compatible .ai. Can preserve legacy version 7 layers, groups and type. Does not write proprietary Illustrator editing data; the README still lists reliable .ai exchange as a gap. | Native, including Illustrator-only editing structures. |
| Drawing | Pen and Direct Selection with real Bézier anchors and handles, shape tools, exact curve booleans (Pathfinder), Shape Builder, Smart Guides, Appearance, Swatches, Layers, gradients and transparency. | Mature vector drawing, appearance, symbol and print toolset. |
| Effects and type | Live blends, envelope distort, gradient mesh, radial/grid/mirror repeats, glows, drop shadows, image tracing with 12 presets, 57 approximated Photoshop-style raster filters, type styles/threading and Hebrew/Arabic bidirectional layout. | Mature effects, type, variable fonts and print-production features. |
| Maturity | Alpha. README self-assessment (2026-10-10): ~88% of core features, ~75% depth, ~65% ready for real work for a mainstream illustrator (~62% across all tracked features). | Mature commercial illustration app with a long production history. |
| Platforms | macOS universal, Windows x64/x86/ARM64, Linux x86_64/aarch64/riscv64, FreeBSD and a WebAssembly build. Latest GitHub release checked: v0.21.0 (3 November 2026). | Windows and macOS desktop; check Adobe’s current system requirements. |
| Automation | Every menu item, tool gesture, panel and dialog is exposed as a command over a JSON control channel, a CLI and an MCP server (vectorcraft-cli mcp). | Scripting, actions and the Adobe partner ecosystem. |
Three names people mix up
| Name | What it is | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| VectorCraft | The ArtCraft vector illustration app at getartcraft.com/apps/vectorcraft. | This page’s subject. |
| DrawCraft | The earlier public name for the same app, used until around October 2026. | Same product, same team, same repository. Not a separate app. |
| crates.io “vectorcraft” | An unrelated Rust vector-math library published on crates.io/docs.rs. | Name collision only. Not ArtCraft, not this app. |
.ai is PDF-compatible, not Illustrator-native
The practical question is not “does it open .ai?” but “what survives when a client reopens the file in Illustrator?” VectorCraft’s README is candid: reliable exchange of real .ai files is still a gap. It can read and write PDF-compatible .ai and keep legacy version 7 .ai layers, groups and type, but it does not write Adobe’s proprietary editing data.
| Usually works | Test before promising |
|---|---|
| PDF-compatible artwork for review, print handoff or placement. | Live Illustrator layers, groups and type that a client must keep editing. |
| Legacy version 7 .ai layers, groups and type. | Proprietary effects, appearances and Illustrator-only editing structures. |
| SVG, PDF, EPS and raster export for non-Adobe handoff. | Round-trips that must preserve every object exactly across both apps. |
If the deliverable is a logo package, test it on a copy: open the exported .ai in Illustrator, move a layer, change type, and check the appearance. Keep an Illustrator seat for the handoff until your own corpus passes.
MCP, CLI and version freshness
VectorCraft exposes its tools as commands, which is why an agent can draw, edit and export through the CLI or MCP server. That is local control, not a cloud design service. Start with the VectorCraft guide and the ArtCraft MCP overview, then use the README for current command names.
Version note: GitHub published VectorCraft v0.21.0 on 3 November 2026 while the official standalone list still showed 0.20.0 files. Re-check both before installing.
Safe VectorCraft download
- getartcraft.com/apps/vectorcraft — the official page and the preferred installer list.
- github.com/storytold/vectorcraft/releases — source, release assets and SHA256SUMS.txt.
- ArtCraft Launcher — the suite installer shown on the official page.
Skip “cracked Illustrator” sites. VectorCraft is free — there is nothing to unlock. More risk notes: How to download Crafting Apps safely.
Related
- VectorCraft guide
- FigCraft — interface design and prototyping
- DesignCraft — page layout and publishing
- ArtCraft vs Adobe
- ArtCraft MCP
- Safe download guide
VectorCraft vs Illustrator FAQ
Is VectorCraft Adobe Illustrator?
No. VectorCraft is an open-source vector illustration app from the ArtCraft / storytold team. It is not Adobe Illustrator and is not an Adobe product. This page is an independent guide, not Adobe or ArtCraft official.
Is VectorCraft the same thing as DrawCraft?
Yes. The app was announced as DrawCraft until around October 2026 and is now VectorCraft. The product, repository, ArtCraft team and download page are the same; only the public name changed. Old DrawCraft bookmarks should use getartcraft.com/apps/vectorcraft or github.com/storytold/vectorcraft.
Is VectorCraft the vectorcraft crate on crates.io or docs.rs?
No. The crates.io/docs.rs “vectorcraft” is an unrelated Rust vector-math library. This page is about the ArtCraft vector illustration application. The names collide; the projects do not.
Can VectorCraft open and save .ai files?
Partly. VectorCraft imports and exports PDF-compatible .ai files and can preserve legacy version 7 .ai layers, groups and type. It does not write Adobe’s proprietary Illustrator editing data, and the README still lists reliable exchange of real .ai files as a gap. Test a copy and keep an Illustrator fallback for client handoff.
Is VectorCraft free?
Yes. VectorCraft is free and dual-licensed under MIT or Apache-2.0. There is no paid unlock. Adobe Illustrator is a paid subscription; check Adobe’s current plan page for pricing.
Is VectorCraft still alpha?
Yes. Its README’s 2026-10-10 self-assessment says about 88% of core menu items, tools, effects and formats exist, feature depth is around 75%, and it is about 65% ready for real work for a mainstream illustrator (~62% across all tracked features). Test production files before switching.
Where do I download VectorCraft safely?
Use getartcraft.com/apps/vectorcraft, GitHub storytold/vectorcraft releases, or the ArtCraft Launcher. Check SHA256SUMS.txt. vectorcraft.app is an independent third-party browser host, not the official installer. Skip “cracked Illustrator” mirrors; VectorCraft is free.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from the pages below, checked on 3 November 2026.