PhotoVim vs PhotoCraft: which one fits your work?
Both aim to feel familiar to Photoshop users. PhotoCraft is an open-source app written in Rust that you download or host yourself. PhotoVim is a hosted browser editor with built-in AI. This page uses PhotoCraft's own README and download page; anything we have not verified is marked as such.
Looking for a PhotoCraft alternative you can open without installing?
PhotoVim opens at photovim.com in your browser — no download, no build, no server to host, and no account for editing. It has been in service since September 12, 2026. PhotoCraft is a free, open-source desktop app that also offers a web build you host yourself.
| Item | PhotoVim | PhotoCraft |
|---|---|---|
| How you start | Open photovim.com. Nothing to install; you can also install it as an app. | Download an installer (macOS, Windows, Linux, FreeBSD), build from source, or host the web build on your own server. No hosted web version is linked on its official page. |
| Account | Not needed for editing. | Not mentioned; it runs offline. |
| Price and license | Editing is free. AI uses credits or your own API key. Not open source. | Free and open source (MIT or Apache-2.0). |
| Status | In service at photovim.com since September 12, 2026. | Early alpha (0.7.0). Repository public since September 30, 2026. |
| Photoshop-style interface | Menus, panels, dialogs and shortcuts follow current Photoshop. | Same goal: menus, shortcuts, panels and tools where Photoshop users expect them. |
| Generative AI | Built in. AI edits land on a new layer, and masks control what shows. | Not included; its README lists AI/generative features as one of the biggest gaps. |
| AI agents | MCP server, so agents like Claude can drive the editor. | MCP server, command-line tool and a JSON control channel. |
| PSD | Open and save layered PSD; text layers stay editable when opened in Photoshop. Full compatibility is not guaranteed. | Open, edit and save PSD; also PSB. |
| Color depth and size | 8-bit RGB, up to 4096 px on the long side. | 16 and 32-bit, CMYK and Lab documents, large documents. |
| Subject selection and background removal | Runs on your device in the browser; the photo is not uploaded. | Runs on your device. |
| Languages | 9 languages, including English, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, German and French. | Not verified here. |
When to choose PhotoCraft
Choose PhotoCraft if you want open-source code, a native desktop app that works offline, 16/32-bit, CMYK or Lab documents, or scriptable batch processing from a command line. Its README describes it as early alpha and "not yet a Photoshop replacement for daily professional work".
When to choose PhotoVim
Choose PhotoVim if you want to start editing right now on any computer with a browser, with nothing to install or host, and want generative AI built in, with results that land on their own layer so your original stays untouched.
Questions
Is PhotoVim the web version of PhotoCraft?
No. They are separate, unrelated projects. PhotoVim is a hosted browser editor; PhotoCraft is an open-source app from ArtCraft that you download or host yourself.
Can I open a PSD from one in the other?
You can try, since both read and write PSD. Keep the original: fonts, layer styles and unsupported features can look or edit differently.
Do I need to install anything to use PhotoVim?
No. Open photovim.com in a desktop browser and start editing. Installing it as an app is optional and lets you use Ctrl+T for free transform (browsers keep Ctrl+T for new tabs).
Sources
Reviewed October 15, 2026 using PhotoCraft's GitHub README and getartcraft.com download page (version 0.7.0), and PhotoVim's own implementation. Features change quickly in early releases; check the links below for the latest. This is PhotoVim's own comparison, not an endorsement by PhotoCraft, ArtCraft or Adobe.