# DesignCraft: free InDesign alternative, tested

> DesignCraft is a free alternative to Adobe InDesign, also for business use. What it can do, what is missing and how mature it is.

Source: https://1x1it.de/en/freeware/designcraft/

DesignCraft is a free layout program for flyers, brochures, catalogues and price lists. It creates print-ready PDFs with CMYK, spot colours, bleed and crop marks.

[DesignCraft at the vendor](https://getartcraft.com/apps/designcraft)
[All freeware recommendations](https://1x1it.de/en/freeware/)

DesignCraft Freeware

- **Type:** Page layout and publishing
- **Cost:** free, also for business
- **Licence:** Apache 2.0
- **Systems:** Windows, macOS, Linux, in the browser
- **Version:** 0.12.0 of 22 Oct 2026

Maturity Development

Development Alpha Beta Stable

## How it helps day to day

- A flyer for the printer: Set up the layout with parent pages, place text and images, export as PDF with bleed and crop marks.
- The price list has many pages: Paragraph and character styles keep every page consistent; style changes apply everywhere.
- A document needs archiving: Export as PDF/A is suited to long-term storage.

## What is inside DesignCraft

Print-ready PDF and PDF/A, PNG export, own documented format.

- **Pages:** Spreads, parent pages, frames and threaded stories.
- **Typography:** Paragraph and character styles, hyphenation, optical margin alignment and baseline grids.
- **Prepress:** PDF with embedded fonts, CMYK and spot colours, bleed and crop marks, PDF/A too.
- **Automation:** Control from the command line and interfaces.

## DesignCraft compared with Adobe InDesign

Like InDesign, DesignCraft works with parent pages, text frames and paragraph and character styles, and creates print-ready PDFs. According to the vendor it does not open InDesign files, so existing layouts need rebuilding.

As of 25 Oct 2026, according to the vendors

| | DesignCraft | Adobe InDesign |
| Cost | free, also for business | €25,99 a month (annual plan billed monthly, incl. VAT) [Source](https://www.adobe.com/de/products/indesign/plans.html) |
| Licence | open source (Apache 2.0) | commercial software |
| Systems | Windows, macOS, Linux, in the browser | see vendor |
| Shared files | print-ready PDF and PDF/A; the vendor does not name InDesign files (.indd) |
| Maturity | in development, version 0.12.0 | on the market for years |

InDesign is a trademark of Adobe Inc.. It is named for orientation only; there is no connection between Adobe Inc. and the maker of DesignCraft.

## Our assessment

DesignCraft is still in development but has the basics of a layout program. It is worth testing for simple print work; have the printer check the first PDF.

### Already useful for

- Simple flyers and price lists
- PDF export for archive and sharing
- Trying out layout and typography

### Better wait for now

- Print jobs without agreement with the printer
- Extensive catalogues with data links
- Switching your prepress work over completely

## Frequently asked questions

### Will the printer accept the PDF?

DesignCraft creates PDFs with CMYK, bleed and crop marks. Check the printer’s requirements before the first job.

### Can DesignCraft replace InDesign?

DesignCraft is still in development but has the basics of a layout program. It is worth testing for simple print work; have the printer check the first PDF.

### May I use DesignCraft commercially?

Yes. The Apache 2.0 licence allows business use without a licence fee. It does not require you to publish your own files or data. Licence notices only apply if you redistribute or modify the program itself.

### What does DesignCraft cost?

Nothing. DesignCraft is open source under the Apache 2.0 licence and may also be used in a business free of charge.

### How do I install it?

The vendor’s page offers installers for Windows, macOS and Linux. If you use several Craft apps, the ArtCraft Launcher installs them and keeps them up to date. In businesses with several workstations, new programs should be approved centrally; we can help with that.

## Related

[CADCraft CAD and drafting](https://1x1it.de/en/freeware/cadcraft/)
[All freeware recommendations Programs at a glance](https://1x1it.de/en/freeware/)

Sources: [vendor page](https://getartcraft.com/apps/designcraft) and [source code on GitHub](https://github.com/storytold/designcraft), accessed 25 Oct 2026. We have tested the program ourselves and rated it worth a look. We have no business relationship with the vendor.

## Introducing new software in your business

Want to use a free program and not sure whether it fits your workflows and files? We will look at it with you.

[0173 644 22 17](tel:+491736442217)

[Request an initial consultation](https://1x1it.de/en/kontakt/#anfrage)