20 practical, neutral PDF guides
Switch to a free alternative calmly, without losing files or paying surprise fees
Step-by-step guides for people who pay for creative, office or AI software, or for cloud services at home, and want to try a cheaper option. Learn what feels familiar, what is still missing, how to test your own files and when to leave a subscription.
Find the guide for your switch
Leaving Adobe Creative Cloud or Microsoft 365? Looking for a free alternative to Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, Lightroom, After Effects, InDesign, Acrobat, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, AutoCAD or Pro Tools? Want to run AI locally, keep an old Windows 10 PC useful, run a smart home without subscriptions or replace Google Photos and iCloud? Pick your guide.
Leaving a subscription
Creative apps
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
Office apps
Specialist apps
How each guide works
Check the fit
A self-assessment tells you honestly whether the alternative suits your work today, or whether it is better to wait.
Test with your own files
A five-file test and a gentle two-week plan, so you keep your current software until you are sure.
Leave at the right moment
Subscription rules, refund windows and fees explained, with a printable checklist so nothing gets lost.
Packs
Prices include VAT.
About the author
Julian Beaumont is a former photographer, video journalist and marketing professional with 20 years of hands-on experience with creative and digital tools, now working as a consultant. The guides are neutral: commercial software is excellent, and these are options, never verdicts. How the guides are written.
Questions
Are Switch Kit guides affiliated with Adobe, Microsoft or ArtCraft?
No. They are independent guides, not authorised, endorsed or sponsored by any software maker. Product names are used only to identify the software concerned.
Do the guides tell me to cancel my subscription?
No. They help you understand your own contract, test an alternative safely and time your exit if you decide to leave. Commercial software is excellent; these are options.
What format are the guides?
Printable A4 PDFs in English, delivered instantly after purchase, with checklists you can tick.
How up to date are the guides?
Each guide shows the date its facts were checked (currently 31 October 2026). Software changes fast; the Complete Collection includes 12 months of updated editions.
Is there a free guide?
Yes. The ArtCraft suite overview is free and a good place to start.