MIT OR Apache-2.0freeRuns locallyWriting & Office
WordCraft: Open-Source Microsoft Word Alternative
Pure-Rust clean-room Microsoft Word reimplementation in the ArtCraft suite (alpha).
- License
- MIT OR Apache-2.0
- Stars
- 12,444 (2026-10-15)
- Platforms
- macOS, Windows, Linux, BSD, Web
- First seen
- 2026-10-07
TL;DR. WordCraft is Pure-Rust clean-room Microsoft Word reimplementation in the ArtCraft suite (alpha). License: MIT OR Apache-2.0 (verified). Platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux, BSD, Web. Price: free. Runs locally: yes. It is an alternative to Microsoft Word.
| Name | WordCraft |
|---|---|
| Language | Rust |
| Suite | ArtCraft |
| License | MIT OR Apache-2.0 |
| Pricing | free |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux, BSD, Web |
| Runs locally | Yes |
| Stats | 12,444 stars · 3,142 forks (as of 2026-10-15) |
| First seen | 2026-10-07 |
| Repository | https://github.com/storytold/wordcraft |
WordCraft is an open-source word processor described by its authors as a clean-room reimplementation of Microsoft Word in pure Rust. It is listed here as a Microsoft Word alternative because that is the editorial mapping, not because we measured feature parity.
Official hosts we opened on 2026-10-15: the GitHub repository storytold/wordcraft, release v0.7.0 (published 2026-10-14T13:56:11Z), and the product page getartcraft.com/apps/wordcraft.
Key facts (2026-10-15)
| Field | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Stars | 12,444 | GitHub API storytold/wordcraft |
| Forks | 3,142 | same |
| Created | 2026-10-07T08:34:24Z | same |
| License files | MIT OR Apache-2.0 (dual) | LICENSE-MIT, LICENSE-APACHE, README, Cargo.toml |
| GitHub license field | Apache-2.0 | GitHub API |
| Language | Rust | GitHub / README |
| Maturity | alpha | README / ROADMAP.md |
| Latest release | v0.7.0, 2026-10-14T13:56:11Z (not a prerelease) | GitHub Releases |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux, BSD, Web (WebAssembly) | README |
| Suite | ArtCraft (27,997★, Apache-2.0, created 2022-03-31) | storytold/artcraft |
What the README says it does
The README describes a Word-style ribbon workflow: styles, tables, track changes, references, and mail merge. It reads and writes .docx, and also lists .odt, .rtf, .html, .md, .tex, .txt, Word 97-2003 .doc import, and PDF export. It is “built from public specifications and observation,” with original or openly licensed assets.
Those are copied labels. We have not independently enumerated commands or round-tripped a real-world .docx corpus.
Gaps versus Microsoft Word
Do not treat WordCraft as a drop-in Word. The project’s own ROADMAP (checked 2026-10-15) says it is alpha: core workflows work, but DOCX has not been tested on real-world files; charts, SmartArt and OLE objects are dropped silently; pagination differs from Word; content controls are lost; native printing was still listed as remaining work. We copy that gap list. We do not invent a parity score.
If you need a long-standing office suite, see ONLYOFFICE (now sourced on this Word hub) and LibreOffice Calc / Impress on the Excel and PowerPoint hubs. LibreOffice Writer still does not have its own tool page.
Install (from the official README, not yet tested)
The README quick start (checked 2026-10-15) is:
git clone https://github.com/storytold/wordcraft
cd wordcraft
cargo run --release -p wordcraft -- --sampleRelease notes for v0.7.0 point at signed Windows/macOS/Linux/BSD/web builds on GitHub Releases. forkalt has not run those installers.
Related
- Microsoft Word alternatives
- PhotoCraft · GridCraft · DeckCraft · CADCraft · FigCraft (same ArtCraft / storytold suite)
- Excel alternatives · PowerPoint alternatives
- PhotoCraft vs GIMP · How to install PhotoCraft
- ONLYOFFICE
- ArtCraft parent: https://github.com/storytold/artcraft
FAQ
Is WordCraft free?
Yes, as open-source software. The repository is dual-licensed MIT OR Apache-2.0 (LICENSE-MIT, LICENSE-APACHE, and the README license section, checked 2026-10-15). GitHub’s license field shows Apache-2.0. That is not legal advice; read the LICENSE files.
How mature is it? Does it replace Microsoft Word?
The README labels WordCraft alpha. It says core workflows (write, format, styles, lists, tables, references, review, mail merge, open and save .docx) work end to end. ROADMAP.md still lists real-world DOCX gaps, charts/SmartArt/OLE dropped silently, pagination differences, and native printing among remaining work. We do not claim Word parity.
Which platforms are listed?
The README (checked 2026-10-15) lists native macOS, Windows, Linux and BSD, plus the browser via WebAssembly. Latest GitHub release is v0.7.0 (published 2026-10-14T13:56:11Z) with signed desktop builds. We have not run an installer on a named OS.
Is it part of ArtCraft, like PhotoCraft?
Yes. WordCraft is one of the Crafting Apps from the ArtCraft / storytold team, the same family as PhotoCraft. The parent repo storytold/artcraft had 27,997 stars, Apache-2.0, created 2022-03-31, in the 2026-10-15 check.
Sources & verification
- https://github.com/storytold/wordcraft
- https://github.com/storytold/wordcraft/releases/tag/v0.7.0
- https://github.com/storytold/wordcraft/blob/main/LICENSE-APACHE
- https://github.com/storytold/wordcraft/blob/main/LICENSE-MIT
- https://github.com/storytold/wordcraft/blob/main/ROADMAP.md
- https://getartcraft.com/apps/wordcraft
- https://github.com/storytold/artcraft
License notes are not legal advice. Read the original LICENSE. Trademark & disclaimer.