If you want AI image and video generation without a subscription, ArtCraft is one of the more interesting open-source options right now. This guide walks through what it is, what you need to run it, and how to get from install to export.
I've also published it as a living guide at https://getartcraft.net with more detail.
What ArtCraft is. ArtCraft is an open-source desktop app for AI image and video generation aimed at artists, designers, and animators. It runs diffusion models locally on your GPU, with optional cloud endpoints when you need more compute. It's dual-licensed MIT / Apache-2.0, and the source lives at https://github.com/storytold/artcraft
Hardware and platforms. Windows 10/11 with an NVIDIA GPU, macOS on Apple Silicon, or Ubuntu 22.04+ with ROCm or CUDA. Local generation means your GPU is the bottleneck, so check the hardware notes before downloading.
Beyond generation. ArtCraft ships with built-in raster and vector tools, so you can iterate on outputs without round-tripping through another editor.
From install to export. The full walkthrough, from install to your first model, first image, video, and export, is on the guide site with screenshots: https://getartcraft.net
Disclosures: I run the linked guide site. It is independent and unofficial - not affiliated with the official ArtCraft project or getartcraft.com - and it contains Amazon affiliate links (hardware recommendations), so I may earn a commission if you buy through them.