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Adobe is known for offering some of the best creative software available, but are their non-transparent price increases hitting the final straw for users?
Adobe has increased the price of its photography plan
In one article from Adobe at the end of 2024 on innovations in photography and photo editing software, he subtly mentioned that the Adobe Photography Plan, which includes both Photoshop and Lightroom as a package, will change the price severely and availability from January 25, 2025.
Giving users just over a calendar month to understand their new plan for Creative Cloud payment options, the statement published on December 10 buried the lede on the information, making it difficult and confusing to find or understand the news
Adobe already has a negative reputation for its frustrating payment and subscription options — and the sadness for long-term users who can no longer directly own their Adobe products. Adobe has made its first major price change in years. Luckily, it only applies to the Photography plan, with a more subtle price change — two dollars per month — to the Lightroom-only plan. The Photoshop-only plan remains unchanged.
Adobe’s new pricing plans
The statement announced a price increase of $5 to the monthly subscription option of the Photo 20GB plan, which was previously $9.99 per month (or $119 during the year), bringing it to $14.99 at the month This 20 GB monthly option is only available to existing subscribers of this plan.
Simultaneously, the change also sees the end of a 20GB cloud storage offer for new customers from 25 January 2025, meaning all plans going forward will offer 1TB as standard, except for the annual Photography plan .
All new subscribers now have the option of the Fotografia 20GB annual plan, at $119.99 per year – which, if divided by twelve, works out the same for a year as the previous monthly price plan. Users can switch plans altogether to Photoshop or Lightroom solo plans or to a Creative Cloud All Apps plan – alternatively, they can decide to opt for alternative software such as Affinity Photo or Photopea.
Despite Adobe’s announcement, with a price table, it is still confusing to understand the full prices for each plan. This may be a regional difference, or a subtle nuance of wording that is used.
Adobe alienates users
Over the years, Adobe has removed the ability for users to own any software, and has started to push people away. Although it is not difficult to subscribe to Adobe software, it is not always a realistic and affordable option, especially for those who enjoy using creative software just for fun.
There has been a noticeable increase in people looking for free or open-source alternatives to Adobe’s most popular tools, such as Photoshop, but there are also groups of people who are committed to switching to Affinity software – which applies a one-time payment to own the software – for stability and financial security.
Adobe could see better retention results if it offered subscriptions for pared-down versions of its software –similar to Photoshop Elements. Many creative people do not like AI and prefer to use software without AI features rather than simply not using AI features in the software they pay for. Adobe could benefit from offering non-AI versions of Photoshop, Lightroom and Illustrator for lower price points.
Is Photoshop still worth paying for?
While Adobe Photoshop is, without a doubt, one of the most expensive options for creative software, it comes with a history and development that is often worth paying for, if you use all the features.
If you are a fan of AI and happy to use it in your workflow, then the price can often be justified with the addition of all the great features of Photoshop AI now and in the future, including future Generative Workspace in Photoshop.
If you are a hobby editor or trying to learn the craft, then Photoshop is an expensive experiment. There are many other cheaper options, as well as a large number of completely free (and cheap) software options. It is better to start using free programs before investing in a minimum one-year contract with Adobe.
Alternatives to Adobe Software to save money
There are a growing number of reputable open-source alternatives to most Adobe software. To replace the Photo plan, you can use GIMP as a substitute for Photoshop and DarkTable as a substitute for Lightroom. Or Inkscape, Krita and Photopea to replace Photoshop, and RAWTherapee to replace Lightroom.
We took care a list of Photoshop alternatives including free options; we also have alternative options for Lightroom and photo editing tools. And if the price increase has bothered you enough, you might be interested in seeing it alternatives to almost all Adobe programs available, just in case it’s time you want to change.
Adobe knows what it’s doing with price increases. Adobe is also aware that as a software suite, no one offers what it can. It is the industry standard, which unfortunately keeps users attached hook, line and sinker to continue paying the increasing fees to be an Adobe subscriber.
