A once simple question has grown to include multiple answers after Adobe has switched to a subscription-style service. After the launch of Photoshop CC in 2013, Adobe no longer offers a one-time purchase option for its popular photo editing software. Let’s take a look at the different options you have for obtaining Photoshop, and what other options you have if subscription services aren’t your thing.
Signing up for Adobe Creative Cloud
The only way to obtain the latest version of Photoshop is to sign up for Adobe’s Creative Cloud subscription. This service provides creative tools, such as Photoshop and other popular Adobe options, including Illustrator, InDesign, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, Dreamweaver, and more. Depending on the package you select, and whether you are an individual, a business, or a student, there are a few subscription options available.
Photoshop for individuals
If you are an individual user, you can purchase an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription with Photoshop for $23 a month — but that’s not the best deal. Adobe offers most of its programs for the price tag as mentioned above, but a special Photography bundle exists, providing both Photoshop and Lightroom starting at only $10 a month. Even if you don’t plan on using Lightroom, it still presents the best option for obtaining Photoshop.
Alternatively, if you need more than a single app from Adobe’s collection, you should consider the All Apps bundle that gives you access to Photoshop as well as every program Adobe currently offers for $60 a month; it’s a semi-expensive option, but even subscribing monthly to two of the company’s apps will surpass that price.
Photoshop for students and teachers
Are you currently a teacher or a student? You can gain access to Adobe’s All Apps bundle for only $20 a month. If you only need Photoshop, this isn’t exactly a deal as the Photography bundle mentioned earlier still comes in at half the price. However, if you need more than just Photoshop and Lightroom, your teacher or student status can net you a decently sized discount because the original price is $60 per month. So, keep in mind that the current discounted price can change at any time.
Photoshop for Businesses
Are you working with Photoshop professionally? Adobe offers deals for teams that allows them to better collaborate with Creative Cloud. You can obtain Photoshop with the Adobe Express Premium plan for $38 per month. You can also look at the All Apps bundle for $90 per month.
What does the extra cost net to you? Adobe aims to increase team collaboration giving you apps like Illustrator, Adobe Firefly, Acrobat Pro, and more with access to the Creative Cloud Libraries for sharing assets. Overall, the business bundle includes a few attractive options, but at its increased price, only you can decide if it’s worth it.
Obtain an older version of Photoshop
While Adobe doesn’t officially offer versions of the last non-subscription version of Photoshop, CS6, for sale, it can be found on some second-hand sites such as eBay. Just be warned that purchasing such software can be a risky proposition as the included activation code could always be invalid.
Additionally, you won’t be able to access Adobe’s mobile applications and newer features (like Photoshop’s AI tools) if you take this route. If you absolutely need Photoshop and refuse to subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud, this would be your only legal option, but tread with caution.
Consider Adobe Photoshop Elements for lighter work
If you don’t find yourself performing heavy editing work, you might want to consider Adobe Photoshop Elements, which the company continues to offer for a standalone price of $100. Alternatively, you can get Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements as a bundle for $150.
You can import photographs and utilizes the software’s smart features to organize your library, as well as impose edits and effects. Because of the nature of Photoshop Elements that offers quite a different feature set, we would recommend trying a free 30-day trial before purchasing.
Opt for an Adobe Photoshop alternative
Adobe isn’t the only company designing excellent photo editing software. The team at Serif has been producing several fantastic creative applications under its Affinity brand. Affinity Photo is one such great application that features a one-time purchase fee of only $35 per month for one device or $83 for Windows, MacOS, and iPadOS. You can also find promotional deals for as much as 50% off.
Download a trial today and see what you think of this great alternative. You can also check out our latest guide for some other great Photoshop alternatives.
FAQs
How to get Photoshop for free?
There isn’t currently a free version of Photoshop. You can; however, take advantage of the free trial and also look into Adobe’s less expensive applications like Photoshop Elements or Photoshop Express.
Is there a way to buy Photoshop without a subscription?
You cannot purchase Photoshop itself as a standalone application without a subscription. For an affordable, downloadable option, look into Photoshop Elements.
Is there a free alternative to Photoshop?
There are several free Photoshop alternatives you can check out, including GIMP, Pixlr, and Photoshop Express. Depending on what you need, each of these options offers a feature set worth looking into. You can also review our comparison of GIMP versus Photoshop to see the similarities and differences between those two applications.
