For more than two decades, Adobe Photoshop has been the industry standard for image editing. If I need to remove a background from a product photo, adjust colors in a marketing image, retouch a portrait, create a social media graphic, or piece together a complex composite, it’s the application professionals reach for first. At $22.99/month for a single-app Creative Cloud subscription, this can feel like quite an investment for casual users.
Is it possible that Adobe’s flagship software is worth the subscription cost when there are so many free and lower-cost alternatives available?
Spoiler: it depends. Photoshop isn’t for everyone, but for the right user, it remains unmatched. Whether you’re a professional designer, a marketing specialist, or just someone who wants the best tools for creative work, Photoshop might be worth every penny. Let me explain.
Table of contents:
- What is Photoshop?
- Photoshop vs. Photoshop Express
- How to sign up for Photoshop?
- Is Photoshop worth it for you?
- What’s the best Photoshop version?
- Which Photoshop plan to choose?
What is Photoshop?
Photoshop is Adobe’s flagship image editing software that has become so ubiquitous that its name is used as a verb. (And yes, that’s why “photoshopped” is in the dictionary.) It’s an industry-standard tool for photo editing, digital painting, graphic design, and image manipulation.
If you’re not sure if you need this software, you might be able to get by with simpler alternatives. Unless you’re working on complex photo retouching, creating digital art, or designing professional graphics, there are more affordable options. But here’s what you’ll get with Photoshop that might make it essential for your workflow.
Advanced editing tools for photo manipulation
While more basic photo editors offer simple adjustments, Photoshop provides professional-level tools that give you pixel-perfect control:
- Layer system: Work with multiple elements independently
- Selection tools: Precisely isolate and edit specific areas
- Content-Aware Fill: Intelligently remove unwanted objects
- Advanced masking: Create complex, precise selections with ease
These tools are what separate casual photo editing from professional work, allowing for edits that are virtually undetectable when done well.
Check out the video below to see Content-Aware Fill in action.
AI-powered neural filters
Adobe has invested heavily in AI technology with their Adobe Sensei platform. Photoshop’s Neural Filters leverage this AI to perform complex edits that would have taken hours of manual work in the past. These include:
- Skin smoothing while preserving texture
- Age adjustment that looks natural
- Expression changes (making someone smile)
- Style transfer between images
- Colorizing black and white photos
The full version of Photoshop gives you access to all current and upcoming Neural Filters, which are constantly being improved and expanded.
Integration with the Adobe ecosystem
One of Photoshop’s biggest advantages is how it works within the larger Adobe Creative Cloud ecosystem. This integration allows you to move projects seamlessly between Adobe apps while maintaining brand consistency and color profiles across your entire project, whether you’re working in Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign, eliminating the frustration of color shifts between applications.
For instance, many professionals create initial designs in Photoshop before bringing them into After Effects for animation. When your project is complete, you can export to multiple formats optimized for print or web with presets that ensure quality across all mediums.
This interoperability becomes increasingly valuable as your projects grow in complexity and require multiple specialized tools.
Cross-device editing with Photoshop on iPad
Photoshop on iPad allows you to continue your desktop workflows while on the go. The full Photoshop subscription includes this mobile version, which syncs your projects through Creative Cloud. This means you can:
- Start a project on your desktop and continue on iPad
- Work with the same files and brushes across devices
- Access your work anywhere with an internet connection
- Take advantage of the Apple Pencil for natural drawing and retouching
While the iPad version doesn’t yet have 100% feature parity with desktop Photoshop, it’s continuously improving and already powerful enough for serious work.
Future-proof investment
While these features might seem like overkill for some users now, Adobe regularly updates Photoshop with cutting-edge tools that eventually become industry standards. Recent examples include Generative Fill for AI-powered image creation and Perspective Warp for advanced 3D manipulations.
Subscribing to the full version ensures you’ll have immediate access to these innovations as they’re released, potentially giving you capabilities that clients and competitors don’t yet have.
Photoshop vs. Photoshop Express
Before you decide on a full Photoshop subscription, it’s worth understanding the difference between the full desktop application and Adobe’s free mobile and web app, Photoshop Express. Here’s a breakdown:
| Feature | Photoshop (Desktop) | Photoshop Express (Mobile/Web) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Subscription-based | Free with optional purchases |
| Platform | Windows, macOS | iOS, Android, Web |
| Complexity | Professional-grade, steep learning curve | Simplified, user-friendly |
| Core features | Complete editing suite with layers, masks, advanced tools | Basic editing tools, filters, simple retouching |
| Advanced features | Content-Aware Fill, 3D, plugins, automation | Limited; some premium features via purchase |
| File support | Wide format support (RAW, PSD, TIFF, etc.) | Primarily JPEG and PNG |
| Integration | Full Adobe Creative Cloud ecosystem | Limited; mainly social media sharing |
| Best for | Professionals and serious enthusiasts | Casual users wanting quick edits |
| Generative AI | Includes Generative Fill and AI tools | No Generative AI tools |
In short: Photoshop Express is a great starting point for quick, on-the-go edits, especially for social media. However, it lacks the depth, power, and flexibility of the full Photoshop desktop application. If you’re serious about image editing, the full version of Photoshop is the way to go.
How to sign up for Photoshop?
There are several ways to get access to Photoshop, depending on which plan for Photoshop you choose. Here’s the general process:
- Go to the Photoshop page at adobe.com/products/photoshop/plans.html.
- Choose one of the available plans (Photography, Photoshop, Creative Cloud All Apps).
- Click Free trial (most plans offer a 7-day free trial period) or Buy now to purchase a subscription.
- Choose how you want to be billed (annual prepaid for the lowest monthly fee).
- Create an Adobe ID or sign in.
- Enter payment information (you won’t be charged until the end of the free trial).
- Download and install the Creative Cloud desktop app.
- From within the Creative Cloud desktop app, find Photoshop and click Install.
That’s it. Once Photoshop is installed, you can launch it from the Creative Cloud app or directly from your computer’s applications menu.
Is Photoshop worth it for you?
I use Photoshop daily for my work for Photutorial. I also use it regularly to create social media graphics and for hobbies, such as editing photographs. In the past, I used it for school projects and for clients.
Although I love Photoshop, I realize it isn’t the right choice for everyone, yet it might be exactly what you need, depending on your situation.
If you’re a professional photographer, designer, or digital artist who needs precise control over your images, Photoshop is likely worth the investment. Similarly, if you work in an industry where Photoshop is the standard (like advertising, publishing, or film), having the full version ensures compatibility with client expectations and industry workflows. The monthly subscription cost is easily justified if Photoshop helps you land even one additional client or saves you hours of work each month.
For hobbyists and casual users, the Photography plan offers an excellent balance—you get professional editing software at a more accessible price point.
What’s the best Photoshop version?
Everyone has their own opinion of what the best Photoshop version is. With an active Photography subscription, I always update my Photoshop to the latest version—the current version 26.4.1—because each brings performance improvements and new features.
On the other hand, there are many people who still swear by the latest Photoshop version you could buy outright, CS6, while others prefer random intermittent versions (such as 20.1) because it works best on their machine.
According to Adobe, these are the latest Photoshop versions:
- The current version of Photoshop 2024 (desktop) is 26.4.1
- The current version of Photoshop on iPhone is 6.0
- The current version of Photoshop on the iPad is 5.5.2
- The current version of Adobe Camera Raw is 17.2
- The current version of Adobe DNG Converter is 17.2
Which Photoshop plan to choose?
When deciding which Photoshop plan is right for you, consider:
- How often you’ll use the software
- Whether you need integration with other Adobe apps
- If you’d benefit from the iPad version
- How important the latest AI features are to your workflow
- Whether the additional cloud storage would be valuable
Remember that Adobe frequently offers promotions for new users, and educational discounts are available for students and teachers. There’s also a 7-day free trial if you want to test the waters before committing.
Related reading:
- How much does Photoshop cost?
- How to get a Photoshop free trial
- What’s the cheapest way to get Photoshop?
- How to get Photoshop student discount
- How to zoom (in & out) in Photoshop
