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Creative cloud very expensive? Are there options?

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
October 31, 2022
6 replies
3659 views

Hi everybody, I don't know where put this question so I'll write here:

I'm buying an subscription with all apps. but I'm using only Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Adobe XD and some times also Illustrator., If I pay for only this apps, the cost is abnorme. But to pay 61,00€ to have all apps and to use only 3/4 apps isn't convenience. Are there some discount? If Yes how can I get it? If not, is there the possibility to have a price in base to the apps that you use or interest? for example if you want all apps, by 61,00 €. If you want only some app, like photoshop, illustrator, adobe xd, pay something like 12,00 € and inf you want add a new app you add 3/4€ to your subscription. If you want 15 apps you'll pay 45,00 € and so on.

It is incredible that in 2022 I've to pay for something of digital that I don't use and I dont care only becase adobe wants to steal my money!!!!!!

Please, can you give us a solution?

Correct answer Abambo

Today I looked into resubscribing, and I have never felt more personally insulted by a company I have been loyal to since the early days of Adobe. I really hope they realize how unsustainable this subscription model is at the current price, and overall.

By @Katie237647947uju

WHen my company changed to the subscription model, I did make a report for my management comparing the acquisition of a licence for a one time down payment and subsequent updates, and the new subscription model.

At that time, I concluded, that the subscription model did cost arount the same amount then doing an upgrade every second major version release. Working with an outdated version for several years caused major problems, when we interchanged data, so that made up for additional unaccounted costs.

In addition, we were flexible to add (and remove) licences on the fly, which for my comany meant to go from 3 different licence flavours to a subscription of 5 licences. It oscilates a bit, as when someone leaves the company, and we do not replace that person immediatly, but we stay stable at 5 licences (we are an engineering company having hundreds of AutoCad licences also on a subscription basis).

Adobe Creative Cloud is a professional tool and meant for professionals. If you are doing this as a hobby, I recommend using a different tool. If you are making money with your work, you won't get happy with a third party application, except in some very narrow domains, where Adobe is not the leading technology provider.

If you are doing work for non-profit associations, I think that there is a possibility to get subscriptions at a reduced fee, but you need to clarify that with the association. If you are a teacher or a student, you can get also subscriptions at a reduced fee. Some schools even provide you with a free subscription. That's up to the school to work that out.

So yes: the Adobe tools are not cheap, but they never were. But if you are doing work for professionals and interchanging data with professionals, you won't have a choice, not because the tools are expensive but because they are state of the art. And they will allow you to make money.

R

richardd9592293

Participant

Hi Gabriele,

I sent this to Adobe community a while ago. never heard from Adobe. Thought it may raise a few heckles so I am just going to suggest you check out Affinity you can buy the software for just over a hundred dollars. Check it out.

Dear Adobe Team,

I write to you not only as a designer, but as a long-standing and loyal customer who has invested tens of thousands of dollars in your software over more than 35 years. Adobe has been a cornerstone of my creative journey, from the earliest days of digital design through to the modern cloud-based tools of today.

But now, I—and many others—find myself priced out of the ecosystem I helped support and champion. The current subscription-based model has become financially unsustainable for individual creators, retirees looking to stay engaged, or even professionals wanting to keep their skills sharp without a full-time design income. The ability to own and use software independently has been replaced with dependency on perpetual payments—where even access to personal artwork is restricted by an ongoing subscription.

I urge you to reflect on the cautionary tale of QuarkXPress. Once the undisputed leader in publishing software, Quark lost its way by prioritizing short-term gains over customer loyalty and affordability. Their pricing became so inflated and disconnected from user needs that Adobe stepped in with InDesign—an accessible, high-quality alternative that revolutionized the industry and rendered Quark virtually obsolete within months.

Ironically, Adobe is now following a disturbingly similar path. Your monopoly-like hold on the creative industry may feel unshakable, but history shows that no empire is immune to collapse when it loses touch with its base. Already, a new contender—Affinity—is emerging with a fresh, relatable, and affordable suite of creative tools. It reminds me of Adobe in its early days: innovative, user-friendly, and committed to putting creators first.

I’m not alone in turning toward Affinity. The growing exodus from Adobe reflects a deep dissatisfaction with your pricing structure and restrictive policies. For many of us who helped build your legacy, it's painful to walk away—but we are left with no choice.

Please consider a more inclusive pricing model for individuals, hobbyists, and loyal veterans of the creative industry. Introduce perpetual licenses, or at the very least, offer a realistic pricing tier that doesn’t force creatives into a financial corner.

Enjoy your current success—but remember, it is built on the loyalty of users like me. That loyalty is waning.

G

Gabriele QuatelaAuthor

Participant

Thank you very much for your answer. Affinity is seem a good alternative to photoshop. Actually, my solution to the problem that I talk about in this post is to reduce plan to just photoshop plan (12€) and to use alternative. e.g.
- Adobe XD -> Figma
- Dreamweaver -> VSCode
- Illustrator -> I Don't use any more.

When they see their earnings drop, perhaps they'll consider making subscriptions more attractive. Suspense is actually a separate subscription for an additional €60. So, according to them, I should get two subscriptions for a total of €80 (the new price) + €60 (because the Suspense subscriptions aren't included), for a total of €140/month.

Let's find alternatives, guys!!!!!

R

richardd9592293

Participant

Subject: A Loyal Customer’s Plea: Please Rethink Your Pricing Strategy

Dear Adobe Team,

I write to you not only as a designer, but as a long-standing and loyal customer who has invested tens of thousands of dollars in your software over more than 35 years. Adobe has been a cornerstone of my creative journey, from the earliest days of digital design through to the modern cloud-based tools of today.

But now, I—and many others—find myself priced out of the ecosystem I helped support and champion. The current subscription-based model has become financially unsustainable for individual creators, retirees looking to stay engaged, or even professionals wanting to keep their skills sharp without a full-time design income. The ability to own and use software independently has been replaced with dependency on perpetual payments—where even access to personal artwork is restricted by an ongoing subscription.

I urge you to reflect on the cautionary tale of QuarkXPress. Once the undisputed leader in publishing software, Quark lost its way by prioritizing short-term gains over customer loyalty and affordability. Their pricing became so inflated and disconnected from user needs that Adobe stepped in with InDesign—an accessible, high-quality alternative that revolutionized the industry and rendered Quark virtually obsolete within months.

Ironically, Adobe is now following a disturbingly similar path. Your monopoly-like hold on the creative industry may feel unshakable, but history shows that no empire is immune to collapse when it loses touch with its base. Already, a new contender—Affinity—is emerging with a fresh, relatable, and affordable suite of creative tools. It reminds me of Adobe in its early days: innovative, user-friendly, and committed to putting creators first.

I’m not alone in turning toward Affinity. The growing exodus from Adobe reflects a deep dissatisfaction with your pricing structure and restrictive policies. For many of us who helped build your legacy, it's painful to walk away—but we are left with no choice.

Please consider a more inclusive pricing model for individuals, hobbyists, and loyal veterans of the creative industry. Introduce perpetual licenses, or at the very least, offer a realistic pricing tier that doesn’t force creatives into a financial corner.

Enjoy your current success—but remember, it is built on the loyalty of users like me. That loyalty is waning.

K

Katie237647947uju

Participant

THIS. I have been out of work for a year raising my son and was previously using my former companies creative cloud subscription. Today I looked into resubscribing, and I have never felt more personally insulted by a company I have been loyal to since the early days of Adobe. I really hope they realize how unsustainable this subscription model is at the current price, and overall. I hope more and more people jump ship due to the expense, and once they realize they cannot own the program. The price is INSANE. There is absolutely no way in hell Adobe is not aware how out of line what they are charging is.

Kanikas

Community Manager

Hi there,

We hear you!

· Adobe is committed to continually adding more benefits to Creative Cloud plans. The Creative Cloud Pro plan (formerly Creative Cloud All Apps) price is increasing to reflect the significant value we've added to the plan. Please find more details here: https://adobe.ly/4fI8eZ5;

Thanks
^KS

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

Also: " If you want 15 apps you'll pay 45,00 € and so on." -- but surely Adobe will make less profit that way. I don't see them accepting this proposal.

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

By the way, you can license single apps, for $20 each per month (or $30 without a cancellation fee).

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

This is the normal price, for normal use. Most users of Creative Cloud only use 3-4 apps. The bundle includes all apps so it is simpler for Adobe. Think of it like a buffet lunch. You do not get a discount if you ignore most of the dishes. You are not losing out or wasting money.

M

Manan Joshi

Community Expert

The only options are subscription to individual apps or all apps. If you subscribe to individual apps then afer a couple of apps the price total does not justify the subscription individually and there comes in the all apps plan which gives you all the apps so you use what you absolutlely need and then you have some extras that you can use if you want. You can do the calculations to see if the individual plans makes sense for your use case.

https://www.adobe.com/fr/creativecloud/plans.html

For more details you can also contact support. To contact support follow the instructions given below
1. Go to https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html?rghtup=autoOpen
2. Wait a bit on the page that opens up, it should automatically open a chat popup. If that does not happen then look for a call out/chat icon at the bottom right, click over it and the chat popup should open
3. In order to talk to a human type "AGENT" in the chat box
4. If you are not able to get to the chat window, then disable your adblockers, firewall, enable cookies/scripts on your browser. If it still fails then change your browser/machine/network.

P.S. Be mindful of answering anyone who sends you a private message. See the following for more information about scammers
https://tinyurl.com/y7cfrr7y
-Manan

-Manan

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