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Can I buy Photoshop without a subscription?

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Is it possible to buy Photoshop without a subscription?

I don't use Photoshop often but I feel like it would be awesome to have it for when I do need to use it like once every month or two.

Thanks!

Conrad_CCorrect answer

Community Expert

Think first about which Photoshop features are the most important to you. If they are the features that only Photoshop has or does the best, then you would have to consider the subscription.

But…if the features you need the most are relatively straightforward, like basic correction, you have a very wide variety of inexpensive/free choices now. Photoshop Elements is one choice. Other choices are in the under-$50 range, such as Affinity Photo. And other choices are free, such as GIMP. All of these are inexpensive and non-subscription, and more powerful than some older versions of Photoshop.

But really take a look at what you need before you spend anything. For example, if you mostly need one-click background removal, Apple is building that into the operating system itself (in macOS 13 and iOS 16)…so you no longer even need a photo app to do that!

Glenn 8675309

Legend

No. That's the answer you were looking for 3 years ago.

Now a days: Use Adobe express- even the free version is pretty good.

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Stephen Marsh

Community Expert

And since then, even Elements is now subscription based, no longer "perpetual".

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Trevor.Dennis

Community Expert

And since then, even Elements is now subscription based, no longer "perpetual".

By @Stephen Marsh

Blimey. I didn't know that. I read today that Adobe stock is down 40% (I don't know the time scale). The whole Ai thing is crazy right now. The Google model leaves Firefly and chatgtp for dead, and there seem to be countless incredibly powerful apps appearing. I'm still surprised that Adobe has removed the buy once and own option from Elements though. It's like they are doubling down on the class action (did that happen) about their cancellation policy.

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H

hiko22142512vgbi

Participant

Smae here... is pretty $$ if I choose pay as you go for a small job , like 1-2 mins on photoshop... and I have no clue how to use

Affinity Photo which I might need to look for a class/ course for it . I m stuck with my old IOS system becasue of CS6 , which I really have to update my IOS ....

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Conrad_C

Correct answer

Community Expert

Think first about which Photoshop features are the most important to you. If they are the features that only Photoshop has or does the best, then you would have to consider the subscription.

But…if the features you need the most are relatively straightforward, like basic correction, you have a very wide variety of inexpensive/free choices now. Photoshop Elements is one choice. Other choices are in the under-$50 range, such as Affinity Photo. And other choices are free, such as GIMP. All of these are inexpensive and non-subscription, and more powerful than some older versions of Photoshop.

But really take a look at what you need before you spend anything. For example, if you mostly need one-click background removal, Apple is building that into the operating system itself (in macOS 13 and iOS 16)…so you no longer even need a photo app to do that!

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Mylenium

Legend

GIMP is a free image editor and there are a few others that at least support a sub-set of PS and don't cost a single penny. If your use really is that sporadic and even 10 bucks a month too much you may want to consider those.

Mylenium

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Bojan Živković11378569

Community Expert

If you need to work sometimes and with video files consider buying Ps Elements and Premiere Elements bundle at lower price Buy Adobe Photoshop Elements 2022

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gener7

Community Expert

Photoshop Elements would be the closest you can get for a one time purchase. Photoshop itself has been subscription since 2013, and the 9.99 a month/annual commitment Photography Plan is as close as you can get.

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

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