Adobe Acrobat Pro version that will work after leaving university

[Rebecca290033909lgs]

I am trying to figure out which version of Adobe Acrobat Pro I should get with my university research funds. I need a version that will continue working on my personal computer after I leave my university. I know I do not want a subscription (since it would expire) and it seems that the best option would be a one-off license for Acrobat Pro 2020 (the last version that does not require a subscription) which costs around $600.

However my university (the one I am leaving soon) has offered to purchase a $250 version of this license (using their CLP arrrangement) that would be linked to my university email address. The university email address will be deleted soon so I will need to change the email on the account to my personal email as soon as the license is purchased. Does anyone know if this is doable, particularly for products that the CLP arrangement that apparently offers a significant discount? If not, what would you suggest I purchase given that I need a product that permits a change of email and which will be accessible after I leave the university? Thanks!

[try67]

Why not use what the University offers you while you can, and when that expires think which version suits you best, instead of trying to game the system? I do think that the subscription option is best, especially considering that Acrobat 2020 is becoming more and more outdated (as the name suggests) and has less frequent updates. Plus, you'll be stuck with that version if you buy it, unless you purchase an upgrade in the future (assuming one will exist!), while the subscription allows you to stop (and restart) whenever you want (more or less, depending on whether it's a monthly or annual one), and to always have the most up-to-date version.

[Rebecca290033909lgs]

The simple answer is that I cannot afford to pay for Adobe after leaving my position. Subscription based models don't suit my lifestyle at all. I don't need updates or the latest technology. I just want to go somewhere far away from even internet access, in order to write. I will continue to need access to a PDF reader  that allows me to annotate (unlike the regular Acrobat Reader) and am quite happy with the older versions. So I'm just trying to figure out the matter of changing my email. These are funds I have earned from my research so I don't think it's gaming the system; just seeking somehing I can use long term.

[try67]

Reader does allow you to add comments of all types, and it's free. Unless you need to create PDF files, or edit existing ones in a more advanced way, the free Acrobat Reader should be sufficient.

You're only allowed to use the discounted version while you're a student (or teacher) in a qualifying institution. When that ends your license will expire and you won't be able to use it beyond that period. I think (not 100% sure) it's validated on a yearly basis, though, so if you manage to get it during your last year as a student you can continue to use it for that full year, even if you were only a student for the first couple of months. Anything else goes beyond the T&C of the Educational license and may not be discussed here.

[try67]

PS. You should NOT be using Acrobat to write! It's not a word processing application, like Word. You should only be using it to convert other file formats (like Word documents) to a PDF file.