Is Adobe Bridge still free to download?

[floramc]

Hello everybody!

I have a question about Adobe Bridge and the subscription. Since some years I teach photo archive and when Bridge became free to download, I use that as my main tool in the classrooms.

The classes I started two weeks ago told me that they had a warning their trial is about to expire and they have to subscribe. But isn't Bridge free to download? Why are they required to subscribe? Have I missed something these months?

Thanks in advance.

[ProDesignTools]

Yes, Bridge CC is still free.

It could be that Adobe started a free trial for every CC tool when they first downloaded Bridge (i.e., via the CC Desktop app), and the email notifications are automatic on that.

If you want to just get Bridge on its own, then you can use the direct download link instead. For more details, see:

It’s True: Adobe Bridge CC Is Completely Free for Everyone, for Life

[nbirkett51]

Is this still true with the new 2018 release (version 9.0)?  The Bridge 'what's new' page is now saying:

Bridge now provides a new sign-in and sign-out model that aims to deliver a secure, modern, and seamless application licensing experience. When you launch Bridge, a sign-in window prompts you to log in with your Adobe ID and password. If you are already signed in using your Adobe ID from a Creative Cloud application, the sign-in window does not appear and the same login credentials are used.

To sign out and exit Bridge, choose Help > Sign Out. Once you sign out from Bridge, you will be signed out from all Adobe applications installed on your system.

To me, that implies that Bridge can no longer be used without a CC license,

[nbirkett51]

Not free any longer!

FWIW, I just tested this and Bridge will no longer work unless you have a CC license.

I downloaded the new Bridge 9.0.  Then then signed out of my CC account and started the new Bridge.  It brought up a 'sign-in to CC' log-in screen.  When I closed the log-in screen without entering my credentials, Bridge just closed down.

Yet another promise that Adobe isn't keeping? 

[Jeff Arola]

I wonder if it works if one has a free Creative Cloud account like when someone creates an account to do a trial of a creative cloud application like photoshop?

[ProDesignTools]

Not to worry, the new version of Bridge CC is definitely still free - it's just that a login is now required for everyone, even for the free level of Creative Cloud membership.

(This may not be obvious to you since you are a paid subscriber, but that's the scoop.)

[nbirkett51]

Wow.  I had no idea.  This looks like a new option.  Looks like a very good deal.  Thanks for clarifying the situation.  Guess my earlier comment was a bit over the top

[ProDesignTools]

You're welcome; glad to help!

[Ash-f]

Is there an evidence from Adobe itself?
Some support rep says a premium plan is required, some says the free plan is ok, very confusing.

[expansionlink]

Sadly, Adobe Bridge is no longer free. I seemed to have missed the boat.

[gary_sc]

Nope, it's still free. 

You do have to have an Adobe account (free) and you do have to install Adobe Creative Cloud (free), but then you can download it for free.

What you can do with Bridge all by itself: see the various files in your media folder. You can look at your images, rate them, label them, rename them, etc. Unless you have a copy of Photoshop on your computer you cannot look at any raw image. You cannot enhance any image (becuase you do not have Photoshop nor Adobe Camera Raw (becuase you do not have Photoshop installed. Bridge, by itself will not work with Photoshop Express, you need the full version of Photoshop and can obtain that by one of the many Photoshop Plans. [https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/compare-plans.html]

[defaultmsr3w6o01fp0]

Then, it is not "free". Just now, in order to post the comment, I had to update my Adobe account and provide yet additional personal information -- just to post this comment. Yes, I've had and account for many years but stopped logging in many years ago, when Adobe went all "cloud" based. So, Adobe requires me to supply it with an abundance of personal and usage information in order to use Brdige. In legal terms that means it is NOT FREE. Adobe requires me to give up something in exchange for using Bridge.

[Lumigraphics]

It requires a FREE account. I'm certain that Adobe's lawyers have vetted that requirement.

[傑偉73017009]

Is Adobe Bridge CC 2019 free of charge?

[Chuck Uebele]

I believe so. You can't do any correction, like in Camera Raw, unless you have a subscription for other Adobe products, but you can use it as a browser.

[John Waller]

“It’s True: Adobe Bridge CC Is 100% Free for You to Download & Use“

https://prodesigntools.com/free-adobe-bridge-cc.html

[Lumigraphics]

Both Lightroom and Bridge are free to download and use but have feature limitations.

[ProDesignTools]

Hi Lumigraphics​,

Actually, Bridge CC does not have any feature limitations for anyone, ever... It is free for everyone, always.

If you want to edit in Adobe Camera Raw (or Lightroom), then that is feature-restricted without a paid CC plan. But that is not Bridge.

[Lumigraphics]

ACR is integrated with Bridge and most people won't make a distinction. If I use a built-in menu command that doesn't work because I am on the free version, that's a feature limitation.

[ProDesignTools]

Well, ACR is integrated with Photoshop as well. So it is separate and seems an important distinction. Thus the only menu item in Bridge that works differently with a paid CC subscription is File > Open in Camera Raw...

[Sahil.Chawla · Accepted solution]

Hi All,

Adobe Bridge is not completely free. There are certain scenarios that require you to have a subscription to use specific features in Adobe Bridge.

For example; If you want to open a raw file in the Camera Raw plugin through Bridge to make edits on it, you'll get an error saying "Camera Raw editing is not enabled". It requires a qualifying product on the computer (like Photoshop) to access the Camera Raw Plugin. This means If you do not have a subscription for Photoshop, then you won't be able to use the Camera Raw plugin through Adobe Bridge. Please check this link to know more about this: https://helpx.adobe.com/bridge/kb/camera-raw-editing-not-enabled.html

For more information on Adobe Bridge please have a look at this featured community post: What is Adobe Bridge and who it is for now?

Centralize Your Creative Assets with Adobe Bridge | Adobe Creative Cloud

Hope this info helps.
Regards,
Sahil

[Ash-f]

So people without a premium plan is allowed to use Bridge except those features?

[Newzlady]

Hi,

I'm wondering if I download the latest free version of Adobe Bridge, will it conflict with the CS5 Adobe software that I have installed (including Bridge)?  My CS5 Bridge does not have the Create a Web Photo Gallery option and that's what I'm seeking.

[gary_sc]

Hi Newzlady,

I have bad news for you, Bridge has not had the "Create a Web Photo Gallery" for many many years so if you did get the latest version of Bridge (that may or may not work on the computer you are using but also would probably not work with your copies of Photoshop or any other software you have), it would also not have the ability to make Web Galleries either. 

You might try looking for other software that can do that. I'm sorry.

[Jeff Arola]

Newzlady,

Bridge CS5 should have a Web Gallery under Output, albeit only the HTML Gallery is of any use now, since Flash has been removed from all recent internet browsers.

(Window>Workspace>Output)

If in Bridge you go to Help>About Bridge, what version does it say?