converting from LR 5.0 to 1TB subscription plan

It seems that some people envision switching to Lightroom (the cloud version) as having exactly the same Lightroom, all the features, but everything is now magically saved in the cloud, no problems life goes on like before. Well, that just isn't so. Lightroom is different. It doesn't have all the same features. Files are not organized the same, it is only possible to have a single catalog which the user doesn't really have what I consider direct access to. There is no print capability, images are not organized in the typical file structure that you may be accustomed to, and I feel that there is somewhat of a "barrier" between me and my images. It simply isn't as easy to work with images in Lightroom as it is to work with them in LrC.

But if your main goal is to be able to access images on your computer, your iPad, your mobile phone, and any other mobile device, and be able to edit those images on any of those devices and have those edits affect all the devices, then Lightroom might be a good choice for you. It's a great tool for those who are really into social media, in my opinion. But I consider Lightroom to be more of a "Lightroom lite". Whenever I use it it just feels like a toy.

Synchronization between devices doesn't seem to be 100% reliable. Image counts often seem to show discrepancies. Procedures that you may find common in the Lightroom you have been using just don't work anymore. Maybe these differences will disappear sometime in the future. Maybe you can adapt and tolerate the differences in the meantime. Personally Lightroom Classic is a much better choice for me. But everyone sees the programs differently, you will have to form your own opinion.

These are my personal observations and opinions. Others may have differing opinions. My main purpose for using Lightroom is for when I occasionally take an image using my iPhone on which I have the mobile Lightroom app installed. That image is automatically transferred to my Lightroom Classic, and that is where I do my editing.

Much appreciated. Nice to hear from two who understand LR issues. I've looked on line for answers, but that's the first time I've heard about 3 not 2 versions.

1) I'll figure out a local solution for backup. That's one concern solved. 

2) More importantly though, I seemingly just received 2 different answers to my question about preserving keyword tags and folder hierarchy. My highest two priorities, in order: a) preserving keyword tags and folder hiearchyl b) being able to access and edit from both my desktop PC and my laptop (I'll never need to access/edit from a cell phone.) I'd be happy to pay for the $19.99/mon Photography plan to achieve both, but I think I'm hearing that's not possible - or is it? Maybe my best hope to achieve both priorities is to subscribe to the $19.99/mon Photography Plan, use the new LrC and use an external drive to hold my Lr catalog so I can switch it back and forth between desktop and laptop. That said, I'm still troubled about the two different answers to preserving my keyword tags and folder hierarchy. If I use the new LrC and access my catalog from a movable external hard drive, will my keywords and folders be preserved? I will GREATLY appreciate any response, and your continuing support!

Thank you, I've literally been struggling to make a decision for months.   

I think you have some grave misconception.

First there is no Lightroom CC. That name, the CC part, was retired several years ago.

There are 3 versions of the Lr program.

Lr Classic (LrC) which is the Traditional version of Lr. Just like Lr 5 that you are currently using only updated with new feature and only available in the Subscription model.

Lr Desktop (LrD) which is the newer version that is Tied to Adobe Cloud system (Cloud Based) but only runs on REAL Desktop and Notebook Computers.

And

Lr Mobile (LrM) which is the version for mobile devices that run iOS and Android operating systems.

Then of course the Web (Cloud) version that runs in a Web Browser from over the internet.

If you sign up for the Photography plan for $9.99 a month you get LrC, Ps and LrM (I guess you can also install LrD) but only 20GBs of Online storage space (NOTE that when you upload images as Smart Preview from LrC collections (the only way to upload images from LrC) those Smart Preview are NOT Counted against your 20GBs of storage space).

The only time the Adobe Online storage space is used is IF you upload images from the LrM app or if you specifically use the Web interface and manually copy (Upload) images through the Web interface.

You can and Should move your Lr 5 catalog file over to LrC and it will be converted to a style that works properly with the newer version of LrC and WILL PRESERVE all your editing, Keywords, Collections, Labeling, Staring and whatever else you can think of just like it was in the Lr 5 Catalog file.

IMHO you do not need 1TB of storage space and you Should NOT use ANY Online storage system as a reliable solution for backing up any and all of your important files including your image files. That should be done locally and maybe some online system as a secondary, Just In Case everything else fails, solution. But IMHO NOT your First step in secure backup plan.

So FIRST STOP Using the CC after the word Lightroom. None of the current versions of Lr have CC in the names of the programs and or interfaces.

It will only confuse you and whoever you are talking to about whichever Lr program you want help with.

I will try some answers as I understand them-

(Lightroom-Classic is the upgraded Lightroom v5.0.  Lightroom is the 'new' Cloud based editor.   "CC" is no longer used in software names.)

I'm a legacy LR 5.0 user who cannot afford to lose my keyword tags and folder hierarchy by moving to Lightroom CC.

You will likely lose both!  The 'Cloud' ecosystem does not support a Folder Hierarchy it uses Date based sort, or Albums, and Keywords do not sync between the Lightroom (Flat) & Lightroom-Classic (Hierarchal) keyword systems.

But if I sign up for the $19.99/mon LR plan,

No. Because the 'Lightroom Plan' does NOT include Lightroom-Classic! (the v5 replacement). You would need to subscribe to the 'Photography Plan 1TB' for US$19.99 to have both Lightroom & Lightroom-Classic with 1Tb.

can I use new Lightroom Classic to access and edit photos on my hard drive

Yes. Just as before with v5.

 and only use the 1TB of cloud storage that comes with the plan to store my 600GB photo archive for backup purposes?

No. The Cloud is not a place for a Backup archive! Buy an external Hard-drive to Backup files.

Or will uploading my photos to the cloud force me to use  Lightroom CC? Thanks.

Yes. Lightroom  does require you to 'import' your photos to Cloud storage, but again, it is not a Backup situation!

It gets complicated! You need to decide which software version is going to be the 'Master' and stick with that.

COMPARE LR & LR-CLASSIC (Lr Queen)

! lightroom-cc-vs-lightroom-classic.html

I upgraded from Lr5 to Lr-Classic (Photography Plan 20Gb) some time ago. Lr-Classic is my 'Master'. All my original files are stored locally and backed up to local drives.  I sync selected photos in Collections to the Cloud where I can edit them on my iPhone (using Lr-Mobile) or on my Laptop when travelling (using Lr-Desktop v4.1 )