Facing Adobe’s 50% Price Hike? Discover Your Next Steps!

Once again, Adobe has severely undermined photographers by implementing a staggering 50% hike in their subscription fees. Additionally, they have ceased new subscriptions for the most affordable photography plan. What are our options?

It’s true that there hasn’t been an annual price increment since the introduction of the Photographer’s Plan in 2013. However, Adobe’s earnings demonstrated substantial growth from 2013 to 2023. In 2013, as reported by online sources, the company had a net income of approximately $1.011 billion. By 2023, this number escalated to about $19 billion, with a profit margin increasing from $14.55 billion in 2022, and it continues to grow.

In the UK, my payment is £9.98/month for Lightroom Classic, Lightroom, and Photoshop, along with 20 GB of cloud storage, which I rarely utilize. This fee is escalating to £14.99. Given that the dollar has a lower value than the pound, pricing is more favorable in the US. Nevertheless, on that side of the Atlantic, there’s a comparable percentage increase from $9.99 to $14.99 per month. That equates to roughly a 50% jump.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with a business earning a profit. In fact, my photography business does. However, the primary function of a business is to deliver a product or service to its clientele, and profit becomes a desirable byproduct. When the focus shifts solely to financial gain and seemingly disregards its customers, respect for that company diminishes, and clients may choose to leave. Increasingly, conversations are happening within the photography and broader art sectors about taking such actions.

My Personal Encounter

When I subscribe, I anticipate meaningful enhancements each year; however, the updates have been rather uninspired, yielding unsatisfactory outcomes. The latest lens blur feature in Lightroom is inconsistent in determining what it perceives as the background, and its AI denoising algorithm falls short compared to other available applications despite claims of using our images to train its AI. Furthermore, its generative AI Remove tool often produces poor results, frequently adding bizarre elements to the photos.

Moreover, I did not receive any direct notification from Adobe informing me of the price increase.

No Longer Able to Sign Up for the 20 GB Plan

Adobe is preventing new users from enrolling in the basic 20 GB Cloud Photographer’s Plan. Instead, they are compelling new subscribers to opt for the pricier $19.99/month 1 TB plan. Naturally, if you acquire 1 TB of storage, you are likely to become more dedicated to using it indefinitely, as transferring it to another service can be quite challenging.

Similar to major camera manufacturers that produced inexpensive, low-grade, short-lasting DSLRs to ensnare novice photographers into their brand, Adobe seems to be treating photographers with disdain.

What alternatives do we have? First, if you wish to exit the plan and are more than a month away from your contract renewal date, you must incur a penalty. Adobe’s cancellation charge is 50% of the remaining balance on your contract if you cancel more than 14 days after your initial purchase. Therefore, it may be beneficial to wait for the renewal date prior to canceling.

However, if you are resolved to maintain an Adobe plan—and I can understand why numerous individuals might—you could consider informing them of your intention to cancel. I did precisely that, and after sparring with their bot—which failed to comprehend the straightforward inquiries I rephrased numerous times—my request was elevated until I conversed with someone who provided me with the following response:

I understand your desire to terminate the plan. However, if you decide to continue, I would be pleased to present you with a discounted fee of GBP 8.33/month for a year + 3 complimentary months. This means you will be paying the reduced rate for only 9 months while receiving services for a total of 12 months. How does that sound to you?

Similar to negotiating phone contracts, household utilities, and insurance policies, expressing your intention to leave can lead to a more favorable deal. Personally, I save over $1,000 annually by doing so.

What Other Options Are There? Departing from Adobe

If you opt to cancel, it’s important to note that Lightroom Classic’s Library function will continue to be operational. However, you won’t have the ability to develop or directly open images into third-party software. That said, you can access the image location via your file browser/explorer and open the image in alternative applications in that manner.

It could be somewhat cumbersome. However, there are substitutes.

The ON1 Choice

Thus, if you desire to maintain a streamlined and effective workflow without unnecessary additional steps, the most apparent alternative is to transition to ON1 Photo Raw. This is because ON1’s catalog capabilities closely resemble those of Lightroom. Furthermore, in Lightroom Classic, you can export your catalog directly to ON1. After installing ON1, you can find it in the File Menu > Plug-in Extras > Migrate Catalog to ON1 Photo. The migration process may take considerable time if you opt to transfer not only the catalog but also the settings from Lightroom’s Develop module, which can also be included.

I discovered that these not-quite-accurate translations required some adjustments anyway.

ON1 has significantly progressed over the past few years. It is reliable and noticeably quicker than the Lightroom Classic/Photoshop duo. In addition to providing raw processing outcomes that I have consistently preferred over Adobe’s, its image-layered editing feature is integrated into the same application, allowing for much quicker transitions between the various modules compared to switching between Lightroom Classic and Photoshop.

In contrast to Photoshop, the layered modifications, referred to as Effects in ON1, each come with a small preview that illustrates the effect’s function, making it considerably more approachable for novices than Photoshop.

Additionally, its Noise and Sharpening section is worth noting. I find it much more effective than Adobe’s options, with its “Tack Sharp” deblur combined with NoNoise results being spot on.

There’s a lot more to this software, and following my thorough evaluations, I will soon be reviewing the latest version, ON1 Photo Raw 2025. It’s an outstanding application with a comprehensive array of tools. Furthermore, it is priced significantly lower than Adobe’s offerings. While a much cheaper subscription is available, they have honored their commitment to providing a perpetual license. In other words, you can purchase it outright and only pay for an upgrade later if you deem it necessary.

ON1 also includes a mobile application similar to Lightroom.

You can investigate the various package choices and download a free trial of ON1 Photo Raw by clicking or tapping here.

DxO Photolab 8: Development Software for Serious Photographers

DxO PhotoLab received an update recently, and I will be reviewing it soon. There are several compelling reasons why dedicated photographers consider this a significant leap forward. As another perpetual license (one-time payment) choice to Adobe, it also possesses notable advantages over its rivals.

I edit photos for various purposes and utilize different software based on the results I aim to achieve. All raw development software packages deliver distinct outcomes. However, when it comes to printing photos and obtaining the best possible results, DxO PhotoLab is my go-to choice due to its exceptional output.

When developing your images, you likely desire the highest quality results as well. I had been using Adobe Camera Raw and later Lightroom since their initial releases, and I was generally satisfied with the outcomes. Over time, I developed a fair set of skills with those tools. I was content until I began experimenting with different software and discovered superior options. However, when I first tested PhotoLab, I exclaimed, “Wow!” audibly.

It’s intricate, yet not overly complicated. With sophisticated algorithms applied in its development adjustments, it offers remarkable control over tone and color that, in my opinion, surpasses anything else currently available. Admittedly, Capture One also yields fantastic results, but similar to Photoshop, it is now exclusively accessible through a subscription model that many photographers find off-putting and is pricier. Its various DeepPrime denoising features are unparalleled.

PhotoLab includes presets that serve as excellent starting points for developing your images. Plus, it offers a vast array of FilmPacks that authentically replicate the aesthetics of countless film types from the inception of photography to the present day.

Furthermore, the lens profiles are vastly superior to any alternatives on the market. For instance, uniquely, every focal length setting for nearly every lens available is individually corrected throughout its entire zoom range. It’s not merely one adjustment applied to a lens regardless of its focal length.

PhotoLab’s PhotoLibrary provides a way to access your images through a database. As a result, you can input information about the photos and swiftly locate images. Utilizing the simple search box allows the retrieval of shot dates, file names, IPTC data, ratings, and more.

Though it does not match the extensive functionality of Lightroom or ON1’s catalog, PhotoLab’s PhotoLibrary is effective. Unlike Lightroom, it also functions as a file browser. This is one area where I wish it had more features. However, you are able to open raw files from Lightroom and ON1 in PhotoLab if you require the extra library tools provided by those applications.

Editing Software Alternatives to Photoshop

If you wish to conduct intricate layered edits on your images, there are other software options available. Many Photoshop users initially honed their skills on the free and open-source GIMP. It has recently undergone a significant update, making it less cumbersome and more user-friendly than it previously was. Its interface is akin to Photoshop, but it is less instinctive and requires some learning. Nonetheless, for those on a tight budget, it’s an excellent choice.

To access raw files, you will need to install either RawTherapee or Darktable, both of which are also free.

If you are a Windows user, there is another fantastic free photo editing application called paint.net available at getpaint.net. (If you prefer to purchase it, you may do so through the Microsoft Store.) It features an intuitive interface, supports layers, and offers a vast array of powerful adjustment tools.

Affinity Photo is an economical, popular, and robust development and editing software. It also possesses a raw development tool that provides commendable results. Many photographers are opting for this alternative.

In Conclusion

It’s not just photographers who are feeling disenchanted with Adobe. My son is currently pursuing his Master’s in digital art, and within the various academic and professional circles he engages in, there is considerable discourse regarding dissatisfaction and a growing appreciation for alternative options.

For us photographers, there are numerous additional choices available that perform as well or even surpass Adobe’s capabilities in processing our images, and certainly at a lower price.

If you are satisfied with Adobe’s offerings, enjoy the results, and are comfortable with the substantial price increase, then that’s wonderful for you. Nevertheless, many people are dissatisfied and are choosing alternatives.

December is an opportune time to consider switching to another program or challenging Adobe regarding their pricing, as in under a year, you will be well-positioned for the exceptional Black Friday deals that typically occur each year.