Adobe Photoshop is a raster graphics editor developed and published by Adobe Inc. for Windows and macOS. It was originally created in 1988 by Thomas and John Knoll.
Since then, the software has become the industry standard not only in raster graphics editing but in digital art as a whole. Photoshop can be used for crafting layouts for web design, creating advertisements and logos, editing photos, and much more.
So, what is the cheapest way to get Adobe Photoshop?
Let’s dive in!
Cheapest Way to Get Adobe Photoshop
There are a few ways to get your hands on a copy of Photoshop without breaking the bank.
Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps – Best for Professionals
Adobe Photoshop and a number of other programs are included in the Adobe Creative Cloud editing suite, which is similar to Microsoft Office but much more comprehensive. Lightroom, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, and Premiere are just some of the popular programs included in Adobe’s Creative Cloud, which is available for a monthly or annual subscription fee and includes all of the other programs in the suite. It’s also possible to choose between several different plans, so you won’t have to shell out cash for the full service if you don’t require it. With the full version of Photoshop included, Adobe Creative Cloud is the best option for professionals and other serious users, but it comes at a premium price. There’s a chance you can save cash on Photoshop by taking advantage of one of the above offers.
Adobe Creative Cloud is a subscription service that gives you access to all of Adobe’s creative apps, including Photoshop. Plans start at $54.99/mo, which makes it one of the most affordable ways to use Photoshop.
Adobe Photoshop Elements – Best for Beginners and Casual Users
The 2023 update of Adobe Photoshop Elements is the best option for beginners and casual users, having replaced the 2022 version as Adobe’s primary entry-level raster graphics editor. For professional work, Creative Cloud (which includes the standard full-featured Photoshop program) is preferable to the standard Photoshop Elements 2023 package because of the latter’s emphasis on 2D graphic design. However, it’s a fantastic option for casual users and enthusiasts because it’s much less expensive than Adobe Creative Cloud and doesn’t require a subscription.
If you don’t need all of the bells and whistles that come with the full version of Photoshop, you can save some money by opting for Adobe Photoshop Elements instead. It’s a lighter version of the program that’s designed for casual users and hobbyists. You can buy it outright for $20.99/mo.
Adobe Lightroom – Budget friendly
Adobe Lightroom is another photo-editing app from Adobe that’s more affordable than Photoshop. It doesn’t have all of the same features as Photoshop, but it’s a good option for those who are looking for something more basic. The plan starts at $9.99/mo.
Photoshop Discounts
Discount/Promost/Special offers throughout the year
Do you want to know where to find Adobe CC coupons?
If you want to save money on Adobe subscriptions, the best thing to do is to follow industry influencers & partners so that you can take advantage of sales as soon as they become available. The Creative Cloud suite of Adobe products, including Photoshop, is regularly on sale throughout the year.
Student/Teacher Discounts
One of the best Photoshop discounts out there is available to students and educators. Those who qualify can save as much as 67% on Creative Cloud services and tools. You might get through Adobe’s verification process more easily if you pretend to be a student, as has been discussed at length in numerous online discussion forums.
Students can save 60% on the annual cost of a Creative Cloud membership. This plan normally costs US$52.99 per month but is only US$19.99 per month with the student discount because it includes all the Adobe Apps. To qualify for the student discount, you must provide proof that you are enrolled at an approved school, or sign up for an Adobe account using your school’s email address.
To apply for a students discount:
Visit the Adobe products page, then click on the tab labeled “Students and Teachers” (highlighted in red) and finally click on Buy now to purchase the student plan. If you want to speed up the verification process, prepare the following documents beforehand:
- School IS membership that has not yet expired
- Letter of acceptance or job offer
- Schedule of Classes
- Transcript of records
In these files, you must have:
- Full name
- Date of Issuance
- School Name (Complete)
- Semester (students only)
3 of the Best Alternatives to Photoshop
Here is a list of the best alternatives to Photoshop, depending on your specific needs, if you still find the price to be prohibitive.
Procreate
If you’re looking for a painting app for the iPad, we advise trying Procreate. What started out as a basic drawing program in 2010 has matured into a powerful professional resource, winning several Apple Design Awards along the way.
Our testing revealed an intuitive interface loaded with features that would appeal to creative types; these included photo-realistic pencils and inks, advanced layer compositing, and specialized digital tools. With the new palm support, you won’t have to worry about inadvertently sketching on your canvas, and you can experiment with the wide variety of brushes available in Procreate.
Procreate is compatible with both second and first-generation Apple Pencils, depending on the iPad model you’re using. More so, an iPhone version of Procreate called Procreate Pocket has been out since 2019. Amazing new capabilities, such as painting 3D models, stabilizing strokes, offering page assistance, and examining 3D models in augmented reality were introduced in the 5.2 release back in November.
Although it lacks some of Photoshop’s photo-editing features, it provides the vast majority of what’s needed for digital painting. The Procreate website offers a free user guide that explains the app’s features and how to use them.
Pixelmator Pro
Pixelmator Pro, available exclusively on Mac, is a photo editor, illustration tool, and painting tool all in one. Features such as split screen viewing and non-destructive image editing are made possible.
Because of its excellent simplicity, even newcomers won’t get lost. Furthermore, if you just want to see your image without any other clutter, you can make use of the excellent “hidden interface” option. If you’re looking for all of Photoshop’s features, the original is still your best bet. Our review found Pixelmator to be inexpensive, small in size, quick to learn, and fun to use; thus, it could be ideal for occasional users who need to perform simple Photoshop-like tasks.
Affinity photo
When compared to Photoshop, the closest app we’ve found is Affinity Photo, both in terms of user interface and functionality. It’s designed specifically for serious photographers and designers, and it’s fully compatible with Photoshop and other file formats. It’s a better deal than Photoshop in the long run because it’s available for a one-time purchase rather than a subscription.
Affinity Photo is less hardware-intensive than Photoshop, though this can vary depending on your setup (Photo was developed to make use of the latest quad-core technology). It may be missing some features that Photoshop offers, like neural filters, but it still manages to pack a lot of useful tools into its interface. The use of “personas,” which are essentially specialized toolkits for specific tasks, has been especially fruitful.
In addition to Mac and Windows computers, you can also use Affinity Photo on your iPad. If you’re in the market for a cheap alternative to Photoshop, you should give Affinity Photo a try.
Conclusion
After you’ve invested in either a subscription service or a full version of Photoshop, you won’t have to worry about upgrading it anymore. There are too many other versions of Photoshop at this point, and they all offer something different. So while there’s no way of telling what might be coming down the pipe in the future, you know you can use it now and get the most out of it.
When it comes to raster graphics editing, Photoshop is still king. But even Photoshop isn’t perfect. The only way to truly become good at Photoshop is to practice, and practice is where the best way to do that is to use more than one software on the same project.
So, while you should invest in Photoshop, you also need to invest in one of these other software tools. The best thing to do is to check out these tools in person if possible, then try them out for yourself. And don’t forget to implement them into your workflow so you can improve your photography, graphic design, and web design skills.
