When it comes to digital graphic design, no software really holds a candle to Photoshop. Adobe’s app suite has been the go-to toolbox for professionals and hobbyists around the globe for decades, but seeing as it’s paid software, you naturally want to know what you’re buying and make sure that you’re getting your money’s worth. We can help: Below, we’ve rounded up all the best Adobe Photoshop deals and lowest prices available this month, followed by a quick run-down of the different packages to choose from.
Best Adobe Photoshop deals
- Photoshop Elements 2021 For Dummies — $25, was $35
- Adobe Photoshop Classroom in a Book (2020 Edition, Kindle) — $35, was $48
- Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Elements 18 — $70, was $150
- Adobe Photoshop Elements + Premiere Elements 2022 Student and Teacher Edition — $80
- Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan (Photoshop + Lightroom) - One Year License — $120
- Adobe Photoshop Elements 2021 and Premiere Elements 2021 — $135, was $150
- Adobe Photoshop CC - One Year license — $240
A beginner’s guide to Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop has been around for decades and has evolved a lot during that time. The popular, full-featured Photoshop program that most of us think of when we think of this software is now part of the Creative Cloud suite, which is a larger bundle of Adobe programs designed for professionals. That said, you can still get Photoshop by itself if you wish, or Photoshop with some other Creative Cloud apps, without paying for the whole bundle (although although at about $20 per month for Photoshop alone, buying one of the above Photoshop bundle deals is a much better value overall). Just bear in mind that these programs, including the standard Photoshop app, are subscription-based.
For those after something a bit more pared-down, however, as well as for casual users who don’t want to be tied to a monthly or yearly payment plan, there is Adobe Photoshop Elements. Originally released with Adobe Photoshop 6, Photoshop Elements is a simpler software suite that’s more geared toward photo editing and simple graphic design tasks rather than for serious professional work. It’s naturally cheaper and it doesn’t follow a subscription-based payment model. Like pretty much all Adobe software, both Adobe Photoshop Elements 2021 and the Creative Cloud software packages are available for both Windows and Mac.
Adobe Creative Cloud
Adobe Creative Cloud is a suite of multiple editing apps — think something akin to Microsoft Office, except even more expansive — that contains the full-featured Adobe Photoshop graphic design program along with a bundle of other software. The full Creative Cloud umbrella covers apps like Lightroom, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, and Premiere, to name only a few of the most popular, and follows a subscription-based structure where you pay a monthly or yearly fee (a yearly plan is arguably the best way to score an Adobe Photoshop deal here). There are different plans available as well, so you don’t necessarily have to pay for the whole thing if you don’t need it. Adobe Creative Cloud is premium software with a price tag to match, but it contains the full-featured version of Photoshop and is far and away the best choice for professionals and other serious users. One of the above Photoshop deals may also help you save some money on it, too.
Adobe Photoshop Elements 2021
Released last year, the latest 2021 revision of Adobe Photoshop Elements succeeded the 2020 version (which itself succeeded Photoshop LE) as Adobe’s entry-level raster graphics editor and is the best choice for amateur and casual users. The standard Photoshop Elements 2021 package is more focused on photography and photo editing than on 2D graphic design, making it less useful than Creative Cloud (which features the standard full-featured Photoshop program) for professional use. Nonetheless, it’s a great pick for hobbyists and general users, especially when you consider that it’s considerably cheaper than Adobe Creative Cloud and doesn’t tether you to a monthly or yearly payment plan.
Is Adobe Photoshop a subscription?
Adobe Photoshop Elements is a one-time purchase, so when you buy it, you own that license for life with no subscription fees. The more full-featured and professional-grade Adobe Creative Cloud apps and bundles, on the other hand, are subscription-based (not unlike Microsoft’s Office 365 suite), but you don’t have to pay for the whole thing to get Photoshop. Packages like the Creative Cloud Photography Plan, which bundles Photoshop with Lightroom, represent some cheaper options for those who only need particular apps. Also, a good way to score an Adobe Photoshop deal on these subscription-based plans is to look for discounts on a yearly license paid in advance rather than month to month.
Does Adobe Photoshop work on Chromebook?
As of now, Adobe Photoshop and other Creative Cloud apps are only available for Windows and MacOS. However, those of you who work on a Chromebook aren’t without some options: Chrome OS users can download Photoshop Express, the mobile version of Photoshop which works on a Chromebook thanks to the operating system’s compatibility with Android apps. Chrome OS also allows for remote desktop control, meaning you can use your Chromebook to remotely access a PC or Mac that’s running Adobe Photoshop and use it that way.
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