Review the Switch to Adobe Cloud Subscription
Last Updated on July 29, 2016
“It’s all a bit confusing, but our official recommendation is to stick with the retail versions unless you only plan on using your Adobe product for under two years,” wrote Lifehacker contributor Whitson Gordon in 2012 when Adobe first released its cloud subscription services. “The subscription is great for the short run (that is, if you can’t get a student discount), but it’ll cost you quite a bit more in the long run.”
The Switch to Adobe Cloud Subscription
For those who favored perpetual licenses, the shift to subscription-only services for Adobe users might come as a shock or cause some frustration. The experts at CNET reported when this major change took place in 2013, “Creative Cloud isn’t cheap, and neither were the CS products that came before. But just on the basis of pricing, it’s hard to conclude Adobe is gouging customers much more than it has in recent years.”
Last October, Adobe-centric blog, ProDesignTools, addressed common myths about the Creative Cloud, including the cost of subscription services versus perpetual licensing, “When you add up the price tags of all the individual products you can install and use in the Creative Cloud, the total value is over US $10,000. (The Master Suite by itself historically sells for $2,600, and that’s just part of what you get with a newer CC 2014 release).” ProDesignTools also mentions the updates and upgrades to Adobe apps and tools are included in subscriptions costs, which also allow a user to run these programs on two separate computers (both PCs and Macs).
Current Costs
Currently with subscriptions for Adobe Creative Cloud 2015, individuals can choose from plans starting at $9.99 per month. Businesses can spend as little at $19.99 per month per user for an Adobe Cloud subscription. For students and teachers, an entire year of the Adobe Creative Cloud 2015 only costs $199, and gives the user access to every Adobe app and service.
What People Didn’t Like
Many of the complaints users registered when Adobe rolled out subscription services was not being able to pick and choose the programs you needed. However, individuals can now select specific Adobe apps (everything from PhotoShop to InCopy) for $19.99 per month. For those who only use Adobe products for photography, pay $9.99 per month for Photoshop and Lightroom (desktop, mobile, and web versions).
What People Do Like
The shift to Cloud subscription services means users have more control over their Adobe suite of products. Cherry-pick the apps you need and pay only from what you use. Also, for only $79.98 per month, an individual can subscribe to all of the incredible Adobe Creative Cloud services, including the new Adobe Stock tool.
Change is normally met with pushback, so understandably Adobe license holders aren’t eager to make the move to Cloud subscriptions. However, Adobe is giving its users more freedom and options with its Cloud subscription services than ever before. Make the transition to Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions, and see how this new payment model empowers you to create the suite of apps you need to get the job done.
