The Take
Adobe Photoshop is not worth the subscription. It remains the most powerful raster editor available, yet Adobe turned it into a recurring tax that denies ownership and tethers files to an account.
Creative Cloud defaults to cloud features and telemetry while cramming AI tools into the workflow. The result is feature creep that benefits Adobe's revenue more than user control.
The Verdict
The subscription hostage model makes Photoshop a trap rather than a tool. Users pay indefinitely for software they never own while accepting default data collection and feature bloat.
Skip the sub. Buy Affinity Photo 2 for one-time purchase, full ownership, and no recurring tax.
Common Questions
What are the downsides of Adobe Photoshop?
No ownership, files vanish without active subscription, and telemetry runs by default.
What should you buy instead of Adobe Photoshop?
Affinity Photo 2 delivers comparable raster tools via one-time purchase with no account lock-in.
Does Adobe Photoshop require a subscription?
Yes. Perpetual licenses ended years ago, forcing ongoing Creative Cloud payments.
