Adobe’s confusing subscription model has long been a source of frustration for creatives, with many feeling trapped by complex terms and difficult cancellations. It comes as little surprise, then, that the company is now facing a class action lawsuit accusing it of deliberately misleading customers.
While Adobe remains a leading choice for professional creative software, recent moves—including price increases and controversial AI integrations—have eroded trust among its user base. Growing backlash signals trouble for the once-dominant software giant.
The lawsuit was filed by plaintiffs Stephanie Wohlfiel and Vianca Marquez, who claim Adobe employs “unlawful and deceptive practices” meant to “hide and limit the accessibility of important information.” According to the legal complaint, the company intentionally designs its subscription system to “trick consumers into unknowingly signing up for expensive plans,” with many users being “routinely misled about subscription durations, renewal conditions, and cancellation policies.”
The case further argues that Adobe uses “the lure of a free trial” to obtain customers’ payment information, while making cancellation so “intentionally burdensome” that people end up stuck paying for subscriptions they no longer want. Combined with poorly disclosed early termination fees, these tactics have allegedly allowed Adobe to profit at the expense of misled consumers.
Wohlfiel and Marquez seek to represent all U.S. consumers who were charged early cancellation fees or paid for an annual Adobe plan within the past four years. They are demanding a jury trial and seeking restitution, damages, and injunctive relief to prevent these practices from continuing.
