BUY ADOBE – Creative Review

I still vividly remember how shocked I was back in 2013 when I learned that the new 20GB Photography Plan subscription would cost only $9.99 per month—and it included both Photoshop and Lightroom. When I first started using Adobe software, Photoshop alone cost hundreds of pounds (or dollars for everyone else), so pricing it that low seemed almost too good to be true.

Now, more than ten years later, while the cost of almost everything else has risen significantly, the Photography Plan has remained unchanged. A price increase felt long overdue, and I have to admit, I was worried about how substantial it might be.

POZNAN, POL – DEC 4, 2022: Laptop computer displaying logotypes of Adobe Creative Cloud, a set of applications and services from Adobe Systems

That day has finally come: Adobe has just announced its new pricing. But the news is much, much better than I expected!

In a hurry? Here are the key points:

Monthly prices are increasing, but annual plans remain the same—and yes, you can switch to an annual payment to avoid the hike.
The 20GB Photography Plan monthly rate will rise from $9.99 to $14.99, but the annual price stays at $119.88.
The 1TB Photography Plan remains unchanged.
The Lightroom 1TB Plan monthly price will increase from $9.99 to $11.99, while the annual price stays at $119.88.
These changes only take effect on your next annual renewal date.
(Exact prices vary by country and currency, of course.)
Lightroom Classic is now included in the Lightroom 1TB Plan (when purchased directly from Adobe). So if you don’t use Photoshop, you can switch to get more cloud storage.
The 20GB Photography Plan will no longer be available to new subscribers after January 15th. If you haven’t subscribed yet, there’s still time to join. (And if you’re already subscribed, don’t let it expire—you won’t be able to re-subscribe to this plan.)

Adobe’s Official Announcements
Here’s the detailed blog post from Adobe.

I also recommend reading these helpful FAQ pages:

Photography Plan 20GB Pricing Changes FAQ
Lightroom 1TB Plan Pricing Changes FAQ

What about the 50% increase people are talking about?
I’ve already seen complaints about a 50% price jump. And it’s true—the 20GB Photography Plan is going from $9.99 to $14.99 per month, which is indeed a 50% increase. But if you switch to an annual plan at your renewal, the price won’t change at all—even after more than ten years!

What should I do?

These changes only apply at your annual renewal date, so most people have plenty of time to decide. Just be careful not to let your current subscription lapse, as you may not be able to resubscribe at the same rate.
If you want to lock in the 2013 price by switching to an annual plan, you can do so anytime before your next renewal. Adobe typically sends a reminder email about 30 days in advance. To make the change, go to your Adobe Account and click “Manage Plan.” You may see an “Update Subscription” button, though it can be a bit unreliable at times. Alternatively, you can contact Adobe Support.
If you usually buy prepaid codes from sites like Amazon, don’t switch to an annual plan too early—you could lose your existing credit. Wait until just before your current plan expires.
If you don’t use Photoshop and are interested in switching to the Lightroom 1TB plan, customer service can assist. But hold off for now—Lightroom Classic isn’t available in that plan yet. Although no specific date has been confirmed, it’s expected to be added after the January 15th price update.
Update as of January 15th, 2025: Lightroom Classic is now listed as included in the Lightroom 1TB plan on Adobe’s sales pages.
If you don’t have a subscription yet and want Photoshop at this bargain price, sign up for the 20GB Photography Plan before January 15th. After that, you’ll need to choose the 1TB Photography Plan, which costs $19.99.