Who actually needs an Adobe All Apps subscription?

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Who actually needs an Adobe All Apps subscription?

The all singing, all dancing package in Adobe's portfolio - but how much do you need to use all those apps to get your money's worth?

Published on 12th March 2025

Adobe’s All Apps subscription sounds like a dream for creatives — access to Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, After Effects, and more in one bundle. But do you really need all of these apps?

While Adobe positions it as the ultimate creative toolkit, the reality is that most users won’t get their money’s worth. Let’s break down why you probably don’t need the All Apps subscription.

You're paying for software you don't need

Few people need 20+ creative tools

At first glance, having access to over 20 Adobe apps seems like an incredible deal. But the truth is that most people will only use a fraction of the software included. If you’re a photographer, chances are you may only ever open Photoshop and Lightroom. Video editors tend to stick to Premiere Pro and occasionally After Effects. Graphics designers mainly work within Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. The rest? They sit untouched, yet you’re still paying for them every month.

Think about it — when was the last time you needed Adobe Animate, Audition, or Dimension? Most creative professionals don’t use more than three, maybe four, Adobe programs regularly, yet the All Apps plan forces you to pay for over 20. Instead of paying a premium for access to software you’ll never use, a single-app subscription (or a smaller package like the Photography Plan) could be a much smarter investment.

If you work in a select field where many Adobe apps are essential, an All Apps subscription might make sense. But for most individual users, this plan is overkill. The idea that you need access to everything “just in case” is a clever marketing strategy designed to make you feel like you’re getting a bargain when, in reality, you’re overspending.

There are cheaper (and even free) alternatives

You don't need to break the bank for good software

Many creatives stick with Adobe because they assume there are no better alternatives — but that’s far from the truth. There are plenty of cheaper, and sometimes even free, options that can handle the same tasks without forcing you into a never-ending subscription model.

For photo editing and graphic design, Photopea is an excellent browser-based alternative to Photoshop, while Affinity Photo offers professional-grade editing for a one-time fee. If you work with vectors, Krita and Inkscape provide strong competition to Adobe Illustrator without the expensive subscription.

Video editors don’t have to rely on Premiere Pro either. DaVinci Resolve has a powerful free version that rivals Premiere in many ways, especially with its color grading tools. For quick edits, CapCut is a surprisingly robust option that’s completely free.

If you do UX/UI design, Figma has a free tier that’s more than enough for most designers, making it a strong competitor to Adobe XD. Another solid alternative is Penpot, a free and open-source design prototyping tool, especially for those who prefer self-hosted solutions. For layout and publishing work, Affinity Publisher and Canva are reliable alternatives to Adobe InDesign.

The takeaway is that Adobe’s dominance isn’t necessarily about having the best software, it’s about being the most well-known. Most of these alternatives offer just as much creative power, if not more flexibility, without locking you into a costly subscription. If you’re open to switching, you could save hundreds of dollars per year while still getting professional results.

Who is the Adobe All Apps subscription for?

When is this costly subscription actually worth it?

There are only a few cases where the All Apps subscription truly makes sense. Large agencies and studios where multiple team members need access to a variety of Adobe programs can benefit from having everything in one package. Similarly, multimedia professionals who genuinely use more than five or six Adobe apps on a regular basis may find it worthwhile.

Students and educators can also justify the cost due to steep discounts that are often available to them, along with the need for multiple programs in coursework. Additionally, creative teams working within the Adobe ecosystem, where compatibility and workflow efficiency are crucial, might see the value in having all the apps bundled together.

However, as an individual, whether a freelancer, hobbyist, or even a professional, you probably don’t need the All Apps plan. A single-app plan or alternative solution will be more than sufficient. Unless you fit into one of the above-mentioned niche groups, you’re likely overpaying for software you don’t need.

Don't fall for the All Apps trap

Adobe wants you to believe that more apps mean more value, which is fair enough; the objective of any business is to get you to pay for their product. But in reality, this subscription package just means more wasted money.

Before continuing to the expensive All Apps plan, take a step back and evaluate your actual needs. Do you really need access to more than a couple of Adobe apps? Are there cheaper or free alternatives that fit your workflow just as well? Are you only sticking with Adobe because of industry or personal habit? For most people, the answer to these questions will reveal that the All Apps plan is unnecessary.