Alternatives to Adobe's subscription model

Sootchucker

Sootchucker

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Andrew
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Like a lot on here, I've been paying for Adobe's "photographers" plan for many years (since they went to a subscription model). Trouble is this can gone up recently considerably from £8.99 month to £14.99 month a (over 60% increase). Now whilst £14.99 a month at the moment doesn't break the bank, it does add up to £180.00 per year for software I'll never own. For the features on offer you could argue however it's still good value, Also, with retirement now looming in the not too distant future, I've started to look at where cuts could possibly be made in outgoings, especially as we don't know how many future massive price hikes Adobe will be implementing over the next few years. .

Trouble is, whilst I'd much prefer to pay a one off payment rather than monthly, the software is really good with some really interesting and unique features, which I guess is to lock you into their products. I typically only use Lightroom, Photoshop and Bridge, but have got really used to them over the years (probably too used to them). So, realistically what are the options out there for a) a good comparison of features to the above packages, and b) that allow a one off purchase rather than a subscription model ?

This might have been discussed in older threads and if it has please forgive me, but it's only recently become something I've started to think about.
 
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Affinity Photo Andrew. I think there’s a free trial period so you can play and see if you like it!
 
Sootchucker said:
Like a lot on here, I've been paying for Adobe's "photographers" plan for many years (since they went to a subscription model). Trouble is this can gone up recently considerably from £8.99 month to £14.99 month a (over 60% increase). Now whilst £14.99 a month at the moment doesn't break the bank, it does add up to £180.00 per year for software I'll never own. For the features on offer you could argue however it's still good value, Also, with retirement now looming in the not too distant future, I've started to look at where cuts could possibly be made, especially as we don't know how many future massive price hikes Adobe will be implementing over the next few years. .

Trouble is, whilst I'd much prefer to pay a one off payment rather than monthly, the software is really good with some really interesting and unique features, which I guess is to lock you into their products. I typically only use Lightroom, Photoshop and Bridge, but have got really used to them over the years (probably too used to them). So, realistically what are the options out there for a) a good comparison of features to the above packages, and b) that allow a one off purchase rather than a subscription model ?

This might have been discussed in older threads and if it has please forgive me, but it's only recently become something I've started to think about.
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Just to note that when any credit you might have had been used up (assuming like many you've bought Amazon bundles to reduce the cost), you should have the option of switching to an annual payment on the plan, which will be ~£120, as per the previous 12 months price.
Obviously it's still a subscription model, but does mean the cost is unchanged.
 
Faldrax said:
Just to note that when any credit you might have had been used up (assuming like many you've bought Amazon bundles to reduce the cost), you should have the option of switching to an annual payment on the plan, which will be ~£120, as per the previous 12 months price.
Obviously it's still a subscription model, but does mean the cost is unchanged.
Click to expand...

No, I haven't bought any Amazon bundles - please tell me more - first I've heard of it ?
 
Norkie said:
Affinity Photo Andrew. I think there’s a free trial period so you can play and see if you like it!
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Ooh thanks - I'll check it out.
 
I have been thinking the same as you Andrew, I do have on1 photo raw2023 which is pretty decent so I might just upgrade that to the latest version for £36 quid.
 
Many of us have bought a year's subscription (or more than one and stacked them up) on Prime Day and Black Friday in Amazon, usually bro £80 each time although that may be higher this year.
 
On Affinity photo, do you have to purchase dedicated Apple and PC versions ? On my Adobe subscription, it doesn't matter if I'm on my MAC or PC so long as I don't have more than 2 machines activated at the same time. Is it the same with Affinity or will I have to purchase both versions ?
 
Sootchucker said:
On Affinity photo, do you have to purchase dedicated Apple and PC versions ? On my Adobe subscription, it doesn't matter if I'm on my MAC or PC so long as I don't have more than 2 machines activated at the same time. Is it the same with Affinity or will I have to purchase both versions ?
Click to expand...
I think this answers the question.....

affinity.serif.com

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It seems you are using an old or unsupported browser. To continue enjoying our product, please update to a recent version of one of the following browsers:
affinity.serif.com affinity.serif.com

NB on Windows there are two types of installation files
The .msix which does a "sandbox" installation and the more conventional .msi

When they first introduced v2 it only the .msix and that annoyed me am many other users as it was nigh on impossible to create shortcut launch links not IIRC invoke it from the likes of Photoshop. Thankfully they listened and brought back the .msi installers, though by then they I understand in part overcome the aforementioned issues with using .msix

PS at one point they were offering all three applications for the effective price of 2 of them. I updated to all 3 as I have found Affinity Publisher quite useful but to date not used Designer

I think the offer at that time was when they introduced v2......I owned v1 before it.

Oh, Affinity programs are in continuous development but once a buyer all the "in version" updates are free......the next time I would expect to pay again would be for v3 but if that follows the v1 to v2 timeline, that will possibly be in 2027?
 
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Sootchucker said:
On Affinity photo, do you have to purchase dedicated Apple and PC versions ? On my Adobe subscription, it doesn't matter if I'm on my MAC or PC so long as I don't have more than 2 machines activated at the same time. Is it the same with Affinity or will I have to purchase both versions ?
Click to expand...
As far as I understand it, if you purchase just AP you will have to choose macOS or Windows, if you purchase the entire suite it works across all platforms. A universal license.
 
I use Affinity alongside the photography plan from Adobe.

I find LR is much easier to use in general but Affinity is really good.

Whenever I do focus stacking or HDR work I do that in Affinity.

I would say Affinity is more akin to Photoshop than LR (personally).
 
Amazon in the sales often do it so it works out at 80 a year!

I am finding I am doing more with Photos now so not sure if I will bother with LR after
 
I've been using Affinity Photo for about 4 years, and now with the upgrade and access to all of their photo / graphics software, but I only seem to need the photo software. There is a bit of a difference between Photoshop and Affinity Photo, but it can do everything that Photoshop can do, and I think a little more once you learn it. I have not looked back. Watch for their sales, usually 1/2price, and jump on it.

Charley
 
Sootchucker said:
Like a lot on here, I've been paying for Adobe's "photographers" plan for many years (since they went to a subscription model). Trouble is this can gone up recently considerably from £8.99 month to £14.99 month a (over 60% increase). Now whilst £14.99 a month at the moment doesn't break the bank, it does add up to £180.00 per year for software I'll never own. For the features on offer you could argue however it's still good value, Also, with retirement now looming in the not too distant future, I've started to look at where cuts could possibly be made in outgoings, especially as we don't know how many future massive price hikes Adobe will be implementing over the next few years. .

Trouble is, whilst I'd much prefer to pay a one off payment rather than monthly, the software is really good with some really interesting and unique features, which I guess is to lock you into their products. I typically only use Lightroom, Photoshop and Bridge, but have got really used to them over the years (probably too used to them). So, realistically what are the options out there for a) a good comparison of features to the above packages, and b) that allow a one off purchase rather than a subscription model ?

This might have been discussed in older threads and if it has please forgive me, but it's only recently become something I've started to think about.

I'm really picky about online payments. Even when I play games, I look for something proven and reliable. I go to https://kaszinohu.com/casino/playbison/ and look through the many games that allow the payment methods I need. It would be cool to find something similar, thanks!
Click to expand...
You could try Affinity Photo or Capture One, both solid one-time purchases and great alternatives if you're looking to cut recurring costs without compromising quality!
 
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If I understand it correctly Affinity Photo, is now free for the ‘normal’ features you just have to pay monthly if you want to use AI features
I am still using Affinity Photo 2 , haven’t got around to updating to the latest version , Affinity does everything I need although I do use DXO for Raw conversion ( Affinity does now have a decent Raw converter)
Agree with Adam Affinity is excellent for image stacking
 
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