Adobe Plan Calculator: Single Apps vs Standard vs Pro
Tick the Adobe apps you actually use. See the cheapest plan that covers them, and what it costs a year.
Selling your designs, presets or templates too? On a $10 product you keep $7.91 on Gumroad but $8.91 on Payhip’s free plan. Compare platform fees →
Apps you use every month
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Plan | Covers your apps? | Per month | First 12 months |
|---|
Prices used
- Single apps: Photoshop, Premiere, Illustrator, After Effects, InDesign $22.99/month each; Lightroom $11.99/month.
- Photography plan: $19.99/month (Photoshop and Lightroom).
- Creative Cloud Standard: $54.99/month, 25 monthly generative credits.
- Creative Cloud Pro: $69.99/month, 4,000 premium generation credits and unlimited standard generations. New subscribers are currently offered $34.99/month for the first 3 months, which makes the first year $734.88.
All are annual plans billed monthly, US prices before tax. Cancelling an annual plan early can carry a fee; read Adobe’s terms before you buy. Full comparison: Creative Cloud Pro vs Standard vs single apps.
Sources: Adobe Creative Cloud plans.
Related: Is Canva Pro worth it? · All calculators
Where each plan becomes the cheapest
| Apps you use | Single apps / month | Standard / month | Cheapest over 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photoshop + Lightroom only | $22.99+ | $54.99 | Photography plan, $239.88 |
| 1 other app | $22.99 | $54.99 | Single app, $275.88 |
| 2 | $45.98 | $54.99 | Two single apps, $551.76 |
| 3 | $68.97 | $54.99 | Standard, $659.88 (saves $167.76) |
| 4 | $91.96 | $54.99 | Standard, $659.88 (saves $443.64) |
The switch point is three apps: two single apps cost $9.01 a month less than Standard, three cost $13.98 more. Pro costs $15 a month ($180 a year) more than Standard, so it only pays if you use its Pro-only features every month.
The early-cancel fee is part of the price
“Annual, billed monthly” is a 12-month contract. Adobe’s US subscription guide says cancelling after 14 days may incur 50% of the remaining contract balance. Example: Standard cancelled after 6 months = 6 × $54.99 paid ($329.94) + 50% of the 6 months left ($164.97) = $494.91. If you might stop within a year, check the month-to-month option at checkout before you commit.
FAQ
How many Adobe apps before Creative Cloud Standard is cheaper?
Three. Three single apps cost $68.97 a month; Standard costs $54.99.
What is the cheapest way to get Photoshop?
If Photoshop and Lightroom are all you need, the Photography plan at $19.99/month (US, annual billed monthly) is cheaper than the $22.99 single app.
Is Creative Cloud Pro worth $15 more than Standard?
Only if you use its Pro-only features, such as premium generative AI, every month. Otherwise Standard runs the same desktop apps for $180 less a year.
What happens if I cancel an annual Adobe plan early?
After the first 14 days, Adobe may charge 50% of the remaining contract balance.
Full plan-by-plan comparison: Creative Cloud Pro vs Standard vs Single-App Plans.