Editing Software: Subscription or stand-alone purchase?

[FowlersFreeTime]

I was looking at an "upgrade offer" to upgrade my copy of ON1 2023 to version 2024 for a discounted fee... and it hit me that if I do this annually, I'm basically supporting the subscription mentality I used to criticize Adobe for
So what say you folks? Do you support subscriptions, or prefer to hold on to software (for a one-time fee) for a few years to make it more cost effective?

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

Adobe all the way here. It's what I'm used to, and as 2 of us it it's cheap at 9.98 a month

 

[evacguy]

I was looking at an "upgrade offer" to upgrade my copy of ON1 2023 to version 2024 for a discounted fee... and it hit me that if I do this annually, I'm basically supporting the subscription mentality I used to criticize Adobe for
So what say you folks? Do you support subscriptions, or prefer to hold on to software (for a one-time fee) for a few years to make it more cost effective?

While I have said I subscribe to Adobe, I actually get the software license free through work. However, once this privledge is removed (for what ever reason), I will subscribe to Adobe, perhaps not the complete range of software as I currently have access to, but the essentials for photography.

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

Fair points @Kevriano & @evacguy

 

[etiennescamera]

I was looking at an "upgrade offer" to upgrade my copy of ON1 2023 to version 2024 for a discounted fee... and it hit me that if I do this annually, I'm basically supporting the subscription mentality I used to criticize Adobe for
So what say you folks? Do you support subscriptions, or prefer to hold on to software (for a one-time fee) for a few years to make it more cost effective?

Much as I dislike the subscription model, I have now conceded and subscribe to Adobe. As you quite rightly mentioned, constantly upgrading is simply a different way of subscribing.

 

[spudhead]

Capture one pro annual here Chris I have been using it for 6-7 years now, really happy with it, although updates are not easy especially if it is a full new version

 

[Landshark99]

As much as I do not like subs for a number of reasons there really is no choice with Adobe and Capture One, so I do subscribe to both. With Photo Mechanic i pay a fee and get free upgrade until there is a major upgrade, then they charge a few and we repeat the cycle.

 

[iain clyne]

I use adobe and been using it since it came out so I suppose its just what I'm used too.

 

[Deleted Member 5045]

I did try to stop using Adobe once...

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

This poll has been remarkably one-sided, how interesting!
I may purchase ON1 2024 anyway as the upgrade offer price of $80 is still cheaper than an annual subscription (even cheaper than adobe) and the software suits all my needs.

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

You don't have a selection for "I purchase stand-alone versions that do not require spending money for an annual upgrade."

Actually, that was my intent with the option "I purchase stand-alone versions infrequently and only when I need to".
When I said "stand-alone" I meant the software would function on its own, without needing any further expenses (annual or otherwise), not including discretionary add-ons.

 

[DaveC Oz]

I recently purchased an upgrade to On1 2024. Previously ran 2022, & 2019. I started off with Lightroom standalone which Adobe said they would support in in perpetuity. Six months later, that changed to if you want our product you have to subscribe. The package they initially offered, included products I didn't want, and cost more per year than my stand alone version had. So I decided to find an alternative. My only motivator for the latest upgrade was to gain support for lossless compressed raw files, that the new camera produces. I took another look at the subscription offers of both ON1, and Adobe but decided that I was better off just upgrading if, or when it was of tangible benefit to me.

 

[iamdlewis]

I started with the standalone version of CaptureOne but moved to subscription because over the last couple of years the number of new and improved features have been extensive.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

"I use whatever is free"

True but not true. Bottom line is that I choose from whatever is available for Linux. If they would make stuff like Capture One available, and I could afford it, I'd seriously consider buying it. But not on subscription.

 

[Roland]

Up to a month ago, I had a stand alone version of Capture One. But when the offered me 40%, I changed to subscription. After a year, I will evaluate the whole thing again.

 

[AlphaWorld]

I have used DxO PhotoLab, but the constant upgrades put me off.

I have used Capture One Express for Sony (free), but that's gone - they discontinued it recently.

Back when Adobe had upgrades I didn't buy every upgrade - I bought CS2, CS3, then CS5. But the subscription works out cheaper than the upgrades (which were about $300 every couple of years, vs $10/month at the start).

I'm happier with the subscription. And my most recent experience (getting support for the A9 III before the camera arrived) encouraged me to stick with it.

 

[Snapshot]

I used to use an older copies of Lightroom and Photoshop stand-alone I have on DVD. Since then, my work has purchased a site license for Creative Cloud which I have access to for home use. It's almost a reason not to retire...

I still use the classic versions, and not the modern "online" versions.

 

[evacguy]

I used to use an older copies of Lightroom and Photoshop stand-alone I have on DVD. Since then, my work has purchased a site license for Creative Cloud which I have access to for home use. It's almost a reason not to retire...

I still use the classic versions, and not the modern "online" versions.

Me too, I have access to Creative Cloud from home through my work account.

 

[Snapshot]

Well, apparently Adobe's licensing costs just went through the roof, and on December 17th, I lose access to Creative Cloud. I guess I can retire now. Time to look at alternatives. Anybody use Darktable?

 

[AlphaWorld]

How much of Creative Cloud do you need? I use just the photography subscription, which gives me Lightroom, Photoshop, and a few other things. That price hasn't changed much in a lot of years

I've always throught of Creative Cloud as something for business use, where it can be written off on taxes.

 

[iain clyne]

Well, apparently Adobe's licensing costs just went through the roof, and on December 17th, I lose access to Creative Cloud. I guess I can retire now. Time to look at alternatives. Anybody use Darktable?

I’ve never heard anything about it going up.

 

[Snapshot]

I’ve never heard anything about it going up.

I'm not talking retail, I'm talking for a site license for a very big business.

Honestly, I use Lightroom, and unfortunately, probably more than that, I use Acrobat. I have already decided that a photographer only subscription for Adobe's just not gonna work for me. I'm now looking at ON1. I honestly don't know what I'm going to do about Acrobat.

 

[Richard A]

Can't you just add Acrobat to the Photographer subscription? Especially if you use Acrobat that much? I would have thought that would be affordable for a very big business. Having said that, I don't have access to pricing for that...

 

[Snapshot]

Can't you just add Acrobat to the Photographer subscription? Especially if you use Acrobat that much? I would have thought that would be affordable for a very big business. Having said that, I don't have access to pricing for that...

I’m considering an ala carte subscription to acrobat, and going to ON1 and/or Darktable for photos. What a PITA.

 

[dav1d]

I was looking at an "upgrade offer" to upgrade my copy of ON1 2023 to version 2024 for a discounted fee... and it hit me that if I do this annually, I'm basically supporting the subscription mentality I used to criticize Adobe for
So what say you folks? Do you support subscriptions, or prefer to hold on to software (for a one-time fee) for a few years to make it more cost effective?

I'm not an Adobe user at the moment as you are left with nothing when you stop subscribing. I use Capture One at the moment and upgrade about once every 3 years.

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

I'm glad others found value in this thread.
As an update to my original post, I did end up going from ON1 2023 to 2024, but have made the decision to skip 2025. I don't need the AI retouching tools that badly. I also realized that by 2026 I might need to upgrade my PC before I upgrade my editing software. Still not tempted to go back to Adobe either.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Well, apparently Adobe's licensing costs just went through the roof, and on December 17th, I lose access to Creative Cloud. I guess I can retire now. Time to look at alternatives. Anybody use Darktable?

Yes, me!

But I have been using only Linux stuff for quite a few years before my recent photography rebirth, so I cannot make useful comparisons. If nobody else here has direct experience of the two, then youtube is going to be your friend.

Over the past six or seven years, I started by just tweaking jpegs using GIMP. Then I gave Rawtherapee a try. Then I gave darktable and simply stuck with it. I do find it easier to use, on the whole, than rawtherapee.

It's one thing to be a hobbyist --- but to switch software for your users: I don't envy you that!

I remember having to tell people that they had to switch from Wordperfect to Word. The most important department in the company, the one that made the money, just said no. And not without good reason: they had far too much invested in standard business templates and forms.

(what you won't get in darktable or other FOSS software is the AI stuff for denoising and masking. It probably does everything else.)

 

[Richard A]

I think it is up to the individual to consider what is good value to them. I think the Adobe Photographers package is good value as it is updated continuously rather than just once a year. I use other software also for my photo editing that I don't consider great value to update every year.

I have been using Photoshop since 1997 (I bought version 4 for a staggering A$1400) and I pretty much know it inside out now so why would I change to something else less capable that I would have to learn over again. Also, there are loads of plugins available for Photoshop, some free, a lot very cheap, that allow you to do stuff that is just not available in other software. One other thing, as we have seen, is that any other software company could change to a subscription model at any time.

Anyway, just my thoughts...

 

[AlphaWorld]

I think it is up to the individual to consider what is good value to them. I think the Adobe Photographers package is good value as it is updated continuously rather than just once a year. I use other software also for my photo editing that I don't consider great value to update every year.

I have been using Photoshop since 1997 (I bought version 4 for a staggering A$1400) and I pretty much know it inside out now so why would I change to something else less capable that I would have to learn over again. Also, there are loads of plugins available for Photoshop, some free, a lot very cheap, that allow you to do stuff that is just not available in other software. One other thing, as we have seen, is that any other software company could change to a subscription model at any time.

Anyway, just my thoughts...

Wow - I'm a latecomer compared to you. I think my first version of Photoshop was CS4 (not the same version 4 - CS4 came out in 2008). And I don't know it inside out, but I know enough (I think), and there is a lot of online help and tutorials for Photoshop (I think several people use it).

And I agree with you - there are frequent updates that just arrive. My favourite recent example was getting my A9 III camera, and discovering that I had already installed the needed Adobe Camera RAW update! First time I'd ever had Photoshop support for a preordered camera before the camera arrived.

 

[Phil Vetra]

Well with 2¢ I'm liking Affinity Photo bought into it several years ago and several updates, then they had an major update with discount another $89.00. So I'm in for $180.00 over 5-6 years and I think its fair value and it meets my needs.
Sure Adobe maybe more powerful but I'm not a Pro anyhow.