Thirty-five years ago, Photoshop 1.0 changed the creative world forever, giving designers, photographers, and artists a powerful new way to bring their ideas to life. Over the decades, it has evolved into an industry-standard tool, shaped by a passionate global community pushing the boundaries of digital art.
But as we celebrate this milestone, it’s worth asking: Should software still be something you can own outright, as it was back in the early days?
Photoshop started as a one-time purchase—buy it once, use it forever. Today, like many major creative tools, it’s locked behind a subscription model. While this approach enables continuous updates and cloud-based collaboration, it also raises questions about accessibility, affordability, and control over the tools we rely on.
So, as we reflect on 35 years of Photoshop’s impact, let’s also consider the future: Should we still have the option to buy software outright, or is the subscription model here to stay? For context, I currently pay the same amount each year, that I once paid for over a decade of use.
What do you think? Would you rather pay once for creative tools, or do you prefer the benefits of a subscription?
Have you audited your subscription costs lately?
Let’s discuss!