Quick answer: Adobe Photoshop is still the industry-standard raster image editor for photo retouching, compositing and design, and it is sold only by subscription. As of October 2026, the current desktop line is Photoshop version 27, which adds Firefly-powered generative tools such as Generative Fill, Generative Expand and Harmonize. Adobe’s India pricing page listed the Photoshop plan at ₹599 a month and the Photography plan (Photoshop plus Lightroom) at ₹599 a month on annual plans, so many photographers choose the Photography plan.
What Adobe Photoshop is
Photoshop is Adobe’s flagship image editor. Since its first release more than three decades ago it has become the standard tool for layered photo editing, retouching, compositing, digital painting and graphics for print and the web. Photographers, designers, illustrators and marketing teams all use it.
Photoshop works with layers, masks, adjustment layers, smart objects and selection tools, and it supports typography, brushes and print-ready colour workflows. Adobe now offers it on desktop (Windows and macOS), on the web and on mobile, according to its product page.
Photoshop pricing and plans
Photoshop is available only through a Creative Cloud subscription. These individual plans appeared on Adobe’s pricing pages in October 2026 (annual plans billed monthly; Indian prices include GST):
| Plan | What it includes | Cloud storage | India (per month) | US (per month) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photoshop | Photoshop on desktop, web and mobile, plus Adobe Express Premium | 100 GB | ₹599 (regular price ₹733.96) | US$22.99 |
| Photography | Photoshop, Lightroom and Lightroom Classic | 1 TB | ₹599 (regular price ₹638.38) | US$19.99 |
| Creative Cloud Pro | Photoshop and 20+ Creative Cloud apps | 100 GB | ₹1,199 first-year offer (regular price ₹2,714) | US$69.99 (introductory offers vary) |
Adobe listed a 7-day free trial for these individual plans. Each plan comes with a monthly allowance of generative credits for Firefly features; the Photography plan, for example, was listed with far more credits than the single-app Photoshop plan. Offers change often, so check Adobe’s plans page for your country before you subscribe.
Generative AI tools in Photoshop today
Our original review focused on the Object Selection tool, which Adobe’s Sensei AI powered in Photoshop 2020. Selection tools have kept improving, and the biggest change since then is generative AI built on Adobe Firefly. Adobe’s Photoshop page and release notes document these tools as of October 2026:
- Generative Fill: select an area and describe what to add, remove or replace. Adobe now also offers partner AI models alongside its own Firefly models in Generative Fill.
- Generative Expand: extend the canvas and fill the new space to match the photo.
- Remove tool: brush over unwanted people or objects to remove them.
- Harmonize: blend a person or object into a new background by matching light, colour and shadows. Adobe introduced it with version 27.0 in October 2025.
- AI upscaling: upscaling with partner models from Topaz Labs.
- Selection and background removal: one-click selection of subjects and backgrounds, which Adobe says now handles complex subjects better.
In August 2026, Adobe released Photoshop 27.10 with a Light adjustment layer, an AI Assisted editor (in beta) and Prompt to Edit, which lets you describe changes in plain language, according to Adobe’s announcement in its community forum. Adobe also added non-destructive Clarity and Dehaze and Grain adjustment layers earlier in the version 27 cycle.
Generative features use generative credits and need an internet connection. If you work with client images, check your organisation’s policy on cloud AI tools before you use them.
Features from the 2020 release that still matter
We first reviewed Photoshop 2020. Several features we described then are still part of everyday Photoshop work:
Object Selection tool
The Object Selection tool lets you draw a rough box or lasso around an object, and Photoshop selects it for you. It struggles most with busy backgrounds and fine detail such as hair, where refining the edge with Select and Mask still helps.
Cloud documents
Photoshop can save files as cloud documents, so you can start work on a desktop and continue on another device, including Photoshop on iPad. Edits made offline sync when you reconnect. Cloud documents count against your Creative Cloud storage, which depends on your plan.
Proportional transform by default
In current versions, Free Transform scales pixel layers proportionally by default; you hold Shift to stretch them freely instead. If you prefer the old behaviour, tick Use Legacy Free Transform in Edit > Preferences > General (Photoshop > Settings on a Mac).
Converting smart objects back to layers
You can right-click a smart object in the Layers panel and choose Convert to Layers to unpack it into its original layers, which arrive in a group. This is especially useful for designers working in large layered files.
Preset panels
Gradients, patterns and shapes have their own panels, where you can drag presets onto the canvas, reorder them and group them in folders. Older presets are kept under Legacy options in the panel menus.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The most complete toolset for retouching, compositing and design | Subscription only; no one-time licence |
| Generative Fill, Expand and Remove save time on cleanup | Generative tools use limited monthly credits |
| Works across desktop, web and mobile with cloud documents | Steep learning curve for beginners |
| Industry-standard PSD format accepted almost everywhere | Can be heavy on older computers |
What happened to Photoshop’s 3D tools?
An earlier version of this article said Photoshop was a good choice for 3D modelling. That is no longer true. Adobe removed Photoshop’s legacy 3D features because they would not work reliably on modern graphics systems; removal began with Photoshop 22.5, according to Adobe’s 3D FAQ. For 3D work, use a dedicated 3D application.
Who Photoshop suits
- Photographers: the Photography plan, which bundles Photoshop with Lightroom, is usually the better value. See our Adobe Lightroom review.
- Hobbyists: Adobe Photoshop Elements is Adobe’s simpler editor for home users who do not need the full Photoshop toolset.
- Anyone avoiding subscriptions: the free, open-source GIMP covers many core editing tasks, and our list of photo editing software compares more options.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy Photoshop with a one-time payment?
No. Photoshop is available only through Adobe’s Creative Cloud subscription plans.
Is there a free version of Photoshop?
Adobe’s product page says there is no free web version of Photoshop. The Photoshop mobile app is free to download, but its premium features need a subscription. Adobe offers a 7-day free trial of its paid plans.
Which Photoshop plan should a photographer choose?
For most photographers, the Photography plan is the better choice: it includes Photoshop, Lightroom and Lightroom Classic with 1 TB of cloud storage, and in October 2026 it cost the same as or less than the Photoshop-only plan on Adobe’s India and US pricing pages.
Do the generative AI tools work offline?
No. Generative Fill and similar Firefly features process images in the cloud and use generative credits, so they need an internet connection.
Does Photoshop still support 3D?
No. Adobe removed the legacy 3D features. Files with 3D layers still open, but the 3D tools are gone.
Checked in October 2026 against Adobe’s Photoshop pricing pages for India and the US, Adobe’s Photoshop product page, Adobe’s Photoshop 27.10 release announcement and Adobe’s Photoshop 3D FAQ. Prices and features change often; confirm on Adobe’s website before you subscribe.
