Photoshop

Photoshop is Adobe's image editing and design application, available on desktop, web, and mobile. It covers photo retouching, compositing, graphic creation, and digital art, and now includes generative AI features powered by Adobe Firefly — Generative Fill, Generative Expand, and a Remove Tool for deleting unwanted people or objects from images.

Recent additions include new adjustment layers for Clarity, Dehaze, and Grain that work nondestructively in the Layers panel with masking support, and a Harmonize feature that blends people and objects into new backgrounds by matching lighting, shadows, and colors. Photoshop also integrates partner AI models from Topaz Labs for upscaling images with improved clarity and sharpness. Selection and background removal tools have been updated for higher precision, working both online and off.

Every Photoshop plan includes an Adobe Express Premium plan, which offers one-click edits and thousands of templates for social content and flyers. The mobile app is free to download, with premium features unlocked through a subscription.

Best for

• Photographers retouching and compositing images with layer-based, nondestructive editing
• Designers creating graphics, art, and marketing assets
• Users who want AI-assisted edits like object removal, background replacement, and generative expansion
• People who need to edit across desktop, web, and mobile with cloud storage
• Teams on Creative Cloud Pro who also need 20+ other Adobe apps for photo, design, and video
• Students and teachers, who get over 71% off the Creative Cloud Pro plan

Frequently asked questions

How much does Photoshop cost?

Photoshop standalone costs US$22.99/mo on the annual-billed-monthly plan or US$263.88/yr prepaid, both including 100GB of cloud storage. It's also available in the Creative Cloud Photography plan at US$19.99/mo, or in Creative Cloud Pro at US$34.99/mo for the first 3 months, then US$69.99/mo after that.

Is there a free version of Photoshop?

The Photoshop mobile app is free to download, with premium features available via subscription. There is no free version of Photoshop on the web, though you can try some popular tools through guided tutorials without an Adobe account. Editing your own photos online requires a plan or free trial.

What AI features does Photoshop include?

Generative Fill, Generative Expand, and the Remove Tool are built in and powered by Adobe Firefly. The standalone Photoshop plan includes 25 monthly generative credits; Creative Cloud Pro includes unlimited access to standard AI image and vector features plus 4,000 monthly credits for premium video and audio features.

Does Photoshop work on mobile?

Yes. The mobile app lets you add and remove objects, make targeted adjustments, and collage and blend images on your phone. It's free to download from your device's app store.

What's included in a Photoshop plan?

Beyond the desktop, web, and mobile apps, plans include an Adobe Express Premium plan with thousands of templates, fonts, images, tutorials, and 100GB of cloud storage.

Is there a discount for students and teachers?

Yes, Adobe says students and teachers save over 71% on the Creative Cloud Pro plan.

Alternatives

• Canva — pick it if you want template-driven design with a gentler learning curve than Photoshop's layer-based workflow.
• BrandBird — pick it if your main need is turning screenshots into polished graphics for social media or landing pages.
• Jitter — pick it if you're making animated content and interface motion rather than editing photos.