Adobe Photoshop
The world's leading image editing and design app, now with generative AI built in.
Overview
Photoshop is the long-standing industry standard for photo editing and compositing, built around a deep, layer-based non-destructive workflow that professional studios have used for decades. Its recent updates lean hard into generative AI: Generative Fill and the new Harmonize tool automate compositing tasks that used to take real manual skill, Generative Upscale (built on Topaz Labs tech) can push images to roughly 56MP, and as of 2026 you can choose between Adobe Firefly, Google Gemini 3, or Black Forest Labs FLUX.2 Pro as the generation model, rather than being locked to Adobe's own.
Key Features
Generative Fill: AI fill/replace/extend from a text prompt, running on Firefly Image 4 at 2K output, with reference-image support.
Multi-Model AI: As of 2026, Photoshop isn't locked to one model - choose Adobe Firefly (default), Google Gemini 3, or Black Forest Labs FLUX.2 Pro depending on the task.
Harmonize Tool: Auto-matches lighting, color temperature, and shadow direction when compositing elements together.
Generative Upscale: AI upscaling up to 4x (roughly 56MP), built on Topaz Labs technology.
Layer-Based Editing: The industry-standard non-destructive editing and compositing workflow.
Cross-Device: Desktop (Windows/Mac), iPad, and a (more limited) web app.
Pricing
Starting price
$22.99/mo
Free Trial - 7 days, full features, no ongoing free plan for the desktop app (a limited guided-tutorial experience exists on Photoshop's web app).
Photography Plan (bundle) - $19.99/mo (annual, billed monthly). Includes Photoshop + Lightroom + 1TB storage + 1,000 Firefly AI credits/mo. Cheapest way to get Photoshop, but it's a photography-bundle bundle, not Photoshop's own plan.
Photoshop Single App - $22.99/mo (annual, billed monthly) or $34.49/mo (month-to-month). Photoshop desktop/iPad/web + Adobe Express Premium + 100GB storage + 25 generative credits/mo.
Creative Cloud Standard (All Apps) - $54.99/mo. Full app suite, but drops web/mobile/iPad access to some apps.
Creative Cloud Pro (All Apps) - $69.99/mo. Full suite + full device access + more generative credits.
Pros
Industry-Standard Depth: Unmatched control and precision for professional photo editing and compositing work.
Fast-Moving Generative AI: Harmonize and multi-model Generative Fill are genuinely useful, not just gimmicks, for compositing work.
Cross-Device Workflow: Desktop, iPad, and web versions stay in sync.
File Compatibility: PSD is the de facto standard, so output works everywhere in creative pipelines.
Cons
Expensive for Casual Use: $22.99-$34.49/mo just for Photoshop alone is a real barrier for freelancers and hobbyists, and reviewers cite cost as a top complaint.
Stingy Generative Credits on the Base Plan: New subscribers get only 25 generative credits/month (older subscribers grandfathered at 100-250) before needing a paid add-on.
Steep Learning Curve: Reviewers consistently flag it as overwhelming for beginners next to lighter tools like Canva.
Performance Strain on Large Files: Heavy PSDs with many layers can slow down noticeably.
Subscription-Only: No perpetual license option anymore.
What Makes It Unique
Photoshop's real edge isn't that it has generative AI - most competitors do now too. It's that tools like Generative Fill and Harmonize plug directly into a decades-deep, industry-standard compositing workflow that professional studios already run on, and it's the only major editor letting you switch between competing AI models (Adobe Firefly, Google Gemini 3, Black Forest Labs FLUX.2 Pro) inside the same generation tool instead of being locked to one vendor.
Kay Score
8
/ 10
Tool Information
Pricing
$22.99/mo
Category
Image & Design
Platform
Web / iOS / Android
Last Updated
