Adobe Photoshop

Name: Adobe Photoshop
Rating: 9.2

starStaff Pick

by Adobe

The definitive pixel-level image editor

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“Part of the Photography Plan I've used for 15+ years. I use maybe 10% of Photoshop — content-aware fill, frequency separation, luminosity masking, and now Generative Fill. That 10% is irreplaceable.”

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Photoshop needs no introduction, but here's the thing — most photographers only use 10% of it. If you're on the Photography Plan, you already have it. Learn the pen tool, content-aware fill, frequency separation, and luminosity masking. Those four skills cover 90% of what photographers actually need Photoshop for. Generative Fill is the newest game-changer — it's genuinely useful for extending backgrounds, removing complex objects, and creative compositing.

Our Take

Pros

✓Unmatched depth for retouching, compositing, and creative work
✓Generative Fill and AI removal tools are genuinely revolutionary
✓Included in the Photography Plan at no extra cost over Lightroom
✓Massive community with endless tutorials, actions, and resources
✓iPad version is increasingly capable

Cons

✗Steep learning curve — most photographers barely scratch the surface
✗Overkill for simple adjustments that Lightroom handles fine
✗Subscription only — no one-time purchase option
✗Can be sluggish with very large files on older hardware

Verdict: If you shoot portraits, products, or anything that needs retouching beyond Lightroom, you need Photoshop. The Photography Plan bundles it with Lightroom Classic at $9.99/mo — arguably the best value in creative software. Learn the 10% you need and ignore the rest.

Composite Score

9.2

App Store

4.6/5(12,500 reviews)

Capterra

4.7/5(18,200 reviews)

4.6/5(14,500 reviews)

How we calculate this score

The composite score is a weighted average of ratings from major review platforms, normalized to a 0-10 scale. Each platform rating (out of 5) is doubled to fit the scale. Manual overrides may be applied by the editorial team.