Hey, everyone! Welcome to my first tech consumer advice article—hopefully the start of a great series on tech purchases.
This article is fuelled by Adobe’s latest move, the full story is wild. First, I’ll cover Adobe’s long history of controversies, leading up to this latest issue.
Next, we’ll discuss their price hike, tied to AI services they’re pushing onto consumers. I’ll also explain what Adobe subscribers—myself included—can do, as time is running out. Today is May 22nd, and they announced this on May 15th without proper notice. It was posted on their website, but consumers weren’t directly informed. These changes kick in next month, leaving us with little time.
It’s an underhanded approach.
Past Issues
So, how did we end up here? If you haven’t followed the news, Adobe’s dominance has frustrated many. Love or hate them, they’re the best—or one of the best—at what they do. Premiere Pro for video editing, Photoshop for design—Adobe thrives because they excel in creative tech.
But that dominance lets them push extreme pricing, making plan changes and cancellations a nightmare. This has led to lawsuits and FTC investigations—though I’m unsure of their current status.
One major controversy erupted in 2024 when Adobe updated its terms of service. Users had to accept them to continue using their Creative Suite, which stated that AI would scan media files. This triggered massive backlash, with Hollywood directors and producers going off on Twitter (or X). The uproar forced Adobe to revise its terms, promising not to scan user files.
And here we are again. Let’s dive in.
Price Increase with AI
Adobe’s trust with consumers is shaky right now—and their response? A price hike less than a year later. Let’s break it down.
If you visit Adobe’s website (which hasn’t communicated this well and can be found here), they’re raising prices across North America—specifically the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Other regions like the UK, India, and Japan remain unaffected for now, but that likely won’t last. Their wording hints that global changes are coming.
Adobe is rolling out a new subscription plan packed with AI services—image and video generation included. What’s surprising? They’re incorporating AI models from competitors like ChatGPT and Google. These services cost Adobe money, but instead of making them optional, they’re bundling everything together. No choice—if you subscribe, you pay for AI whether you want it or not.
Now, onto the new plans. There are two options for individuals, teachers, and students:
- Standard Plan—No extra AI features, keeping current pricing.
- AI-Powered Plan—Loaded with AI tools but significantly more expensive.
Here’s the pricing in Canada—it’s wild. The current rate is $71.99/month on an annual contract (important—this is not month-to-month). The new pricing jumps $20 more per month, meaning $240 extra per year. In the U.S., it’s a $120/year increase—converted to CAD, that’s $166. But Canadians face a steeper hike at $240/year instead of $166.
I’ll link the official Adobe release here so you can review it yourself.
This pricing strategy is tricky, and the way Adobe is rolling it out leaves little room for consumer choice. Where does this go next? Let’s keep going.
Adobe’s pricing is all over the place—expect variation by region, beyond what tech news outlets report.
Now, the gotchas. Teachers and students cannot opt for the cheaper Standard plan. They’re locked into the new Pro plan, packed with AI services. While they get an introductory price for the first year, renewal rates will rise—exactly how much depends on their current plan, but an increase seems inevitable.
For regular users like me, the price change kicks in on or after June 17th depending on your renewal date. You can check your Adobe account for renewal details.
Here’s the big kicker: Adobe announced this on May 15th but buried it in an FAQ few people will see. Instead of automatically keeping users on their current plan, Adobe defaults everyone to the more expensive Pro plan—unless you manually switch to Standard before June 15th or your renewal date.
And here’s why people aren’t getting properly notified: Adobe will send an email just 30 days before your renewal, reminding you of the price hike and offering the option to switch to the cheaper Standard plan.
So for those on tight budgets—like YouTubers relying on Premiere Pro—you’ll only get 30 days to react and find an alternative, if needed. That’s an extremely short window for a major decision. K takeaway? If you don’t act fast, you will be moved to the pricier plan.
Researching alternatives takes time—it’s not a quick switch. Learning a new platform like DaVinci Resolve (for video editing), adjusting workflows, and getting back to regular content creation isn’t easy. 30 days’ notice is ridiculously short for creators who rely on Adobe tools.
For someone like me, making consumer tech advice videos, I’m not running a multimillion-dollar operation. My renewal date is in July, so my time is limited—but others have even less.
And here’s where it gets worse.
I went into my Adobe Creative plan, thinking, “Okay, let me switch now while there’s time.” This announcement has been public for six days—surely the option is available, right? Nope. I couldn’t find it.
The way their article reads is that you can’t change your plan until you’re within 30 days of your renewal email. If for example you renew in October, you cannot switch to the cheaper Standard plan today—you have to wait until Adobe sends you that email.
I tried switching early (renewing in July) and the option wasn’t available. And let’s be real—Adobe isn’t going to send multiple reminders about this every week. If you miss their one email, you auto-renew at the higher price.
Check your spam folder—if you miss this notice, expect to get stuck paying the inflated rate.
Adobe’s pricing is changing for teams, too—it’s not just individual users.
New Customers
Now, for new customers—it’s worse. The Standard plan is only available for existing subscribers. If you’re new to Adobe, you must go with the AI-packed plan. The pricing comparison makes this clear—Standard is not an option for new signups.
Price Increase History
And here’s a staggering cost increase:
– My 2023 and prior years expenses for Adobe were $894 (tax included and CAD).
– In 2024, that rose by 9%.
– Now, in 2025, if I go with the AI plan, my costs will spike 39% compared to 2023—almost a 40% increase in two years.
Adobe’s pricing game is ruthless.
What Happens Next
The Standard plan seems temporary—Adobe isn’t offering it to students, teachers, or new customers. It looks like a grandfathered plan, meaning current users can keep it for now, but it could disappear anytime.
What Should You Do? This is just my take—you don’t have to follow it.
If you use multiple Adobe services (6–7 or more), even with the price hike, it might still be better value than paying for individual alternatives. Finding separate replacements for Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Audition, Encoder, and After Effects could be more costly long term. Adobe Creative Cloud might actually be the cheaper option.
If AI services enhance your workflow, they could save you time and money, making the Pro plan worth it.
For many—including myself—it’s time to research alternatives. The Standard plan is pricey, and Adobe may eventually force everyone onto the Pro plan. Their lack of clear communication and short notice is concerning.
The best move is to weigh pros and cons. For example:
– Adobe Audition is just an audio recording program—tons of free alternatives exist.
– Premiere Pro vs. DaVinci Resolve—DaVinci is very appealing (and has a free version), but learning it takes time.
– If your edits are simple, moving to a cheaper option like DaVinci could free up money for other needs—maybe a new computer. Especially considering Windows 10 is going end of life October 2025 and maybe computers don’t support that OS.
Windows 10 loses security updates in October, meaning no protection against new threats. So, if you’re saving hundreds per year by switching from Adobe, that money could go toward a new machine.
Yes, learning a new platform is frustrating, but what else could you do with that saved money?
– Upgrade your hardware
– Put it toward rent
– Invest in other tools, etc.
Switching isn’t easy, but it might be worth it.
Hope this new article format of tech consumer advice works for you!
