Home › Adobe Creative Cloud Pro alternatives
Cheaper alternatives to Adobe Creative Cloud Pro
Updated September 30, 2026 · Researched by the SaveStack team
On this page: Shortlist · Quick comparison · FAQ
The shortlist
Affinity by CanvaBest valueFree plan
Pro design suite (photo, vector, layout) now free under Canva; AI features need Canva Premium. Imports PSD/AI/IDML.
- $0 for the core pro tools
- Imports Adobe formats
- Perpetual free (as of Sep 2026).
- Not a full Creative Cloud replacement — no video/audio apps, cloud collaboration, or full Adobe ecosystem
- AI features need paid Canva Premium.
GIMP
Free open-source raster/photo editor, the classic Photoshop alternative.
- $0 forever
- Powerful for photo work
- Huge plugin/community resources.
- Raster only — no Illustrator/InDesign/Premiere equivalents
- Dated UI
- CMYK workflow weaker.
Photopea
Browser-based editor supporting PSD files; free with ads.
- Free, no install needed
- Opens PSDs natively
- Runs in any browser.
- Ad-supported
- Not suited to large teams or full creative workflows
- Performance below desktop apps.
Canva
Template-based design platform; free tier covers social graphics and simple designs.
- Free plan available
- Fastest for non-designers
- Huge template library.
- Not a professional desktop editing suite — no match for Photoshop/Illustrator depth or print workflows.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Starting price | Free plan | You save | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Creative Cloud Pro (the expensive one) | $69.99/month | — | — | Teams that need every bell and whistle |
| Affinity by Canva | Free ($0; core Pixel/Vector/Layout tools; requires Canva account) | Yes | Save $840/year | Free professional-grade photo/vector/layout editing. |
| GIMP | Free, open source ($0) | Yes | Save $840/year | Free photo retouching and raster editing. |
| Photopea | Free in browser ($0, ad-supported) | Yes | Save $840/year | Quick PSD-compatible edits with no install. |
| Canva | Free plan ($0) | Yes | Save $840/year | Templates and social-media graphics for free. |
Pricing sources: each vendor's official pricing page, last checked September 30, 2026.
FAQ
Why switch away from Adobe Creative Cloud Pro? Price. If you only use 20% of the features, paying the full sticker price rarely makes sense. For Adobe Creative Cloud Pro specifically, switching to Affinity by Canva saves $840/year versus Adobe Creative Cloud Pro's sticker price.
Are cheaper tools worse? Not necessarily. Most alternatives above cover the core workflow; the Cons lists tell you exactly what you'd give up (usually enterprise extras like SSO, advanced admin, or dedicated support).
Can I switch back later? Yes. Most of these have free plans or trials, so you can test before committing.
Prices checked September 30, 2026 and may have changed. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page.