Adobe Photoshop (Single app, annual) review 2026
Still the deepest pixel editor there is, with Generative Fill and the best selection tools — buy it in the Photography plan, not alone
Is the Adobe Photoshop Worth It?
Most powerful editor. Photoshop remains the deepest editor made, and nothing here composites or retouches like it. It scores mid-table because it is not a photographer's workflow on its own and is poor value bought alone — get it with Lightroom.
Adobe Photoshop Pros & Cons
- Generative Fill and Expand are the most capable generative tools in any editor
- Selection, masking and compositing nobody else fully matches
- Every plugin and tutorial targets it
- Camera Raw shares Lightroom's engine
- Not a photo workflow tool — no cull, no library
- $827 over three years on its own
- Overkill for developing a shoot
Adobe Photoshop at a Glance
Rubric v1: RAW processing 25 · Editing tools 25 · Organisation 15 · Ease of use 15 · Value 20. Score = Σ ÷ 10, locked Sep 11, 2026. How we rank.
Where to buy — prices checked Sep 11, 2026
Adobe Photoshop specifications
Why it scored 6.4
Photoshop remains the deepest editor made, and nothing here composites or retouches like it. It scores mid-table because it is not a photographer's workflow on its own and is poor value bought alone — get it with Lightroom.
Where it loses
Organisation; value alone.
Still the right pick for
Retouchers and compositors.