
Do you feel stuck with your digital art?
What if you could easily create stunning visuals?
Perhaps your current tools limit your creativity.
It stops you from doing your best work.
Imagine a tool that truly brings your vision to life.
Our in-depth Adobe Photoshop Review for 2025 has answers. We explore its powerful new features.
Read on to see if Photoshop can transform your digital canvas.

Ready to transform your vision? Join over 37 million Creative Cloud users and create stunning visuals. Experience powerful generative AI in Photoshop across desktop, iPad, and now on the web.
What is Adobe Photoshop?
Adobe Photoshop is a powerful computer program.
That helps you edit pictures and make amazing digital art.
Think of it like a magic toolbox for your images.
You can change colors, fix flaws, or even add brand-new things to your photos.
It’s the top tool for many artists and designers.
There’s also Photoshop available on the iPad for on-the-go editing.
Additionally, you can use a simpler version of Photoshop on the web directly in your browser.

Who Created Adobe Photoshop?
Adobe Photoshop was first created by brothers Thomas and John Knoll in 1987.
They later sold the rights to Adobe Systems in 1988.
Adobe’s vision has always been to empower creative people.
They wanted to make powerful tools for graphic design and image editing.
Over the years, they grew into a huge company.
They offer a full suite of tools through their Creative Cloud.
This includes cloud storage and features like generative fill.
They also made Photoshop available on mobile devices.
Top Benefits of Adobe Photoshop
- Advanced AI Features: New AI features, such as the improved Remove tool, make complex tasks easier. This means less time for repetitive edits and more time for creativity.
- Generative Power: With generative AI powered by Adobe Firefly, you can add or remove elements with simple text commands. Tools like Generative Expand let you seamlessly extend image backgrounds.
- Comprehensive Editing Tools: You get a full suite of editing tools for precise control over every detail. This allows for professional-level photo manipulation and graphic design.
- Cross-Device Workflow: You can work on your projects on different devices. Start on your desktop, then refine on your iPad for flexibility.
- Seamless Adobe Ecosystem Integration: Photoshop integrates smoothly with other Adobe apps, such as Lightroom. This creates a powerful and efficient workflow for all your creative needs.
- Creative Freedom & Experimentation: The new AI features encourage experimentation. You can easily try out new ideas & generate multiple variations of your work.
- High-Quality Output: Photoshop ensures your final images are always in a professional format. This is important for printing, web use, or showcasing your portfolio.
- Regular Updates & Innovation: Adobe continually updates Photoshop with new features and enhancements. This keeps you at the forefront of digital imaging technology.

Best Features
Adobe Photoshop has some truly unique and powerful features.
They make photo editing easier than ever.
These tools use smart technology.
They help you create amazing images.
Let’s look at some of the best.
1. Generative Fill and Expand
This is like magic! Using AI, you can add or remove things from your photos with a simple text command.
Generative Fill lets you type what you want to add, and Photoshop creates it and blends it into the image.
Generative Expand allows you to make your canvas bigger, and Photoshop will intelligently fill the new space with content that matches the original scene.

2. Parametric Filters
These are a powerful new type of filter. They give you far more control than standard filters.
You can adjust many parameters and settings to get the exact effect you want.
This allows for endless creative possibilities and lets you easily combine multiple filters on a single layer to create unique looks.

3. 3D Depth Estimations
Photoshop can now understand the depth within an image.
It can identify what is in the foreground and what is in the background.
This allows you to apply different effects based on depth, like adding realistic atmospheric haze or creating a selective depth of field blur.
This makes your 2D photos look more like 3D scenes.

4. Realistic Background Generator
Need a new background?
This tool creates one for you.
It matches your subject’s lighting.
It makes the new background look real.
This saves tons of time.

5. Content Credentials
This feature adds a digital label.
It shows who made the image.
It also explains how it was made.
This builds trust in digital content.
It’s important for authenticity.

6. Skin Retouch
Photoshop offers many powerful tools to perfect skin in photos.
You can use the Spot Healing Brush or the Neural Filter’s “Skin Smoothing” to quickly fix blemishes and spots.
For more control, you can use layers and blurring techniques to create a smooth, natural look while keeping a realistic texture.
7. Add and Remove Objects
With the power of generative AI, you can effortlessly add or remove objects from your images.
The new Remove Tool lets you simply brush over an unwanted element, and Photoshop will intelligently fill the area.
For more control, Generative Fill allows you to add new objects to a scene with just a text prompt, creating realistic and seamless results.
8. Built-in Transitions and Effects
While Photoshop is primarily a photo editor, it also has video editing capabilities.
You can create short video timelines and apply a variety of built-in transitions like fades and dissolves to your video clips.
Additionally, you can apply a wide range of filters and effects to both photos and videos, adding a creative touch to your projects.
Pricing
| Plan Name | Pricing (Billed Annually) |
| Photography | $19.99/month |
| Photoshop | $22.99/month |
| Creative Cloud Pro | $69.99/month |

Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Alternatives to Photoshop
- Picsart: A very popular app for creative edits and social media graphics. It’s known for its huge library of stickers, effects, and its easy-to-use video editor.
- Canva: A very popular design platform with tons of templates. It’s great for social media graphics and presentations, with a focus on ease of use.
- Fotor: This platform is known for its wide range of AI tools, including photo enhancers, object removal, and AI art generators. It’s a solid option for users who need a comprehensive suite of editing features.
- Design Pickle: An on-demand graphic design service, not a software. It’s for businesses that need a lot of design work done quickly, from logos to social media graphics.
- Blaze: This is the name of a smartphone brand and an AI image editor. The AI image editor is known for its ability to edit images using simple text prompts.
- Remini: This app is a go-to for enhancing and restoring photos, especially old, blurry, or low-resolution ones. It’s known for its powerful AI photo enhancement.
- Photoleap: A mobile app focused on advanced AI image generation and editing. It’s a good choice for users who want more creative control over their AI-generated art.
- Pixelcut: An AI-powered photo editing app that’s great for e-commerce. It uses AI to quickly remove backgrounds and create product photos.
- VSCO: A well-known app for its unique filters and editing presets. It’s popular with photographers who want to achieve a specific aesthetic or “look” for their photos.
- Photoroom: A mobile-first app designed to create professional product photos. It focuses on background removal, batch editing, and creating product mockups.
- YouCam Perfect: A popular app for portrait and selfie editing. It’s known for its beauty filters, effects, and tools to perfect your portraits.
- Photoshop: The industry standard for professional photo editing. It offers a vast range of advanced tools for complex editing and design, but it has a steep learning curve.
- Pixlr: A web-based photo editor that offers both a simple and an advanced version. It’s a solid choice for quick edits and is often seen as a free alternative to Photoshop.
- Photopea: A free, web-based photo editor that’s very similar to Photoshop. It supports PSD files and is a powerful tool for those who need more advanced features.
- Phedra: An AI image editor that lets you make complex changes to images using simple text prompts. It is not an image generator but an editor.
Photoshop Compared
Adobe Photoshop is the industry standard for professional photo editing.
Here is how it compares to other popular tools, from mobile apps to browser-based editors.
- Photoshop vs Picsart: Photoshop offers unmatched, precise control for professionals. Picsart is a more user-friendly, mobile-first app with a huge library of creative assets and easy-to-use tools.
- Photoshop vs Canva: Photoshop is for deep, pixel-level image manipulation. Canva is a simple-to-use graphic design platform focused on templates for quick content creation.
- Photoshop vs Design Pickle: Photoshop is powerful software that requires user skills. Design Pickle is a subscription service that provides professional designers to do the work for you.
- Photoshop vs Blaze: Blaze is an AI-powered content creation tool. Photoshop is a professional image editor used for creating and manipulating raster images.
- Photoshop vs Fotor: Photoshop is for professional, in-depth editing. Fotor is a simpler online editor with a focus on ease of use for amateurs and quick edits.
- Photoshop vs Remini: Photoshop is a comprehensive editing suite for professional work. Remini is a highly specialized AI tool for quickly enhancing and restoring image quality.
- Photoshop vs Photoleap: Photoshop offers advanced tools and complete control for professional-level work. Photoleap is a mobile app that is better for quick creative edits and social media content.
- Photoshop vs Pixelcut: Photoshop is a wide-ranging, powerful editor. Pixelcut is a focused tool that excels at quickly removing backgrounds and creating product photos.
- Photoshop vs VSCO: Photoshop is the professional standard for detailed image manipulation. VSCO is known for its artistic, film-like filters and community, not for detailed editing.
- Photoshop vs PhotoRoom: Photoshop gives you full creative control. PhotoRoom is a faster, simpler tool tailored for creating on-brand e-commerce product photos.
- Photoshop vs YouCam Perfect: Photoshop offers more robust, professional tools. YouCam Perfect is a user-friendly app focused on AI-powered selfie and beauty enhancements.
- Photoshop vs Pixlr: Photoshop is a powerful desktop software. Pixlr is a more accessible, web-based editor that provides a wide range of general photo editing tools.
- Photoshop vs Photopea: Photoshop is a professional software requiring a subscription. Photopea is a free, web-based editor that closely mimics Photoshop’s interface and features.
- Photoshop vs Phedra: Photoshop requires skill and manual editing. Phedra is an AI-powered editor that uses simple text prompts to make complex edits.
Personal Experience with Photoshop
Our team recently used Photoshop for a big client project.
We needed to make new product images.
The old ones had busy backgrounds.
We needed clean, eye-catching visuals.
Photoshop’s new AI tools made this easy.
Here’s how Photoshop helped our team:

- Generative Fill: We quickly removed old backgrounds. I just selected the area and clicked. Photoshop created new, simple backdrops.
- Generative Expand: Some photos were too small. We easily made the canvas bigger. Photoshop filled the new space. This saved hours.
- Content Credentials: We shared our work safely. This feature added proof of who made the image. It also showed how we edited it.
- Cloud Storage: Team members accessed files easily. Everyone worked on the same versions, eliminating confusion and lost work.
- Improved Select Subject: Cutting out products was quick and easy. The tool made perfect selections. This gave us very clean images.
Final Thoughts
After this Adobe Photoshop Review, should you get it?
If you need powerful photo editing and advanced retouching tools, yes.
Its new generative AI features change your workflow.
You can easily customize multiple images and even new font styles.
It’s becoming more intuitive, too.
While it excels at handling pixels, it also supports some vector graphics.
You can easily upload your files and use pre-set swatches.
Try Photoshop and see how it elevates your work!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Adobe Photoshop for free?
No. Adobe Photoshop is premium software. While you can access a full-featured 7-day free trial, a paid subscription is required after it expires. Don’t trust sites promising “cracked” versions; they are often riddled with malware.
What is the cost of Photoshop?
Pricing typically starts at $22.99/month for the standalone app. However, the Photography Plan is often a better deal at $19.99/month. Prices vary based on your region and current Adobe promotions.
Can I buy Photoshop permanently?
Not anymore. Adobe shifted to a subscription-only model years ago via Creative Cloud. If you want a “buy once” option, Photoshop Elements 2026 is available for $99.99, but it lacks professional-grade features and expires after three years.
Is there a free version of Adobe Photoshop?
Technically, no. The flagship desktop app requires a subscription. However, Adobe offers “Photoshop Express” and “Adobe Express” for free on mobile and web. These are simplified versions for quick edits and social media graphics.
Is Canva better than Photoshop?
It depends on your goals. Canva is king for speed, templates, and beginners. Photoshop is the industry titan for pixel-perfect manipulation. Use Canva for a quick Instagram post; use Photoshop for high-end commercial retouching.
What is the best Photoshop alternative?
Photopea is the closest free experience because it mimics the Photoshop interface in your browser. For professional power without the price tag, GIMP is the best open-source desktop alternative. Both support PSD files.
Is there a downside to using Photoshop?
The learning curve is steep. It can be overwhelming for casual users. Additionally, the recurring subscription cost adds up over time. If you only need basic cropping, Photoshop is likely overkill for your needs.
More Facts about Photoshop
- Many people look for other programs because they don’t want to pay a monthly fee for Photoshop.
- Affinity Photo is a top choice that you only have to pay for once.
- Photopea is a free website that works like Photoshop and opens the same files.
- GIMP is a free program that anyone can download to edit photos.
- Photoshop Elements is a simpler version that is easier for beginners to use.
- Capture One and DxO PhotoLab are great for fixing high-quality “raw” photo files.
- Photoshop is the main tool professionals use to enhance images.
- It is widely regarded as the best image-editing software in the world.
- Photoshop is very powerful and has the best tools you can buy.
- It can be hard to learn, but there are many videos online to help you.
- Most people don’t use every tool in Photoshop because it is built for experts.
- The monthly fee ensures the software stays up to date with new features.
- You can move the buttons and menus around to make it look how you want.
- The tools work very fast and do not slow down your computer.
- Smart AI tools help you finish your work much faster.
- Photoshop might be overkill if you only need to do simple tasks.
- Because so many people use it, it is easy to find help if you get stuck.
- The Skin Smoothing tool can quickly make faces in portraits look clean.
- The Crop Tool helps you straighten tilted photos.
- The Harmonize Tool makes different pictures match in color when you mix them.
- Photos saved in RAW format are better because they hold more detail for editing.
- Photoshop uses tiny dots called pixels to create colors and textures.
- Saving a PSD file keeps all your layers so you can change them later.
- Beginners should use “non-destructive” editing, which means you don’t ruin the original photo.
- You can use Vibrance to make colors pop, but do it slowly so they look real.
- The Spot Healing Brush can remove pimples or marks on a new layer.
- Using keys like Ctrl+T to resize and Ctrl+J to copy layers saves time.
- Use Curves or Levels to change brightness without changing the actual photo pixels.
- You can fix colors like warmth or tint directly using a special layer.
- Layer Masks let you hide parts of a picture without erasing them forever.
- Always work on new layers or Smart Objects so you can return to the start.
- Photoshop lets you blend many images together to make something totally new.
- The Remove Tool automatically deletes things like power lines or people from the background.
- Smart tools can pick out just the person, the sky, or an object with one click.
- AI filters can automatically change someone’s expression or smooth their skin.
- The Denoise tool uses AI to fix grainy photos taken in the dark.
- Layers allow you to make changes that you can turn on or off at any time.
- Photoshop saves your work to the cloud so you can open it on other computers.
- You can save different screen layouts depending on the job you are doing.
- The 2026 version uses AI to do the hard work for you.
- AI can help you grow the background of a photo or move objects around.
- Adobe has added many new “robot” brains to help you edit.
- Generative Fill creates new parts of a picture that weren’t there before.
- The AI Remove Tool perfectly removes unwanted objects.
- Neural Filters use AI to fix faces and skin in seconds.
- The AI Denoise tool is the best way to clean up fuzzy pictures.
- Selection tools use AI to trace around objects very accurately.
- You cannot buy Photoshop once; you must pay for it every month.
- The cheapest plan is the Photography Plan at $19.99 a month.
- Just the Photoshop app costs $22.99 per month on its own.
- The All Apps plan gives you over 20 programs for $59.99 a month.
- If you quit a yearly plan early, you might have to pay a big fee.
- The last version you could buy forever was CS6, which cost $699 at the time.
- Students and teachers can get all the apps for $19.99 a month.













