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We tested Adobe Photoshop — here’s what we found
Adobe Photoshop has long been synonymous with photo editing — and once you try it, you’ll see why. We tested it on a standard Windows 11 PC, and it’s clear why Photoshop remains the industry standard for photographers, designers, bloggers, and creative hobbyists.
Installation is quick, and from the first launch you’re met with a sleek, modern interface. There is a bit of a learning curve, especially if you’re new to layers, masks, or color correction — but after a couple of hours the tools start to click, and the results speak for themselves.
Photoshop can feel technical for beginners, but Adobe has worked hard to make it more approachable. During our test, we found that AI features like Generative Fill and the Object Selection Tool make it easier than ever to edit photos professionally — even without years of experience.
If you ever get stuck, there are plenty of English-language guides and YouTube tutorials to help you move forward fast.
Plans and pricing
For our review we used the free trial of Adobe Photoshop, which gives you full access for seven days. After that, you’ll need an active Creative Cloud subscription.
You can get Photoshop as a standalone subscription or as part of the full Creative Cloud plan, which includes apps like Illustrator, Lightroom, and Premiere Pro.
Prices typically start around $28 per month for Photoshop alone and about $70 per month for the full suite (with annual billing). Students can get a sizable discount in the first year.
We recommend checking the current prices on Adobe’s official website, as they change regularly.
Why Photoshop is still essential
Our testing makes it clear why Adobe Photoshop remains the standard across creative industries. Many workplaces in design, marketing, and communications expect you to be comfortable in Photoshop — even if you’re not a professional graphic designer.
It’s a foundational toolkit for everything from photography to social media content and web design. Even competitors like Canva and Affinity Photo often emulate features Photoshop pioneered.
Photoshop vs. mobile editing apps
While testing Adobe Photoshop, we noticed just how big the gap still is between full desktop tools and quick mobile editing apps.
Many modern apps like Snapseed, Lightroom Mobile, and VSCO offer impressive capabilities right on your phone — and for most Instagram or blog use, they’re often enough.
But when you compare them directly to desktop Photoshop, it’s clear why many creators still swear by Adobe’s app. Photoshop gives you fine-grained control over layers, masks, and individual elements that no mobile app truly matches yet.
For example, we tried adjusting lighting in just one area of a photo — Photoshop handled it precisely with the Lasso Tool and Adjustment Layers, while mobile apps could only change overall exposure.
That’s why Photoshop still delivers the best quality when you want full control over the final look. Mobile apps are fantastic for quick tweaks and posts, but Photoshop is the tool you choose when the result needs to be polished and professional.
What stood out in our testing
While testing Adobe Photoshop, it quickly became clear why it’s the top choice among pros and serious hobbyists. It’s simply the most flexible photo editor we’ve used.
Work in layers, fix tiny details, and fine-tune colors with extreme precision. AI features like Generative Fill let you remove or add objects in just a few clicks — something that used to take far more time and experience.
We tried it on multiple image types — portraits and landscapes — and the results impressed us in both cases. Photoshop does an excellent job preserving image quality, even when you make large edits.
The downside hasn’t changed: Photoshop takes time and patience to learn. The interface can feel overwhelming at first, and the price isn’t for everyone. In return, you get the most complete editing toolkit on the market — and once you learn it, your options are nearly limitless.
Photoshop – still the king of photo editing
After our test, there’s no doubt: Adobe Photoshop still reigns when it comes to advanced photo editing. It delivers a level of precision and control that free alternatives haven’t matched.
We use Photoshop for a wide range of tasks — from simple portrait touch-ups to advanced compositing and digital retouching. It rarely limits you, but it does reward the time you invest in learning it.
That said, there are solid alternatives if you just need quick adjustments or prefer a free tool. On Holyfile.com, you’ll find several options in our photo editing category — perfect for trying things out before you invest in Photoshop.
Top five tips for Adobe Photoshop
For quick edits on the go — remove blemishes, adjust light and colors, or apply AI effects right on your smartphone.
Select an unwanted element, right-click, and choose Content-Aware Fill — Photoshop intelligently reconstructs the background.
Use layer masks instead of deleting parts of your image. It enables non-destructive editing and is easy to tweak later.
Photoshop now lets you type what you want to add or change — and the AI fills it in automatically.
Automate repetitive tasks (like watermarking or resizing) by recording them as an Action and running them with one click.
