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🦉 WE READ 73 OWNER COMMENTS
Adobe Photoshop 2024: what owners actually say
Owners respect Photoshop's power but resent the subscription model and bemoan missing platform support and performance regressions
What owners complain about
- Subscription fatigue COMMON
Owners resent paying monthly with no option to buy outright. One user explicitly states they pay because Adobe 'won't let me just buy it and own it' and feel forced features they don't want are shoved down their throat. Others reference hunting for old CS3/CS5 copies to own permanently.
- No Android tablet support COMMON
Multiple users are frustrated that full Photoshop is unavailable on Android tablets despite high-end hardware being capable. One user notes their Galaxy Fold 4 'would handle some tasks better' than their iPad M2. Another claims a Tencent exclusive deal blocks Android availability.
- iPad version is gutted SOME
Users call the iPadOS version 'severely limited' and not 'legit' Photoshop, despite paying full subscription price for the Creative Cloud suite.
- Performance regression vs older versions FEW
A user who downloaded Photoshop CS3 (2007) reports the core tools and blending options are essentially unchanged after nearly 20 years, except for a 'terrible performance regression' in modern versions.
- Generative Fill resolution cap FEW
Generative Fill is locked at 1024px output resolution. Users mistakenly believed it had been upgraded to 2000px, but Adobe confirmed it remains at 1024px, which disappoints owners expecting higher quality AI output.
What owners love
- Undisputed professional standard
Even critics concede Photoshop remains the tool professionals rely on. One commenter notes people assume it's the best 'because it's used by professionals,' and alternatives like Photopea have production workflow gaps that would 'trivially frustrate' a real working environment.
- AI features generate excitement
Owners are genuinely enthusiastic about Generative Fill and the new Lens Blur feature. One user was literally thinking about learning bokeh effects the same day Adobe announced the Lens Blur update, and the AI tools are described as fun to experiment with.
- Tutorial ecosystem is exceptional
The community around Photoshop education is praised repeatedly. One user calls a tutorial creator a 'GURU' and says they switched from Capture One to Adobe 'thanks to this dude.' Multiple commenters express gratitude for clear, timely, enthusiastic explanations of new features.
Surprising patterns
- Several owners actively seek out pirated copies of CS3 and CS5 from 2007-2010 because they feel the modern feature additions are unwanted bloat and older versions are faster and sufficient for their needs.
- Photopea is repeatedly endorsed by Photoshop-experienced users as handling PSD files natively, supporting Photoshop brushes and shortcuts, making it a serious contender for anyone whose workflow isn't print-production-dependent.
- There is a live debate among owners about whether CMYK and print-specific colour management still matters in 2024, with some arguing it's an obsolete concern and others insisting it remains essential for professional workflows.
WHO SHOULD SKIP IT
Casual image editors and Android tablet users who don't need professional print-production features — commenters repeatedly note that many paying users have 'convinced themselves' they need Photoshop when free or one-time-purchase alternatives like Photopea would cover their actual workflow.
Synthesised from 73 real owner comments across 3 platforms. Every point is grounded in the comments — no marketing, no AI guessing. How we do it →