A common problem for photographers is knowing which Photoshop version is right for them. There are a few different Photoshop versions out there, each one suits a certain style or environment of digital photo editing.
We will look at the various options on offer and guide you through different strengths and weaknesses. We will consider every current iteration of Photoshop that is available today. By the end of this article, you will know which Photoshop version to use, at what time, and which is best for you.
Adobe Photoshop is the most popular digital photo editing software in the world. It revolutionized digital photo editing and continues to lead the way in technological advancements in digital photo editing.
Photoshop is an application that allows you to edit and manipulate your photographs. You can use it for simple photo editing, adjusting colors and tones, or for incredibly detailed photo composites and designs.
The biggest issue with Photoshop is that is intimidating to learn how to use the program. It is like learning a new language. Luckily, there are plenty of great Photoshop guides and videos online, including our guide, that will help you get comfortable as quickly as possible.
Let’s go through all Adobe’s versions of Photoshop today. Each Photoshop version has a different purpose. So, you will find that each version suits different environments in which you may be working.
| Brand |
Brand
Adobe
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| Device |
Device
Desktop
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| Payment Type |
Payment Type
Subscription
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| Free Trial Period |
Free Trial Period
7 days
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| Minimum Requirements |
Minimum Requirements
8GB of RAM (recommends 16GB or more) and 20GB of available hard drive space (100GB recommended)
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| Best For |
Best For
Photography enthusiasts and professionals who want to perform custom creative edits
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Adobe Photoshop CC is the most advanced and up-to-date Photoshop version available today. Photoshop CC launched in 2013 when Adobe changed its payment into a subscription-based service.
You could still buy Photoshop CS6 in 2013, but this Photoshop version was discontinued in 2017.
Photoshop CC is the full package. It doesn’t compromise on features, performance, or quality. You will find a wide range of basic and advanced tonal and color adjustments.
In addition, there are controls to create and identify shapes to control particular sections of your photographs. And you will also find plenty of visual effects and distortions.
Thanks to all these digital image tools, Photoshop is used for much more than photography. You can use it for anything from graphic design to illustration.
The latest features in this Photoshop version focus on AI. Photoshop has a game-changing AI Generative Fill feature that lets you edit large sections of your image to insert AI-generated features.
You can use this to simply extend your frame or remove or change certain elements in a photograph. For instance, I can highlight a line on the street and ask Generative Fill to remove this from the picture. You can even change the entire background of the photo shoot.
Photoshop CC is for photographers and designers who want to take their editing to the next level. Once you have familiarized yourself with the basic tools, there is no end to the creative output you can produce. This is thanks to the incredible amount of content that helps you online.
Photoshop CC is a desktop application and should be used on a good computer. Adobe specifies that you need at least 8GB of RAM (recommends 16GB or more) and 20GB of available hard drive space (100GB recommended). You should have Windows 10 or later or macOS Big Sur (version 11.0) or later.
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Brand
Adobe
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| Device |
Device
Desktop
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| Payment Type |
Payment Type
One-time payment for 3 year license
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| Free Trial Period |
Free Trial Period
7 days
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| Minimum Requirements |
Minimum Requirements
8GB of RAM and 8GB of hard drive space
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| Best For |
Best For
Photographers who want to make custom edits but don't want to spend much time at a computer
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Adobe Photoshop Elements is a simplified version of Photoshop CC with less expert tools and controls. It can produce some brilliant edits, but it will not give you complete creative freedom like the full version of Photoshop.
Photoshop Elements does not have a subscription-based service. Instead, a one-off payment will give you a three-year license. This can be a more attractive approach for many photographers.
It is also cheaper in the long run. It may seem expensive, but it still has intelligent editing controls. In particular, it allows beginners to perform advanced edits with little knowledge compared to Photoshop CC.
Photoshop Elements is a program designed for beginners. It provides three different workspaces: Quick, Guided, and Advanced. Each workspace allows you to perform different types of edits and manipulations.
Many features in Photoshop Elements are perfect for beginners and enthusiasts who are interested in spending less time at a computer. This Photoshop version allows you to perform basic edits such as RAW processing, resizing, basic tonal and color adjustments, and much more.
Its newest advanced features provide accurate object removal, change the colors of particular objects, combine multiple photos, and even create more depth in your images. These features allow you to do this with good control and incredible ease compared to Photoshop CC.
Photoshop Elements is a desktop application that requires a good computer if you want to run the latest version. Adobe requires 8GB of RAM and 8GB of hard drive space (6GB for Mac users.) You should have Windows 10 or later or macOS Monterey (macOS 12) or later.
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Brand
Adobe
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| Device |
Device
Mobile and tablet
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| Payment Type |
Payment Type
Free with paid premium service
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| Free Trial Period |
Free Trial Period
7 days for premium
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| Minimum Requirements |
Minimum Requirements
iOS 15 or later for Apple devices and Android 8.0 or later for Android devices
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| Best For |
Best For
Phone photographers who want a range of specialized and custom editing options
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Adobe Photoshop Express is Adobe’s dedicated app for mobile and tablet devices. It functions as a way to provide a mix of simple and more advanced editing tools to mobile users. Rather than being similar to Photoshop, this Photoshop version feels more like a normal photo editing application.
Photoshop Express is free, but many of the advanced tools are available through the Premium subscription-based service. You are still able to perform tonal and some manipulation adjustments for free. This app is best for phone photographers who want to make quick edits.
This Photoshop version comes with a wide range of presets installed and an auto-enhance tool for quick results. All adjustment controls are well thought through for the mobile user. Each tool, from sliders to brushes, functions differently from the Photoshop app to accommodate small screens.
The Premium features bring an intelligent approach to mobile photo editing. Photoshop Express is able to read your image and pick out different objects as well as facial features. It shows each section as a small thumbnail, and then you are able to edit each feature individually. Premium also allows access to the Heal tool.
The free version still has a basic face-tuner section that gives great results. On top of this, you can change the background (but to refine your selection, you need Premium), warp your image, apply text, draw, and even change basic makeup and hair color.
Photoshop Express is available on the iOS and Google Play app store for mobile and tablet users. You will need iOS 15 or later for Apple devices and Android 8.0 or later for Android devices.
| Brand |
Brand
Adobe
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| Device |
Device
Tablet
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| Payment Type |
Payment Type
Subscription (free with Photoshop CC)
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| Free Trial Period |
Free Trial Period
7 days
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| Minimum Requirements |
Minimum Requirements
iPadOS 14 or later
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| Best For |
Best For
Photographers who travel or those who like a condensed version of Photoshop
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Adobe also has another Photoshop version available as an app. The Photoshop app is only available for tablet users. This Photoshop app is much closer to the Photoshop experience than Photoshop Express.
You are able to access the Photoshop app if you pay for Photoshop CC. The best part about having this app with Adobe Creative Cloud is that you can share and access files easily over the cloud service.
This Photoshop version gives you many of Photoshop’s functions in a compact and portable application. You can perform layered editing, create masks, retouch images, and much more, all from a tablet device.
All the controls are extremely well thought through. Adjusting curves is as easy as moving the graph with your finger. You are also able to draw selections and paint in adjustments using your finger to draw over the photo. This could be a preferable way for some photographers to work.
The Photoshop app also has a wide range of new Photoshop features, such as Generative Fill. Thanks to this, the Photoshop app is perfect for professionals or enthusiasts wanting to edit photos while on the go.
This Photoshop version is only on Apple tablet devices. You must have iPadOS 14 or later to run this application.
| Brand |
Brand
Adobe
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| Device |
Device
Web
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| Payment Type |
Payment Type
Free
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| Free Trial Period |
Free Trial Period
Free
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| Minimum Requirements |
Minimum Requirements
Windows 8.1 or later, macOS 10.13 or later
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| Best For |
Best For
Beginners who want to make custom graphic designs with ease
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Adobe Express is another version of Photoshop that Adobe produces. It is a web and mobile application that allows you to create graphics with a simple approach. Adobe presents a range of templates for different types of content so you can select the one you want to make an edit for.
This is a great way for inexperienced editors to create quick graphics for social media or personalized cards or invites. Adobe has made every process as simple as possible. It will take some time to get familiar with it, but that is because Adobe gives you so many customization options.
Adobe Express is not a photo editing app. Instead, it is used to make graphics where photos may be a feature. Many graphic designers use Photoshop to create graphics, so this Photoshop version is a simplified tool for this demographic.
One excellent new feature of Adobe Express is AI image generation. It has a great text-to-image AI generator that can quickly create custom images you may want to use for social media or other graphics.
Adobe Express is best for people who want to create quick graphics without wanting to learn how to use Photoshop. It can be a great way to create custom edits with little intervention and little skill.
Photoshop Elements is the best option for beginners who want to learn how to progress to the full program. If you are passionate about learning how to edit photos, you can jump straight to the full Photoshop CC.
Thanks to YouTube’s endless Photoshop tutorials, you can learn all the skills yourself. Or take a look at our dedicated Photoshop tutorials.
The best Photoshop app is the one specifically for Apple tablets. Photoshop Express is basic and closer to a mobile photo editing app than Photoshop. The Photoshop app is a condensed and portable Photoshop version.
The answer may seem simple but the best Photoshop version is Photoshop CC. Adobe always pushes the bar with what is possible with digital editing with this application. Every other Photoshop version is a compromise of this excellent application.
One of these other options might be a better Photoshop version for you. So, think about the environment and what kind of imagery you are going to create before selecting one.