With such an arsenal of photo-editing tools, Photoshop charges a pretty penny to reap the benefits. Whether you’re a student, an aspiring graphics designer, or just wanting to avoid Adobe’s $21 monthly tax, the one and only way to use the professional service at no cost is through its free 7-day trial. My apologies upfront if you’re reading this hoping that we’ve unlocked the secret of how to permanently (and legally) obtain Photoshop for free. (We’re also anxiously hoping for Adobe to finally announce a free version, even if it came with fewer features.) For now, here’s how you can enroll in a free 7-day trial of Photoshop, with no commitments required.
Step 1: Go to the Adobe website
In your internet browser, follow this link to Adobe.com. It will take you to the landing page for Photoshop’s free trial. Then, click the blue button labeled “Start free trial”.
Step 2: Select your package
You’ll now be prompted to select which package you want to experiment with, and potentially buy. Adobe offers three packages for you to choose from.
Photoshop package
The Photoshop package is the most basic option and includes service access via your desktop, tablet, or mobile device, Adobe Fresco (including fonts), step-by-step tutorials, and 100GB of cloud storage. After your free download and trial, this will convert into a $20.99/month subscription.
Photography package
If you’re more of a photography and photo-editing buff, you may want to try the Photography package which includes Photoshop and Lightroom for desktop and mobile and also features Adobe Fonts as well as step-by-step tutorials. Note that this option only has 20GB of cloud storage but is less expensive at $9.99 per month after the trial.
Creative Cloud All Apps package
If you’re looking for the full experience across all the Adobe Creative Cloud platforms (20+ applications including Photoshop, Illustrator, Adobe Express, Premiere Pro, and Acrobat Pro), this may be the best option for you. The all-in-one bundle Includes 100GB of cloud storage and is valued at $54.99 per month post-trial. Out of the three, I would suggest going with the Photography package, especially if you’re a beginner. The bundle gives you the chance to play around and familiarize yourself with Lightroom and Photoshop, and see how they can work in tandem. After you’ve chosen your trial package, select the “Continue” button at the bottom of the screen.
Step 3: Checkout
You may be asking now, “Wait, why is Adobe asking for my credit card?”. Keep in mind that because this is a free trial you’re enrolling into, you will automatically be charged either monthly or annually (prepaid or paid monthly) once the time expires. When you’re ready to check out, you should see a “Due now” note at the bottom of your receipt that’s valued at $0.00. Note: If you don’t cancel the subscription after 14 days (or 7 days after your full trial), you will not be eligible for a full refund and charged for the selected package. More: How to use Photoshop: 5 basic steps to edit a photo
Step 4: Download and Install
After checking out, a download process for your trial package, along with Adobe Creative Cloud, should begin automatically. Once completed, you can open Photoshop and begin your photo-editing endeavors.
How to cancel your free trial
If you decide at the end of your seven days that the Photoshop experience wasn’t a fit, you can cancel the free trial to avoid any extra charges. Here’s how:
Step 1: Sign into your Adobe account
First, sign into your Adobe account using the credentials associated with your trial order. If you don’t remember the login information, try searching through your primary emails for the order receipt.
Step 2: Go to the “Plans and payments” tab
At the top of the website, select the “Plans and Payment” tab. A drop-down menu will appear and you will see a button that says “Manage plan”. Click the button and then select “Cancel your plan”. Adobe will ask you for the cancellation reason but the feedback is completely optional. If you don’t see the “Cancel your plan” option, reach out to an Adobe customer agent for assistance.
More: How to use Photoshop on your iPhone
