When I got my Photoshop subscription, I was excited about the creative possibilities and thought it would be the ultimate tool for my visual projects. But over time, the subscription model, cost, and learning curve made me start to regret getting a subscription.

Despite these frustrations, I haven't canceled my subscription — and probably won't anytime soon. Photoshop remains embedded in my workflow and there are some features that free tools simply can't match. Here's exactly why I keep coming back to Photoshop.

7 Layers and masks

Photoshop's layer and masking features are unmatched

Layers and masks are essential in most serious photo editing or graphic design projects, and Photoshop's layer and masking tools are simply the best. While other tools like Photopea offer similar functionality, they don't quite match the precision that Photoshop provides.

The way Photoshop lets you group layers, non-destructively mask details, and apply adjustments to specific areas makes complex edits much more manageable. The way Photoshop handles layers and masks is a big part of why I'm not giving up my subscription.

6 Content-Aware Fill

This tool is a lifesaver

If you've ever had to remove unwanted objects, distractions, or blemishes from a photo, you know how much time manual cloning and healing can take. This is why Photoshop's Content-Aware Fill is one of the most advanced tools of its kind and can save you hours of tedious work.

Sure, there are similar AI-powered tools that can also get the job done, but Photoshop's results look the most natural. I can select an object and hit Content-Aware Fill, and the software will intelligently replace it with the surrounding textures in a way that looks seamless.

This tool alone would make Photoshop worth keeping for professional client work. But even as a hobbyist editor, I don't always have the patience to manually patch things up.

5 Generative Fill

One of the best AI tools in a photo editor

Adobe has been steadily integrating AI features into its programs. While some of them can feel a little gimmicky, others are genuinely useful and superior to the free options out there. One of them is Generative Fill, which has completely changed how I approach certain edits.

Generative Fill uses Adobe Firefly, an AI model trained on Adobe's licensed content, to generate or remove elements in an image. Unlike traditional tools like Content-Aware Fill, which pull data from existing pixels in the image, Generative Fill creates entirely new content from scratch. I like that you don't even have to specify anything in a prompt — just select an area, hit Generate, and it spits out high-quality generations. You can also enter a prompt if you want to, though.

Before Generative Fill, major image adjustments often required a mix of cloning, healing, manual painting, and layer blending. All those tasks still have their place, but, depending on the type of project you're working with, Generative Fill can override all of that and give you what you're looking for in seconds. The results aren't always perfect, no generative AI is, but they're far better than what you will get with most free alternatives. Plus, you can keep generating new results an unlimited number of times.

4 Other AI and automation tools

Photoshop's automated and AI-powered tools save a lot of time

Besides Generative Fill, I rather like most of Photoshop's other AI-powered and automated tools. Some of the best include Neural Filters for tasks like skin smoothing and colorizing black and white images. Sky Replacement and Select Subject are easily replicated in free alternatives, but Photoshop's versions are the highest quality for fast, precise selections.

Auto Masking and Object Selection are also worth mentioning. While many free tools have similar selection features, Photoshop's AI-driven edge detection and refinement capabilities make it easier to achieve more polished results with minimal effort.

These aren't just nice-to-have features; in my opinion, they actually save a lot of time when working on most project types. While you'll find similar options for free, Photoshop's implementation of these tools feels the most polished and reliable.

3 Smart Objects

Keep your editing workflow non-destructive

One of the biggest drawbacks of working with raster images is the risk of losing quality when resizing or making any other kind of changes. This is where Smart Objects save the day — one of the best features Photoshop has to offer.

Photoshop lets you embed high-resolution images, vector elements, or RAW files into your project as Smart Objects, which means you can scale them up or down, apply filters, and make other adjustments without permanently altering the original file. Smart Objects also let you apply Smart Filters, so you can tweak things like blur, distortion, and color without making permanent changes.

Smart Objects can be crucial for those working with logos, UI designs, or multi-layer compositions where you need to preserve detail and maintain flexibility. To me, it's one of those features that is overkill for simpler projects, but it's very helpful when you want to resize or warp your image without losing quality or when you're just working on something that requires multiple revisions. No other software I've used implements Smart Objects quite as seamlessly as Photoshop does.

2 Text and typography tools

Photoshop boasts incredible text manipulation

Photoshop's text and typography tools aren't the primary reason I'm keeping my subscription, but it's something I'm glad to have access to. Picsart or Canva are usually my go-to options for text-specific designs, but when I'm already working on a project in Photoshop and want to apply text, I'm more than happy to take advantage of the advanced tools.

You can warp text, layer styles, and add drop shadows and glows to make any text pop or blend seamlessly into your image. The advanced kerning, leading, and tracking adjustments also enable you to create professional-looking text if you need it. And paragraph and character styles are great for saving and applying consistent typography across multiple designs.

1 Large files

Photoshop handles large and complex files better

Sometimes I work with high-res images, large canvases, or multi-layered projects. While Photoshop isn't the only tool that can handle large files, the alternatives are more likely to struggle with performance when dealing with these files. Things like Layer Comps, Smart Objects, and 32-bit editing make it the better choice for heavy and complex work that requires precision editing. Photoshop is also optimized to handle PSD and RAW files, which most lightweight programs can't match, at least not without getting laggy.

Will I ever cancel my Photoshop subscription?

I regret having to pay for Photoshop every month, but when it comes time to use it, I'm reminded why I keep it. When I need to tackle a more complex edit, make AI enhancements that don't look unrealistic, or work with large files, other software won't be able to do it as well as Photoshop. It's an incredibly powerful, time-saving, and efficient tool that keeps me coming back. While some come close, no other software truly matches its speed, power, and range of features.

Ideally, Photoshop would be available as a one-time purchase, giving users the freedom to own their software and not locking them into a recurring payment. However, with Adobe fully committed to the subscription model, that's unlikely to happen. As frustrating as the ongoing cost can be, Photoshop remains an unfortunate necessity in my workflow — for now.