Recently, Adobe has faced significant backlash from customers due to their stance on AI and an inability to opt out of Terms and Conditions that were… ill-worded at best, and completely invasive at the worst. New Terms & Conditions, to which you had to accept to use Adobe products or even cancel your subscription, included questionable wording that suggested adobe would be doing more excessive data collection and monitoring, which many users found unacceptable. This contributed to a broader uproar for Adobe users and prompted a widespread boycott. 

To add fuel to the fire, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit against Adobe. The lawsuit alleges that Adobe engaged in deceptive practices by hiding early termination fees in its most popular subscription plans and making it difficult for consumers to cancel their subscriptions. This civil enforcement action, which names two Adobe executives, Maninder Sawhney and David Wadhwani, claims that Adobe violated the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA) by not clearly disclosing these fees and creating an overly complex cancellation process designed to retain customers through obstacles and hidden costs.

The lawsuit seeks consumer redress, monetary civil penalties, and a permanent injunction to prevent Adobe from continuing these practices. This has sparked a widespread boycott, as many users feel betrayed by Adobe's lack of transparency and customer-unfriendly policies (MacRumors).

With all of this going on, many creatives are exploring alternative software solutions with similar capabilities, without subscription traps or invasive monitoring. Below are several alternatives to some of Adobe biggest products that are either free, open sourced, or available for a one-time purchase, providing a range of options for those looking to transition away from Adobe products or just any creative looking to get into digital design! 

Programs displayed in bold are one of the more popular options.

Photoshop Alternatives:

1. GIMP [Free & Open Source]

2. Sumo Paint [Free of Charge]

3. Affinity Photo [Single Purchase]

4. Photoline [Single Purchase]

5. Photopea [Free of Charge]

6. Paint.NET [Free & Open Source]

Painting Alternatives:

1. Krita [Free & Open Source]

2. Clip Studio Paint [Single Purchase]

3. Paint Tool SAI [Single Purchase]

4. Procreate [Single Purchase]

5. Autodesk Sketchbook [Free of Charge]

6. FireAlpaca [Free of Charge]

7. Medibang [Free of Charge]

9. MyPaint [Free & Open Source]

Illustrator Alternatives:

1. Inkscape [Free & Open Source]

2. Vectr [Free of Charge]

4. Gravit Designer [Free of Charge]

5. Affinity Designer [Single Purchase]

6. Corel Draw [Single Purchase]

Animate Alternatives:

1. Cacani [Single Purchase]

2. TVPaint [Single Purchase]

4. Clip Studio EX [Single Purchase]

6. Blender [Free & Open Source]

7. OpenToonz [Free & Open Source]

InDesign Alternatives:

1. Scribus [Free & Open Source]

2. Affinity Publisher [Single Purchase]

3. QuarkXPress [Single Purchase]

Lightroom Alternatives:

1. RawTherapee [Free & Open Source]

2. Darktable [Free & Open Source]

3. Lightzone [Free & Open Source]

Dreamweaver Alternatives:

1. Brackets [Free & Open Source]

2. Aptana Studio [Free & Open Source]

3. Netbeans [Free & Open Source]

4. VS Codium [Free & Open Source]

5. VS Code [Free of Charge]

6. BlueGriffon [Single Purchase]

As the creative community moves forward, the shift towards more ethical and user-centric tools represents not just a response to Adobe's missteps but also a broader trend towards empowerment and choice in the digital age. Whether you're a professional designer or an enthusiast, exploring these alternatives could open up new possibilities and inspire your creative journey, without breaking the bank.

Good luck, and have fun!