1. The Adobe Equation
Adobe Photoshop shifted from a $699 one-time purchase (CS6) to a monthly subscription model. While the entry price is lower ($22.99/mo), the long-term cost accumulation is steep.
Perpetual Cost (Fixed)
$699
One-time payment
10-Year Sub Cost
$2,759
Standard Plan ($22.99/mo)
Break-Even Point
2.5 Years
Time until subscription costs more than owning.
Cumulative Cost Over Time
Comparing the old CS6 purchase vs. Standard & Photography plans.
The "Photography Plan" Exception: At $9.99/mo, the Photography Plan extends the break-even point to nearly 6 years, making it the most viable option for long-term users.
2. The Microsoft Dilemma
Microsoft Office offers a clear choice: Buy Office 2021 for $150 or rent Microsoft 365 for $70/year. The subscription includes 1TB cloud storage, which complicates the value proposition.
Office Cost Projection
Subscription ($69.99/yr) vs One-Time ($149.99).
The 2.2 Year Wall
If you only need Word and Excel on a single computer, the subscription model stops making financial sense after just 26 months.
However, the standalone license is restrictive. It covers only 1 PC and lacks the 1TB OneDrive storage included with the subscription.
The "Subscriber's Tax"
Comparing the total cost of ownership over a decade. The bar chart below illustrates the premium paid for "access" versus "ownership."
Ownership Win
Staying on CS6 would have saved a user over $2,000 over the last decade.
Hidden Value
If you value 1TB cloud storage at $5/mo ($60/yr), the Microsoft subscription effectively pays for itself.
What Are You Paying For?
It's not just about the software. Subscriptions bundle services that perpetual licenses lack.
Device Access
Perpetual: 1 PC/Mac only.
vs
Subscription: Up to 5 Devices simultaneous (Mobile + Desktop).
Cloud Storage
Perpetual: None (Local only).
vs
Subscription: 1TB (Microsoft) or 20GB-100GB (Adobe) included.
Updates & Features
Perpetual: Frozen in time. Security patches only.
vs
Subscription: Instant access to new AI features (e.g., Generative Fill).