Best Adobe Creative Cloud Alternatives

For years, Adobe Creative Cloud has been an industry standard for photographers, videographers, graphic designers, illustrators, musicians, and content creators. However, Adobe's advanced programs and features come with a sky-high price tag and steep learning curve.

So, we've reviewed the best Adobe Creative Cloud alternatives for all those creative geniuses on a budget and beginners just starting their creative journey. In addition, we've included step-by-step tutorials explaining how to use our favorite alternative to Adobe Creative Cloud. So, let's jump in and find the right software for you!

• How to Choose an Adobe Creative Cloud Alternative
• Top Alternative to Adobe Creative Cloud
• 3 Best Adobe Creative Cloud Alternatives for Photography and Design
1. PhotoDirector 365 - Best Overall
2. Capture One Pro - Best for Lightroom-Only Users
3. Paintshop Pro - Best for Photoshop-Only Users
• 3 Best Adobe Creative Cloud Alternatives for Video
1. PowerDirector 365 - Best Overall
2. DaVinci Resolve - Best for Filmmakers
3. Final Cut Pro - Best for Mac Users
• 3 Best Adobe Creative Cloud Alternatives for Marketers
1. PowerDirector 365 Business - Best Overall
2. Picmaker - Best for Graphics
3. Canva - Best for Teams
• 3 Best Adobe Creative Cloud Alternatives for Sound
1. AudioDirector 365 - Best Overall
2. Logic Pro - Best for Music Production
3. Steinberg Cubase Pro - Best for Composer
• Best Adobe Creative Cloud Alternatives Comparison Chart
• How to Edit with Adobe Creative Cloud Alternatives
• Download the Top Adobe Creative Cloud Alternatives for Free
• Adobe Creative Cloud Alternatives FAQ

How To Choose an Adobe Creative Cloud Alternative

Content creators have many options when comparing the best Adobe CC alternatives. The first step when choosing a new software suite is considering your needs. What features and editing tools will you use the most? Are you a photographer, filmmaker, composer, graphic designer, etc.? What features (or lack thereof) will be a dealbreaker for you?

Once you define your content and required tools, narrowing down your choices and making a final decision becomes much more manageable. The following guide will help you weigh your options to find the best program for your creative needs.

Top Alternative to Adobe Creative Cloud

1. Director Suite 365 – Best Overall

Compatibility: Windows

DIY Video Editor Rating: 5/5

All-inclusive editing studio containing PowerDirector, PhotoDirector, AudioDirector, and ColorDirector

Key Features:

1. Cutting-edge AI tools for photo, video, and audio editing
2. Unlimited access to thousands of design assets and templates, 8m+ stock videos, images, and music/sound effects

Who It’s For

Director Suite 365 is our best overall pick for an Adobe Creative Cloud alternative. This professional editing suite is a one-stop shop for video, photo, and audio editing. It’s ideal for all skill levels and has a learning center with a  library full of tutorials to assist beginners.

Why We Picked It

Director Suite 365 is lightning fast, and its smooth, intuitive interface encourages a seamless workflow. Plus, there’s an enormous stock library with over eight million images. Subscribers gain access and usage rights to the world’s leading stock video, music design, and photo catalogs provided by Shutterstock and iStock.

Bottom Line

Ultimately, Director Suite 365 offers comparable features and tools to Adobe Creative Cloud, as it’s a full-service studio with advanced functionality. Plus, it’s much more affordable than Adobe products.

3 Best Adobe Creative Cloud Alternatives for Photography and Design

1. PhotoDirector 365 – Best Overall

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

Photo Workout Rating: 4.7/5

Professional photo editor with advanced features and a diverse range of editing tools for all skill levels

Key Features:

1. Powerful AI tools for retouching, object removal, face recognition, etc.
2. Wide range of the latest format support, including RAW files

Who It’s For

PhotoDirector 365 is professional photo editing software and an excellent Adobe CC alternative to Photoshop and Lightroom. It has everything a photographer needs to adjust, correct, and fine-tune their photos to create one-of-a-kind content.

Why We Picked It

PhotoDirector 365 is the best alternative to Adobe CC for photography and design because it offers similar features and superior editing capabilities—such as layer editing, masking, retouching, and face recognition—but in a more affordable package.

Bottom Line

If Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop are too expensive or complicated for you, it’s time to try PhotoDirector 365. Its features and tools are sophisticated without being overly complex, making it suitable for all skill levels.

2. Capture One Pro – Best for Lightroom-Only Users

Image from DCFever.

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

PCMag Rating: 4/5

High-end photo editing software for experienced and professional photographers

Key Features:

1. Superior capabilities for raw photo conversion
2. Offers highly specialized editing, adjustment, and correction tools

Who It’s For

Capture One Pro is an excellent alternative to Lightroom, Adobe’s premier editing software. It’s a perfect choice for professional photographers, and its editing tools allow precise control.

Why We Picked It

We love that Capture One Pro offers image cataloging, local adjustments, RAW file processing, and high-octane performance.

Bottom Line

The superior image cataloging and non-destructive editing capabilities of Capture One Pro are great, but its feature-rich interface is overwhelming. Plus, it costs more than Lightroom.

3. PaintShop Pro – Best for Photoshop-Only Users

Compatibility: Windows

PCMag Rating: 4/5

Windows-only photo editing software that supports raster and vector image formats

Key Features:

1. Wide selection of graphic design and vector drawing tools
2. Offers AI-powered editing tools and 360-degree image editing

Who It’s For

Corel’s PaintShop Pro is ideal for graphic designers who love to focus on visual effects or experiment with vector images. It’s also the best choice for a Photoshop alternative.

Why We Picked It

PaintShop Pro offers a unique interface with different levels of workspaces based on the user’s experience. It also has advanced functionalities, like layer editing, AI background replacement, upsampling, and style transfer.

Bottom Line

If you’re a Windows user searching for a Photoshop alternative, PaintShop Pro is worth a try. However, the interface can be confusing, and there’s no Mac version.

3 Best Adobe Creative Cloud Alternatives for Video

1. PowerDirector 365 – Best Overall

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

PCMag Rating: 4.5/5

Lightning-fast video editing software with cutting-edge AI tools for both beginners and professionals

Key Features:

1. Vast selection of templates, transitions, titles, and customizable video presets
2. Offers AI motion tracking, keyframing, green screen, and more

Who It’s For

Instead of Adobe Premiere Pro, take a spin with PowerDirector. It’s a professional video editing software with high-performance rendering, customizable video assets, AI-powered tools, and libraries of effects ideal for content creators of all skill levels.

Why We Picked It

PowerDirector 365 is the best alternative to Adobe’s Premiere Pro. Its interface is smooth and user-friendly enough for beginners yet offers enough advanced tools to satisfy any professional videographer.

Bottom Line

PowerDirector 365 boasts exceptional versatility and caters to all skill levels. Plus, it is constantly updated with new features, ensuring the software remains cutting-edge.

2. DaVinci Resolve – Best for Filmmakers

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

PCMag Rating: 4/5

Professional video editing software offering audio editing and motion graphics

Key Features:

1. Free version available for download
2. All-in-one video editor with powerful tools and capabilities

Who It’s For

DaVinci Resolve is an excellent alternative to Adobe Premiere Pro, best suited for filmmakers.

Why We Picked It

Even the free version of DaVinci Resolve offers robust functionality. However, professional filmmakers will need the premium version to utilize its advanced tools.

Bottom Line

Although DaVinci Resolve is industry-leading software, it has a steep learning curve. However, it offers audio editing, motion graphics, cutting, keyframing, color grading, and more.

3. Final Cut Pro – Best for Mac Users

Compatibility: Mac

PCMag Rating: 4.5/5

Mac-only professional video editor with a magnetic timeline

Key Features:

1. Provides fast, efficient video and content organization
2. Sophisticated and polished interface

Who It’s For

If you’re a diehard Mac fan, Final Cut Pro is one of the best alternatives to Adobe Creative Cloud and Premiere Pro. It’s best for experienced video editors and Mac users.

Why We Picked It

Final Cut Pro has innovative features, including a trackless and magnetic editing timeline. Plus, it offers ultra-efficient organization tools, like libraries, auto analysis, ratings, and tagging.

Bottom Line

Mac users will love Final Cut Pro as an Adobe Creative Cloud Suite alternative. It boasts superior tools and performance, but it’s very expensive.

3 Best Adobe Creative Cloud Alternatives for Marketers

1. PowerDirector 365 Business – Best Overall

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

PCMag Rating: 4.5/5

All-inclusive creative design studio and video editor

Key Features:

1. Creates marketing, advertising, and social media content in minutes
2. Thousands of customizable templates and design packs

Who It’s For

If you’re searching for an all-in-one marketing tool, PowerDirector 365 Business is the best choice. It’s a creative design studio ideal for developing omnichannel marketing content.

Why We Picked It

Forget Adobe Express. Try out PowerDirector 365 Business instead, and you’ll see why it’s our best overall choice. Even beginners will have no trouble creating unique, eye-catching marketing content for virtually any platform.

Bottom Line

Branding and marketing have never been easier, thanks to a selection of 25,000+ customizable templates and an enormous library of content and design packs. PowerDirector 365 Business has everything you need in one place.

2. Picmaker – Best for Graphics

Compatibility: Web browser

G2 Rating: 4.7/5

Online graphic design tool featuring thousands of templates

Key Features:

1. Suitable for all skill levels
2. User-friendly interface allows for fast design creation

Who It’s For

Picmaker doesn’t have the same capabilities you’d get from an Adobe Creative Cloud download, but it features thousands of templates for fast graphics creation.

Why We Picked It

As an online-only editor, Picmaker is easy to use and suitable for all skill levels. It only takes minutes to create unique marketing content and graphics.

Bottom Line

For creating fast, easy marketing and advertising content, you can’t go wrong with Picmaker. However, it lacks the advanced tools and features of other editors on our list.

3. Canva – Best for Teams

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

PCMag Rating: 4.5/5

High-quality online design tool for creating logos, designs, and marketing/branding content

Key Features:

1. Teams feature allows for remote collaboration
2. Offers a free version and affordable pricing packages

Who It’s For

Canva is ideal for marketing teams and remote collaboration. You can create and edit designs in real time with another person, which is a valuable feature.

Why We Picked It

We also love Canva’s superior branding and marketing tools. You can experiment with logo design, branding kits, graphics, thousands of templates, and more.

Bottom Line

Canva holds its own as a low-priced alternative to Affinity Designer and Adobe Creative Cloud. However, the Teams feature requires a subscription, and the free version has limited tools.

3 Best Adobe Creative Cloud Alternatives for Sound

1. AudioDirector 365 – Best Overall

Compatibility: Windows

TechRadar Rating: 4.5/5

Professional software for editing, mixing, recording, and restoring audio that’s easy enough for beginners to use

Key Features:

1. AI-powered speech enhancement and denoise tools
2. Offers royalty-free music tracks and sound packs

Who It’s For

For audio and sound enthusiasts, AudioDirector is the best overall choice as an Adobe Audition alternative. Beginners and experts alike will find the software user-friendly and intuitive.

Why We Picked It

AudioDirector boasts powerful AI tools for sound editing, including wind removal, vocal balance, de-reverb, speech enhancement, and more. Plus, it’s got a voice profiler and equalizer match for creating templates.

Bottom Line

No matter what kind of sound recording, mixing, editing, or restoring you need, AudioDirector can make it happen. It’s also much more affordable than Adobe CC.

2. Logic Pro – Best for Music Production

Compatibility: Mac

PCMag Rating: 4.5/5

Professional-level audio editing software for high-quality music production

Key Features:

1. Features new Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos tools
2. Powerful, seamless performance

Who It’s For

Apple’s Logic Pro is an elite digital audio workstation featuring a diverse range of tools for sound design, multitrack recording, post-production editing, film scoring, and more.

Why We Picked It

With new Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio tools, Logic Pro is a leading choice among audio workstations. In addition, its advanced capabilities make the editing process fast and effortless.

Bottom Line

Logic Pro offers superior sound and audio editing performance and no copy protection. However, the faders and meters on the mixer are too small, which can be frustrating.

3. Steinberg Cubase Pro – Best for Composers

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

PCMag Rating: 4/5

Cutting-edge digital audio workstation with three available versions

Key Features:

1. Ideal for MIDI composition, audio editing, mixing, and post-production work
2. Smooth interface and powerful tools for a streamlined workflow

Who It’s For

Steinberg Cubase Pro is one of the leading digital audio workstations and is best suited for music composers, including MIDI and virtual instruments.

Why We Picked It

For an alternative to Adobe CC’s Audition, Steinberg Cubase Pro has all the fancy features and technologies necessary to record, compose, mix, and edit music.

Bottom Line

Steinberg Cubase Pro offers superior functionality and is one of the best programs for composers, but it’s expensive, and installation can be complex.

Best Adobe Creative Cloud Alternatives Comparison Chart

How To Edit with Adobe Creative Cloud Alternatives

Photos

Follow along with these simple steps to edit photos using PhotoDirector 365:

1. Download and Install PhotoDirector 365.
2. Import your photos into the software.
3. Select the Adjustments tab to edit using the Manual or Preset options.

4. Click the Guided tab, then experiment with effects like Glitch, Dispersion, Photo Animation, Blur, and more.

5. For more precise adjustments, click the Edit tab.
6. Save to export your work.

Videos

Next, we’ll show you how to edit videos using PowerDirector 365. Follow these steps:

1. Download and Install PowerDirector 365.
2. Click Import to upload your videos into the library.

3. Select a video from the Media Library and drop it into the Video Timeline.
4. Use the Video Timeline Slider to split or trim your video.
5. Click on the Title Room to add a title, or use the Transition Room to experiment with transitions.

6. Click on Produce to export your video when you finish.

Advertisements

Next, we’ll create video ads for Facebook using Ad Designer and PowerDirector 365 Business:

1. Download and Install PowerDirector 365 Business.
2. Choose to customize a Photo-Based Template or Video-Based Template.

3. Select your business type from the available Template Categories and pick a template.

4. Use the toolbar to customize ad text, upload your company logo, etc.
5. Click Produce to export your video ad.

Audio

Follow these steps to record audio using AudioDirector:

1. Download and Install AudioDirector.
2. Connect a microphone to your computer.
3. Select the Mix tab to display three audio tracks. Add more with the Add Audio Track button.
4. Add pre-recorded clips using the Import Media button.
5. Use the Down Arrow to open Recording Settings, select your microphone, and hit OK.

6. Enable live recording with the Microphone icon, then select the Record Button.
7. Hit the Record Button again to end the recording.
8. Use the Edit tools to adjust and clean up your recording.

Download the Top Adobe Creative Cloud Alternatives for Free

While the Adobe Creative Cloud suite is undeniably among the industry’s leading cloud-based software for content creators, not everyone can afford it. 

Instead of busting your budget, make the switch to Director Suite 365. It’s an all-in-one digital editing studio, including PowerDirector, PhotoDirector, ColorDirector, and AudioDirector. So no matter where your creative interests lie, Director Suite 365 has the powerful editing tools and capabilities to help you execute your artistic vision.

Download Director Suite 365 today for the best Adobe Creative Cloud alternative at a fraction of the price.