Mmmm, OK I just bought a copy assuming they were selling licence keys.
I see you have to download their “pre activated” version. Which screams dodgy to be honest.
Dodgy in what sense?
I would immediately suspect that the version has been illegally hacked to circumvent the licence - shipping used but genuine licence keys to go with genuine product would be AIUI perfectly legal. You can download the original .iso from the wayback machine.
Other software (mainly enterprise versions of Office that are sold cheaply) may be hacked to use non-official licence servers. Quite often these are taken down or disappear after a while (but conveniently long enough that you wouldn’t be able to do a charge back when the vendor refuses a refund).
Finally these are ideal vectors for viruses as you just gave the installer administrator rights to do its job.
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Does that mean we are in deep doo-doo?
I don’t know, it’s possibly just hacked to take out the licence check but I won’t be installing mine unless it is in a VM that doesn’t have internet access.
There’s an online version of Photoshop – works like Photoshop – at https://www.photopea.com/
which is legal apparently, but you have to put up with adverts in a side panel, or pay to lose them.
“If you don’t have enough budget (or don’t want) to subscribe to Photoshop, you can just use Photopea. It is free, web-based and its interface is just similar to Photoshop. Ah yes, it is legal so it’s safe.”
Click on ‘Open From Computer’, select a photo and a Photoshop-like layout appears.
I did have photoshop and LR in the past so went to look at prices as Affinity decided to change their program to subscription. PS and LR has doubled. Now around 24€ a month.
Yes it’s £20 a month in the UK for LR and PS. But they often have offers, and as I mentioned above when renewal time comesa round you can normally get a deal if you “cancel”.
But for an amateur it’s relatively expensive, I understand that.
What is going on?
Adobe Photoshop 2026 for Windows
Lifetime digital license of Adobe Photoshop 2026 Professional Edition with no subscription - save 90%. £29.00.
https://www.wowcher.co.uk/deal/shop/electricals/software/43377277/photoshop-2026-lifetime-windows
I am puzzled by these ads too - I can’t believe they mean that you get free updates forever, I would assume it’s a one-off purchase and then you would need to subscribe if you wanted the next version.
In the “fine print” it says “Please note this is a refurbished license.” so I wonder if they are reselling seats from corporate multi-user licenses to individuals?
Also i have never heard of a “Professional Edition” of Photoshop.
Sounds a bit dodgy but who knows?
I’m an enthusiast photographer using Adobe Photoshop Elements 2021 with a lifetime license. If I want to upgrade to Elements 2025 and onwards, I can buy it with a 3-year license, but after 3 years use it becomes invalid needing a new license.
I think Adobe is becoming extortionate.
Out of curiosity. Have you tried Lumiinar Neo Chris? I’m not sure about javing too many AI capabilities kind of takes the fun out of it .
I did give it a go some years ago, but I am at the “can’t teach an old dog new tricks” stage I fear. 
I am currently trying to get my head around SIRIL for astrophotography image processing, and compared to that Photoshop is a doddle.
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As someone mentioned above, I think nowadays there is no longer an endless pool of new users buying first-time licences, or upgrades, so some sort of subscription model is what they need to keep going.
All I can suggest is if you want or need to use Adobe stuff as I do, perform the “cancellation dance” every year at renewal time. I have had a substantial discount every year for the last few years by doing that.
I currently pay £30.34 a month for the full Creative Suite. RRP on that is £66.49 inc VAT so my “sorry to see you go, here’s some money off if you renew” discount is 55%!!
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Chris, out of curiosity, how many of the other Creative Suite programmes, do you actually use or need?
I use Premiere for video editing, Acrobat, and occasionally Audition.
It’s cheaper to have the whole suite than separate subs for the above plus LR and PS.
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This must be a scam I think. I’m pretty sure there are no one time payement options anymore, even for business. I wouldn’t touch this with a barge pole. Probably not just scamming you for the money, but harvesting credit card credentials as well.
Yeah, I’d heard that. Also, I did once renegotiate my PS bundle when I decided to unsubscribe.
I’m in the throws of upgrading from my D610 and can’t decide on which Full Format Z version to go for !!!
Can’t help with that, I am a Fujifilm dude. 
The only Nikon I own is is a pair of binoculars.
Ah OK