Solved: Can You Buy Adobe Premiere Pro Permanently?

I’m old enough to remember when you had to physically go to the Apple store to pick up the latest version of Adobe Products. You’d pop that disk in your drive and begin installation.

But, gone are the days of one-and-done copies of software. So here’s the short answer you came for:

Unfortunately, no. You can not buy Adobe Premiere Pro permanently. But let me play devil’s advocate for a moment and share that there’s indeed a good reason for that.

Hand holding CD

Why Can You No Longer Buy A Permanent Version of Premiere Pro?

Just like anything else, software companies like Adobe are keeping up with the times.

With non-stop improvements, software development, needed bug fixes, enhancements to current features, and more, wouldn’t we miss out on a lot if we were to simply buy one version at a time like we used to?

I used to pay roughly $300 every year for the latest version of the software. Sometimes there was a reduced price for yearly updates versus a completely new license, but still, it wasn’t cheap.

Instead, now you pay an affordable monthly fee which grants you access to every single update and enhancement in real time.

Not only that, but Adobe is continually testing and improving the software based on feedback from customers.

This means if ever you run into a glitch in the program, you can submit the exact problem to Adobe. If enough users are having the same error, you can bet that they’ll be working to solve it in the next update.

Update printed on old typewriter

So for these reasons, while I understand the desire for a permanent purchase, I also don’t think it’s much more expensive than it ever has been. And I understand that if we are going to keep receiving updates each and every month that it’s fair for Adobe to charge a fee.

Maybe it’s an unpopular opinion? Let me know what you think!

How Much Does Premiere Pro Cost?

Exactly how much does it cost to use Premiere Pro and how can you download it?

Adobe Monthly Plans

There are a few options, depending on exactly what you need.

For students and teachers, Premiere Pro is $19.99 per month but you get all the Creative Cloud apps, like Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, and more. That’s an amazing deal in my opinion.

For individuals, Premiere Pro is $20.99 per month.

For individuals that want the entire Adobe Creative Cloud suite, it’s $39.99 per month.

How Download Premiere Pro

If you want to give Premiere Pro a try, you can use this link to receive 25% off and a free trial.

I bet you’ll end up sticking around once you get a feel for it.

Once you do, be sure to come back and check out my intro to Premiere Pro for a complete rundown on how to get started with video editing.

Is There A Lifetime Subscription for Adobe Premiere Pro?

Unfortunately there is not, and I definitely understand the desire to have that as an option. However, just like many other programs, with all the updates offered throughout the year, I’m not sure it’s something they would ever offer.

Like I said before, I still think even without a lifetime subscription, the cost is very affordable and realistic. Frankly it costs less than cable and literally pays for itself with just one side job per month.

Pros and Cons of Premiere Pro’s Pricing Structure

Here are some key take aways from Premiere Pro’s pricing structure

  • Offered as a subscription, you can pay monthly or yearly
  • Bundles are available if you need multiple programs
  • Discounts are available for students/educators
  • You can receive a discount if your workplace purchases a larger license

Pros to Adobe’s Subscription Based Pricing Structure

  • Affordable rate per month
  • You can cancel subscription at any time
  • You receive constant updates and improvements to the program
  • You can bundle tons of creative software programs for a great deal
  • Best Professional Video Editing program out there

Cons to Adobe’s Subscription Based Pricing Structure

  • You will have to continue paying year after year
  • Price will likely only increase over time, just normal inflation

Is Adobe Premiere Pro 2022 Worth It?

For me it’s a no-brainer that Premiere Pro is worth it. In fact, I pay for the entire Creative Cloud bundle because I use several programs throughout the month.

If you are a professional designer, photographer, or video editor then the Adobe Creative Cloud pays for itself with one job per month, easily. I view it as a necessary business expense. In fact you can write it off on your taxes as long as you’ve made some money using it in any capacity.

Overhead desk of professional video editor

For those who enjoy photography and videography as a hobby, you have to make your own personal and financial decision. In general, this isn’t exactly a free hobby – there are many things you need to pay for with photography and filmmaking. This is just another one of those things.

But remember how much time and effort a good editing program will save you. I’d pay the price for the freedom to edit as I wish, with all the necessary tools at my fingertips.

Is Adobe Premiere Pro the Best Video Editing Platform?

In my opinion, yes. I started out editing on Final Cut Pro and eventually switched to Adobe Premiere Pro. The main reason I prefer Premiere Pro over Final Cut is the seamless integration between all the programs that Adobe offers.

I use Photoshop and After Effects a lot with my video editing, and being able to dynamically link all my files in those various programs has been well worth the switch.

What is Dynamic Linking?

Say you have something you created in Photoshop or After Effects in your Premiere Pro project, if you have to go back and tweak it in some way, it will automatically update in your Premiere Pro project by itself. This is an amazing tool and such a time/headache saver.

That alone was enough to make me a lifetime customer, even if I have to pay a monthly fee to have it all.

Reasons Adobe Premiere Pro is Worth the Money

Premiere Pro is by far the industry standard among professional video editors. Not only is it sophisticated enough for professional filmmakers, it’s also intuitive enough to be mastered by complete beginners.

Every single tool that you could ever need is built seamlessly into the Premiere Pro interface and best of all it’s continually being improved as technology evolves and advances.

Conclusions

I appreciate you taking the time to read through my thoughts on the subject, but I’d love to hear yours as well. I know this is a controversial topic, so leave me a comment below and let me know what you think about it!

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