Application usage

For each app below, select how often you use it and how important it is to your work.

Application Frequency of use Importance to your role
Design & layout
Photoshop
Photo editing & compositing
Illustrator
Vector graphics & illustration
InDesign
Page layout & publishing
Fresco
Digital drawing & painting
Dimension
3D design & rendering
Video & audio
Premiere Pro
Professional video editing
After Effects
Motion graphics & VFX
Audition
Audio editing & mixing
Premiere Rush
Quick video for social media
Character Animator
Real-time 2D animation
Web & UX
Adobe XD
UI/UX design & prototyping
Dreamweaver
Web design & code editor
Animate
Interactive animations & web content
PDF & documents
Acrobat Pro / Reader
PDF creation, editing & signing
Photography
Lightroom
Photo management & cloud editing
Lightroom Classic
Advanced local photo management
Bridge
Digital asset management
Collaboration & content
Adobe Express
Quick graphic & content creation
Firefly
AI-powered image generation
Adobe Stock
Licensed assets & templates
Adobe Fonts
Font library & web font service
Additional comments
Technical note — Apple native alternatives (macOS & iOS/iPadOS)

The following Apple-bundled applications are included at no additional cost with Apple hardware. Where a native alternative covers your workflow, it may reduce or eliminate the corresponding Adobe license requirement.

Preview
View, annotate, merge & sign PDFs; basic image editing, format conversion, markup
↪ Replaces: Acrobat Reader / basic Acrobat Pro use
iMovie
Consumer video editing, trailers, voiceovers; exports to YouTube, Vimeo, Final Cut
↪ Replaces: Premiere Rush for simple edits
Photos
Library management, basic adjustments, crop, filters, facial recognition
↪ Replaces: Lightroom for basic organization & edits
GarageBand
Multi-track audio recording, MIDI, mixing, podcast production, loops & instruments
↪ Replaces: Audition for basic audio recording & editing
Keynote
Presentation design with animations, transitions, charts, real-time iCloud collaboration
↪ Replaces: InDesign / XD for simple presentation layouts
Pages
Word processing with layout tools, templates, master pages, charts, image placement
↪ Replaces: InDesign for basic document publishing
Freeform
Infinite canvas for brainstorming, wireframing, sticky notes, sketches, team collaboration
↪ Replaces: XD / Fresco for early-stage ideation
Pixelmator Pro
Full raster & vector editing, ML tools, RAW support (Mac App Store — one-time purchase)
↪ Replaces: Photoshop / Illustrator for many tasks
Clips (iOS/iPadOS)
Quick social-ready video recording & editing with titles, filters, and AR effects
↪ Replaces: Premiere Rush for mobile social content
Reality Composer Pro
3D scene creation and AR experience prototyping using USDZ/Reality files (free with Xcode)
↪ Replaces: Dimension for basic 3D composition

Preview, iMovie, Photos, GarageBand, Keynote, Pages, Freeform, and Clips are bundled free with Apple hardware. Pixelmator Pro is a paid one-time Mac App Store purchase. Availability varies by device and OS version. This note is guidance for license right-sizing — not a mandate to change tools.