Do Creators Still Need Adobe After Apple Creator Studio? | Leicestershire

Apple vs Adobe: What It Means for Creators

Apple’s launch of Apple Creator Studio feels like one of those moments where the creative industry collectively pauses and takes notice.

Not because Adobe is suddenly irrelevant, but because for the first time in a long while, it feels like someone is genuinely challenging their grip on creative software.

For creators, freelancers, and small businesses across Leicestershire and beyond, this raises a very real question.

Is this finally a viable alternative to Adobe, and could it change how we work long term?

Growing Up With Adobe

Like many people in the creative space, my introduction to Adobe started early.

I still remember messing around with Photoshop at school, experimenting with layers, text, and effects without really knowing what I was doing.

Over time, that curiosity turned into familiarity, and familiarity turned into professional use.

Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Lightroom.

They became tools I relied on, not because I felt loyal to Adobe as a brand, but because they were simply the industry standard. If you worked in creative media, you used Adobe.

That said, loyalty is an interesting word.

I do not feel emotionally attached to Adobe in the same way I do to certain cameras, platforms, or even workflows.

Adobe has always felt functional rather than personal. Powerful, but not always friendly.

Subscription Fatigue

One of the biggest conversations around creative software right now is cost.

Adobe’s subscription model, while convenient in theory, is slowly pricing a lot of people out.

For solo business owners, freelancers, and creators just starting out, monthly subscriptions that creep up year after year can feel heavy.

Especially when you are already juggling software costs, equipment, insurance, and everything else that comes with running a business.

This is where Apple Creator Studio enters the conversation at exactly the right time.

Apple understands ecosystems better than almost anyone, and this feels like a deliberate move to offer creators a more streamlined, integrated alternative that sits naturally alongside hardware many of us already use.

Can Apple Really Compete With Adobe?

On paper, Apple Creator Studio makes a lot of sense.

Deep integration with macOS, optimised performance on Apple silicon, and a pricing model that feels far more creator friendly compared to Adobe’s sprawling subscription tiers.

Apple has always excelled at making tools feel intuitive.

If Creator Studio delivers powerful features without overwhelming users, that alone will appeal to a huge audience. Particularly those who want to spend more time creating and less time troubleshooting.

However, Adobe’s biggest strength is also its biggest barrier to entry for competitors.

Industry adoption. Entire workflows, agencies, and teams are built around Adobe file formats and pipelines. Switching is not just about learning new software, it is about changing habits developed over years.

The Rise of Alternatives Like DaVinci Resolve

Adobe’s pricing has already pushed many creators to look elsewhere.

DaVinci Resolve is a perfect example.

The free version alone offers an incredible amount of functionality, from professional grade editing to colour grading that rivals anything else on the market.

For beginners, it is accessible and for professionals, it is powerful.

That combination has made Resolve a serious disruptor in video editing, and proof that creators are willing to move when the value makes sense.

Apple Creator Studio feels like it is stepping into that same space, but with the added advantage of Apple’s hardware ecosystem behind it.

Will This Pull Creators Deeper Into the Apple Ecosystem?

Realistically, yes. And that is probably the point.

If you already edit on a Mac, shoot on an iPhone alongside a cinema camera, manage files through iCloud, and communicate through Apple devices, Creator Studio could become another piece of a very convenient puzzle.

Apple does not need to convert everyone.

They just need to convert enough people who feel tired of subscriptions, tired of bloated software, and tired of paying more for tools they only partially use.

For many small businesses and creators in Leicestershire, the appeal will come down to value, simplicity, and how well it fits into existing workflows.

My Take So Far

I do not feel tied to Adobe out of loyalty, but out of habit.

If Apple Creator Studio can offer a smoother experience, fairer pricing, and tools that genuinely support creative work without unnecessary friction, it deserves serious consideration.

The creative landscape is shifting, and competition like this can only be a good thing for creatives, professionals and beginners alike.

Over to You, Leicestershire Businesses

Have you tried Apple Creator Studio yet?

Are you tempted to switch away from Adobe, or are you sticking with what you know?

Drop me a message and let me know your thoughts.

I would love to hear how other creators and business owners are navigating this shift.