With Apple Creator Studio, Apple is clearly positioning itself for the first time as a direct provider of a comprehensive creative subscription. This puts the company in direct competition with the long-established Adobe Creative Cloud Pro, which has become the standard for many creative professionals worldwide. At first glance, the two offerings appear very similar. Both bundle powerful tools for video, graphics, audio, and other creative tasks into a monthly subscription package. However, closer examination reveals that Apple Creator Studio and Adobe Creative Cloud Pro target different audiences and have very different priorities.
The comparison between Apple Creator Studio and Adobe Creative Cloud Pro is less a classic head-to-head duel and more a balancing act between scope and focus. For years, Adobe has prioritized maximum coverage of virtually all creative disciplines. Apple takes a more streamlined approach, concentrating on a few, but deeply integrated, professional applications within its own hardware ecosystem. These very differences determine how suitable each subscription is for a given use case.
App coverage overview
Adobe Creative Cloud Pro is a very comprehensive package. The standard subscription includes a total of 22 applications. These cover image editing, graphic design, layout, video production, animation, web design, social media, and document processing. Additionally, it includes work-oriented tools such as Acrobat Pro, Adobe Scan, and Fill & Sign, which are particularly relevant in professional environments.
An important component of the Adobe suite is its additional services. These include generative AI features with monthly credits for images, video, and audio; access to Adobe Stock with a vast selection of photos, videos, and graphics; Adobe Fonts with over 30,000 fonts; and Adobe Portfolio for creating your own online presence.
Apple Creator Studio is significantly smaller in comparison. The subscription bundles several professional applications that were previously available individually or as paid add-ons. Key components include Final Cut Pro, Motion, Compressor, Logic Pro, and Pixelmator Pro. These programs are well-established in the creative industry and represent the real added value of the Apple subscription.
Apple also lists Keynote, Pages, Numbers, and Freeform as part of Apple Creator Studio. These apps are generally available for free, but the subscription includes additional premium content. In direct comparison to Adobe's feature set, they contribute only a limited amount to the overall rating.
Video: Professional editing with different focuses
Adobe Creative Cloud Pro offers a very comprehensive suite of video editing tools. Adobe Premiere Pro has been considered the industry standard for professional video editing for years. It is complemented by Premiere Rush for smaller social media projects. After Effects is available for motion graphics and visual effects. Media Encoder handles transcoding and exporting to various formats.
In addition, Adobe offers further tools for advanced workflows. Prelude is used for viewing, tagging, and transcoding video footage. Bridge enables the centralized management of all assets. Frame.io is available for collaboration with others. For animated content, there is Adobe Animate and Character Animator, which allows existing characters to be quickly animated.
Apple relies on Final Cut Pro for its video content. The software offers professional editing functions, color correction, and extensive editing capabilities, and is available for both Mac and iPad. Motion handles the creation of motion graphics, while Compressor is responsible for exporting to various formats.
Apple does not offer its own equivalent to Adobe Animate or Character Animator. For classic animations or complex character animations, this is a clear disadvantage and, for certain use cases, a deal-breaker.
Images and graphic design
Adobe Creative Cloud Pro covers the field of image editing and graphic design with several specialized applications. Photoshop is the central tool for image editing and compositing and has been considered an industry standard for years. Lightroom and Lightroom Classic are primarily aimed at photographers. Illustrator is used for vector graphics and logos, while InDesign is used for layouts and publishing. Adobe Fresco appeals to digital illustrators, and Adobe Express enables quick and easy editing.
Apple offers Pixelmator Pro exclusively in this area. Since its acquisition by Apple, it has been positioned as a versatile all-in-one tool. Pixelmator Pro can edit photos, create illustrations, and implement various art styles. However, specialized tools such as a dedicated vector or layout program are not part of Apple Creator Studio.
Photography isn't a dedicated focus of Apple's subscription service. Managing and organizing photos is handled through the Photos app. When considering Pixelmator Pro's features in conjunction with Apple's system integration, the gap to Adobe is smaller than the sheer number of apps might suggest, but it still exists.
Music and Audio
Apple and Adobe take very different approaches in the audio field. Adobe offers Adobe Audition, a dedicated audio editing program. It is particularly suitable for cutting, optimizing, and restoring audio recordings. Audition is frequently used for podcasts, voice recordings, and editing sound effects for videos.
Apple, on the other hand, focuses on music production. Logic Pro is a fully-fledged digital audio workstation that can produce complete songs. This includes recording, arrangement, virtual instruments, effects, and mastering. Logic Pro is available for both Mac and iPad. It is complemented by Logic Remote for additional control options and MainStage for using instruments and effects in live performances.
While Adobe Audition refines existing audio, Logic Pro is designed to create and perform music from scratch.
Extras and additional services
Adobe Creative Cloud Pro includes 100 GB of cloud storage. In addition, the package includes generative AI features, Adobe Stock, Adobe Fonts, Adobe Portfolio, and discounts at partner companies like Dropbox and Logitech.
Apple Creator Studio does not offer additional cloud storage. This can be added via iCloud upgrades or an Apple One subscription. Subscribers receive access to premium templates, royalty-free photos and graphics, and additional AI features that can be used in Keynote, Pages, Numbers, and Freeform.
Pricing
The price difference between the two offers is significant. Adobe Creative Cloud Pro costs $69.99 / €77.99 per month with an annual subscription, or $779.88 / €905.92 with annual prepayment. With monthly payments and no annual commitment, the price is $104.99 / €116.99 per month. Group or family sharing is not available; prices are per user.
Apple Creator Studio costs $12.99 / €12.99 per month or $129 / €129 per year. Up to five additional people can use the subscription via Family Sharing. Apple offers a significantly reduced rate for educational institutions at $2.99 / €2.99 per month or $29.99 / €29.99 per year. This rate is not eligible for Family Sharing. Adobe also offers discounted educational pricing, but it is considerably more expensive.
Nuances, compromises and alternatives
The choice between Apple Creator Studio and Adobe Creative Cloud Pro depends heavily on the specific use case. Adobe remains indispensable for many professional workflows, especially when certain programs are industry-wide established or when collaboration with others within the Adobe ecosystem is required.
Apple Creator Studio is primarily aimed at users who need more than Apple's free apps offer, but don't require the full scope of the Creative Cloud. The significant price difference provides additional flexibility. Individual Adobe subscriptions, such as for Photoshop and Lightroom, can easily be added. External solutions like Procreate Dreams or the Affinity suite can also be used to fill functional gaps.
Availability
Adobe Creative Cloud Pro is available directly from the Adobe website. Individual subscriptions for programs such as Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Illustrator are also offered.
Apple Creator Studio will be available directly from Apple starting January 28. Many of the included applications, such as Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage, will also remain available as a one-time purchase for Mac.
Who is Apple Creator Studio sufficient for, and who is it not?
Apple Creator Studio isn't a complete alternative to Adobe Creative Cloud Pro, but rather a deliberately streamlined creative subscription with a clear focus. For certain use cases, the offering is perfectly adequate, while for others, Adobe remains essential. Those not professionally or technically tied to Adobe will find Apple Creator Studio a significantly more affordable solution that can be flexibly expanded as needed and is more than sufficient for many creative workflows. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those compatible with HomeKit. (Image: Apple)
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Frequently asked questions about Apple Creator Studio and Adobe Creative Cloud Pro
Apple Creator Studio is a creative subscription service from Apple that bundles several professional applications for video, music, and image editing. These include Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, and Compressor. The subscription is heavily focused on the Apple ecosystem and runs on Mac and iPad.
No. Apple Creator Studio is intentionally smaller and doesn't cover all creative disciplines. It lacks specialized tools for animation, layout, or complex graphic design that are included in Adobe Creative Suite. However, for certain workflows, Apple Creator Studio is perfectly adequate.
The core package includes Final Cut Pro, Motion, Compressor, Logic Pro, and Pixelmator Pro. Subscribers also receive premium content for Keynote, Pages, Numbers, and Freeform, which is otherwise available for free.
The biggest advantage is the price. Apple Creator Studio is significantly cheaper and can be used by up to five other people via Family Sharing. Furthermore, the apps are tightly optimized for Apple hardware and also run on the iPad.
Adobe offers a significantly larger app suite with 22 applications. These include established standards such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, and After Effects. Cloud storage, fonts, stock images, and AI features are also included.
Yes, Final Cut Pro is perfectly adequate for many professional video projects. Color correction, editing, exporting, and motion graphics are all possible at a high level. However, there may be limitations for classic animations or team-oriented Adobe workflows.
Pixelmator Pro is well-suited for basic graphic and image editing. However, those who regularly work with vector graphics, layouts, or print products will reach their limits without specialized tools like Illustrator or InDesign.
Adobe Audition specializes in audio editing and optimization, for example for podcasts or sound effects. Apple Logic Pro is a complete music production environment aimed at users who want to compose, record, and produce music.
No, the subscription does not include additional cloud storage. Storage space can be added via iCloud upgrades or Apple One subscriptions. Adobe Creative Cloud Pro includes 100 GB of cloud storage by default.
Apple Creator Studio is particularly suitable for users who work on Macs or iPads, need professional video or music tools, and don't require a full Adobe workflow. The subscription is also attractive for individual users, families, and educational institutions.
Adobe Creative Cloud Pro is a good choice when industry standards are required, teamwork is involved, or specific applications like Illustrator, InDesign, or After Effects are used regularly. For many professional environments, Adobe remains indispensable.
