Adobe Hikes Creative Cloud Prices in the UK, Cites Wild Exchange Rates

Photographers in the UK will soon be paying significantly steeper prices to use Photoshop, Lightroom, and other apps in Adobe’s Creative Cloud. Adobe is the latest company to raise prices for customers in the UK, blaming its move on “recent changes in exchange rates.”

Creative Cloud customers based in the UK (and in Sweden) are receiving emails from Adobe announcing the price increase, which will take effect on March 6, 2017. Customers seem to be receiving varying prices, with some reporting 10% increases and others seeing over 60%.

Here’s the full text of the email customers are receiving:

Dear [customer name],

We hope you are enjoying your subscription to the world-class products and services Adobe provides to help you do your best work. We wanted to share some important information about your renewal price.

As part of doing business globally, Adobe monitors currency exchange rates in order to make adjustments to our pricing up or down as needed. You may be aware that currency exchange rates have fluctuated significantly over the last few years. As a result of recent changes in exchange rates in your region, the price of Adobe products and services is increasing starting on 6 March 2017. Learn More.

The current price of Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan will change to [new price] incl. VAT on 6 March 2017. As an Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan subscriber, the price for your subscription won’t be impacted during your current subscription term. However, at the time of your renewal, which is scheduled for 28 June 2017, your price will change to reflect the then current local currency price. We’ll be sure to send you a reminder email with your new renevewal [sic] price as your renewal date gets closer.

Thank you for being a valued customer. We look forward to continuing to provide you with the latest innovations from Adobe as part of your subscription.
Please contact us if you have any questions about this change or your renewal.

Adobe’s Student Creative Cloud plan may be seeing the biggest price increase, with some reporting jumps from £15.49/month to £25.28/month.

So @Adobe Is bumping their Creative Cloud suite price to £301.90 per year [Student Price]. Looks like I won't be renewing my subscription.

— DarrellStudio (@DarrellsDesign) February 2, 2017

Brexit just caused student subscriptions of Adobe CC to rise from £185 to £301… 63% increase…

— yAs (@ruthsev) February 2, 2017

Just had a wonderful email from @Adobe saying the price for student cc is almost doubling in March. Can't wait👍🏼😭

— Emily (@emilyjadephoto) February 2, 2017

Creative Cloud users in the UK have been turning to social media to vent their frustration at the price hikes:

Thanks to Brexit, @Adobe are upping their price for CC suite by £5 p/m http://pic.twitter.com/zyMd9DrODL

— Michael Hobson (@imhobson) February 2, 2017

Disappointing that @Adobe are trying to capitalise on Brexit with their new price hike. This will harm countless small businesses @AdobeCare

— Alex Boyd (@AlexBoyd) February 2, 2017

Sterling falls by 20%. Adobe increase their creative cloud prices by 50%. Yet another company cashing in on #brexit #adobe #adobe #cloud

— Paul Hale (@paulhale) February 2, 2017

Why hike UK CreativeCloud price by 11% @AdobeUK? It’s already 12% above the US price AND GBP/USD is at its highest for 6 years! #monopoly

— Andres Magnusson (@andres_m) February 2, 2017

In its email, Adobe links affected customers to a page on its website explaining the price change.

“Like many US-based global companies, Adobe is making pricing adjustments in a number of countries to offset fluctuations in foreign exchange rate,” Adobe says.