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Photoshop Elements Pros and Cons: Top 5 Advantages and Disadvantages

Quick AI Summary Based on G2 Reviews

Generated from real user reviews

Users value the ease of use in Photoshop Elements, making photo editing intuitive and accessible for everyone. (21 mentions)
Users value the efficiency of Photoshop Elements, leveraging advanced AI tools and user-friendly modes to enhance productivity. (15 mentions)
Users love the easy background removal feature in Photoshop Elements, making photo prep effortless and efficient. (12 mentions)
Users appreciate the advanced AI tools in Photoshop Elements that enhance productivity and streamline graphic design tasks. (10 mentions)
Users value the advanced AI tools in Photoshop Elements, enhancing productivity and simplifying graphic design tasks. (10 mentions)
Users find the limited features of Photoshop Elements restrictive as they seek deeper editing control. (12 mentions)
Users find the limited customization options in Photoshop Elements restrict their ability to enhance their creative workflow. (5 mentions)
Users find limitations in advanced features and performance issues on larger files, affecting their overall experience. (4 mentions)
Users lament the subscription requirement, preferring a one-time purchase option for greater flexibility and peace of mind. (4 mentions)
Users experience slow performance when working with larger files or multiple layers, impacting their editing efficiency. (3 mentions)

5 Pros or Advantages of Photoshop Elements

5 Cons or Disadvantages of Photoshop Elements

Photoshop Elements Reviews (801)

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Photoshop Elements Reviews (801)

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4.3
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Garima V.
GV
Garima V.
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Powerful Editing, Small Learning Curve"
4.5/5
What do you like best about Photoshop Elements?

I like that Photoshop Elements is easy to use and comes with helpful editing tools. I can quickly improve my photos by adjusting colors and lighting, as well as removing unwanted details. I also enjoy the variety of creative tools available, allowing me to make quick edits without too much effort. The overall editing process feels convenient and flexible. The initial setup was quite easy and straightforward. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Photoshop Elements?

Some advanced features can feel a little complicated for beginners, and sometimes it takes time to find the right tools. I think the interface could be made a bit simpler and more intuitive. I found some of the more advanced selection, masking, and layer tools a little difficult to understand at first. The interface could be improved by making these tools easier to find and adding clearer guidance for beginners. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

SD
Shubhendu D.
Senior Learning Design Specialist and Team Lead – Global Learning Solutions
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
"Easy & Reliable Photo Editing for Everyday Use"
5/5
What do you like best about Photoshop Elements?

What I like most about Photoshop Elements is the way it balances strong editing features with real ease of use. The Guided Edits are particularly useful because they make more complex tasks—like removing backgrounds, selecting objects, or boosting colors—feel straightforward and approachable, even if you’re not a designer. I also like the clean, intuitive interface, and I appreciate that it includes many of Photoshop’s more advanced capabilities without the steep learning curve or the need for a subscription. Overall, it’s a dependable tool for both quick touch-ups and more detailed photo enhancements. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Photoshop Elements?

What I dislike is that it can feel a bit limited compared to the full version of Photoshop, especially when I’m trying to do more advanced edits. Performance can also be slow at times with larger files, and the interface—while simple and easy to use—can feel a little dated now and then. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Bruno M.
BM
Bruno M.
Digital Marketing Assistant
Marketing and Advertising
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Photoshop Elements: Simplified, AI-Powered Editing with a One-Time Purchase"
4.5/5
What do you like best about Photoshop Elements?

From my perspective, Photoshop Elements is an extraordinary software because of several reasons, including the available simplified menus and tools, guided instructions, automated editing options, and convenient editing processes. In addition, Photoshop Elements offers a One-Time Purchase Option instead of a monthly subscription, and the program provides users with AI-Powered Editing Features such as photo enhancement, removal of unwanted objects, and other editing techniques. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Photoshop Elements?

However, I have also noticed that Photoshop Elements has several disadvantages, including a lack of professional editing tools such as advanced layer options, professional colour management, and other professional-level features. In addition, Photoshop Elements has a limited number of editing options, such as adjustment options and image manipulation. Finally, the program has a limited number of advanced layer management options. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Souptik D.
SD
Souptik D.
Co-Founder
Design
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"User-Friendly, Powerful Photo Editing at a More Affordable Price"
4/5
What do you like best about Photoshop Elements?

I like that Photoshop Elements is user-friendly and packed with powerful editing tools for beginners and hobbyists. Plus, it’s much more affordable than full Photoshop while still offering great creative control. Also the guided edits, specially the one-click fixes and organizational features make it easy to enhance photos without a steep learning curve Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Photoshop Elements?

I find the UI can feel outdated and cluttered compared to modern photo editors. Some advanced features are missing, and the pricing model (subscription vs. one-time purchase) can be confusing. Performance lags with large files, and AI tools aren’t as robust as in newer apps. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

RG
Ramasubramanian G.
Graphic Packaging Creator
Graphic Design
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Perfect for Quick Edits, Lacks Depth for Professionals"
4/5
What do you like best about Photoshop Elements?

I find Photoshop Elements to be a simplified and user-friendly tool that's great for quick edits, guided workflows, and creative enhancements. I really appreciate its AI-powered features like object selection, quick masks, and smart fixes, which make tasks easy even for users without in-depth knowledge of Photoshop. The biggest advantage for me is the ability to create social media content in no time. I also like that it's a one-time payment, so there's no need to worry about yearly renewals. The installation process was very simple and quick, and the guided interface makes life easy. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Photoshop Elements?

It's limited for professionals like me. Sometimes I need to adjust minimum dots and color depth for printer needs, and to do this, I need the whole Photoshop software. It's lacking here. In simple words, it's not usable for packaging design and print production or pre-press activity. Editing control like advanced masking, detailed color adjustments, adding curves, layer management, and full support for working with CMYK images are also needed. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Chris A.
CA
Chris A.
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Great Features, Slight Learning Curve"
4/5
What do you like best about Photoshop Elements?

I like using Photoshop Elements for designing and selecting the right features for my appropriate designs. The software really gives me quality in designs and ensures they don't look cheap, providing an authentic view and the right experience. I specifically appreciate the image enhancement and subject selection features. These automatic features make the process easier by detecting and allowing me to work with the subjects I want while ignoring the rest. This capability has helped a lot with my design work. Also, coming from Canva, I found some of the elements very simple to dive into, making the initial setup of Photoshop Elements really easy for me. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Photoshop Elements?

Some elements, like layers, can be really complicated and I'm not familiar with them. I don't understand certain features, like Maxine. Also, some tools, like the 'laser two' and others, I don't really know how to use. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Delon R.
DR
Delon R.
Graphic Designer
Graphic Design
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Photoshop Elements user experience"
3.5/5
What do you like best about Photoshop Elements?

I admire how the layout and editing features help me save me hours per week. Straightforward to use interface. There is small learning curve and intuitive interface a learning gateway for the pro programs. I admire that anyone is able to create and edit photographs and images well. Very supportive brand Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Photoshop Elements?

some of the editing features are either less powerful or lack of customization/interoperability in the program. Would like speed and loading times improved Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Arpit G.
AG
Arpit G.
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Versatile and Evolving, Needs AI Tweaks"
3.5/5
What do you like best about Photoshop Elements?

I find Photoshop Elements pretty good for creating posts related to infographics and informational content. The updates have really fixed a lot of things over time. The generative AI tool is pretty much impressive, allowing me to easily generate images or infographics by just typing what I need. It creates key examples and suggestions, making my tasks easier as a designer. The variety of tools available in Photoshop Elements helps significantly in carrying out design tasks with ease. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Photoshop Elements?

The generative AI tool in Photoshop Elements needs some improvements. Sometimes, when I specify a color, like blue, it generates something in a different shade. This inconsistency should be corrected. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Cheryl Ann C.
CC
Cheryl Ann C.
Online Entrepreneur
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"The Elements for Small Businesses & Content Creation"
5/5
What do you like best about Photoshop Elements?

I like the editing features, including background removal, motion effects, and object removal. It’s even more useful now that AI has been incorporated into it.

One upside is that it’s user-friendly, since it doesn’t come with the full stack of tools like the original Photoshop. It’s a great option for people creating social media pages who only want a particular set of tools, without all the extra complexity. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Photoshop Elements?

I don’t dislike it, but it’s not ideal for full-blown graphic design work, like creating a logo. It does include a lot of additional tools, similar to Photoshop, but I still wouldn’t say it’s meant for a professional graphic designer. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Nara K.
NK
Nara K.
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Beginner-Friendly with Powerful Features"
4.5/5
What do you like best about Photoshop Elements?

I use Photoshop Elements to edit photos and graphic designs for my university's official publication, and it makes playing around with graphics easier and more accessible. The quality of the pictures gets much better with touchups. I like its very beginner-friendly approach with guided edits like background removal, color correction, and AI-supported functions. These features save me a lot of time by automatically fixing things and allowing me to simply tweak the edits. Plus, I appreciate that it's a pay-once product, and the initial setup was very easy. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Photoshop Elements?

Sometimes the layering options feel limited. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.