I use DxO Photolab 8. Gets good write-up in current AP mag. It has AI built in and you can choose your settings.
I too will be ending my Adobe sub when current plan ends. I use it very rarely nowadays.
Why are you paying monthly guys? Buy an annual subscription code on a Black Friday deal put it in your account and when your current sub finishes it will automatically renew for 12 more months. I’ve never paid more than £70 for my photography plan and it was £50 a couple years back!
I had to renew mine Colin as it was running out before the price hike, so I went yearly £119 but I couldn’t wait till Black Friday as it’s to far away & I would have had no Adobe if that makes sense, had I have known they was going to put the prices up for monthly, I would have done the Black Friday thing last year.
Oh well, do it in Nov this year then. Remember, you don’t have to wait until it’s due, you can put the code in your account in advance and will auto update on your renewal date. Keep your eye out for deals throughout the summer and autumn. 
Ah right ok did not know that thank you, yes will keep my eyes peeled 
cheers col 
That’s helpful I didn’t know that I’ll keep my eye out for offers later in the year.
Have a look at the Affinity range of products - it’s another learning curve but they are really comprehensive and professional and not too expensive (they are not using an instalment plan - one off payments is all).
I wanted/needed Lightroom for my work so I’m still a bit stuck but I have now moved to the annual plan.
Presently using it side by side with Lightroom classic for comparison.
It’s not Lightroom, that’s for sure.
Affinity photo is a replacement for photoshop.
I have owned it for a couple of years , ever since I got cross with Adobe.
Did some of the tutorials and was very impressed.
But …. Here I am back with Adobe and it’s just for Lightroom: ease of cataloging, speed …. Oh lots of things that make my life simpler.
Affinity is still there in case I fall out with Adobe again and then I’ll have to learn it all over again
I’m too old for this s**t
Yes, I don’t think there’s anything to compare with Lightroom, I’d have been happy to continue with Lr5, but for not importing newer raw formats, I only started to have a problem when I bought my drone & daughters new camera. Agreed affinity more like photoshop.
whaT ABOUT LUMINAR AI / Aurora HDR
I do my HDR stuff in Aurora, so many pre set templates I just choose the one i like the best.
Laxy, yes but I can go fully manual on any if i want to.
Best renew my course for the student discount 
Has it gone down now ?
Mine seems to have done so. Not had any explanatory communication.
Next month may be different. 
Fair do’s fingers crossed it stay’s down hopefully not an error …
Hopefully every payment I’ve made gets refunded … 
Right result if they do.
