Adobe Creative Cloud vs Maya: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Adobe Creative Cloud and Maya side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Adobe Creative Cloud leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Adobe Creative Cloud
The professional creative suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere
Best for you if:
- • You want complete creative suite
Maya
3D animation and modeling by Autodesk
Best for you if:
- • You want industry standard 3D
| At a Glance | Adobe Creative Cloud | Maya |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $9.99/mo, billed monthly Photography plan | From $25.42/mo, billed yearly Maya Indie plan |
Category | Graphic Design Video Editing | 3D Design Animation |
Rating | 4.6/5 G2 4.5 · Capterra 4.7 62,845 reviews | 4.3/5 G2 4.3 267 reviews |
Free plan | No | No |
Watch out for | You also get only 25 Firefly credits/month vs 4,000. Most professionals will be forced to upgrade. | Autodesk has raised prices 3 times since 2022, averaging 4-5% annually. Expect $2,000+/year by 2027. |
Choose Adobe Creative Cloud or Maya?
Choose Adobe Creative Cloud if
- You want complete creative suite
- You want industry standard tools
- You work in graphic design, not 3d design
Choose Maya if
- You want industry standard 3D
- You want animation tools
- You work in 3d design, not graphic design
In-Depth Analysis
Adobe Creative Cloud
The professional creative suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere
The critical difference: Standard strips web/mobile/iPad app access and limits Firefly AI to 25 credits/month.
Watch out
You also get only 25 Firefly credits/month vs 4,000. Most professionals will be forced to upgrade.
Strengths
- Pro: Complete creative suite
- Pro: Industry standard tools
- Pro: Regular updates
- Pro: Cloud storage included
- Pro: Cross-device sync
Weaknesses
- Con: Very expensive
- Con: Subscription only
- Con: Resource intensive
- Con: Bloated installer
- Con: Can't buy individual apps easily
Key features
Maya
3D animation and modeling by Autodesk
It remains the industry standard for character animation, rigging, and VFX pipelines in film and games, but the value proposition has eroded significantly.
Watch out
Autodesk has raised prices 3 times since 2022, averaging 4-5% annually. Expect $2,000+/year by 2027.
Strengths
- Pro: Industry standard 3D
- Pro: Animation tools
- Pro: VFX capabilities
- Pro: Good for film
- Pro: Active development
Weaknesses
- Con: Very expensive
- Con: Steep learning curve
- Con: Resource intensive
- Con: Complex interface
- Con: Subscription only
Key features
Plans and prices: Adobe Creative Cloud vs Maya
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Creative Cloud |
| adobe.com/creativecloud.htmlread Oct 3, 2026 |
| Maya |
| autodesk.com/mayaread Oct 7, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Adobe Creative Cloud pricing and Maya pricing.
Key Takeaways
Adobe Creative Cloud
- Higher user rating: 4.6/5 vs 4.3/5
Maya
- Choose if you want 3D animation and modeling by Autodesk
What the data shows
On the data below, Adobe Creative Cloud leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Adobe Creative Cloud has the higher user rating (4.6/5 from 62,845 reviews for Adobe Creative Cloud, 4.3/5 from 267 reviews for Maya).
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Adobe Creative Cloud $9.99/mo, billed monthly; Maya $25.42/mo, billed yearly.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Adobe Creative Cloud and Maya compare in 2026?
On the data below, Adobe Creative Cloud leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Adobe Creative Cloud has the higher user rating (4.6/5 from 62,845 reviews for Adobe Creative Cloud, 4.3/5 from 267 reviews for Maya). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Adobe Creative Cloud $9.99/mo, billed monthly; Maya $25.42/mo, billed yearly.
What are Adobe Creative Cloud and Maya used for?
Adobe Creative Cloud: The professional creative suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere. Maya: 3D animation and modeling by Autodesk.
What does Adobe Creative Cloud cost vs Maya?
Adobe Creative Cloud's cheapest paid plan is Photography at $9.99/mo, billed monthly. Maya's cheapest paid plan is Maya Indie at $25.42/mo, billed yearly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 7, 2026.
What's the main difference between Adobe Creative Cloud and Maya?
Adobe Creative Cloud's main strength: complete creative suite. Maya's main strength: industry standard 3D.