Adobe InDesign Review, Pricing, Features with Pros and Cons

In this Adobe InDesign review, you'll find more information about its features, pricing, pros and cons and why you should consider using it.
9.4/10 (Expert Score)
Product is rated as #3 in category Photo editing
9.4Expert Score
The next page in layout design.

Unlock the full potential of your design projects with Adobe InDesign’s unmatched precision and versatility. From its seamless integration with other Adobe tools to its robust collaboration features, InDesign is your go-to platform for creating stunning digital and print layouts. With its rich feature set, including hyperlinking and digital publishing, you’ll have everything you need to bring your creative vision to life. Elevate your design game—choose InDesign.

Customer support
9.1
Value for money
9.4
Ease of use
9.5
Features
9.5
Pros
  • Collaboration Tools
  • Rich Feature Set
  • Comprehensive Design Control
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Learning Curve
  • Occasional Glitches

Dive into the world of Adobe InDesign, the game-changer in digital and print design software. Whether you’re crafting an eye-catching magazine layout or a compelling digital brochure, InDesign offers unparalleled control and functionality.

Discover its rich feature set, learn how it seamlessly integrates with other Adobe products, and find out how it can elevate your design game to the next level. Don’t miss our in-depth look at its pros and cons to make an informed decision. Intrigued? Read on.

Read further to learn more about Adobe InDesign, in our review we will detail its features, pros and cons with our rating, and a conclusion about why you should use it.

Click on “open” if you want to see exactly what we will talk about in the rest of this article.

Overview

What is Adobe InDesign?

Adobe InDesign is a desktop publishing software that specializes in layout design. It enables users to create and publish a wide range of materials, from printed books and digital magazines to interactive PDFs and posters.

Adobe InDesign interface

The software is equipped with layout and typesetting tools that facilitate the design of print materials, as well as features for crafting digital brochures and catalogs. InDesign is part of Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite and offers seamless integration with other Adobe products like Illustrator.

It is used by professionals for various design projects, including branding, packaging, and marketing materials. The software is continually updated with new features, and plans start at $20.99 per month.

Adobe InDesign specifications

FeaturesAuto Style / Create Plugins with UXP / Document Sharing / Duplication / Modern Graphics Support / New Graphic Formats Supported / Real-time preview / Seamless Copy and Paste / Search Text in Published Documents / Secure Cloud Storage / UXP Scripting
Best suited forIndividuals, Freelancers, Small businesses, Mid size businesses, Large enterprises
Website languagesArabic / Brasil / Chinese / Danish / Deutsch / English / Finnish / French / German / Hindi / Indonesian / Italian / Japanese / Korean / Nederlands / Norsk / Polish / Polsky / Portuguese / Română / Russian / Spanish / Suomi / Svenska / Thai / Turkish / Ukrainian / Vietnamese
Website URLVisit official website
Support linkSupport page
Live chatNo
Company addressSan Jose, CA
Year founded1982

Pricing

Adobe InDesign pricing: How much does Adobe InDesign cost?

Navigate the maze of Adobe InDesign’s pricing with ease! Whether you’re an individual designer or part of a larger team, InDesign offers a range of plans to fit your needs and budget.

With pricing starting at $20.99 per month for individual users and going up to $54.99 for the all-encompassing Creative Cloud All Apps plan, there’s something for everyone. Read on to find the plan that’s the perfect match for your design aspirations.

Pricing rangeFrom $20.99 to $84.99 per month
Pricing typesMonthly subscription
Free planNo
Free trialYes, 7 days
Money back guaranteeYes, 14 days
Pricing page linkSee plans

Adobe InDesign pricing plans

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Individual Plan ($20.99/month)

  • Core Features: Access to all the essential Adobe InDesign features for page design and layout in both print and digital media.
  • Cloud Storage: Limited cloud storage for saving and accessing your projects from anywhere.
  • Adobe Fonts: Access to Adobe’s extensive font library.
  • Updates: Regular software updates to keep your application up-to-date with the latest features and security patches.

Creative Cloud All Apps ($54.99/month)

  • Multiple Adobe Apps: In addition to Adobe InDesign, get access to over 20 Creative Cloud apps including Photoshop, Illustrator, and Adobe Express.
  • Cloud Storage: More generous cloud storage options compared to the individual plan.
  • Adobe Fonts: Full access to Adobe’s font library.
  • Collaboration Tools: Enhanced collaboration features like Adobe’s Cloud Libraries for team-based projects.
  • Updates: As with the individual plan, you’ll receive regular software updates.

Student & Teacher Discount ($19.99/month)

  • Multi-App Access: Over 60% discount on the Creative Cloud All Apps plan, providing access to multiple Adobe applications including InDesign.
  • Cloud Storage: Standard cloud storage options for academic use.
  • Adobe Fonts: Access to Adobe’s font library.
  • Updates: Regular updates to keep all software current.

Business Plans ($84.99/month)

  • Customizable Features: Tailored features to meet the specific needs of a business.
  • License Management: Easy-to-use license management system for multiple users.
  • 24/7 Technical Support: Dedicated technical support available around the clock.
  • Updates: Business plans also include regular software updates.

Features

Adobe InDesign features: What can you do with it?

The features of Adobe InDesign are designed to offer a seamless and efficient experience in desktop publishing and layout design. From advanced text formatting tools to robust graphic support, InDesign’s features cater to both novice users and seasoned professionals.

Whether you’re looking to collaborate remotely, automate repetitive tasks, or simply streamline your design workflow, Adobe InDesign’s extensive feature set has something to offer.

Cloud Documents (Beta)

Adobe InDesign cloud document

The Cloud Documents feature, currently in beta, offers a secure and convenient way to store your Adobe InDesign projects. It automatically backs up your work to Adobe’s cloud storage, allowing you to access your files from any device with an internet connection.

This feature is particularly useful for freelancers and teams who need to collaborate remotely, as it eliminates the need for manual backups and facilitates easy file sharing.

Auto Style

Adobe InDesign auto style

Auto Style is a smart formatting tool that automates the styling process in your documents. It comes with pre-configured Style Packs that are content-aware.

When you paste unformatted text into an InDesign template, the feature intelligently identifies different text elements like headers, sub-headers, and body text.

It then automatically applies the predefined styles you’ve set up in your template. This not only speeds up the document creation process but also ensures a consistent look and feel across multiple pages or even different documents.

Modern Graphics Support

Adobe InDesign modern graphics

InDesign’s Modern Graphics Support allows you to work with a variety of image formats without the hassle of converting them first. It supports HEIC, JP2K, and WebP formats, which are known for their high-quality and low file size.

This is especially beneficial for designers who work with diverse media assets, as it simplifies the workflow and maintains the quality of images. You can directly drag and drop these formats into your layout, and Adobe InDesign will handle them natively.

Seamless Copy and Paste

Adobe InDesign copy paste

The Seamless Copy and Paste feature is designed to improve the workflow between Adobe Illustrator and InDesign, two of Adobe’s most popular design software.

When you copy text or graphic elements from Illustrator and paste them into an InDesign document, all the style settings, including font, color, and layout, are preserved.

This eliminates the need to reformat or adjust the pasted content, making it easier to integrate work across different Adobe applications. It’s a significant time-saver for designers who often use multiple programs for a single project.

Preview InDesign Documents

Adobe InDesign preview

The Preview feature is a small but impactful addition to Adobe InDesign’s capabilities. It allows you to quickly view a snapshot of your Adobe InDesign files without the need to open each one.

This is particularly useful when you’re dealing with multiple versions of a document or when you need to quickly identify a file among many. You can adjust the preview settings to show specific pages, making it easier to find what you’re looking for.

Share Documents for Review

Adobe InDesign share documents

The “Share Documents for Review” feature in Adobe InDesign streamlines the review and feedback process. It allows you to share your InDesign files with team members or clients for real-time feedback.

The system is designed to be intuitive, enabling reviewers to easily add comments, markups, or approve designs directly within the shared document. This centralized feedback system eliminates the need for lengthy email threads and helps in faster decision-making, making the entire review process more efficient.

Create Plugins with UXP

Adobe InDesign create plugin

Adobe InDesign’s support for creating plugins using the Unified Extensibility Platform (UXP) offers a powerful way to customize the software according to your specific needs. UXP allows you to develop custom plugins that can extend Adobe InDesign’s native functionalities.

Whether you need to automate repetitive tasks, integrate Adobe InDesign with other software, or add new capabilities, UXP provides the framework to do so. This feature is particularly useful for businesses or individuals with specialized workflow requirements, as it allows for a more tailored use of the software.

Search Text in Published Documents

Adobe InDesign search

The ability to search text in published documents is a significant enhancement in terms of accessibility and user experience. This Adobe InDesign’s feature is particularly useful for lengthy publications like eBooks, catalogs, or interactive PDFs.

It allows users to quickly locate specific information without having to scroll through the entire document. The feature is device-agnostic, meaning you can use it on touch devices for simple text search, and on desktops and laptops for both text search and copying.

New Graphic Formats Supported

Adobe InDesign formats

The support for new graphic formats like HEIC, HEIF, WEBP, and JP2K is a notable upgrade. These formats are known for their high-quality output with lower file sizes, making them ideal for digital publishing.

Being able to import these files directly into Adobe InDesign without the need for conversion simplifies the design process and ensures that the quality of images is maintained.

Easily Duplicate Page or Spread After Selection

Adobe InDesign duplicate

The feature to easily duplicate pages or spreads adds a layer of convenience to document layout tasks.

Whether you’re working on a multi-page brochure or a complex magazine layout, this Adobe InDesign’s feature allows you to quickly duplicate content without disrupting your workflow.

You can choose to place the duplicated pages immediately after a selected page or at the end of the document, providing flexibility in how you organize your content.

UXP Scripting

Adobe InDesign

UXP (Unified Extensibility Platform) Scripting is a new addition to Adobe InDesign’s scripting capabilities.

This Adobe InDesign’s feature allows developers to use modern JavaScript functionalities, offering more flexibility and power in automating tasks and customizing the software.

This is in addition to the already supported VBScript and AppleScript, broadening the scope for creating more complex and tailored automation scripts.

Conclusion

Adobe InDesign review: Why you should use it?

Adobe InDesign is a robust software that excels in creating digital and print documents like flyers, stationary, and posters. It offers intricate control over design elements, allowing you to work down to the minutest details.

The software is highly compatible with other Adobe products, providing a seamless workflow. It also supports a range of features like hyperlinking text/images, precise object placement, and digital publishing to Adobe’s cloud. Moreover, it offers collaboration tools, making it easier for teams to work together.

Adobe InDesign cover

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Comprehensive Design Control: Allows for hyper-precise object placement and layout customization.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility: Integrates seamlessly with other Adobe products.
  • Collaboration Tools: Facilitates teamwork through features like Adobe’s Cloud Libraries.
  • Rich Feature Set: Supports hyperlinking, digital publishing, and even includes tooltips for beginners.

Cons:

  • Learning Curve: The software can be complex and may take time for beginners to understand.
  • Cost: Adobe InDesign is on the expensive side.
  • Occasional Glitches: Users have reported random crashes and issues with font management.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Adobe InDesign Review, Pricing, Features with Pros and Cons
Adobe InDesign Review, Pricing, Features with Pros and Cons

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