More often than not, the free plan offers a number of all the features you need in order to test the service and its tools as much as possible. Only after that does it make sense to subscribe - when you are sure that the tools you need, the availability on all devices and with any Internet connection suits you.
Note: some services have their own limitations in the free version, as well as the presence of advertising.
It depends on your needs and preferences. It is not worth buying a subscription to a photo editor that has an incomprehensible interface without the tools you need. The best solution - availability on devices, average price or freemium, as well as additional features, for example - saving your work in online storage.
New devices and lifestyles create new needs:
In the past, photo editing was only available on powerful personal computers in offices or at home because it took up a certain amount of memory. But such solutions have no advantage over the newfangled gadgets that have come to replace them - tablets, smartphones, laptops. They all have a certain range of functionality and applications, few of which are not particularly suitable for professional photographers or experts in the field. As a rule, these are not particularly useful in the long term of use.
It's the "where" and the "how" that matters:
Another important trend is portability. Software today needs to be accessible from anywhere and from any device. This means that programming must be done with a large number of devices in mind, many of which now support certain technologies, such as plug-in Flash or ultra-fast JavaScript.
Web applications must be light enough that their functions can be transmitted not only over a normal Internet network, but also over a cellular connection. If an application cannot be accessed from anywhere, the user will look for alternatives that "just work." When creating modern photo editors, the limitations of servers must be considered.
More mobile, but without compromising on features:
The increased mobility and "portability" and the need for modern touch-screen user interfaces should not be confused with the overly simple and limited features of online photo editors.
What is the price of online photo editors?
The question of price is actually complicated, and cannot be answered by simply saying: "You have to pay XX dollars for an online photo editor." Obviously, it depends on the needs of the person or company. Many tools are free and offer a feature set that is more than sufficient for casual photographers who only need to crop images for blog posts or brighten their new photo for a Facebook or Twitter profile.
Professionals who really need flexible photo editing solutions for their daily work should look for more advanced services from leading manufacturers, which obviously cost money.
Convenient payment methods are just as important as price:
When looking at the pricing situation, it's obvious that as important as "how much" and "how." "How do I pay?" A user who works with multiple devices will not pay for each device separately.
Subscriptions are the most popular payment methods. Pay once, use the service from anywhere and for as long as you want. This is what the modern user wants to hear. Mobility and ease of operation when subscribing are key factors.
To summarize, what should be considered when choosing an online photo editor?
It should integrate with any browser and platform, be universally usable and accessible using any connection. It should offer a simple and practical subscription option with a wider range of tools.
New Trends - Higher Requirements and Flexibility
After deciding which online photo editor will be the most convenient, but it is worth noting that sometimes the requirements for it can be too excessive. In that case, it may not live up to them, having a number of limitations. However, the basic things should still be there, such as online photo storage, RAW editing, different subscription models, including a free plan, in order to try out the product in full in a limited time and decide whether to give it a preference. As mentioned above, the solution is worth testing not only on a PC, but also on a mobile device or any other gadget - how the tools work, whether all the functionality is available.