Adobe Firefly

What Is It, In Plain Words?

Adobe Firefly makes pictures from words. You type something like "a watercolour of a robin on a snowy fence", and a few seconds later it shows you pictures to choose from. It can also change a photo you already have, for example by removing something you don't want in the background.

It's made by Adobe, the company behind Photoshop. You can try it free with an Adobe account: you get a number of free pictures each day, and the allowance resets daily. Paid plans give you more, and add video and sound tools.

What You Can Use It For

• Cards and invitations. "A cheerful cartoon cake with 80 candles, bright colours, plain white background." Then add your own words in a card maker such as Canva.
• Pictures for a club or church. A poster picture for a coffee morning, a quiz night or a garden show, without worrying about using someone else's photo.
• Tidying up a photo. Rub out a stranger or a bin in the background of a holiday picture with Generative Fill.

Getting Started Step By Step

On A Computer

1. Open your web browser and go to firefly.adobe.com. Check the address carefully, because look-alike sites exist.
2. Click Sign in. Make a free Adobe account with your email address, or continue with Google or Apple.
3. On the Firefly home page, choose Generate Image.
4. Type a description of the picture you want, then click Generate.
5. Pick the picture you like best and use the download button to save it.

On A Phone Or Tablet

1. Open the App Store (iPhone and iPad) or Google Play (Android).
2. Search for Adobe Firefly and check it's made by Adobe. Copycat apps exist.
3. Tap Get or Install, then open it.
4. Sign in with the same Adobe, Google or Apple account. Your pictures appear on both your phone and your computer.

Things To Try Typing

Type one of these into the box, or describe your own picture.

What It Costs

Prices checked 22 October 2026 on the official Adobe Firefly plans page. Prices can change, so check there before you pay.

UK prices include VAT. Standard, Pro and Pro Plus offer a free trial, and every paid plan renews each month until you cancel. Most people making the odd card won't need to pay.

Privacy And Safety

• What it keeps. The pictures you make are saved in your Firefly history in your Adobe account, so you can find them again on your phone or computer.
• Adobe says it has never trained Firefly on its customers' own content, and it doesn't claim ownership of what you make. Its own Firefly models learn from licensed pictures, such as Adobe Stock, and public-domain images.
• Adobe adds Content Credentials to some downloads. This is a hidden label saying AI was used. Don't remove it, and never pass an AI picture off as a real photo.
• Ask before you upload a photo of someone else, especially children.
• Never type passwords, PINs, bank or card numbers, your National Insurance number (UK) or Social Security number (USA).

Good Points And Watch-Outs

Good Points

• Easy to try: type a description and click a button.
• Free daily pictures, with no plan needed.
• Works in a web browser and in apps for iPhone and Android.
• On a computer, hold Ctrl (or Cmd on a Mac) and press + to make the words bigger. On a phone, it follows your text size setting.

Watch-Outs

• Pictures can come out odd, with extra fingers or garbled writing. Look closely before you print anything.
• Video, speech and sound tools use generative credits, which mostly come with the paid plans.
• It also offers AI models from other companies, such as Google and OpenAI. Adobe's promises about training apply to its own Firefly models.

Similar Tools

• Canva: cards, invitations and posters from ready-made designs.
• Suno: makes a song from your description.
• Google Photos: backs up photos and finds them by search.

Common Questions

Is Adobe Firefly free?

Yes, you can use it free with an Adobe account. You get free pictures every day, and the limit resets daily. Paid plans start at $9.99 a month in the USA and £9.98 a month in the UK.

Do I need Photoshop to use Firefly?

No. Firefly works on its own in a web browser at firefly.adobe.com and in the Firefly app for iPhone and Android.

Who owns the pictures I make?

Adobe says it doesn't claim ownership of content you create with Firefly. If you plan to sell something you've made, read Adobe's terms first.

Can it change my own photos?

Yes. Tools such as Generative Fill can remove or add things in a photo you upload. Only upload photos you're happy to share with Adobe.