Adobe’s Generative AI Credit Rules Explained for Lightroom and Photoshop

Adobe has made big changes to how its Generative AI credit system works, and if you use Lightroom or Photoshop often, you need to understand the details. Credits are required for most AI-powered tools, and how many you get depends on when you signed up for your plan, as the difference can be significant,

Coming to you from Mickey Pullen with Eastern Shore Photo Instruction, this detailed video breaks down what Adobe is currently charging for and what’s still free. As of September, using Generative Remove in both Lightroom and Photoshop doesn’t consume credits. The same applies to Photoshop’s new Upscale feature. That could change after Adobe Max in late October, so it’s worth keeping an eye on updates. For now, only Generative Fill, Expand, Background, and similar tools consume credits. Each generation costs one credit, and regenerating counts as another charge.

This video is useful because it clears up the confusing differences between plans. If you joined Creative Cloud Photography or the Lightroom plan before June 17, 2025, you receive 100 credits each month. Join later, and you’re limited to 25. Some early subscribers even receive 250 monthly credits. The problem is that unused credits don’t roll over, unless you’re on one of the higher Pro plans. That means planning your edits matters if you want to stretch your credits. The video also shows how to check your balance and points out that AI credits are separate from Adobe Stock credits.

What makes the walkthrough especially helpful is the side-by-side look at different tools. Remove in Photoshop doesn’t deduct credits, but switch to Generative Fill and you’ll see your balance drop immediately. The same applies when regenerating multiple times. In Lightroom, Generative Remove remains free, but the video includes a clever workaround for expanding a canvas without using credits. It’s not high resolution and works best for online sharing, but it’s a practical trick when you need extra space around an image. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Pullen.