Adobe Acrobat Pro is the best PDF editing software out there but not everyone needs or wants to pay a subscription for it.
Although there are some excellent one time purchase PDF editors for Macs available, Adobe has now discontinued Acrobat Pro 2020 which was the last version available with a perpetual license.
It has now been replaced by Adobe Acrobat 2024 (initially known as “Acrobat Classic”) which is available with a fixed-term three year license for both macOS and Windows – but it’s not a lifetime license.
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What is Adobe Acrobat 2024?
Acrobat Pro 2024 was released in July 2024 and replaced Adobe Acrobat 2020 which was the last version of Acrobat available with a perpetual license.
However, due to confusion amongst customers over the branding, Adobe rebranded it “Acrobat Pro 2024” in April 2025.
Acrobat 2024 is a desktop version of Acrobat which allows you to do more-or-less everything you can in Acrobat Pro DC such as PDF editing, creation and management.
The main difference is that unlike Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, you can purchase a 3 year license of Acrobat Pro 2024 for $324.00.
During this time you can also use it offline on your Mac or PC desktop.
The key features and differences of Adobe Acrobat 2024 vs Acrobat Pro DC are:
- 3 Year Licensing: Acrobat 2024 is available with a 3 year license with no extra fees or add-ons during that period.
- No updates: There are no new feature updates after purchasing but you do get ongoing security updates and bug fixes.
- Desktop-app: Acrobat Pro DC has both desktop and web access whereas the Acrobat Pro 2024 version only works on desktop without cloud storage, mobile apps, or web-access.
- No Document Cloud: There’s no integration in Adobe Document Cloud with Acrobat Pro 2024 version which means no online document storage, electronic signing or cross-device syncing.
You can see in the comparison table below how the two products compare side-by-side.
| Aspect | Adobe Acrobat Pro DC | Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| License Type | Subscription: $19.99/month (billed annually) or $29.99/month (monthly billing) | $324 (3 year license) |
| Update Track | Continuous – frequent feature and security updates | Classic Track – quarterly and hotfix updates only |
| Feature Enhancements | New features added over time (AI tools, integrations, etc.) | No new features expected beyond base release |
| Cloud & Online Services | Yes – Adobe Sign, online storage, mobile app links | No – offline only, no cloud services included |
| Naming History | Retains name; historically distinct track | Renamed from “Acrobat Classic” to “Acrobat Pro 2024” on April 8, 2025 |
| Typical Use Case | Users needing latest features and cloud tools | Users preferring one-time payment and offline reliability |
If you want to learn more, check out our full Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024 review.
You can also see a detailed comparison in our look at Adobe Acrobat Pro vs Acrobat Classic.
How To Purchase Adobe Acrobat 2024
To buy Acrobat 2024, simply go to the Adobe Acrobat 2024 checkout and sign-in with your Adobe account details.
It costs $324.00 for a three year license (originally when it was known as “Acrobat Classic” it was $540.00 but Adobe reduced this in 2025 to $324.00 when it renamed it “Adobe Acrobat 2024”).
Note that there is no Student & Teacher pricing for Acrobat Pro 2024 and the perpetual license version of Acrobat Pro 2020 Student edition is no longer available for purchase.
For those in Education, currently the only option to get Acrobat Pro DC is with an educational subscription.
Is It Better To Buy Adobe Acrobat Pro On Subscription?
If you just need a short period of access, it’s better to subscribe to the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Pro DC because one year at $19.99 will cost $239.88 annually compared to $324.00 for a three year license of Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024.
However, over three years a subscription will have cost you $719.64 compared to only $324.00 for Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024.
A subscription does have other advantages though including integration with Adobe Document Cloud and Adobe Creative Cloud which the Acrobat Pro 2024 version does not.
Adobe Document Cloud integration (hence the “DC”) includes Adobe Sign for legally binding document signing and document management in Adobe Cloud.
Can You Still Buy Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017?
You can still download Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 but it’s no longer available for purchase.
The company discontinued Acrobat 2017 in June 2022 so you cannot buy it with a perpetual license anymore.
End of support means that Adobe will no longer issue security fixes, technical support or bug fixes it.
For Mac users, the 2017 version also only works up to macOS 12 Monterey. It does not work on any version of macOS later than this.
Alternative PDF Software With Lifetime Licenses
If this all comes as a disappointment, there are other PDF software with perpetual licenses you can consider as an alternative to Acrobat Pro.
Examples include PDF Expert, Foxit PDF Editor and Nitro PDF Pro all of which can be purchased with a lifetime license.