Adobe begins rolling out 2 free months of service as part of $75M DOJ settlement

It looks like Adobe is finally emailing users about its $75 million settlement with the Department of Justice over hidden cancellation fees. But the compensation rolling out to inboxes this week is not a cash refund.

Instead of cutting checks, the company is offering affected users two free months of service. This is part of the broader resolution from the June 2024 litigation targeting Adobe’s notorious early termination fees.

According to the official settlement FAQ published by Adobe, eligible users include anyone who had a Creative Cloud subscription between January 2019 and July 2025. You also must have paid an early cancellation fee during that window.

If that fee was higher than the cost of a standard month-to-month plan, you qualify for the benefit. The offer is strictly limited to customers based in the US.

The actual mechanics of the rollout depend entirely on your current relationship with the company. Active subscribers do not have to lift a finger to claim their compensation.

Adobe says two free months are being automatically applied to existing accounts. You should see the credit show up under your billing settings within 72 hours of getting the email.

Former users have a slightly different path. They get a link to claim two months of free access to a single app of their choice. The list includes heavy hitters like Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat Studio, and Premiere Pro.

The company also notes that former customers will not need to hand over a credit card to activate this specific perk. The access just expires after the two months are up unless you explicitly decide to subscribe again.

Still, users who received the emails to claim the offer aren’t thrilled. Over on a LinusTechTips subreddit thread, one former user called the situation absolutely ridiculous. They pointed out that offering a free trial as compensation feels like a calculated trap to pull angry customers back in.

Another discussion in the F**kAdobe sub shares the same frustration. Former customers are asking why a massive penalty for shady billing practices translates into free software instead of actual money back in their pockets.

As mentioned in earlier reporting, the total DOJ action actually involves $150 million. That breaks down into a $75 million fine and $75 million allocated specifically for these free service credits.

That said, if you received the email and actually want to claim the software, you have plenty of time. Former customers have until December 31, 2027, to activate their two free months.

Active users just need to keep an eye on their billing page. You will want to verify that the credited months actually apply before your next scheduled renewal date hits.

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