Free vs. paid editing software
Free software can be enough for excellent photography. Paid software may add stronger cataloguing, masking, RAW support, cloud features, printing tools or faster workflows. None of those matters if you do not need them.
Compare the complete workflow
Check whether the software supports your camera files, exports at full quality, keeps edits non-destructive, handles backups sensibly and runs well on your device. A cheap or free editor that blocks a task you use every week is not really saving you time.
Subscriptions and one-off licences differ
Some products use subscriptions, some one-off purchases and some a mixture. Prices and terms change, so check the current cost from the developer rather than relying on an old comparison article.
Start free if you are unsure
Learn basic editing first. Once you know which features actually slow you down or are missing, you can judge whether paying solves a real problem.