
In 2010 in Málaga Spain brothers Alejandro and Pablo Blanes together with Joaquín Cuenca developed a search engine for designers. This platform helps designers to search for and choose free graphic resources and download them which is why the site was called Freepik.
Freepik is now a household name for designers all over the world and has grown to become an invaluable tool for them. On this platform, users are able to look for and download stock images, vector illustrations, icons, PSD files, mockups, backgrounds, hand drawn sketches, character designs, logo templates, cartoon assets, clipart, banners, business cards, sticker designs and many more.
In addition, designers are allowed to sell their graphic content and make money off of their designs. Although Freepik is very popular among designers and designers, the site has its own disadvantages and limitations. In this article, we are going to discuss 9 Freepik Problems Every Designer Must Know.
Problem 1: Quality control
One of the most important issues of Freepik is quality control issues. As this platform offers a various collection of stock images, vectors, and AI-generated content, not all of them have high-quality standards. Several users have reported numbers of bad image quality, and poorly edited content.
- Low-Quality – Many Freepik users said that some designs are duplicated or lack originality due to high numbers of uploads by users.
- Poorly Designed Vectors & Illustrations – Some files have incomplete, pixelated, or bad formatted elements, which make them difficult to edit.
- AI-Generated Content Without Good Development – By increasing use of AI-generated images issues like weird proportions, missing details, or unnatural looks appeared in some illustrations.

Problem 2: Limited Free Content on Freepik
One of the common issues which Freepik users face is the limited availability of free content. Although Freepik name itself as a free platform, a significant number of high-quality contents are locked and user should get a premium subscription.
- Limited Access to High-Quality Designs – Many of the most professional and useful content need a paid subscription.
- Limited Daily Downloads – Free users have daily download limits, so the number of resources they can use is limited.
- Credit Requirement – Most of the free content needs users to credit Freepik or the original creator. So it is not good for professional use.
- Premium AI Tools – Freepik’s AI tools is usually only available to premium users, limited design available for free plan users.
- Freepik offers some free resources, but users should subscribe in order to have high-quality, unique, and unlimited contents.

Problem 3: Overuse of Some Resources
The third issues of Freepik is the overuse of specific design elements and resources for many projects and platforms. As Freepik is widely used by designers, marketers, and content creators, many of its most popular contents appear always in different designs, and it leads to lack of originality.
- Lack of Uniqueness – Many designers use the same templates, icons, and illustrations, so their work look similar to others.
- Branding Issues – Businesses using Freepik contents leads to branding issues for example if a competitor use the same content as the other competitor it would something bad happen.
- Repetitive Content – Some vector illustrations, backgrounds, and stock photos used repeatedly in various projects.
- AI-Generated Patterns – Freepik’s AI contents, are used repeatedly, so the designs feel less customized.
This over use on some resources can be a challenge for those who wants unique and original designs. So they should look for real designers like Beehaya.

Problem 4: Confusion of Licensing
It’s hard for many users of Freepik to understand the freepik rules of using images. Freepik has different types of licenses, and it’s not clear which images are free and which needs to get a premium subscribe.
Copyright Issues – Some images look similar to copyrighted designs, So it could create legal problems.
Unclear Rules – Some images are free, but you should give credit to Freepik. Others needs to pay for subscription, and understanding the difference is hard for users.
Attribution Requirement – Free users should mention Freepik for using free images, which is not for business or professional projects.
Changing License Terms – An image which is free now maybe it require a payment later, so this issue cause a confusion for users who already downloaded it.

Issue 5: Editing Options for Some Files is limited
Another issue of Freepik is the not being flexible in editing some files. This platform has many stock images, vectors, and templates, some of the files have restrictions which make customization difficult.
- Complex or Locked Vector Files – Some vector files has merged layers or ungrouped elements, So it’s hard to modify parts of the design.
- Non-Editable Text – Many designs have non-editable text, so users should recreate the text and it takes more time.
- Limited File Formats – Some contents are only available in JPEG or PNG format, therefore users cannot do advanced edits like changing colors or removing backgrounds.
- Not opening in Certain Design Software – Freepik mainly provides AI, EPS, and PSD files, some designs are not open in all graphic design programs.
These limitations can be serious issue for users who need full customization in their designs. Freepik offers different designs, but all of them are not easily editable, user should check file formats and layer structures before use. If you want a unique design and have the source and vector file you can contact Beehaya.

Issue 6: Low Visibility for Independent Designers
New designers, cannot be visible on Freepik easily. Freepik has millions of images, so new uploads get lost among these collection of designs.
- Too Much Competition – Many designers upload images daily, so it’s hard to be visible.
- Old Designs Show Up First – Freepik’s system shows popular images first, so new uploads are hard to find.
- No Boost for New Designers – Freepik doesn’t help new creators be noticeable, so they must promote their work on their own.
- Slow Earnings Growth – Freepik pays based on downloads, so new designers earn very little at first.
This makes Freepik tough for new designers unless they upload unique designs often and promote their work outside the platform.

Issue 7: AI is Replacing Human Artists on Freepik – The Negative Side
As Freepik relies more on AI-generated images, real artists are losing opportunities. AI-generated designs lack originality, and for business and other uses it’s more reliable to use human artists than AI.
- Lack of Creativity & Originality – AI copies existing styles and reuses patterns, leading to generic and repetitive designs that lack real artistic touch.
- Low-Quality, Imperfect Details – Many AI-generated images contain errors, like distorted shapes, missing fingers, or unnatural facial expressions, making them unusable for professionals.
- Legal & Ethical Issues – AI sometimes trains on copyrighted works without permission, creating ethical concerns and potential legal risks for users who unknowingly use these images.
AI might seem helpful, but it hurts human creativity, lowers design quality, and reduces opportunities for real artists.

You can clearly see that the AI-generated version contains numerous errors and lacks uniqueness, style, and warmth. Additionally, the color choices are not well-suited for an effective logo design, text mistakes.
8. Technical Problems and Bugs on Freepik
Many users face technical problems while using Freepik. These issues can slow down work, make downloading difficult, and cause frustration.
- Slow Website – Sometimes, Freepik takes too long to load or stops working.
- Download Issues – Files may fail to download or be corrupted, making them unusable.
- Missing or Broken Files – Some images disappear or don’t open properly.
- Search Problems – The search bar shows the wrong results or doesn’t work well.
- Login and Payment Issues – Some users can’t log in, face subscription problems, or get charged incorrectly.
These problems make Freepik hard to use at times and frustrating for designers


9. Freepik is Hard to Use – Difficult Search Experience
Many people struggle to use Freepik because the website is too crowded and the search doesn’t work well. There are too many ads and confusing menus, making it hard to find the right design.
- Too Many Ads & Pop-ups – Free users see lots of ads, which get in the way.
- Hard to Find Things – The website has too many buttons and menus, making it confusing.
- Search Shows Wrong Images – Sometimes, you search for something, but get random pictures instead.
- Filters Don’t Work Well – When trying to narrow down a search, the filters don’t help much.
- Premium Images Show First – Even when looking for free images, the website pushes paid ones first.
These problems make Freepik frustrating to use, especially for people who want to find designs quickly.

Conclusion
Freepik is a popular platform for finding design resources, but it has many problems. Issues like poor quality control, too many ads, limited free content, and a confusing search system make it hard to use. Another big problem is that Freepik now depends a lot on AI-generated images, which has reduced the quality of designs and made many of them look the same.
Sadly, many websites that started by supporting artists have now switched to AI to keep up with competition. While AI helps create more content quickly, it often lacks the quality and creativity of real artists. Many people who don’t understand design are using AI to make content, leading to low-quality images. Some also use software to turn images into vector files automatically, which makes them look messy and less professional.
If you want unique and high-quality designs, working with real designers is still the best choice. Freepik is useful for quick design needs, but users should be aware of its limits before depending on it for important projects.