Freepik review: from stock media to an AI platform

I canceled my Freepik subscription over a year ago because I was unhappy with the direction they were taking—AI all the way down, and you couldn’t filter out AI images.

However, with generative AI getting better and Freepik making significant improvements to its platform, including AI generators, library filters, and licensing, I decided to give it another go. I will share my new findings in this refreshed Freepik review, including whether it’s a good place to buy stock photos or not.

Freepik review in short:

• How much does Freepik cost?
• Permissive royalty-free license
• Diverse media library with unlimited downloads
• Modern user interface
• A wide variety of tools and plugins
• A comprehensive suite of AI tools
• Should you subscribe to Freepik?

How much does Freepik cost?

To fully embrace AI generators, Freepik had to update its pricing by adding two new premium plans—now you have Essential, Premium, and Premium+. The subscription cost depends on the plan tier, whether you commit to a monthly or a yearly plan, and how many users you add to the plan, with more users getting bigger discounts.

The free plan is free forever, but you can download only 10 files a day, need to provide attribution, and only get to download from the library of ~20 million free icons and photos. You can generate 20 AI images per day.

The new Essential plan ($9/mo or $69/yr) is a mix between a free plan and the Premium plan. Compared to the free plan, it adds 7000 generative credits per month that you can spend on all AI tools Freepik currently offers. The Premium plan ($20/mo or $144/yr) adds premium photos and vectors, includes a Flaticon subscription, removes the need to attribute, and you get 18,000 generative credits. The Premium+ plan ($39/mo or $294/yr) simply triples the number of generative credits to 45,000 per month for double the cost of the Premium.

Let’s summarize all of this in a table:

It’s difficult to compare Freepik to similar services because it offers such a unique mix of assets. The most similar is Envato Elements, which has a smaller library of images but more videos and templates for $16.50 per month (billed annually) with unlimited downloads and unlimited AI image and icon generations.

Other services that include unlimited downloads include Vecteezy ($9 per month), Motion Array ($19.99 per month), and Artlist ($9.99 for audio, $29.99 for videos), billed annually. However, all three providers are still very affordable compared to giants like Shutterstock and iStock, where you will get only 10 image downloads for the same monthly fee.

Permissive royalty-free license

When I started with Freepik, it took me a while to figure out what their licenses permit and what is off-limits. Their pricing page provides barely any information on their licensing terms, and the support section is a mess of scarce information and empty pages. So, here’s the gist of their royalty-free licensing terms.

• Main vs. secondary element: To know what you can and cannot do with Freepik items, you must first understand what they mean by “main” and “secondary” elements. An image is a main element when used largely as-is from Freepik, with the Freepik portion being the most prominent part. It becomes a secondary element when other non-Freepik elements overshadow the Freepik resource visually. For patterns, additional non-Freepik elements must be incorporated to create new commercial products.
• You can use Freepik images as the main element for personal (non-commercial) use, packaging, marketing for your own business, social media posts, blogs and websites, press articles, YouTube videos, and for one client.
• You may not use images for logos or create content for clients where Freepik images and fonts are the main elements of the design (t-shirts, calendars, mugs, etc.). You also may not use Freepik content for resale as-is (without modifying the asset), trademarks, endorsement, machine learning, defamatory or immoral depictions, or any other illegal activity. In other words, there is no merchandise, as is the case with most unlimited download subscriptions.

Unlike most similar unlimited subscriptions, Freepik does provide some indemnity following a recent pricing update. Free users and Essential plan users get up to $100, Premium users get up to $10,000, and Premium+ users get up to a respectable $50,000.

However, Freepik does not provide any indemnity for AI images, unlike Shutterstock and iStock, which I find odd.

Diverse media library with unlimited downloads

Freepik’s media library is exceptionally broad, reminding me of Adobe Stock and Envato Elements. Presently, it contains 92 million photos and vectors, 18 million icons, 3 million videos, mockups, over 12 million Photoshop templates and other resources, and tens of thousands of 3D models, fonts, and audio files. In addition, there are also almost 130 million AI images (that are sometimes difficult to filter out).

Overall, Freepik’s royalty-free collection is large and diverse enough that you can find pretty much anything you’re looking for. My main issue with using it was that there were no premium photos. Most of them, especially those depicting people, looked too posed and stocky to be used for anything other than social media posts or blogs. But that’s a common issue with affordable stock image sites.

The worst part about Freepik’s library is the typography section. Besides the severely lacking filters, which I cover in the user interface section, fonts are quite often improperly kerned and have readability issues. I still prefer to use Google Fonts or other premium, well-designed fonts.

Modern user interface

Right off the bat, Freepik’s interface is just like any other stock media platform: a big search bar at the top, a grid with a media preview in the middle, and a thin sidebar with a filter on the left.

During my last year’s Freepik review, I was deeply displeased with their search filters (for photos) because it was virtually impossible to get rid of AI images. While this issue is a lot less now, there are still a few AI images mixed in with the rest—an issue that plagues most stock image sites nowadays.

Beyond the minor hiccup with generative content filtering, the rest of Freepik’s user interface works as expected. For instance, you can filter photos by color, orientation, number of people, gender, age, and ethnicity.

The worst are font filters, which allow you to filter by font classification (serif vs. sans-serif, etc), but most of the time, they don’t work properly.

Downloading, and at the same time licensing, a media is as simple as clicking the thumbnail image and clicking the big blue “Download” button. This will download your media instantly and add a license to your account, giving you permission to use the media.

A wide variety of tools and plugins

Various tools, such as image editors and plugins like Photoshop integrations, are always welcome for creatives who want to streamline workflows.

Freepik is loaded with tools and is quickly becoming a solid Canva alternative. It offers more generic tools, such as a background remover and a simplistic image editor, as well as a more sophisticated mockup generator and AI tools (more on those later).

There are also five plugins that allow you to browse Freepik’s library within other workspaces. However, some of these don’t seem well-maintained. For instance, the Figma plugin hasn’t worked in months, according to some users, and only gives you access to a small portion of Freepik’s media library. The Figma plugin for Flaticon seems to work better, but some users are complaining about bugs.

A comprehensive suite of AI tools

Freepik, primarily recognized for its affordable stock assets, has integrated AI-driven features over the past couple of years. This results in a creative AI suite that feels intuitive for users familiar with other AI generation services while aligning with Freepik’s focus on accessible content creation.

AI image generator

The AI image generator forms the core of Freepik’s AI Suite. Accessing it is simple enough: log in, select the “Create” option, enter your descriptive prompt, choose “Images,” and click “Generate.” Free accounts permit the creation of up to 20 images daily using the foundational Flux 1.0 model. A premium plan provides access to a wider array of models and faster generation speeds.

Freepik provides several AI models, each suited to different tasks. Premium users can select from:

• Mystic (versions 2.5, 2.5 Flexible, 1.0): Often produces creative and artistic results.
• Ideogram: Performs well for generating lifelike imagery and incorporating text.
• Google Imagen 3: A capable model integrated within the Freepik workflow.
• Flux (versions 1.1, 1.0 Realism, 1.0 Fast, 1.0): Flux 1.1 is a functional option for many creative projects.
• Classic: Based on the Stable Diffusion SD-XL model.

To guide the output, Freepik offers “Styles”—pre-defined visual presets for photography, illustration, or 3D art. Using these is generally recommended over describing artistic styles within the text prompt for more consistent results. Premium users can also create “Custom Styles” by uploading reference images or describing an aesthetic, utilizing LoRAs (smaller, style-specific training models) at the cost of generation credits.

Additional controls include “Effects” (for color tone, camera angles, lighting), “Characters” (to reuse predefined or custom-trained figures, though results can be inconsistent), “Objects,” and “Colors.”

You can also specify aspect ratios and the number of images per batch. An “AI Prompt” tool assists in refining text instructions, often working best when a Style is also applied.

AI image upscaler

Powered by Magnific AI technology, Freepik includes an AI image upscaler designed to enhance image resolution and detail, not just increase pixel count.

It accepts various image types (photos, digital art, 3D renders) and offers scaling factors from 2x up to 16x. The tool provides presets like “Subtle” (prioritizes clarity), “Vivid” (adds depth), and “Wild” (reconstructs details creatively), along with manual controls for Creativity, HDR, Resemblance, and Fractality (texture detail). Optimizing the upscale based on content type (e.g., Portraits, Art & Illustrations) can yield better outcomes, especially when providing the original generation prompt for AI images.

Scaling at 2x and 4x generally produces reliable results; higher factors increase the risk of introducing artifacts, especially in photographs. This feature requires a premium subscription.

AI video generator

Freepik also offers an AI video generator capable of creating short clips from text prompts or animating existing images. You start by inputting a description or uploading a starting image, selecting an AI model (options include Luma Dream Machine, Runway Gen 3, Google Veo 2, Kling, Pika, PixVerse), choosing an aspect ratio, and setting the video length.

Each model has different capabilities; for example, Luma often works well for landscapes, while Runway can be better suited for character animations. This tool integrates with other Freepik features, allowing users to potentially animate characters created with the image generator. Video generation is a premium feature.

Beyond image and video, the suite contains other AI utilities:

• AI Voice Generator: Produces realistic voiceovers in numerous languages and accents, with controls for pauses and speed.
• AI Icon Generator: Creates icons from prompts; however, output sometimes deviated from the input prompts during testing, and the generated SVGs were not highly optimized.
• Sketch to Image: Effectively converts simple sketches and text descriptions into detailed images in near real-time.

Using Freepik’s AI tools, including the advanced models and features like upscaling or video generation, consumes credits allocated based on the subscription plan. Achieving desired results often involves experimentation and refining prompts or settings, which should be factored into credit usage expectations.

Should you subscribe to Freepik?

Subscribe to Freepik if…

• You want a large library at an affordable price: Freepik offers millions of stock images, vectors, and fonts with reasonably priced plans (starting at $9/month for Essential or $20/month for Premium), making it suitable for those on tighter budgets who need a broad variety of digital assets.
• You’d like to experiment with AI-generated content: Freepik’s new AI tool allows you to generate stock images, icons, and even videos quickly. Even on the free plan, you get up to 20 AI-generated images a day, which might be fun for personal or exploratory use.
• You appreciate a user-friendly interface: Freepik’s interface is generally easy to navigate and straightforward, so you can find (and create) assets without a steep learning curve.
• You require standard royalty-free licensing for everyday projects: Like most unlimited-download sites, Freepik’s license covers personal and client projects under typical “royalty-free” terms. If these terms suffice for your needs, Freepik provides a convenient one-stop shop for a mix of photos, fonts, icons, and AI-generated material.

Don’t subscribe to Freepik if…

• You rely on high-quality real photography or footage: Freepik’s library is increasingly dominated by AI-generated images, which often aren’t ready for professional or commercial video projects. Genuine, human-made stock photos and footage have taken a back seat, leading to redundant or less polished options.
• You need robust search filters for niche or advanced needs: Freepik’s search is user-friendly but lacks precise filtering abilities (especially for fonts and AI vs. non-AI content). If your projects call for highly specific visuals, you might find this limitation too restrictive.
• You plan to create merchandise or need indemnity: Like many stock subscription services, Freepik disallows merchandise use when their assets are the primary design element and offers $0 indemnity. If you need coverage for custom goods or are seeking legal assurance, you’ll likely need a provider with more comprehensive licenses.
• You want to continue using new assets after canceling: Once your subscription ends, you lose the ability to download or use new items in fresh projects. If you need ongoing access without continuous payment—or a platform with a lifetime licensing option—Freepik’s model might not align with your goals.

Related reading:

• The best Freepik alternatives
• Freepik AI Suite review: here’s what I think
• Freepik pricing explained

This article was originally published in March 2023. The most recent update was in April 2025

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Matic Broz

Matic Broz is a stock media licensing expert with over 10 years of experience using and testing creative platforms for his own creative work. He has personally licensed over 5,000 stock assets and helped 20,000+ creators choose the right subscription services through his work at Photutorial.

Tags

• Images
• Video & audio

Mentioned apps

• Freepik