Leonardo.ai Problems & Issues
Real user-reported problems, complaints, and limitations for Leonardo.ai. Based on analysis of 15 signals.
Issues by Category
Video generation produces distorted results
Video generation still needs improvement. Videos can get distorted as people move, with users reporting distortion when animating subjects like a child playing piano. Motion generation is not yet reliable for professional work.
Anatomical errors like extra hands persist
Users still receive images with anatomical errors, including extra hands. One reviewer canceled their $10 monthly subscription specifically due to this issue. While improving with model releases, consistency issues remain.
Character consistency across poses still unreliable
Consistency issues may arise in character details across multiple poses. While slowly improving with new model releases, maintaining the same character appearance across different images remains challenging.
Artistic quality lags behind Midjourney
While Leonardo produces good results, users comparing directly to Midjourney note the artistic quality gap. Midjourney's default aesthetic is more polished for artistic work, though Leonardo excels at production-ready commercial imagery.
Performance slowdowns during peak usage
Users report occasional performance slowdowns, particularly during peak usage times. Generation queue times increase, and the interface may lag, affecting productivity for time-sensitive work.
Free tier's 150 daily tokens deplete quickly
Free tier provides 150 tokens daily with no rollover. Since each image costs 5-8 tokens, you get roughly 18-30 images per day. Heavy users find this insufficient for meaningful engagement, forcing upgrades. Tokens reset at midnight UTC, not your local time.
Unused credits lost when canceling subscription
Users report losing unused credits when canceling their subscription, calling the policy 'abusive.' Unlike some competitors that let you keep purchased credits, Leonardo.ai ties usage strictly to active subscription periods.
Pricing considered very high for casual users
Users find the pricing very high, particularly impacting beginners and casual users. At $15-70/month for paid plans, it's expensive compared to alternatives, especially when free credits are insufficient.
Premium features require higher tiers
Features like custom model training, higher token limits, and full ownership require higher-priced tiers. Users on lower plans find themselves needing to upgrade for features they assumed were included.
Complex styles and designs difficult to achieve
Creating complex image elaborations isn't intuitive. Users find making images with specific styles or designs difficult through the interface. The learning curve for advanced features is steeper than expected.
Learning curve around tokens and features
Users note a learning curve around tokens and the feature set. Understanding token costs for different actions, model differences, and optimal settings takes time. Not as simple as Midjourney's type-and-generate approach.
Multiple model choices can be overwhelming
Leonardo offers multiple models (Lucid Origin, Flux, Phoenix, custom) which provides flexibility but can overwhelm newcomers. Understanding which model to use for which purpose adds cognitive load.
Auto-subscription charges without clear notice
Some users report being auto-subscribed and charged without clear notice, even when they didn't intend to continue. The subscription renewal catches users off guard, leading to unexpected charges.
Account access issues sometimes go unresolved
In some cases, staff did not reply to account access issues, such as when users forgot their passwords. While general support receives praise, critical account issues may fall through the cracks.
Free tier generations are public
All generations on the free plan are public, meaning others can see your prompts and images. Privacy requires upgrading to paid plans. This catches users off guard who expected private experimentation.
Regret Patterns
Common reasons users regret choosing Leonardo.ai.
Free tokens ran out mid-project
Users start creative projects on free tier, hit 150 token limit partway through, and face choice of waiting 24 hours or upgrading immediately. The daily reset doesn't align with creative workflow needs.
Canceled subscription and lost all credits
Users who paid for a month but needed to cancel discover unused tokens are forfeited. Unlike some services that let you keep purchased credits, Leonardo ties everything to active subscription.
Expected Midjourney quality from 'alternative'
Users switching from Midjourney expecting equivalent artistic quality find Leonardo better suited for production work than artistic expression. The 'Midjourney alternative' positioning creates mismatched expectations.
Didn't realize free images were public
Users experimenting with prompts discover their free tier generations are visible to everyone. Embarrassing or sensitive creative explorations become public before users realize the privacy limitation.
Video generation not ready for real work
Users excited by video feature upgrade, only to find outputs distort with movement. Money spent on higher tier for video capabilities feels wasted when quality isn't production-ready.
Auto-renewed without clear warning
Users who meant to cancel or evaluate find subscription auto-renewed. The charge appears without what users feel is adequate warning, leading to disputed payments and frustration.
When Leonardo.ai Breaks Down
Specific scenarios where Leonardo.ai fails or underperforms.
Daily token limit hits during critical project
Time-sensitive work gets blocked when 150 free tokens run out. No option to buy additional tokens on free tier - must upgrade to full plan. Deadline pressure forces immediate purchase decision.
Need consistent characters across campaign
Marketing campaigns requiring consistent character appearance struggle with Leonardo's character consistency issues. Multiple variations of the 'same' character don't match, requiring extensive regeneration.
Client requires private generation history
Agency work for clients discovers free tier has public generations. Client's unreleased product concepts visible in community feed. Must upgrade immediately or explain the exposure.
Video deliverable promised based on feature list
Project scope includes animated content based on Leonardo's video capabilities. Actual output quality doesn't meet professional standards - distortion, artifacts, inconsistent motion.
Scaling to team requires expensive upgrade
Individual plan works well, but scaling to team reveals per-seat costs add up quickly. Team collaboration features require higher tiers, and token sharing across members creates allocation challenges.
Custom model training hits plan limits
Invested in learning custom model training, only to hit personal AI model limits on lower plans. Full capability requires Maestro tier at $60/month - significant jump from entry plans.