# Midjourney Problems & Issues 2026 - Why Artists Are Frustrated

Source: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/midjourney
Last analyzed: 2026-03-05

## What it is

Midjourney is an AI-powered image generation tool that creates images from text prompts. It's known for producing artistic, painterly aesthetics and high-quality concept art, though it operates primarily through Discord with a newer web interface.

## Common problems

- **Arbitrary account bans with no explanation or recourse** (support): Users report having their paid accounts suspended without clear reasons, warning, or way to appeal. The platform provides no direct communication channel and users find it nearly impossible to get their accounts reinstated. Multiple Trustpilot reviews describe being banned mid-subscription with no refund offered.
- **No refunds policy enforced strictly** (pricing): Midjourney takes money, delivers defective service, and refuses refunds because 'the amount is too small to fight.' Users who get banned or cancel early report being unable to get any portion of their subscription refunded. Trustpilot rating sits at 1.6/5 stars largely due to billing complaints.
- **Bad anatomy in hands, teeth, and complex poses** (performance): Midjourney V7 still struggles with anatomical details, particularly hands, teeth, and background faces in crowded scenes. Users waste time regenerating images due to glitchy outputs. Even with V7's 30-40% improvement in bad generations, anatomy errors remain a consistent complaint.
- **No real customer support - just Discord and docs** (support): Support is handled through Discord channels and online docs, with no live chat, phone number, or real ticketing system. Reviewers describe support as unresponsive with automated replies. When issues arise with billing or bans, users have no effective way to reach a human.
- **Discord-only interface frustrates professionals** (usability): Despite launching a web app in 2025, most features still route through Discord's 'hacky-ass interface' as Hacker News users describe it. Professional users find the Discord workflow unprofessional and difficult to integrate into real production workflows. Prompts and images are public unless you pay extra for Stealth Mode.
- **Prompt interpretation is creative, not literal** (usability): Midjourney doesn't accurately follow detailed prompts, especially when trying to achieve very specific outcomes. The system interprets prompts creatively rather than literally, which frustrates users who need precise results. Comic artists report getting 3-4 consistent character shots before the AI starts drifting.
- **Text rendering is still terrible** (usability): Midjourney struggles with text generation - text in images doesn't achieve the same level of three-dimensionality as competitors like DALL-E 3. For projects requiring signage, product labels, posters, or any typography, DALL-E remains the default choice over Midjourney.
- **GPU queue times reach 40+ minutes on busy days** (performance): Users get approximately 500-700 decent V7 images per month before hitting slow queues. Wait times can stretch to 5-40+ minutes during peak usage. Basic plan users especially feel the crunch with only 3.3 hours of fast GPU time monthly, which generates roughly 200 images.
- **Overly sensitive content filter blocks innocent prompts** (usability): The prompt filter is described as overly sensitive and difficult to navigate. Terms like 'woman' or certain poses can trigger filters unpredictably, causing constant errors and blocking legitimate creative work. Users find the censorship rules inconsistent and frustrating.
- **No direct editing control after generation** (usability): Once an image is generated, you can't tweak specific parts without regenerating the whole thing. This lack of editing control wastes time and credits as users must regenerate entire images for minor adjustments. Competitors like Leonardo.ai offer canvas editors for precise control.
- **Stealth Mode privacy costs extra on expensive plans** (pricing): Your prompts and images are visible to other users in Discord by default. To keep work private, you must pay for Pro ($60/mo) or Mega ($120/mo) plans that include Stealth Mode. Basic and Standard users have no privacy option regardless of the nature of their work.
- **Generic art outputs lack uniqueness** (usability): Despite improvements, Midjourney outputs can still be glitchy with generic art that lacks the uniqueness users seek. Multiple users report that 'evergreen prompts' are just fluke discoveries found through persistence and dumb luck, making consistent quality elusive.
- **Mandatory expensive plan for companies over $1M revenue** (pricing): Companies making more than $1,000,000 USD in gross revenue per year must purchase Pro ($60/mo) or Mega ($120/mo) plans. This mandatory upsell catches businesses off guard when they scale and realize their Standard plan is no longer compliant.
- **V7 quality worse than V6.1 for some use cases** (reliability): Some users report that Midjourney V7 is somehow worse than V6.1 for their use cases. Fine artists and designers find the new version frustrating, with one user stating they're 'relieved that V7 is terrible' because it gives them an excuse to stop using the platform entirely.
- **Copyright lawsuits create uncertainty for commercial use** (security): Ethical issues related to ongoing copyright lawsuits create uncertainty for businesses using Midjourney commercially. The training data controversy and legal battles make some enterprise users hesitant to rely on the platform for commercial projects.

## What users like

- **Best-in-class artistic and aesthetic quality**: Midjourney remains the gold standard for artistic AI image generation in 2026, with unmatched painterly aesthetics and outputs that resemble professional concept art or high-end illustrations. V7's architecture rebuild delivered 30-40% fewer bad generations.
- **Strong community and inspiration ecosystem**: The Discord community provides an interactive element where users see others creating cool things and can adapt prompts. The 19.5M+ member community offers inspiration, shared techniques, and real-time learning from other creators.
- **Excellent for concept art and illustration**: For artistic and illustrative work, Midjourney produces stunning results that consistently outperform competitors. The aesthetic quality is particularly suited for concept art, fantasy art, and creative exploration.
- **New web and mobile apps improve accessibility**: In 2025, Midjourney launched dedicated web apps at midjourney.com and mobile apps for iOS and Android, finally moving beyond Discord-only. This makes the platform more accessible for professional workflows.
- **Relatively simple to get started**: Despite the Discord interface complaints, the basic prompt-to-image workflow is straightforward. Users can start generating images quickly without extensive technical knowledge or local hardware setup.
- **Continuous model improvements**: Midjourney consistently releases updates improving image quality. V7's complete architecture rebuild shows ongoing investment in the technology, even if some users prefer previous versions for specific use cases.

## Pricing

- **Basic**: $10 (monthly) — hidden costs: No Stealth Mode (prompts visible publicly), No Relax Mode (must wait when out of fast hours), Annual billing required for 20% discount
- **Standard**: $30 (monthly) — hidden costs: No Stealth Mode, Companies over $1M revenue must upgrade to Pro, Relax Mode has 5-40 minute waits
- **Pro**: $60 (monthly) — hidden costs: Only plan with privacy, $576/year if billed annually, Still subject to content filters
- **Mega**: $120 (monthly) — hidden costs: $1,152/year if billed annually, Same limitations as Pro just with more hours

## Who should and shouldn't use it

- **Concept artists and illustrators** — Good fit: Midjourney's artistic quality and painterly aesthetics are unmatched for concept art and illustration work. The style output naturally fits creative exploration and visual development phases.
- **Comic book artists needing character consistency** — Avoid: Character consistency drifts after 3-4 shots, making it frustrating for actual comic production. Fine for initial concept work but fails at maintaining consistent characters across panels.
- **Graphic designers needing text in images** — Avoid: Text rendering is still terrible compared to DALL-E 3. If your work requires logos, signage, product labels, or any typography, Midjourney will waste your time with unusable text outputs.
- **Enterprise teams needing private workflow** — Depends: Stealth Mode provides privacy but requires $60+/month Pro plan. The Discord-based workflow feels unprofessional for enterprise settings, though new web apps improve this somewhat.
- **Budget-conscious hobbyists** — Avoid: No free tier exists and Basic plan ($10/mo) only provides ~200 images. Free alternatives like Leonardo.ai offer generous free tiers. The no-refund policy makes experimenting risky.
- **Marketing teams needing quick visuals** — Good fit: For social media graphics, blog images, and marketing visuals that don't require precise specifications, Midjourney's artistic quality delivers eye-catching results quickly.
- **Developers building AI image applications** — Avoid: No proper API for programmatic access. The Discord interface makes automation difficult. Developers should look at Stable Diffusion or dedicated API providers like WaveSpeedAI.
- **Product designers needing precise outputs** — Depends: Prompt interpretation is creative rather than literal, which frustrates users needing precise results. Good for exploration phases but requires many regenerations for specific outcomes.

## Alternatives

- **Adobe Firefly**: Creative teams switch for workflow integration. Gain: direct integration with Photoshop/Illustrator, commercially-safe training data, fits existing Adobe workflows. Trade-off: less creative/artistic than Midjourney, requires Creative Cloud subscription.
- **Ideogram**: Designers switch for reliable text rendering. Gain: best-in-class text in images, ideal for logos/posters/signage, good free tier. Trade-off: less artistic flexibility, narrower style range than Midjourney.
- **DALL-E** (https://www.tryorbye.com/products/dall-e): Users switch for better text rendering and prompt adherence. Gain: superior typography, precise scene composition, integration with ChatGPT. Trade-off: less artistic/painterly style, requires ChatGPT Plus subscription.
- **Leonardo.ai** (https://www.tryorbye.com/products/leonardo-ai): Creators switch for flexibility and free tier. Gain: generous free plan, multiple AI models, canvas editor for precise control, no Discord required. Trade-off: slightly lower artistic quality than Midjourney's best outputs.
- **Stable Diffusion** (https://www.tryorbye.com/products/stable-diffusion): Power users switch for full control and no subscription. Gain: open source, run locally for free, unlimited customization via LoRA/ControlNet. Trade-off: requires technical setup, learning curve, local GPU hardware.

## FAQ

### Is Midjourney worth the price in 2026?

For artistic concept work and illustration, Midjourney remains the quality leader. However, at $10-120/month with no free tier, it's expensive compared to alternatives like Leonardo.ai that offer free tiers. Worth it if you specifically need its artistic style; otherwise, free alternatives may suffice.

### Why is Midjourney so expensive?

Midjourney charges $10-120/month because it runs on expensive GPU infrastructure and positions itself as a premium artistic tool. There's no free tier because the company focuses on paying users. The mandatory Pro plan ($60/mo) for businesses over $1M revenue adds to costs.

### What are the problems with Midjourney?

Common problems include: 1.6/5 Trustpilot rating due to billing issues and arbitrary bans, Discord-based workflow frustrations, poor text rendering, anatomy issues with hands/teeth, overly sensitive content filters, no refund policy, and lack of proper customer support channels.

### Why did Midjourney ban my account?

Midjourney bans accounts for content policy violations, but users report arbitrary bans with no clear explanation. The platform provides no real appeals process, no direct communication channel, and typically refuses refunds. Many affected users share similar stories on Trustpilot with no resolution.

### Can I get a refund from Midjourney?

Getting refunds from Midjourney is extremely difficult. Users report the company takes their money and refuses refunds, citing amounts being 'too small to fight.' Even users who are banned or experience service issues typically cannot get subscription fees returned.

### What is the best Midjourney alternative?

Top alternatives include: Leonardo.ai (best free tier, multiple models), DALL-E 3 (best text rendering, prompt adherence), Stable Diffusion (free, open source, local), Adobe Firefly (Adobe ecosystem integration), and Ideogram (excellent typography). Choice depends on your specific needs.

### Why is Midjourney still on Discord?

Midjourney started on Discord for community building and viral growth - the 19.5M member server drove adoption. While they launched web and mobile apps in 2025, Discord remains central because it enables community discovery. However, many professionals find this workflow unprofessional.

### Is Midjourney good for text in images?

No, Midjourney is poor at text rendering. Text in images lacks three-dimensionality and accuracy compared to DALL-E 3 or Ideogram. For logos, signage, posters, product labels, or any typography-heavy work, DALL-E 3 or Ideogram are better choices.

### How long are Midjourney queue times?

Queue times vary from instant to 40+ minutes depending on your plan and current load. Basic plan users with 3.3 fast GPU hours get roughly 200 images before hitting slow queues. Standard and above get Relax Mode but waits can reach 5-40 minutes during busy periods.

### Does Midjourney have a free trial?

Midjourney previously offered free trials but has suspended them multiple times due to abuse. As of 2026, there is no reliable free tier or trial. You must pay $10/month minimum to access the service. Free alternatives like Leonardo.ai offer better options for trying AI image generation.

### Is Midjourney safe for commercial use?

Midjourney allows commercial use on all paid plans, but ongoing copyright lawsuits create uncertainty. Companies over $1M revenue are required to use Pro ($60/mo) or Mega ($120/mo) plans. Some enterprises remain cautious due to training data controversy and legal concerns.

### Why are Midjourney hands so bad?

Midjourney still struggles with hands, teeth, and complex poses due to AI training limitations. While V7 improved bad generations by 30-40%, anatomy remains a consistent complaint. Users often need multiple regenerations to get acceptable hands, wasting time and credits.

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Try or Bye aggregates problem patterns from user reviews, forums, and app stores. Methodology: https://www.tryorbye.com/methodology