Review Insights · App Store
Prequel: Photo & Video Editor
Prequel Inc. · 336,966 ratings · ★ 4.7
4.7
★★★★★
336,966 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 70 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"subscription"
30 negative reviews mention this · 43% of all complaints
★★★★★ "DO NOT PURCHASE. I purchased a years subscription just for them to ask more payment for credits" - Lilly Berile
2
"credits"
16 negative reviews mention this · 23% of all complaints
★★★★★ "faces get messed up. For a paid app this sucks. Messes the face up pretty bad every time and ran out of credits before I could get one good photo" - joongi92
3
"free"
15 negative reviews mention this · 21% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Old vs new. The old prequel you didn’t have to pay for everything now it’s like you have to pay to just use the app nothing on it is free it sucks makes me think they got their reviews :(" - fhgjssgjdhdhkddkgsgk
4
"paid"
14 negative reviews mention this · 20% of all complaints
★★★★★ "faces get messed up. For a paid app this sucks. Messes the face up pretty bad every time and ran out of credits before I could get one good photo" - joongi92
5
"filters"
13 negative reviews mention this · 19% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Weirds editing app, unadvanced. Most annoying editing app I’ve used which is unfortunate bc the filters are actually cool. Would’ve given them my money if it was more user friendly. The stickers are annoying to use and so are the texts. Not ideal for fun edits. If you don…" - TheRealRealeza
6
"paying"
10 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "It’s good, but….. I loved this app. Unfortunately, it’s just another subscription that’s totally unnecessary and not needed. These app creators are so tone deaf it’s unbelievable, everythingggggg comes with a subscription these days. I used to pay for the su…" - Kelsie Fae
7
"already"
9 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Ai ruined this app. Used to be artistic and creative editor now it’s ai slop. Begging me to buy ai credits when I already had a subscription? Way to ruin one of the best editing apps there used to be" - Vanessa Kioko
8
"money"
9 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Weirds editing app, unadvanced. Most annoying editing app I’ve used which is unfortunate bc the filters are actually cool. Would’ve given them my money if it was more user friendly. The stickers are annoying to use and so are the texts. Not ideal for fun edits. If you don…" - TheRealRealeza
9
"year"
9 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "DO NOT PURCHASE. I purchased a years subscription just for them to ask more payment for credits" - Lilly Berile
10
"every"
8 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "faces get messed up. For a paid app this sucks. Messes the face up pretty bad every time and ran out of credits before I could get one good photo" - joongi92
11
"years"
8 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "DO NOT PURCHASE. I purchased a years subscription just for them to ask more payment for credits" - Lilly Berile
12
"editing"
8 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Ai ruined this app. Used to be artistic and creative editor now it’s ai slop. Begging me to buy ai credits when I already had a subscription? Way to ruin one of the best editing apps there used to be" - Vanessa Kioko
📋 All 70 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
faces get messed up
For a paid app this sucks. Messes the face up pretty bad every time and ran out of credits before I could get one good photo
DO NOT PURCHASE
I purchased a years subscription just for them to ask more payment for credits
Ai ruined this app
Used to be artistic and creative editor now it’s ai slop. Begging me to buy ai credits when I already had a subscription? Way to ruin one of the best editing apps there used to be
Old vs new
The old prequel you didn’t have to pay for everything now it’s like you have to pay to just use the app nothing on it is free it sucks makes me think they got their reviews :(
Not worth your money.
I used to love this app, i’ve been using it to edit videos for YEARS not minding that they charge you WEEKLY. but for the last couple of months I can barely use it for editing, every time I create a video it gets stalled at uploading and I have to end up recreating over and over again taking HOURS.
Misdirection and not inclusive even with paid sub
Subscribe. For all options but wait. Not all. Amy enhanced or photo ai edits. Cost more. Do subscriptions should be labeled. NOT!!!ALL INCLUSIVE. ThaTS THE Right THING TO DO. .
It’s good, but….
I loved this app. Unfortunately, it’s just another subscription that’s totally unnecessary and not needed. These app creators are so tone deaf it’s unbelievable, everythingggggg comes with a subscription these days. I used to pay for the subscription, but stopped being able to afford the weekly subscription cost due to the fact that everything comes with a subscription these days. This app won’t even let you save a photo or video without paying the weekly subscription fee, that’s pretty ridiculous. I understand some features may not be used without paying the subscription fee, but I can’t even save a photo or video without it? This is getting deleted, and I’m moving on to the next app. Disappointed,
Total bait and switch.
I paid for a full year of Prequel Gold thinking I’d have access to the app, but they completely changed the rules halfway through. Now all the best AI tools require "credits." They expect you to pay a premium yearly subscription AND buy microtransaction credit packs just to use the features you already paid for. Absolute rip-off. Do not buy Gold.
Have to pay to use
Went to download to try but before you can even try it, they try to get you to sign up for $5.99/week in very faint writing. No thanks. Scam!
Everything its expensive!
Not recommended
Used this for years now it sucks need to pay to use any filter
Literally you cannot use any filter without paying.
CREDITS!?
Ridiculous that we have to pay on top of buying the monthly or yearly access…… WHATS THE POINT OF BUYING A SUBSCRIPTION WHEN YOU HAVE TO TOP YOUR CREDIT FOR A FILTER?! IM CANCELING MY SUBSCRIPTION. I THOUGHT WE WERE SUPPORTING THE APP AND DEVELOPER BY BUYING THE SUBSCRIPTIONS
premium??
why even make it free to download if you can’t use anything in the app without paying…
Subscription Isn’t Enough
What’s the point of paying for a subscription if all the good filters still require tokens? The AI effects advertised everywhere are locked behind extra paywalls, while subscribers get a bunch of weak, basic filters. And when you run out of tokens, you have to wait 6 days for them to recharge. Charging for a subscription and then charging again for the main features is a scam. The pricing feels misleading because the subscription alone doesn’t give access to the full experience. Very disappointing.
microcurrency slop
I actually have loved this app for years and it would be five stars if the devs didn’t just decide to start charging for credits on top of already paying for a subscription to use AI features. Corporate greed is so insensitive and disgusting. Whatever happened to…empathy but also SHAME. People are starving, bro.
Data collecting primarily.
Not a real photo or video app. It’s obvious its primary function is to collect data. Even before you learn that the only way to sign up is through either Apple or Google (no option to simply sign up by create an account otherwise) it will ask 20 personal questions. A shameful practice!
Edit: Developer responded and said “we are sorry for your disappointment regarding our onboarding process”. Onboarding?? It’s not that serious, it’s supposed to be a photo and video filter app! I need to provide ALL the personal information just to apply a photo filter? They also suggested to contact them with feedback through the app, but that can’t be done unless providing all the info and “onboard”. Ridiculous!
Edit: Developer responded and said “we are sorry for your disappointment regarding our onboarding process”. Onboarding?? It’s not that serious, it’s supposed to be a photo and video filter app! I need to provide ALL the personal information just to apply a photo filter? They also suggested to contact them with feedback through the app, but that can’t be done unless providing all the info and “onboard”. Ridiculous!
Give me your money
Doesn’t let us try the app to see if it’s worth purchasing or not. Immediately it’s asking for a payment. No way to tell if it’s worth it. I’ll pass until y’all unlock the app for a free trial run.
Ai take over
The ai will make a picture of you not look like you at all. You have to have tokens to even use the ai. The load times are crazy. Ive had this app for like 4 years. Im so bummed. Probably wont remew.
Gross
Like countless others, I paid for an annual subscription to this app, which had been one of my favorites for quite some time. Now, it’s sadly alienating its user base with these stupid “tokens” nobody wants this, listen to these most recent comments. There are far better apps that aren’t actively trying to nickel and dime consumers, like; Picsart and Lightroom. I’m unsubscribing from Prequel and I know many others are too.
Bad
It is not worth the price. More than that, the setup is a joke, meant to trick you into believe you are getting a premium experience. Save your money
Misleading free trial and poor quality
I decided to try this app because it advertised a free trial. However, I was unexpectedly charged over 7$ (for one week subscription) before I even had a chance to properly evaluate it. After trying a few images, I was very disappointed with the results. The quality was poor and looked completely unnatural, lika a cheap filter had been applied.
I contacted customer support and explained that I only wanted to try the free trial, but they refused to issue refund. I cannot recommend this app at all . Not only I was charged unexpectedly, but the image quality is nowhere near what is shown in their advertisements. The result do not justify the price they are asking, and the marketing creates unrealistic expectations.
I contacted customer support and explained that I only wanted to try the free trial, but they refused to issue refund. I cannot recommend this app at all . Not only I was charged unexpectedly, but the image quality is nowhere near what is shown in their advertisements. The result do not justify the price they are asking, and the marketing creates unrealistic expectations.
👎🏼👎🏼
Used it for over a year but all this AI bs is so over cluttered and making it almost unusable. I shouldn’t be paying for an app I can barely use. At least let us turn AI off.
I used this as my only editing app but tbh I may have to find something else.
I used this as my only editing app but tbh I may have to find something else.
Ai
Плачу за подписку и ещё должна платить отдельно за ии. Вы умом поехали?
AI credits 👎🏻
Already paid for a subscription, and now they’ve added purchasable credits for some feature. BS.
Scam
This is a scam, I was charged and then when I went to use it, It stated that I have to wait 7 days I used all of my pre-? Scam
Scam!
I paid for a lifetime pro subscription last year and now they have added more filters and have some coin scheme going where you have to purchase coins to use all the filters. This app shouldn’t be able to charge almost $100 lifetime purchase of a pro subscription and then the next year roll out new filters that cost extra to use.
THIS APP SUCKS
so ive literally never written a review before but this app angered me to an entirely new level so i had to write one. first off, it doesn't tell you which effect cost money, and it won't let you download your photos, trying to take a screenshot will completely black it out, and i would take the time to just use my regular phone editor if i actually had the patience for it. the company is just money hungry because they know nobody wants to spend so much time on editing individual photos, and the survey they have you do at the beginning is also a waste of time like bro just let me edit my photo and download it and be done with ts. and im not paying 6 dollars for an app im only gonna use once to edit a damn photo. and the only reason that i didn't use more vulgar language is because my review would probably get taken down and they have a 3 day free trial (which is also some bs it should be at least a week).
A scam
I paid my one-year subscription to use the effects and everything, and now they put the rules changed and you have to buy credits To use your filters with AI, an incredible scam. I understand that the models now work like this, But I don’t understand how they can change the rules
It’s as if someone sells you a coffee in a sealed box and to take it you have to pay for them to open the box
Thanks prequel
It’s as if someone sells you a coffee in a sealed box and to take it you have to pay for them to open the box
Thanks prequel
Avoid this app
I paid the one year subscription, everything was fine but out of nowhere the apps is using the IA features like with tokens, it’s just ridiculous, why would you paid a hundred times for something you can get for free with a prompt on Gemini .-. It’s ridiculous. Before at least it made you wait for the IA filter but now is just disgusting
AI
Ai is poorly made and distorts the faces and eyes on original photos
Lame
I think it’s stupid I paid for a yearly subscription and now they want me to buy tokens just to use certain filters
Keeps crashing
Can’t get past the onboarding without it crashing
Ai credits after purchasing plan
I already paid for a year plan and in the middle of my plan I’m being told I now need to hv credits to use the features. They should hv done this on renewal not when someone already paid for a plan. I’m canceling
Scam
Was charged $22 as soon as I activated a 3 day free trial that was supposed to be 5.99 a week after the three days. Customer service was no help at all in explaining or refunding the charge. You only get a few credits for the ai filters with your subscription, and they don’t even look good or like the sample image.
Annoying
Keeps asking me to leave it 5 star reviews every single time I edit a pic, please stop I’m just gonna do 1 star if u do thst
La verdad
Tiene todo pero todo lo que es la app te lo cobran que es eso ósea no puedes hacer nada sin la suscripción
Literally can’t do anything without paying
There is not a single feature you can use on this app that isn’t locked behind a paywall. I don’t care how “low” the subscription price is, there is absolutely no reason I shouldn’t be able to do anything on this app without paying when it’s free to download.
Not worth it
Try a few different looks and you get hit with a 10 use limit message and you have to wait 7 days to use it again even though I have the gold subscription. Completely ridiculous!
Scam
They use AI for almost every “filter” and they’ll say you’re getting a free trial but will still charge you EVEN IF YOU CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION the day you download the app. Don’t fall for this bs
I do not like this anymore
Why did I pay for a subscription and I then have to turn around and still have to pay to use filters . I want my money back.
Eh
I was enjoying it until they started this coin nonsense
Bummed :/
I had this app back in 2021 and it’s just sad to see how they wanna charge you money for almost EVERY effect/filter. This used to be my favorite editing app and now it’s just kinda greedy
Won’t be renewing
Was a cool app until they came up with the credits to pay for filters. So you want me pay for a subscription and pay to use extra filters? Nah, won’t be renewing.
Too slow for iphone 13
Imagine having so much app lag that the app crashes like im on a damn i pod from 2008. Fix your app. If your app dont work on iphone 13 then dont allow for download goodies
MISLEADING
Absolutely * DO NOT* waste your money on this app. It’s incredibly misleading. After paying for your subscription, you still have to pay for “credits” to use filters. Weird because you’d think it would be included in the subscription.
Used this app for several years with subscription now you need credits too?!?
Are you serious?! I need credits now to make edits! I already pay a yearly subscription! So disappointed! I won’t be renewing my membership!
скатились
какие к черту коины? я плачу за подписку и так, и не понятно как ляжет фильтр а я должна уже оплатить его этими коинами , у вас совесть есть вообще?
Scam
I paid for a lifetime subscription and now all of the sudden you ask me for “credits” for certain effects. This is not what I originally purchased. Fix it!
Not For Me
Eleventy billion unskippable “customize your content” screens into a set up that lands you at a 2 day free trial for a $6/week subscription. No thank you.
Not cool
So now we have to use credits for an app we already pay for in order to use the filters??
+ 20 more in the clipboard copy
Sentiment summary
94%
Positive (4-5★)
2%
Neutral (3★)
4%
Negative (1-2★)