What users complain about in design tools
Monetization frustration (paywall and ads combined: 25 mentions) outweighs technical reliability concerns (21 mentions) as the primary user pain point.
2,690 reviews · 14 apps analyzed · Analysis as of June 18, 2026
Confusing interface and usability issues
Mentioned in 23% of complaints across the 14 apps we analyzed in design tools.
Every complaint, ranked by frequency
01Confusing interface and usability issues
23%Found in 18 reviews.
“This app is completely unusable on mobile for a whole host of reasons. iPad version would be okay if it worked with magic keyboard, but for some reason it doesn't. I mean the thing's only been on the market for five years... The worst part is that the iPad app shows keyboard…”
02Paywall and subscription pricing model
20%Found in 16 reviews.
“I don’t know how to feel about this app. It’s a good app where you can do a lot of different things but that’s only if you have the plan. But in the in app purchases on the App Store say you can buy a full pack for $49.99 but I didn’t see an option to do that on the app. It has…”
03App crashes, freezes, and technical glitches
19%Found in 15 reviews.
“I have used this app for over 5 years. Many problems that I use to have with this app are now all back - freezing, losing work, resetting my undo so that I can’t go back. I’ve reached out to customer support and they were pretty much “to bad so sad. Here is a tissue for your…”
04Missing or limited core features
15%Found in 12 reviews.
“I think there should be a tab for suggestions because there are a few things that this app definitely needs to improve or add. One of the first things I have an issue with is when it comes to the walls there’s no option to keep them straight and have them at perfect angles so…”
05Excessive ads blocking app functionality
11%Found in 9 reviews.
“I’ve made loads of beautiful pictures using this app, but lately I have to go through two LONG ads, then select the picture from my roll, then go through two more LONG ads, and after all that my picture doesn’t come up. Tried it three times, no luck. And I paid for premium,…”
06Data loss and unsaved work
8%Found in 6 reviews.
“I do love the app and I spend a lot of time on it. I like that you can edit anything fairly easily and get some ideas laid out cleanly and saved. What I don’t like is all the time and effort I put into a project could be halfway erased when I open the app the next day. It’s…”
07Poor customer support responsiveness
5%Found in 4 reviews.
“I have used this app for over 5 years. Many problems that I use to have with this app are now all back - freezing, losing work, resetting my undo so that I can’t go back. I’ve reached out to customer support and they were pretty much “to bad so sad. Here is a tissue for your…”
Frequently asked
What do users complain about most in design tools?
The most common complaint is "Confusing interface and usability issues" — 23% of analyzed complaints across 14 apps.
How many reviews did AppImp analyze for design tools?
2,690 real App Store reviews across 14 apps — frequency-ranked and counted, never estimated.
What are the top complaints in design tools?
1. Confusing interface and usability issues (23%); 2. Paywall and subscription pricing model (20%); 3. App crashes, freezes, and technical glitches (19%); 4. Missing or limited core features (15%); 5. Excessive ads blocking app functionality (11%).
This is the what. The Deep Report is the why.
Root causes behind each complaint, which competitor has already solved it, and whether the gap in design toolsis still open — the part a model can’t reconstruct.
Run the full reportEvery figure above is counted from real, public App Store reviews — never estimated, never LLM-invented. 2,690 reviews across 14 design tools.