'The creatives are about to become more powerful than anyone expected': Freepik's relaunch marks a wider industry shift to all-in-one AI-driven content creator software and lowering the barrier of creativity means beginners have never had it so good

Date:
Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:48:52 +0000

Description:
CEO heralds the "no-collar economy" as rebranded creative platform hits $230 million in annual recurring revenue.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Freepik rebrands to Magnific It marks a shift to a more integrated creative platform The company is the
latest to aim for more accessible all-in-one creator apps So, farewell then, Freepik. The creative platform has now rebranded to Magnific as CEO Joaqun Cuenca Abela seeks to turn the one-time free stock image site into a single production platform.

I'm not surprised by the change, given that the original name had that stock image heritage at its heart. A heritage it's long-since expanded past with
the introduction of AI tools and products like Spaces. And for existing
users, it appears there's no major changes to the service itself, with the company confirming that plans will run until current subscriptions expires. But it's not the rebrand that's interesting - it's that Freepik's relaunch is another display of a wider industry trend towards all-in-one AI platforms for creators. Article continues below You may like Why Canva's AI push is no different to its core principles of democratizing design Two years in the making: Canva AI 2.0 required an entire re-architecturing effort, and its yours to try if you can find the easter egg Plot twist! Canva just made another premium tool completely free for creators I didn't expect this one, but I'll take it A full creative stack for the "no-collar economy"

The creatives, the dreamers, are about to become more powerful than anyone expected. Thats the no-collar economy. Joaqun Cuenca Abela, CEO Magnific It's been almost two years since Freepik acquired upscaling tool Magnific as part of its wide-reaching expansion into AI, which later also saw the introduction of the then-titled Freepik Spaces .

Now, Magnific is billing itself as "a full AI creative platform for images, video, audio, 3D, collaborative tools, and 250M+ assets," in a shift towards
a more integrated system of tools.

Discussing the launch, Cuenca Abela said: The industrial revolution created the blue-collar economy. The digital revolution created the white-collar economy. The creatives, the dreamers, are about to become more powerful than anyone expected. Thats the no-collar economy. And its already underway.

Freepik is far from alone in this space. In recent months, I've seen Canva make design software Affinity and pro-motion tool Cavalry free for all users
, merge productivity and creativity tools together , and launch Canva AI 2.0, bringing photo, layout, vector, and motion tools to a single ecosystem. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro
newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

And Blackmagic Design recently unveiled its new RAW photo tool, effectively bringing Lightroom-like capabilities to its video editing software , which draws all the tools its users need into one space.

72% of new creators joining the platform identify as beginners. Like many in the creative software arena - one that frankly continues to be dominated by Adobe - lowering the barrier to entry is a core principle. That's made
easier, of course, with the advancement of new AI tools.

The company boasts of getting over 1000 subscriptions in just six weeks, and over with more than 50% of new users deploying AI-driven workflows across sectors including film studios, agencies, and global brands. What to read
next Avids new Google partnership brings Agentic AI to the editing suite Interview: VistaPrint talks branding, AI logos, and how small businesses can stand out Affinity by Canva (2026) review: Three design tools in one, all for free - but is the software an Adobe-killer?

But the number that interested me most was that "72% of new creators joining the platform identify as beginners," according to Magnific.

Like many competitors in the space, Magnific clearly recognizes that the cost and experience required to create professional-level content is dramatically lower now. What used to be the preserve of design studios and creative agencies is now accessible on phones and laptops. That's opening up new opportunities and new markets.

Back in November 2025, I interviewed Cuenca Abela , asking for his thoughts
on the importance of lowering the barrier entry. He told me:

"Is it a good thing that it is opening creativity to more people? My opinion is absolutely. Just like a camera. You know, cameras were opening creativity to new people, making it easier, and that was good. I think that everything that allows people to create things that are locked in their heads is good."

Magnific hopes the result will be a redefinition of value. Where labor and knowledge defined the industrial and digital economies respectively, the AI economy will be one driven by creativity. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. The best photo editors for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best photo editors 1. Best overall: Adobe Photoshop 2. Best free photo editor: Affinity 3. Best Photoshop & Lightroom alternative: CyberLink PhotoDirector 365



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/the-creatives-are-about-to-become-more-powerful- than-anyone-expected-freepiks-relaunch-marks-a-wider-industry-shift-to-all-in- one-ai-driven-content-creator-software-and-lowering-the-barrier-of-creativity- means-beginners-have-never-had-it-so-good


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)