If a decade ago someone would have said we’ll be able to generate stunning images using textual instructions, that person would have been easily labeled as insane. Well, artificial intelligence has made it possible. Today we can take advantage of the tremendous technological breakthrough made by AI-powered image generators and produce high-quality visuals with minimal effort.

From professional designers to hobbyists, everyone is using these tools. Some because is just super fun, others because it helps them boost their creativity and improve their workflow. These AI platforms offer new ways to generate artwork, enhance photos and visualize concepts. In this article, we’ll explore 10 of the best AI image generation tools currently available on the market, showcasing their features, use cases, advantages and disadvantages.

Midjourney

Midjourney is one of the most popular text-to-image generation tools. What makes it so popular is the fact that it can deliver truly accurate visual representations of your text commands. You can use this tool to create anything you want, from hyper-realistic portraits to dreamy sketches and professional-looking logos.

What’s important is that Midjourney is being constantly improved, with model version 6.1 being released in July this year. The company promises that the new model is able to not only produce more coherent results, but also to generate images 25% faster in comparison to the previous one.

How to Access It

Initially, Midjourney was available for testing only through the Discord platform. You’d have to create an account and join the Midjourney server. The process to generate visual content wasn’t the most straightforward and for many it converted into an unpleasant experience. To streamline the creation process, the company released last year an official web app, which is now accessible to anyone.

How to Use It

The first thing you’ll need to do is sign up for the website. You can use a Google or Discord account. Once you register, you’ll see a left sidebar with different sections: Explore, Create, Organize, Chat, Tasks. To generate an image, just follow these steps:

1. Click on the Create tab.
2. Enter your prompt in the text field located at the top of the image.
3. Click on the three-lined icon to the right of the prompt to adjust your settings (image size, model used, aesthetics, generation speed).
4. Place your cursor in the text field and hit Enter.

Midjourney will generate 4 images based on your textual description. You can then create variations of those images using two options: Vary Subtle or Vary Strong. The platform also offers a built-in editor to make various adjustments to your pictures.

Pros

• Accurate interpretation of the text prompt.
• Some of the best results when it comes AI-powered images.
• Multiple artistic styles to choose from for your visual content.
• Plenty of options to fine-tune the images created.
• 4 images with one prompt.

Cons

• It’s the only tool in the list that doesn’t offer a free trial to test it.
• The generated images aren’t private.

Pricing

Midjourney is no longer offering a free trial version. If you want to use the tool, you’ll need to purchase one of the four subscriptions:

• Basic: $8/month
• Standard: $24/month
• Pro: $48/month
• Mega: $96/month

DALL·E 3

DALL·E by OpenAI is undeniably one of the first names that comes to mind when you talk about AI image generators. And, along with the release of its third generation, a truly remarkable solution to create images. This doesn’t mean that the previous editions weren’t good, that would be unfair to say. But DALL·E 3 has taken things to a whole new level when it comes to generating images. And this is due to the fact that the system can now better understand your textual descriptions and can, hence, create sharper, more detailed and more exciting photos.

How to Access It

There are several ways you can access DALL·E 3: through ChatGPT, through Microsoft Bing’s AI Copilot and through other services which use its API.

How to Use It

In order to generate an image with DALL·E 3, all you have to do is simply tell ChatGPT or Bing’s AI Copilot what you would like to see.

Enter your prompt (it can be a simple sentence or a more detailed paragraph) and within seconds the software will provide you with your results. ChatGPT will generate a single image per prompt, while the AI Copilot – no less than four variations to choose from.

How to Edit a Generated Image

If you’re not entirely happy with the initial result, there’s no need to worry. You can edit it!

If you’re using ChatGPT, simply tell the chatbot what changes you would like to make.

If you’re using the AI Copilot, click on one of the four generations and then hit the Customize button. This will take you to Microsoft Designer, where you’ll be able to perform a wide array of edits.

Pros

• Super simple to use.
• The impressive ability to generate relevant images based on complex prompts.
• High-quality renderings.
• Easy way to edit photos.
• Up to four generated variations to select from in the free version.

Cons

• Some of the resulting images may look less natural and more computer-generated. Not ideal for generating real people.

Pricing

DALL·E 3 can be used for free through the Microsoft Copilot.

It’s also free with the basic ChatGPT plan, but you’re entitled to generate 2 images/day. If you want to remove any limitations, you’ll need to upgrade to ChatGPT Plus for $20/month.

Stable Diffusion

Developed by Stability AI, Stable Diffusion differs from DALL·E 3 and Midjourney in that it is open source. What does this means? Well, it means that anyone can download the source code, run it on their PC and even train their own models using a personal dataset. Stable Diffusion has received multiple improvements across the past years, with the current models being some of the best on the market. Currently there are two image models available: Stable Diffusion 3 series (SD 3 Large, SD3 Large Turbo and SD3 Medium) and XL series (Stable Diffusion XL, SDXL Turbo and Japanese Stable Diffusion XL).

How to Access It

There are multiple ways you can use Stable Diffusion to generate image from text:

• You can download and run it on your computer (it requires some technical skills).
• Through Dream Studio, the official Stable Diffusion web app.
• Through diverse image generation tools which have incorporated this image model. These include Night Cafe and Tensor.Art.

You can also access it through a chatbot developed by Stability AI called Stable Assistant. Stable Assistant uses Stable Image Ultra, the company’s state-of-the-art image generation model. This combines the power of Stable Diffusion 3 Large with complex workflows to generate high-quality, photorealistic images.

How to Use It With DreamStudio

The first thing you need to do is go to the DreamStudio page and create an account. Once you sign up, you get 25 credits which allow you to generate a multitude of images. To generate an image, simply move your attention to the left sidebar, where you’ll find all the necessary options. Here’s what you have to do:

1. Choose a style. The platform offers a large variety of image styles to choose from. These include Enhance, Anime, Photographic, Digital Art, Comic Book, Cinematic, 3D Model and more.
2. Prompt. Tell the software what you’d like to create (there’s a random suggestion by default). You can additionally use the Negative Prompt box to tell the software what you don’t want to appear in the image.
3. Settings. Drag the available sliders to adjust the aspect ratio and to set how many images you want to be generated.
4. Click on the purple Dream button.

Pros

• It is available across various image generator platforms.
• You get numerous credits to freely generate images, while the paid options are quite affordable.
• The possibility to use negative prompts to omit certain things.
• Plenty of room for customization.

Cons

• Certain inaccuracies occurred during testing, in the sense that the generated image failed to truly follow the prompt given. For example, instead of depicting a child running into his father’s arms, the software showed the child holding hands with his father.

Pricing

Stable Diffusion’s price depends on the platform you’re using. The good news is that the majority of them offer free credits to generate images.

DreamStudio, for instance, offers new users 25 credits when creating an account. Generating two variations costs 0.5 credits. When you run out, you can purchase 1,000 credits for just $10.

If you wish to generate an image through the Stable Assistant chatbot, you get a 3-day free trial. At the end of this period you’ll need to upgrade to one of the four subscriptions.

FLUX

Just like Stable Diffusion, FLUX is also an open-source image generation model. An interesting fact is that the software has been developed by the team behind Stable Diffusion. A significant number of engineers and researchers left Stability AI and founded Black Forest Labs, the company behind FLUX. Recently released on 1 August, this AI model is available in three distinct variants:

• Pro for commercial use.
• Dev – open-weight model designed for non-commercial application.
• Schnell – this is the faster version (“schnell” means fast in German), designed for local development and personal use.

How to Access It

You can get to use FLUX in various ways:

• via its partners Replicate, fal.ai, mystic.ai, HuggingFace, Deep Infra and Hyperbolic.
• via AI image generator tools like NightCafe, Tensor.Art, and Civitai.

How to Use It With NightCafe

The simplest way to access FLUX is through a tool like NightCafe. All you have to do is sign up, hit the Create button and select what you would like to create, in our particular case – an image from text. You’ll then find all the necessary options in the left sidebar. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Model. Choose the preferred AI mode, FLUX in our case.
2. Text Prompt. Type in what you would like AI to create. Provide as many details as possible.
3. Style. Select a preset style from an abundance of options: artistic portrait, Neo impressionist, pop art, 3D game, fantasy and many more.
4. Settings. Choose the aspect ratio and the number of images to be generated.
5. Click below on Create.

You can then go ahead and edit the picture if you want. You’ll find options to upscale it, crop and rotate it, improve the brightness and colors, fix the faces in case you encounter any imperfections and more.

Pros

• The impeccable interpretation of the text prompt.
• The truly realistic depiction of facial features in the generated portraits.
• Excellent image quality.

Cons

• Using FLUX via a tool like NightCafe means that your creations will be visible to all users.

Pricing

The price varies depending on the platform used. Some require payment, while others offer free credits to give them a try. NightCafe, for instance, gives you 5 credits after signing up, which you can use to generate 5 images.

Microsoft Designer’s Image Creator

Microsoft Designer’s Image Creator uses DALL·E 3, Open AI’s innovative image generation model. As expected, the image quality is pretty much the same. There are no obvious differences. The reason why we included the tool in our list is because, unlike ChatGPT, Image Creator is entirely free, with no restrictions.

How to Generate an Image

The process of creating an image is super simple. Once you access the platform just:

• Input your text in the Description field.
• Choose the aspect ratio of the photo.
• Click on Generate.

It’s worth mentioning that you have the possibility to enhance your initial prompt. The tool uses an AI-powered system to generate text content based on the information provided. You can additionally share your prompt template with others.

How to Edit an Image

Designer gives you the opportunity to tweak the generated images. Simply click on the desired photo and then on the Edit button. In the newly-opened Editor window you’ll find some of the most varied and useful options to enhance your picture. These range from selecting specific image parts, cropping, removing or replacing the background to adjusting the brightness and colors, inserting visual elements and adding text.

Pros

• The simplicity of use.
• Extensive options to edit the generated pictures.
• You can generate an unlimited number of images for free.

Cons

• The generated images are rather on the cartoon/fantasy side than realistic.
• Unlike other tools, it lacks image settings before the generation.

Pricing

Microsoft Designer’s Image Creator is free to use. All you need is a Microsoft account.

The tool gives you 15 daily boosts for image generation. The boosts do not refer to the number of images you can generate; these represent the number of turns you can create images faster.

Leonardo AI

Leonardo AI is a generative AI art platform that provides numerous creation possibilities. The tool offers solutions for hobbyists looking to create stunning art, but also for professionals looking to come up with eye-catching visual content for their photography, marketing, graphic design, interior design or architecture needs.

Leonardo AI gives you the possibility to generate images by choosing from a large variety of models, from its own foundational model called Leonardo Phoenix to Stable Diffusion XL. You can use the tool as an:

• AI art generator
• AI video generator
• Transparent PNG generator
• Canvas generator and editor
• 3D texture generator

How to Use It

Before anything, create your account. After the sign up, the platform will ask you to provide some basic info regarding your interest and your role. Afterwards you can start generating photos by selecting the Image Creation option.

There are two main areas to follow in the app’s dashboard: the image generation options in the left sidebar and the text prompt field in the top center section. Initially you may find the options a bit overwhelming, but there’s no need to worry. You’ll quickly find exactly what you need.

Basically all you have to do is set your parameters (the image count, the image model to use, image dimensions, image style etc.) and then enter your prompt in the respective field. Next click on the Generate button. And that’s pretty much it.

Pros

• Plenty of image settings and parameters to choose from.
• The PhotoReal feature, which creates truly realistic, lifelike portraits.
• Prompt-based editing.
• The fact that it can generate complex prompt ideas from simple keywords.
• Conveniently-priced subscriptions.
• The possibility to generate a multitude of images in the free plan.

Cons

• The generated images are not private in the free plan; they are published in the community feed.
• Some photos lack realism and seem to belong to a wonderland.
• Some of the generated images don’t accurately follow the given prompt.

Pricing

Leonardo AI comes with a free tier that includes a daily quota of tokens. When signing up, you get 150 tokens, which allow you to generate 25 images. And the great thing is that this quota resets daily.

To enjoy more tokens, a faster rendition and unlock other useful features, you’ll need to subscribe to one of the paid plans:

• Apprentice: $10/month
• Artisan Unlimited: $24/month
• Maestro Unlimited: $48/month
• Leonardo for Teams: Custom

Ideogram

Ideogram is a text-to-image generator that stands out through a couple of features. What makes it different? For starters, you need to create an account to actually discover what the tool can accomplish and to browse the gallery of AI images. You can’t do anything until you sign up, which can be done using either an Apple or Gmail account.

Apart from this peculiarity, Ideogram does offer a couple of remarkable features:

• The text rendering feature. The tool offers the opportunity to include text in the generated images, making it possible to create posters, flyers, logos, humor and other typography-based content.
• The Magic Prompt feature, which brings considerable improvements to the initial prompt and helps deliver impressive images.

How to Create with Ideogram

Generating an image with Ideogram is as easy as can be. Simply describe in the text field what you want to create and choose one of the available styles from below: realistic, 3D, design, general and more. On the right sidebar you’ll also find some basic settings which you can configure, such as aspect ratio, model or color palette.

There’s also another way to create AI images. You can click on the three-dot menu under any photo in the community images and copy the given prompt. You can go even deeper and, after clicking that same menu, select the Describe option. This one takes advantage of the magic prompt feature to optimize the initial instructions and enhance the quality of the generated picture.

Pros

• Really easy-to-use web interface.
• One of the highest, if not the highest level of prompt adherence.
• Accurate integration of text in AI images.
• Exceptional image quality.
• Some of the most affordable paid plans.

Cons

• The generated images are public by default.
• The wait time for image generation in the free plan is higher in comparison to other tools.

Pricing

Ideogram provides a free plan, which includes 10 daily credits in the slow queue. This means that you can generate up to 40 images/day. If you want a faster generation time and premium features, you can opt for a subscription:

• Basic: $7/month
• Plus: $16/month
• Pro: $48/month

Adobe Firefly

Adobe Firefly is the generative AI model developed by the photo editing giant. Firefly may not be the industry standard, as Photoshop is in the case of classic image editing software, but it definitely possesses some unique features that make it an alluring choice. What sets it apart from the rest is the fact that it can do more than just create an image from a textual description. In addition to the text-to-image capability, Firefly also comes with:

• Generative Fill. You can remove, add or paint elements in a picture by selecting a specific part of that picture and entering a prompt with the desired changes.
• Generative Expand. You can expand the canvas area of a photo using a simple prompt.

Additionally you can generate text effects and editable templates from a text description (feature found in Adobe Express), as well as generate a vector and color variations of that vector (feature found in Adobe Illustrator.)

How to Access It

Adobe Firefly is a standalone tool that can be directly accessed on its website.

At the same time, you’ll be able to find some of its AI capabilities in other Adobe programs, such as Photoshop, Express, InDesign and Illustrator.

How to Generate an Image

Creating an AI image with Adobe Firefly is far from difficult. All you have to do is select the Text to Image feature and then type in your prompt.

From the left-side menu you’ll able to configure a multitude of settings. You can select the AI model and aspect ratio, create a photo or artwork, add a reference image to match its look and feel, pick from numerous styles and effects, choose the color and tone, the lightning and camera angle.

Pros

• It offers much more than a simple text-to-image generator.
• Excellent alternative for creating artistic illustrations.
• Useful settings to create an image that matches all your requisites.
• It can align with the style/structure of an uploaded photo.
• Useful options to fine-tune the generated pictures.
• It automatically creates four variations to choose from.

Cons

• The watermark applied to the generated photos.
• Not the best prompt adherence.
• Unnatural portraits, even when choosing the hyper realistic mode.
• The software overdoes sometimes it when it comes to background blur.

Pricing

Adobe Firefly offers 25 credits, which you can use to freely test the tool. You can upgrade to the Adobe Express premium plan for $9.99/month to get more generative credits, remove the watermark and benefit from other features for content creation.

Canva’s Magic Design

Magic Design by Canva is an AI design generator that makes it possible to create visual content without having advanced skills in the field. It’s enough to describe what kind of content you would like to create and the generative AI technology will do everything for you.

So what can you create with Canva’s AI tool? Almost anything actually. The platform allows you to generate docs, whiteboards, presentations, infographics, flyers, business cards, images and videos for social media posts, logos, magazine or book covers, calendars, worksheets and many more.

How to Generate Designs

Here are the steps to follow to create your own design.

1. Select the type of content you want to create, in this case an Instagram post (square).
2. A new window will open. Describe, in the text field, what you want to design.
3. The tool will then generate no less than 8 templates to choose from.
4. Customize them with your own info, add text, visual elements, brand kit and more.
5. Download or share the design using the Share button.

Pros

• The fact that you can quickly generate an impressive array of designs.
• The customization options.
• It generates 8 design templates to select from.

Cons

• The user interface may feel overwhelming at first.
• The visible Canva watermark applied to the generated images.

Pricing

Canva offers 8 credits in the free plan, which you can use to generate 8 different designs. To unlock more AI tools and to enjoy premium features and content, you’ll need to upgrade to Canva Pro for $15/month.

Getimg.ai

Getimg.ai is an AI image tool that has a lot to offer. Let’s take a look at some of the things it can accomplish:

• Generate images from text.
• Turn an image into a 4-second video.
• Real-time image generation (the tool starts generating the image as you’re typing your input).
• AI-powered photo editing using text prompts.
• Create custom AI models with DreamBooth.
• Create infinite canvas.

How to Generate an Image

Creating an image is quite simple and is done exclusively from the left sidebar. Getimg.ai places at your disposal two modes for image generation: Essential and Advanced.

If you’re looking for total control over the process, you can use the second mode. This way you’ll be able to set more parameters, choose from more AI models, apply a negative prompt, set a guidance scale, adjust Steps to increase image quality or use a Stable Diffusion sampler.

Here’s how to quickly create an image in the Essential mode:

1. Select the desired model.
2. Enter your prompt and choose a style between photorealism, artistic and anime.
3. Choose an aspect ratio.
4. Choose how many images to generate.
5. Click on the Create button.

Pros

• User-friendly interface, easy to navigate.
• A good variety of AI tools.
• Multiple image generation models to choose from.
• Useful negative prompt option.
• The option to upload reference images.
• Quite generous free version.

Cons

• The prompt adherence and realism of the generated photos depend very much on the AI model used.
• The real-time image generator is pretty cool, but it can be a hit-and-miss affair.

Pricing

Getimg.ai offers a free plan with 100 credits available (1 credit/generated image). If you want more credits, generate up 10 images simultaneously and gain access to other interesting features, you can upgrade to one of the three paid plans:

• Basic: $12/month
• Starter: $29/month
• Hobby: 49/month

Bottom Line

There’s no question about it. AI image generators are revolutionizing the creative landscape, providing unprecedented access to powerful visual creation tools. Whether you’re a professional seeking to streamline your workflow or an enthusiast experimenting with digital art, these AI-driven platforms can open new doors for innovation and creativity. And things don’t stop here. Each image generator, from DALL·E to FLUX, is being continuously improved and refined. With the constant advancements in AI technology, the future of image creation promises to be even more exciting.