I’ve been testing AI picture mills for the reason that first model of DALL-E was launched in 2021.
Since then, I’ve logged dozens of hours inside tons of platforms.
On this information, I’m sharing my 9 favourite AI picture mills for various wants. Primarily based on the precise outcomes I obtained for actual prompts.
How I Picked the Greatest AI Picture Mills
This listing is the results of months of testing these instruments in actual initiatives.
I ran the identical immediate (with minor tweaks when wanted) by every instrument to maintain issues honest.
Right here’s what I checked out when selecting the winners:
- Picture high quality: How sharp, real looking, and prompt-accurate had been the outcomes?
- Inventive management: Might I add particulars, tweak, edit, or upscale with out dropping my thoughts?
- Originality: Did the instrument provide something new or progressive?
- Worth for cash: Did the outcomes justify the worth? Had been the free tiers really usable?
- Workflow match: Was the UX easy sufficient for inexperienced persons and quick sufficient for professionals?
- Viewers focus: Did it clear up actual issues for entrepreneurs, designers, and/or content material groups?
1. Midjourney: Greatest for Hyper-Practical Pictures & Skilled Use
Midjourney leads the pack for creating extremely detailed, hyper-realistic visuals.
It nails facial options, lighting, reflections, and texture.
And works nice for skilled design groups who want high-quality idea photographs or visible inspiration.
You create photographs in Midjourney by typing out detailed prompts within the chat inside Discord.
Alongside the immediate, you should use the interactive interface to regulate visible settings such because the facet ratio:
Midjourney additionally learns what you want by displaying you completely different picture choices and asking which one you favor.
It then makes use of your option to fine-tune future outcomes to match your style.
How Midjourney Did within the Check
Immediate:
“Generate a hyper-realistic picture of a lady carrying a black cyberpunk costume. Canon EF 35mm, f1.8, pictures excessive on particulars, extremely real looking, HD, HDR, 8K, actual life.”
Outcome:
The standard and realism of the picture are distinctive. As an illustration, you possibly can see freckles, particular person eyebrow hairs, and even beads of sweat.
Licensing and Utilization Rights
All photographs generated with Midjourney are public by default. They could seem in the neighborhood feed and be remixed by others.
If you happen to’re on a Professional or Mega plan, you possibly can allow stealth mode to generate photographs privately.
All paid plans additionally embody full business utilization rights, which means you possibly can legally use the photographs for shopper initiatives, advert creatives, or different business work.
For delicate use circumstances, we suggest reviewingMidjourney’s Phrases of Service to make sure compliance with their licensing and privateness insurance policies. And at all times keep away from depicting logos, copyrighted work, and actual folks.
What Works Nicely vs. What Might Be Improved
|
What Works Nicely |
What Might Be Improved |
|
Subsequent-level realism, particularly for portraits |
No built-in editor or inpainting |
|
Can deal with advanced, layered prompts higher than many alternate options |
Determining prompting inside Discord could also be difficult for inexperienced persons |
|
Enormous Discord neighborhood for immediate inspiration |
Midjourney can hallucinate or ignore requests |
Pricing
- Primary Plan: $10/month
- Normal Plan: $30/month
- Professional Plan: $60/month
- Mega Plan: $120/month
2.ChatGPT: Greatest for Quick Picture Era & Modifying
ChatGPT is my second favourite possibility after Midjourney. The picture high quality is surprisingly good, and you should use the instrument without cost.
Picture era in ChatGPT is powered by GPT-4o by default.
Simply kind in what you wish to create, and get a high-quality picture.
You may tweak the picture by merely clicking the picture and getting into a follow-up immediate.
You may also use the “Choose” instrument to pick out particular areas to edit and create a brand new model of your picture with out leaving ChatGPT.
There’s additionally entry to DALL·E 3, OpenAI’s devoted picture mannequin that was beforehand the principle instrument for producing visuals in ChatGPT.
You may entry it by trying to find the DALL·E GPT within the Discover GPTs tab. After which open a brand new chat.
How ChatGPT Did within the Check
Immediate:
“Generate a hyper-realistic picture of a lady carrying a black cyberpunk costume. Canon EF 35mm, f1.8, pictures excessive on particulars, extremely real looking, HD, HDR, 8K, actual life.”
Outcome:
The lighting, shadows, and depth look real looking. However it’s not as inventive or as Midjourney’s model.
Licensing and Utilization Rights
You get full business rights. Which means you should use the photographs for weblog posts, advertisements, shopper initiatives—something.
Simply keep away from prompts that contain actual folks or something trademarked or copyrighted.
What Works Nicely vs. What Might Be Improved
|
What Works Nicely |
What Might Be Improved |
|
Constructed into ChatGPT |
Solely creates one picture per immediate |
|
Easy, prompt-based modifying |
Restricted management over decision, format, or facet ratio except specified |
|
Combining actual product photographs and templates to create web new promotional belongings |
Picture high quality is strong, however the instrument is considerably restricted for skilled design groups on the lookout for hyper-realistic photographs |
|
Good with summary or imprecise prompts |
Pricing
- Free: AI picture era is offered to free ChatGPT customers—with limits
- Paid: Plans begin at $20/month and are very best in case you create photographs recurrently or in greater quantity
3. Leonardo AI: Greatest for Customized Types & Constructed-In Immediate Assist
Leonardo AI allows you to begin with a half-baked immediate, and it’ll rewrite it into one thing extra detailed.
As an illustration, I gave it the immediate:
“Generate a hyper-realistic picture of a lady carrying a black cyberpunk costume.”
And Leonardo immediately upgraded it with lighting particulars, texture ideas, and so on.
It additionally allows you to decide from dozens of fashions—similar to “Anime,” “Leonardo Lightning,” and “Idea Artwork”—with every providing a unique look and tone.
You get choices for specifying picture dimensions, the variety of photographs to generate, and the era mode (“Quick” or “High quality”).
As soon as the picture has been generated, you possibly can edit it utilizing a immediate, which is nice for making tweaks somewhat than beginning over.
How Leonardo Did within the Check
Preset: Lifelike imaginative and prescient
Immediate:
“Generate a hyper-realistic picture of a lady carrying a black cyberpunk costume. Canon EF 35mm, f1.8, pictures excessive on particulars, extremely real looking, HD, HDR, 8K, actual life.”
Outcome:
The generated picture has a cinematic look with the character in focus. And the wind-blown hair feels real looking. However there isn’t as a lot element as what I obtained from among the different instruments.
Licensing and Utilization Rights
You need to use Leonardo’s photographs commercially, even on the free plan.
Simply keep away from actual folks, logos, and copyrighted materials. You may be taught extra in Leonardo AI’s phrases of service.
What Works Nicely vs. What Might Be Improved
|
What Works Nicely |
What Might Be Improved |
|
Rewrites fundamental prompts into detailed textual content |
Some options similar to inpainting are behind a paywall |
|
Model switching function can save a number of time |
Free plan limits run out rapidly |
|
Output high quality is robust throughout completely different kinds |
Often produces distorted or odd-looking photographs |
|
Variations are fast to create and noticeably completely different |
Can miss particulars or hallucinate when given very advanced preliminary prompts |
Pricing
- Free plan contains 150 tokens refreshed each 15 hours
- Paid plans begin at $12/month
4. Imagen 3 (by way of Gemini): Greatest for Free & Primary Picture Era
Gemini (previously Bard) is Google’s AI chatbot that may use Imagen 3 for picture era proper contained in the Gemini chat interface.
You kind a immediate to get a picture. And no sign-up is required.
It’s good for product visuals, too.
It handles lighting and floor textures properly. This makes it helpful for creating polished touchdown pages or advert mockups.
That mentioned, Gemini doesn’t provide click-to-edit options like ChatGPT.
And it’s not taking part in in the identical league as Midjourney or GPT-4o, particularly with regards to real looking lighting and textures
However for a free, built-in instrument, it does an excellent job with issues like weblog headers, social posts, and inner mockups.
How Imagen 3 Did within the Check
Immediate:
“Generate a 16:9 horizontal hyper-realistic picture of a lady carrying a black cyberpunk costume. Canon EF 35mm, f1.8, pictures excessive on particulars, extremely real looking, HD, HDR, 8K, actual life.”
Outcome:
The standard is nice if you’d like an illustration. However it ignored my request for making the picture horizontal.
Licensing and Utilization Rights
This half’s nonetheless murky.
Google says you should use Gemini-generated photographs freely, however the high-quality print round business use isn’t tremendous clear.
If you happen to’re utilizing photographs generated with Gemini for private use or for inner firm work, that’s high-quality.
For something client-facing or business, it is best to assessmentGoogle’s Generative AI Use Coverage to verify your use case isn’t restricted. And keep away from depicting actual folks, logos, and copyrighted work.
What Works Nicely vs. What Might Be Improved
|
What Works Nicely |
What May very well be Improved |
|
Completely free |
Picture high quality isn’t as excessive as some others |
|
Nice for illustrations |
No modifying or upscaling options |
|
Handles lengthy prompts properly |
Licensing nonetheless feels TBD |
Pricing
- Gemini presents a restricted free plan fitted to fundamental use
- The Gemini Superior plan ($19.99/month) unlocks higher-quality photographs, quicker era, and entry to premium options
5. Adobe Firefly: Greatest for These Who Use the Adobe Ecosystem
If you happen to already use Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, Firefly is principally your new sidekick that’s built-in into Inventive Cloud.
You may generate photographs within the Firefly internet app and save them straight to your Inventive Cloud Library.
The instrument additionally allows you to modify your AI artwork. For instance, you possibly can generate a video, add shapes and graphics, create a social media submit, and extra.
In case your workflow already makes use of Adobe, Firefly suits in prefer it was at all times meant to be there.
How Firefly Did within the Check
Immediate:
“Generate a hyper-realistic picture of a lady carrying a black cyberpunk costume. Canon EF 35mm, f1. 8, pictures excessive on particulars, extremely real looking, HD, HDR, 8K, actual life.”
Outcome:
The picture is much less detailed and real looking in comparison with what Midjourney generated, however it’s a polished-looking end result.
Licensing and Utilization Rights
That is the place Firefly actually shines.
You need to use most AI-generated photographs commercially, together with in shopper work, advert creatives, and product supplies.
Nevertheless, business use isn’t allowed if the picture was created utilizing a beta model of a Firefly function.
So in case you’re engaged on something business or regulated, double-check whether or not the instrument or function you are utilizing remains to be in beta.
As with all instruments on the listing, keep away from producing photographs that embody actual folks, logos, or copyrighted materials.
What Works Nicely vs. What Might Be Improved
|
What Works Nicely |
What Might Be Improved |
|
Seamless handoff to Photoshop, Illustrator, and Specific by way of Inventive Cloud Library |
Not as real looking as Midjourney or GPT-4o |
|
You may add a reference picture in Firefly to information the look, model, or structure of the generated end result |
Struggles to deal with advanced prompts |
|
The instrument is simple to make use of due to its clear interface and key settings |
Free plan is proscribed to 25 credit per thirty days |
Pricing
- Free: 25 credit per thirty days
- Paid: Begins at $9.99/month for two,000 generative credit per thirty days
6. Steady Diffusion (by way of DreamStudio): Greatest for Open-Supply Flexibility
DreamStudio allows you to faucet into Steady Diffusion, a strong open-source AI picture era mannequin identified for being extremely customizable.
You may obtain Steady Diffusion and run it regionally, modify it, and even prepare it by yourself customized photographs. You may also use it by the DreamStudio internet app.
Inside DreamStudio, you possibly can:
- Add destructive prompts (stuff you don’t need within the picture)
- Add reference photographs
- Set facet ratios and the variety of outputs, and select a method
- Generate a random immediate
How Steady Diffusion Did within the Check
Immediate:
“Generate a hyper-realistic picture of a lady carrying a black cyberpunk costume. Canon EF 35mm, f1. 8, pictures excessive on particulars, extremely real looking, HD, HDR, 8K, actual life.”
Outcome:
The picture is very detailed and excessive in high quality, however it appears quite a bit like an illustration.
Licensing and Utilization Rights
Business use is allowed—even on the free tier.
Simply don’t embody actual folks, logos, or copyrighted work in your immediate.
What Works Nicely vs. What Might Be Improved
|
What Works Nicely |
What Might Be Improved |
|
Management over measurement, model, mannequin, and immediate power |
No inpainting or click-to-edit like ChatGPT |
|
Fast picture era with respectable consistency |
Decrease picture high quality in comparison with skilled instruments like Midjourney |
|
Reference photographs and modifying options inbuilt |
Struggles a bit with high-complexity or cinematic prompts |
|
Open supply = final flexibility |
Pricing
- DreamStudio: $10 for 1,000 credit (pay as you go)
- Steady Assistant: $9/month
- New customers additionally get 100 credit without cost
7. Poe: Greatest for Testing A number of Fashions
Poe is a multi-model playground the place you possibly can take a look at completely different picture era fashions (DALL·E 3, Steady Diffusion XL, Ideogram, FLUX-pro, and extra) all from one interface.
If you happen to’re new to AI picture era and wish to see how every mannequin behaves (with out opening 10 tabs), Poe is a no brainer.
Merely decide the mannequin, enter a immediate, and make further requests by way of the chat interface.
How Poe Did within the Check
Mannequin/app: Imagen 3
Immediate:
“Generate a hyper-realistic picture of a lady carrying a black cyberpunk costume. Canon EF 35mm, f1.8, pictures excessive on particulars, extremely real looking, HD, HDR, 8K, actual life.”
Outcome:
The standard is much like what we obtained utilizing Gemini.
Licensing and Utilization Rights
Every mannequin has its personal licensing guidelines, so that you’ll must examine every mannequin’s phrases earlier than utilizing photographs in paid advertisements or shopper work.
A protected wager? Use outputs from Steady Diffusion or FLUX for business use. However be cautious with the remaining.
And keep away from copyrighted work, logos, and actual folks.
What Works Nicely vs. What Might Be Improved
|
What Works Nicely |
What Might Be Improved |
|
Permits you to evaluate high fashions in a single place |
Phrases of use fluctuate relying on the mannequin |
|
Publish-generation instruments similar to upscaling and enhancement |
Many high AI picture era fashions are paywalled |
|
You may construct and save your personal customized picture bots |
Pricing
- $4.99/month, which supplies you entry to high fashions and versatile each day or month-to-month compute factors to spend throughout any mannequin
- You need to use among the fashions without cost, usually with sure limitations
8. Semrush Content material Toolkit: Greatest for Producing Weblog Publish Visuals
If it’s essential rapidly create ready-to-use visuals in your weblog content material, Semrush’s Content material Toolkit is a strong match.
It allows you to create AI photographs utilizing prompts immediately throughout the editor.
Simply describe the picture you want, and add it straight into your content material draft.
How Semrush Content material Toolkit Did within the Check
Immediate:
“Generate a hyper-realistic picture of a lady carrying a black cyberpunk costume. Canon EF 35mm, f1. 8, pictures excessive on particulars, extremely real looking, HD, HDR, 8K, actual life.”
Outcome:
The picture appears a bit much less real looking than what instruments like Midjourney can generate. However it presents strong high quality ok for any illustration you may want when writing weblog posts.
Licensing and Utilization Rights
All the things you create with the Semrush Content material Toolkit is honest sport for blogs, social, and WordPress exports. Simply keep away from prompts with logos, copyrighted work, or actual folks.
What Works Nicely vs. What Might Be Improved
|
What Works Nicely |
What Might Be Improved |
|
Picture era is constructed into your content material manufacturing stream |
Not meant for design-heavy initiatives |
|
No additional value |
Picture high quality isn’t as real looking as in some superior alternate options |
Pricing
- Free trial: Seven days
- Paid plan: $60/month (writing + picture era included)
9. Canva: Greatest for Creating Advertising and marketing Design Belongings
Canva is a go-to instrument for rapidly creating skilled designs, and it now has AI picture era inbuilt.
Utilizing Canva Dream Lab, you possibly can generate a picture with a immediate and edit it with Canva’s customary instruments—all throughout the identical stream.
It’s a terrific possibility for entrepreneurs and enterprise homeowners creating design belongings.
I exploit it to rapidly put collectively social media carousels, displays, banners, and flyers.
And you may obtain belongings in your required codecs.
How Canva Did within the Check
Immediate:
I examined a number of variations of the immediate. However I wasn’t getting the outcomes I needed, so I lowered it to this:
“Generate a hyper-realistic horizontal picture of a lady carrying a black cyberpunk costume.”
Outcome:
Nothing stands out to me quality-wise, however this picture would work nice for a easy banner or a presentation.
Licensing and Utilization Rights
Pictures you generate in Canva fall underneath their customary content material license. Which means you should use them in business initiatives—advertisements, shopper decks, product pages, and extra.
Simply keep away from prompts with model logos, actual folks, and copyrighted work.
What Works Nicely vs. What Might Be Higher
|
What Works Nicely |
What Might Be Improved |
|
Picture era is baked proper into the picture editor |
No management over lighting, digital camera angle, or visible model |
|
Straightforward to mix AI photographs with templates, textual content, and design components |
Advanced prompts usually produce hallucinations |
|
Canva lets you layer, resize, and customise your AI photographs |
Pricing
- Free:Primary picture era with limits
- Professional: $15/month
- Groups:$10/month per particular person
- Enterprise: Customized pricing
The best way to Select the Greatest AI Picture Generator
To resolve which of those AI picture mills is best for you, take into account your objectives and your funds.
After which make your choice primarily based on that.
Right here’s a fast abstract of among the high instruments we’ve reviewed:
- Midjourney: For hyper-realistic, inventive visuals {and professional} design work
- ChatGPT: For quick, editable photographs immediately in ChatGPT
- Leonardo AI: For customized kinds, immediate rewriting, and inventive management
- Adobe Firefly: For customers already working contained in the Adobe ecosystem
- ContentShake AI: For producing weblog visuals
