The best AI image generators in 2024: Tested and reviewed

Widely regarded as a leading AI image tool, Midjourney, developed by the independent research lab Midjourney, Inc., remains in open beta. Critics praise its ability to generate intricate, high-quality imagery, albeit requiring some refinement and patience to achieve optimal results, often with lengthy prompts.

However, access comes at a cost, starting at $20 per user per month as part of OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus plan. While a free trial period was previously available, it has been discontinued due to misuse amid the AI hype.

OpenAI offers its own AI image engine called DALL-E, a nod to the Pixar film WALL-E and artist Salvador Dali. DALL-E prioritizes user-friendliness, distinguishing itself from the more challenging Midjourney. However, like Midjourney, DALL-E is no longer free; access requires purchasing the ChatGPT Plus plan at $20 per user per month.

Currently in its "DALL-E 3" iteration, DALL-E serves as the engine behind various AI image generators. Jasper Art (or Jasper AI) is the most prominent example utilizing DALL-E, while Craiyon, formerly known as DALL-E Mini, is another notable option.

The Stable Diffusion engine-powered tool DreamStudio is the final entry in the big three stand-alone AI image generators, after Midjourney and DALL-E. It’s known for photo-realistic images that are easily editable to cover up some of the more common AI giveaways.

The service comes in three plans, starting with the Basic plan for $27 per month, aimed at hobbyists. The other plans include the $47 per month Standard plan, for anyone exploring AI APIs, and the $147 per month Premium plan, for those beta launching their own apps.

Nightcafe, developed by NVIDIA, stands out as another prominent AI image generator. Remarkably, it remains free to use in 2024, a rarity among major players in the field. Users can access Nightcafe via an online platform or a mobile app available on both Android and iOS devices.

However, the free version comes with limitations. Users are allocated only five credits per day to prevent overuse of the tool. Additional credits beyond the daily allowance incur costs, with prices starting at "as low as $0.08 per credit," as stated by the company. Mastery of modifiers is necessary to fine-tune prompts for optimal results.

Microsoft's AI art generator, known as Image Creator from Bing, offers a completely free service accessible without any additional subscriptions. Users can utilize it directly on Bing, even while using Chrome or other non-Edge browsers.

Similar to many image generators, there are still restrictions on the type of content that can be created; for example, no explicit content, violence, or hate speech is permitted. Additionally, users may eventually exhaust their "boosts" or credits, with the option to purchase more for a fee. Despite these limitations, Bing remains one of the most accessible and user-friendly options for online image generation.

The widely used social media design platform Canva has introduced its own AI tool, adding to its extensive features. While highly regarded among social media managers, Canva continues to innovate with this addition.

On the free plan, users can generate up to 50 images. Beyond this limit, access to the AI tool requires subscribing to the Canva Pro plan, priced at $14.99 per user per month. However, even with the Pro plan, users are restricted to 500 uses per user per month, though this allowance typically suffices for the majority of users.