Midjourney is a unique AI image generator that blends machine learning, artificial intelligence, and computer vision to produce high-definition digital images in real time from text prompts.
The tool lets you generate high-quality custom images with control and precision, integrating various artistic styles and giving photorealistic results.
Midjourney emphasizes aesthetics, focusing on proportions, complementary colors, and creativity to generate attention-grabbing images.
This text-to-image generator is easy to use and efficient. You just need to know how to craft a prompt and let it do its magic.
If the results please you, you can download them. But if you aren’t happy with the results, you can let it regenerate more images or refine them to perfection.
There are similar AI tools to Midjourney, such as DALL-E 2, Stable Diffusion, Prompt Hunt, NightCafe, BlueWillow, Adobe Firefly, Lexica, Craiyon, Leonardo AI, and more.
However, Prompt Hunt is the best of the lot because it gives you ownership rights of all images created.
It comes with a seven-day free trial, and you can upgrade or downgrade your account. It’s accessible across various devices and lets you keep your creations private.
We will discuss more about these tools later, but let’s first look at why you need similar tools to Midjourney.
Why Consider Midjourney Alternatives?
Midjourney’s images are public; millions of other users can view, upscale, and even download them. Such public access to your images can impact branding and authenticity.
Plus, when you generate several images, they easily get lost in Discord servers amidst thousands of others generated by other users, compelling you to scroll through and search for your own.
Midjourney has limited availability. You can only access it via Discord, which can limit some users who don’t prefer the platform for privacy reasons.
While everyone can provide a prompt to generate epic images, perfecting them to suit your requirements can be daunting, especially for beginners.
Occasionally, Midjourney may fail to understand the prompt and generate unrelated and irrelevant output.
The lack of a free trial makes this AI image generator unsuitable for beginners interested in trying out the platform before committing. Casual users may also find the subscription plans too expensive.
Also, while Midjourney lets you use the images generated commercially, it retains the ownership rights of these images.
That said, here are the best Midjourney alternatives you may want to explore.
Best Midjourney Alternatives (Free & Paid)
1. BlueWillow
BlueWillow is a robust AI tool for generating images, especially graphics, logos, landscape images, children’s story images, coloring book images, and more.
It uses state-of-the-art technology to generate images via Discord. Like Midjourney, you can upscale or regenerate better images.
What makes BlueWillow one of the best Midjourney alternatives is the ease of use. You simply need to enter a prompt and generate images.
After generating an image, BlueWillow sends it both to a public server and your inbox. Thus, you can quickly find it in your box without searching from the crowded server first.
BlueWillow has a free tier where you can generate up to ten daily prompts. Midjourney doesn’t offer free access.
The paid plans include Willower for $5 per month, Blue Angel at $10 per month, and Sapphire at $20 per month. Check out this page for more details on what each plan offers.
2. Prompt Hunt
Prompt Hunt is a powerful AI tool that lets you use AI to create art. It uses Chroma, an advanced AI model, and a library of templates and styles to make creating art accessible and easy.
Whether you are a beginner or a professional artist, Prompt Hunt gives you the tools needed to explore your imagination and create mind-blowing art and assets within minutes.
With Prompt Hunt, you can generate art from various tools like DALL-E 2, Stable Diffusion, and Midjourney.
Prompt Hunt lets you create prompts from textual input or images. You can also select a pre-made template, especially if you are new to the platform.
This platform stands out as one of the best Midjourney alternatives due to its accessibility from any device.
Privacy is another area where Prompt Hunt excels. You can keep the creation’s privacy on any subscription plan. This feature solves Midjourney’s privacy issue on Discord.
It gets better: Prompt Hunt gives you, the creator, full ownership rights, interest, and title in the assets generated from their services. Indeed, their terms of service permit you to use the images for commercial and personal purposes.
Creators have full control over Prompt Hunt’s plans and can upgrade or downgrade anytime to suit their convenience and requirements.
Did I mention Prompt Hunt has a Discord channel where members interact and share their creations in different categories like illustration, 3D, fantasy, interior design, and more?
How much does it cost? You can start generating images when you sign up with your Google account. I was given eight free images after signup.
Prompt Hunt has three plans if you choose to subscribe: Essential, Pro, and Pro+. The Essential plan comes with a seven-day free trial, after which you pay only $1.99 monthly. With this plan, you enjoy 50 images per day.
The Pro plan costs $9.99/month, and Pro+ costs $14.99/month. Check each plan’s features here.
3. Lexica
Lexica will work for you if you want to generate high-quality AI images from a browser instead of a Discord server.
Lexica is a powerful text-to-image generator with an intuitive interface. You type your desired text in the search bar and click on the search or generate buttons.
On the home page, the search button shows images from Lexica’s database matching your search. The generate button produces new images based on your prompt.
Also, the home page contains images from other users, which you can click and view the prompt for inspiration.
Lexica goes a level higher and allows you to upload an image and add a prompt on how you would like the tool to modify it.
For example, you can upload an image of a house and prompt Lexica to add external enhancements. The output will be a beautiful home with a backyard, attractive exterior color, and a car outside the home. Midjourney doesn’t have this functionality.
Clicking on the Generate page on the menu lets you generate images by providing detailed prompts. The History page displays all your recently searched images.
If you leave your images, the public can access and like them, and you can see your image likes under the Likes page. Otherwise, you can delete images, and no one will see them.
Lexica has a free trial that comes with up to 100 free images. After reaching the limit, you will be asked to upgrade to continue using the tool. My free trial maxed out after generating 16 images after four searches because each search produces four images.
The Account page has pricing plans. The Starter plan costs $8/month, the Pro plan costs $24/month, and the Max plan costs $48/month.
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4. Leonardo AI
Leonardo AI is among the best Midjourney alternatives that generate stunning and surreal images. This tool uses generative adversarial networks (GANs) and deep learning algorithms to produce eye-grabbing and imaginative images.
Leonardo AI lets you generate various visual assets, such as character designs, game resources, concept art, product photography, marketing materials, architectural visuals, and more.
To use Leonardo AI, you can create an account, add your email to the waitlist, and wait a few days to receive an email invitation. To be whitelisted on Leonardo quicker, join their Discord channel, Facebook group, or both.
Working with Leonardo AI is easy. After signing up and logging into your account, click on ‘AI Image Generation’ under user tools on the home page.
The next page has an image generation tool. Type a prompt into the input box at the top of the page. Immediately below the prompt box, there’s a negative prompt, which lets you specify anything you don’t want to see in your image.
Next, select an image generation model and tap ‘Generate’ to produce the image.
I found it interesting that Leonardo AI lets you create your own AI models for more personalized image generation. I haven’t seen this feature on Midjourney.
You can only use Leonardo through the web app and upcoming mobile apps. It has a free plan with 150 daily tokens.
It has three paid plans: Apprentice, Artisan, and Maestro. They cost $10, $24, and $48 per month, respectively. I found the pricing details on Leonardo AI’s Discord channel. They aren’t on the website.
5. DALL-E 2
DALL-E 2 is the creation of Open AI, the same team that developed ChatGPT. The text-to-image generator lets you create visually appealing images from specific prompts in a natural language.
DALL-E 2’s exciting feature that you won’t find in Midjourney is that it lets you enlarge the generated image size.
The tool generates several image variations, provides AI outpainting and inpainting features, and predicts and extends your images to create entire scenes.
If you are looking for an AI tool that generates realistic images from a text prompt, I recommend DALL-E 2.
To use DALL-E 2, sign up, buy credits, and start entering text prompts to generate images. There are multiple images from other creators below the page that you can draw inspiration from.
See your recent images on the history page or create image collections on the collection page, where you can make them private or public.
Only users who signed up before April 6, 2023, get free credits every month that expire and renew monthly. In other words, DALL-E 2 has no free plan moving forward.
After creating an account, you will see a prompt asking you to buy 115 credits for $15. Each text prompt costs one credit and generates four images. So, you’ll pay approximately $0.13 per prompt.
You can find more information about the tool’s three tiers of resolution and Open AI’s pricing in general on their pricing page.
6. Stable Diffusion
Stable Diffusion is a free and open-source Midjourney alternative. It lets you train models based on specific data to produce the images you want.
After entering a prompt in the left pane, Stable Diffusion displays various image styles that will determine the image outcome.
You can select from Anime, 3D Model, Comic Book, Cinematic, Isometric, Pixel Art, Photographic, Low Poly, Line Art, and more. Midjourney doesn’t offer these styles.
You can use Stable Diffusion in various ways, such as downloading and using it on your computer, using Leap AI to set up your own model, or accessing the API using a tool like NightCafe.
However, the simplest way to use Stable Diffusion is by going to the DreamStudio web application and creating an account. Tap on login on the upper right.
After signing up, you receive 25 free credits to generate about 30 images from seven prompts.
Additional credits also come cheap; for only $10, you get 1,000 credits. After exhausting these credits, you can run Stable Diffusion on your computer for free.
7. Adobe Firefly
Typically, we can’t talk about digital graphics without mentioning Adobe. Even in the AI era, Adobe can’t be left out with its Creative AI model, Firefly.
Adobe Firefly’s specialty is text-to-image generation, allowing you to create captivating art and designs effortlessly.
Like Midjourney, you enter a prompt that generates four varying images. It lets you select the content type like photo, art, graphic, or none. Other options include selecting a tone, color, composition, or lighting.
This tool adheres to AI ethics tenets like responsibility, accountability, and transparency. Firefly uses generative AI tactics to turn normal text prompts into unique images, ranging from complex concept art to three-dimensional text designs.
Adobe Firefly’s main differentiator is how it integrates with the Adobe Creative Cloud suite. The integration lets you export your generated images into Adobe applications like Photoshop and Illustrator for more editing and perfection.
Besides, Adobe Firefly gets its training data from different ethical and reputable sources, like openly-licensed content, Adobe Stock, and public domain content without active copyrights.
Adobe Firefly provides several functionalities past text-to-image generation. Whereas Midjourney focuses on image generation, Firefly provides different tools for creators.
The tools include background removal from photos, adding elements to illustrations, changing video moods, creating digital experiences, and adding textures to three-dimensional objects.
At the time of writing, Adobe Firefly is free because it’s still in Beta. This might change after it undergoes full development.
8. NightCafe
NightCafe is a popular AI image generator platform that lets you input prompts to create unique and visually captivating images.
NightCafe has a user-friendly interface that even beginners find easy to use.
It employs different AI models, like Stable Diffusion, DALL-E 2, SDXL, Stable Inpainting, and Neural Style Transfer, to generate diverse visual inputs. Employing various AI algorithms offers flexibility and versatility when using the platform. Midjourney doesn’t do this.
You can create images and share them with friends using the platform. You can also initiate or join a chatroom with friends, then create a piece together, jam, or just hang out.
NightCafe offers several preset styles, allowing you to customize your creations. Striking is the default style, but you can also select Artistic Portrait, NightCafe, Anime v2, Mecha, Epic, Vibrant, Modern Comic, Dark Fantasy, Bon Voyage, Sinister, and more.
You can easily sign up for NightCafe with your Google account and start creating. I received 10 free credits on sign-up and generated 5 images, using one credit per image. You earn five free credits each day that you log in and two free credits each day that you vote in NightCafe’s challenge.
However, the free account has ads; you need to upgrade to go ad-free.
Upgrading to NightCafe Pro starts at $5 for 100 credits. Check the pricing page for more details on the subscription plans.
9. Designs.ai
Designs.ai has several features that let you create digital assets, including videos, logos, banners, mockups, and speeches.
The platform also offers assistive tools to make your creative process easy. They include a color matcher, graphic maker, calendar, and font pairer.
Designs.ai’s Video Maker obtains matching video footage and generates captivating videos in minutes when you provide text. You simply need to provide the script and let AI do the rest. You can then edit your video and download it.
As a designer searching for harmonious font combinations, the Font Pairer provides relevant recommendations, saving you time.
The Graphic Maker is another handy tool you can use to create and download vector images with personalized colors.
The AI Writer helps you to scale your marketing game by creating SEO-friendly content.
The Speechmaker helps small business owners, educators, marketers, influencers, government agencies, and more to generate natural-sounding voiceovers within seconds. The voiceovers can be used for audiobooks, news reports, documentaries, animation, and more.
Designs.ai is backed by 123F, meaning you have access to millions of graphics, videos, and images.
Midjourney is primarily for image generation, but Designs.ai generates videos and other digital assets, such as voiceovers, content, banners, mockups, and more.
Deasigns.ai has three paid plans. The Basic plan costs $29/month, the Pro plan costs $69/month, and the Enterprise plan offers custom pricing. The Basic plan comes with a free trial.
10. StarryAI
StarryAI is an AI app that generates art. Simply provide a text prompt, and the tool will turn your words into stunning works of art.
The art generator is easy and intuitive. You can find it for free on Android and iOS. Midjourney is only available on Discord.
When you sign up on StarryAI, you get five free credits. Next, you will be asked to select what you intend to generate. It can be art, photos, illustrations, or images based on your style.
To generate an outcome, input text in the prompt builder, select style, and click Generate. The image generated has four variations, and you can upscale, evolve, download, share, publish, or delete it.
One credit will give you four images. After using the five credits and being impressed with StarryAI, you must subscribe to any of the three paid plans.
Starter costs $11.99/month, Unlimited Pro costs $37.99/month, and Unlimited Pro Max costs $79.99/month.
11. Craiyon
Formerly DALL-E mini, Craiyon is an AI art generator that beginners will enjoy using. Start by entering a text prompt and selecting from four image generation models. They include Photo, Drawing, Art, and None.
Adding negative text prompts can make your output more accurate and specific. For example, if you enter a positive prompt such as ‘morning’ but type ‘beach’ as a negative prompt, Craiyon will generate the image displaying a sunset without a beach-related element.
Craiyon has a “New Prompt” functionality that uses ChatGPT to recommend new prompts. Midjourney lacks this feature. Another unique feature is displaying your generated art on a t-shirt print mockup to inspire print-on-demand ideas.
Craiyon allows you to use images for academic, personal, and commercial purposes. However, free subscribers must credit the platform.
Craiyon’s other intriguing feature is that each prompt generates nine images instead of the typical four that other AI image generators provide. Plus, you can upscale an image to give it a better resolution.
You can use Craiyon for free, but it comes with ads and takes approximately one minute to complete the image generation process. Paid plans generate images quicker.
You can always upgrade to the Supporter Plan at $6 per month, the Professional Plan at $24 per month, and the Enterprise Plan (custom). Check what each plan has to offer on Craiyon’s pricing page.
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Conclusion
There you have it: The best Midjourney alternatives for your creative work.
In my opinion, Prompt Hunt is the winner. You can use it from the browser on any device. Keeping your creations private is another plus for Product Hunt. No more worrying about someone stealing your prompts or images.
Prompt Hunt has numerous styles to help you refine your creations before using them. You can downgrade or upgrade your plan at any time, as well.
You reserve ownership rights for all the images generated from this platform, whether you sell or use them for personal projects.
It is also one of the few Midjourney alternatives with a free trial and the least expensive paid plan (Essential), costing only $1.99 per month. Each plan has many free images replenished daily.
