Unleashing Creativity: A Comprehensive Guide to the Top Image Generators of 2024
Why you can trust usBy transforming simple text descriptions into high-quality visuals, artificial intelligence (AI) image generators unlock unprecedented possibilities for a world where creativity flourishes and productivity skyrockets.
Whether you’re a seasoned marketer, enthusiastic educator, budding artist, or anyone, AI text-to-image generators supercharge your ability to create stunning designs without needing specialized software or elite skills. Think of it as your imagination – only amplified.
After thoroughly testing the most popular and highly rated AI tools in 2024, we narrowed the (extensive!) list down to the top ten best AI image generators.
In this article:
- How AI Text-to-Image Generators work ↓
- How We Evaluated the Best Text-to-Image AI Tools ↓
- When to Use AI for Image Creation ↓
- Top 10 Best AI Image Generators in 2024 ↓
- How To Pick The Best AI Image Generator For You ↓
- What’s next for AI Image Generation ↓
- FAQs ↓
How AI Text-to-Image Generators work
By harnessing the power of machine learning, AI tools learn from vast datasets and iterate through user feedback to produce compelling visuals.
To generate images with AI, also known as generative AI, the user first inputs parameters via a text prompt, potentially including additional criteria such as style transfer, color palette selection, and more.
Then, the AI tool leverages complex mathematical models and intricate neural networks to comprehend patterns, textures, and structures within images to produce new visuals or manipulate existing ones.
How We Evaluated the Best Text-to-Image AI Tools
Our AI experts, each with extensive experience in the field, spend an outrageous amount of time researching and reviewing the 300+ AI tools showcased on our website.
Collectively, our team holds not only a deep, up-to-date understanding of the AI landscape but also a commitment to unbiased analyses. By methodically exploring each tool and basing our endorsements solely on our honest assessment, we are confident that our recommendations will help you find the best AI tool/s for your needs.
When determining these top 10 standout AI image generation tools, the factors we evaluated include:
- Quality of results, such as image resolution, realism, and details
- Ease of use
- Versatility and customization capabilities
- Diversity across styles and effects
- Prompt translation accuracy
- Speed of results
- Community feedback, such as user reviews
…as well as a variety of other considerations.
When to Use AI for Image Creation
AI Image Generators can revolutionize speed, convenience, and imagination for various use cases. While not an exhaustive list, some notable areas include:
Concept Art for Various Industries
Expedite creative exploration and concept refinement before committing the resources to fully develop video games, book illustrations, movies, textiles, architecture, and more.
Marketing
Enhance brand presence and boost engagement by producing captivating social media posts, website banners, and product mockups.
Education
Engage students with visually appealing, interactive, personalized presentations, learning materials, and educational experiences.
Healthcare
Optimize medical imaging by enhancing and analyzing for diagnostics and research.
Personal Endeavors
Explore creativity with or without professional intent, such as when creating art, greeting cards, gifts, home decor, memes, social media profile pictures, writing prompts, etc.
Top 10 Best AI Image Generators in 2024
While each of the top image generators offers compelling capabilities, the ideal one depends on your needs as the image creator. To make your decision a little easier, we’ve pinpointed the optimal functionality, key differentiators, and pricing for each tool (listed alphabetically).
We also wanted to demonstrate the output of some of these tools. We prompted them with this line: "Draw a desert oasis under a bright, sunny sky featuring majestic lions lounging near a water source." All image generators were on their basic settings. Check out the results below!
AI Image Generators Comparison (as of Nov 2023)
| Brand | Best Functionality | Key Differentiators | Price (as of Nov 2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArtBreeder | Blending & morphing images | Image breeding system, creative exploration | Free version Plans from $8.99-$38.99/month; 20% off when billed annually |
| DALL-E 3 | High-quality, imaginative visuals | Unmatched realism, advanced prompt interpretation, wide versatility | 115 credits for $15; ($0.02 per image: 1024 x 1024 resolution) |
| Deep Dream Generator | Psychedelic & dreamlike imagery | Psychedelic and dreamlike effects, customization | One-time packs starting at $9 for 60 images Plans from $19-$99/month; 25% off when billed annually |
| Dream by WOMBO | Mobile use | Mobile-friendly interface, simplified image generation | $9.99 monthly; $89.99 annually |
| Google AI Imagen | Highly detailed, realistic images | Photorealism capabilities, unique text-to-image diffusion model | 1,000 free credits Pay-as-you-go: $.05/photo (min. $7/month) Plans from $67.50- $240/month; 10-20% off when billed annually |
| Jasper Art | Beginners & non-specialists | User-friendly interface | Free trial Plans starting at $39/month; 20% when billed annually |
| Midjourney | Professional creatives | High-quality output, fine-grained artistic control | Plans from $10-120/month; 20% off when billed annually |
| NightCafe Creator | Variety of effects | Variety, style transfer, image variations, style & prompt collections | 5 free credits Plans from $5.99-$49.99/month; 20% off when billed quarterly |
| Stable Diffusion | Versatility with high-quality results | Open-source, high-quality results, style versatility | Plans from $29-$149/month or $290-$1599/year |
| starryai | Variety of styles | Style transfer, multiple image variations, community-driven features | Free version: 25 images per day Plans from $11.98-$79.98/month; 20% off when billed annually |
Artbreeder: Best for Blending & Morphing Images
Allowing you to blend and morph images, Artbreeder is a unique AI image generator that utilizes a breeding system to create new and original artworks — giving rise to unexpected, creative results. In addition to paid versions, Artbreeder offers a free plan.
Revolutionize digital art creation with AI-powered image blending and customization.
Ideal Users
Experimenters, artists seeking unique styles, and those interested in exploring artistic transitions.
Pros
Unique image breeding system creates entirely new images by blending and morphing existing ones.
Creative exploration with different styles and techniques.
Artistic transitions allow you to visualize progressions between images or styles.
Cons
Requires more artistic input to achieve desired results.
It is not as straightforward as other AI image generators.
Pricing Options
- Free version: 3 credits per month.
- Starter: $8.99/month; 100 credits per month.
- Advanced: $18.99/month; 275 credits per month.
- Champion: $38.99/month; 700 credits per month.
All plans are 20% off when billed annually.
These prices were accurate as of December 2023.
DALL·E 3: Best for High-quality, Imaginative Visuals
Developed by OpenAI, DALL·E 3 is a groundbreaking generator that interprets complex text descriptions and produces astonishingly photorealistic images.
Revolutionize imagery with AI: from text prompts to vivid visuals.
Ideal Users
Artists, designers, storytellers, and anyone seeking to create high-quality, imaginative visuals
Pros
Unmatched realism, making it ideal for product mockups, concept art, and illustrations.
Advanced prompt interpretation transforms complex prompts into accurate results that closely align with your intent.
Wide versatility across styles, from abstract to artistic to traditional and more.
Comprehensive customization, offering users granular control to refine details quickly.
Cons
Limited availability through a waitlist system
It can be computationally expensive to generate high-quality images
Pricing Options
- Standard Quality
- 1024x1024 resolution: $0.04/image
- 1024x1792; 1792x1024: $0.08/image
- HD Quality
- 1024x1024 resolution: $0.08/image
- 1024x1792; 1792x1024: $0.12/image
These prices were accurate as of December 2023.
Deep Dream Generator: Best for Psychedelic & Dreamlike Imagery
Known for its ability to produce psychedelic and dreamlike imagery, Deep Dream Generator is an image generator that allows you to experiment with diverse styles and effects.
Transform images into surreal art with AI, effortlessly blending reality with imagination.
Ideal Users
Experimenters, enthusiasts of psychedelic art, and those seeking a free AI image generator
Pros
Psychedelic and dreamlike effects make it ideal for creating visuals in these styles.
Various customization options allow you to control the intensity and style of the effects.
It is free to use, making it accessible to a broader audience.
Cons
Requires more technical understanding to achieve desired results.
The interface is not as user-friendly as some other tools.
Pricing Options
- 100 free credits to start + 20 rechargeable points that gradually regenerate with more use
- Plans:
- Advanced: 120 credits for $19/month
- Professional: 250 credits for $39/month
- Ultra: 750 credits for $99/month
- One-time energy packs:
- 60 images: $9
- 160 images: $19
- 400 images: $39
- 1000 images: $79
Standard images cost 5 points. Save 25% on plans with yearly billing.
These prices were accurate as of December 2023.
Dream by WOMBO: Best for Mobile Use
Specifically designed for mobile, Dream by WOMBO makes it easy to create unique images on the go. It’s known for its simple interface and ability to produce engaging, expressive results.
Ideal Users
Beginners, casual users, and anyone seeking a quick and easy way to generate images on mobile devices.
Pros
Mobile-friendly interface, making it easy to use on smartphones and tablets.
The simplified process streamlines image generation and requires minimal input.
Expressive results, producing striking images in a variety of styles.
Cons
Doesn’t offer the same level of customization as more advanced tools.
It is more suitable for mobile devices than desktops.
Pricing Options
- 3-day free trial
- Premium Monthly: $9.99/month
- Premium Yearly: $89.99/yr
- Lifetime: $169.99 one-time payment
These prices were accurate as of December 2023.
Imagen: Best for Highly Detailed, Realistic Images
Google AI's Imagen is a newer AI image generator that’s quickly garnered attention for its ability to generate highly detailed, photorealistic images utilizing a unique text-to-image diffusion model.
Revolutionizes photorealism in AI-generated images with deep language understanding.
Ideal Users
Artists, designers, and creative professionals seeking a powerful tool for generating realistic imagery.
Pros
The capabilities of photorealism make it ideal for creating lifelike product mockups, concept art, and illustrations.
Highly detailed images that capture the entirety of the text descriptions.
The unique text-to-image diffusion model enables it to interpret complex prompts and produce accurate results.
Cons
Currently in the research phase and not widely available.
It may require more computational resources to generate high-quality images.
Pricing Options
- 1,000 free edits
- Pay-as-you-go: $0.05/photo ($7/month minimum)
- Plans:
- 18,000 edits: $67.50/month
- 36,000 edits: $127.50/month
- 72,000 edits: $240/month
- Enterprise (pricing varies): 100,000+ photos/year
Plans are 10-20% off when billed annually.
These prices were accurate as of December 2023.
Jasper Art: Best for Beginners & Non-specialists
User-friendly Jasper Art, a creation of Jasper, simplifies the image generation process, making it accessible even to people without specialized skills or experience.
An AI-driven platform for efficient, high-quality content creation and marketing strategy enhancement.
Ideal Users
Beginners, marketers, content creators, and anyone seeking a straightforward AI image generator.
Pros
The intuitive interface makes it easy to generate images without technical expertise.
Easy customization with a variety of style presets simplifies achieving desired looks.
Text-to-image and image-to-image capabilities allow you to generate images from text descriptions or modify existing images to match a specific style.
Cons
Limited customization compared to more advanced tools.
Not suitable for highly detailed or complex image requests.
Pricing Options
- 7-day free trial
- Plans:
- Creator: $49/month
- Teams: $125/month
- Business: pricing varies
Plans are 20% off when billed annually.
These prices were accurate as of December 2023.
Midjourney: Best for Professional Creatives
Known for its ability to produce high-quality images with minimal text input, Midjourney excels at creating stunning results that align with your artistic vision.
Unlock digital artistry: AI transforms text into stunning visuals.
Ideal Users
Experienced artists, designers, and creative professionals seeking a powerful visual exploration tool.
Pros
High-quality image output with impressive detail and composition.
Fine-grained artistic control allows you to refine your creations thoroughly.
Facilitation of creative exploration with various styles and concepts.
Cons
Requires a paid subscription.
It is not suitable for beginners or those seeking a simpler interface.
Pricing Options
- Free 7-day trial
- Plans:
- Basic: $10/month
- Standard: $30/month
- Pro: $60/month
- Mega: $120/month
Plans are 20% off when billed annually.
These prices were accurate as of December 2023.
Learn how to use Midjourney for various projects in our Ultimate Midjourney Guide video.
NightCafe Studio: Best for a Variety of Effects
NightCafe Studio is a well-established generator that offers numerous features and styles. It produces high-quality images with various artistic effects…and can even be used to create surreal and dreamlike visuals.
Unleash AI-driven art creation, no skills required, endless styles.
Ideal Users
Artists, designers, and anyone seeking a versatile tool with various effects.
Pros
Varied artistic effects, including dreamlike, surreal, and abstract styles.
Style transfer allows you to transmit styles between images.
Image variations offer multiple options for one image.
Curated style and prompt collections inspire creative exploration
Cons
It may require experimentation to achieve the desired results.
Some advanced features may be challenging for beginners.
Pricing Options
- 5 free credits to start
- One-time Credit Packs:
- $7.99: 100 credits
- $9.99: 200 credits
- $19.99: 500 credits
- $37.99: 1000 credits
- $79.99: 2500 credits
- $299.99: 10,000 credits
- Plans:
- AI Beginner: $5.99/month: 310 images
- AI Hobbyist: $9.99/month: 410 images
- AI Enthusiast: $19.99/month: 710 images
- AI Artist: $49.99/month: 1,610 images
Plans are 20% off when billed quarterly.
These prices were accurate as of December 2023.
Stable Diffusion: Best for Versatility with High-quality Results
Stable Diffusion is a cutting-edge AI model capable of generating detailed images from textual prompts, blending creativity with technology to revolutionize digital art and design.
Ideal Users
Developers, experienced users, and those seeking an open-source AI image generator.
Pros
Open-source, allowing for community-driven development that fosters continuous innovation.
High-quality results with impressive detail and composition.
Style versatility, including photorealistic, abstract, and artistic.
Cons
Requires more technical expertise to set up and use effectively.
Ongoing development may introduce changes and potential compatibility issues.
Pricing Options
- Basic: $29/month
- Standard: $49/month
- Premium: $149/month
- Enterprise: pricing varies
These prices were accurate as of December 2023.
StarryAI: Best for a Variety of Styles
StarryAI offers a wide range of features and customization options. It’s known for its ability to produce images in various styles, including photorealistic, abstract, and artistic.
Transform text into stunning AI-generated art, fully owning your creations.
Ideal Users
Artists, designers, creative professionals, and anyone seeking a versatile tool with various styles.
Pros
Style transfer enables creative experimentation by allowing you to transfer the style of one image to another.
Multiple image variations allow you to explore different perspectives and compositions.
Community-driven features, such as style sharing and image critiques.
Cons
Extensive features may make it overwhelming for beginners.
Variations may make it less suitable for quick image generation.
Pricing Options
- 5 free daily credits
- Starter: $11.98/month; 200 images per month.
- Unlimited Pro: $37.98/month; 3000 fast generations per month.
- Unlimited Pro Max: $79.98/month: 8000 fast generations per month.
All plans are 20% off when billed annually.
These prices were accurate as of December 2023.
How To Pick The Best AI Image Generator For You
We’ve established that each image generator has unique features and capabilities, making it the ideal choice for you, depending on your experience level and the types of visuals or images you want to create.
When choosing which tool to use, remember to consider:
- Your skill level
- What type of visuals you’re creating
- What features may be beneficial to you
- The cost of the tool
What’s next for AI Image Generation
As astounding as these tools' capabilities are for unleashing imagination and revolutionizing productivity, the current image generators on the market aren’t fool-proof yet. This is only the beginning.
We don’t know about you, but we’re anxiously anticipating even more impressive, more innovative AI image-generation capabilities in the years...or months…to come.