AI Image Generators Compared (2026): Midjourney, DALL-E 3, Adobe Firefly and 7 More

There are many types of AI image generation tools. Your experience varies significantly depending on pricing, the availability of a free plan, and ease of use in Japanese. As a result, many people struggle to decide which tool best fits their goals.

In this article, we compare 10 major tools, including Midjourney and DALL-E 3, based on AIpedia data (as of November 2026). We outline each tool's pricing, free plan availability, Japanese support, and platforms. We also list specific strengths and weaknesses.

We also provide recommendations by goal for business use or creative production, along with tips on how to choose without making mistakes. Read through from basic knowledge you should know before adoption to detailed comparisons.

What Are AI Image Generation Tools? What They Can Do and What to Know Before Choosing

AI image generation tools are technologies that turn text prompts into visual images. They support various styles, from photorealistic images to illustrations and 3D. Additionally, Midjourney and Stable Diffusion offer inpainting features to modify parts of an image and upscaling for high resolution. Furthermore, Ideogram 3.0 and DALL-E 3 can accurately render text within images, making them useful for creating logos and posters.

• Text-to-image generation: Create images in diverse styles, such as photo-like or illustrative, simply by giving instructions in natural language.
• In-image text rendering: Accurately render text information required for logos or posters as part of the image.
• Partial editing and modification: Features that allow you to change specific areas of a generated image or expand the background.
• Style control and reproduction: Fine-tune aspect ratios and stylization levels to achieve expressions aligned with your brand or work's aesthetic.
• Vector image generation: Directly create SVG-format design assets that do not degrade when scaled up, like Recraft V4.

When choosing a tool, first check the scope of free usage. Google ImageFX and Microsoft Image Creator are completely free, while Midjourney only offers paid plans. Also, tools like Adobe Firefly and Stable Diffusion have clear terms for commercial use. If you plan to use them in a business setting, this legal peace of mind is an important factor in your decision.

Note the level of Japanese support and differences in usage environments. DALL-E 3 allows you to create images using only Japanese conversation with ChatGPT, and Adobe Firefly also supports Japanese prompts (though accuracy is slightly lower than with English). On the other hand, Stable Diffusion and Flux often require local PC execution or API integration, which may demand technical knowledge. Compare ease of adoption based on your skill level and working environment.

Comparison of Top 10 Tools (Pricing, Japanese Support, Platforms)

Tool	AIpedia rating	Main plans	Japanese support	Platforms
Midjourney	4.5	Basic $10/month (approx. 200 images/month) / Standard $30/month (15 hours/month of GPU) / Pro $60/month (30 hours/month + stealth mode)	Partial support	Web, Discord
DALL-E 3	4.1	Included in ChatGPT Plus $20/month / API $0.040–$0.120/image / Bing Image Creator free	Supported	ChatGPT (Web/iOS/Android), API, Bing Image Creator
Google ImageFX	4.3	Completely free (Google account required)	Partial support	Web
Adobe Firefly	4.3	Free (25 credits/month) / Premium $6.99/month (100 credits/month) / Integrated into each Adobe Creative Cloud plan	Supported	Web, Photoshop, Illustrator, Express
Stable Diffusion	4.2	Free (open source, local execution) / DreamStudio $10+ (cloud version, credit-based) / Various WebUIs free	Partial support	Local PC (Windows/macOS/Linux), DreamStudio (Web), various WebUIs
Flux	4.4	Klein (open source, free) / API pay-as-you-go: Klein $0.014/image / Flux 1.1 Pro $0.04/image	Partial support	API, Web (Playground), Hugging Face, ComfyUI
Ideogram 3.0	4.3	Free plan (5 images/day) / Basic $8/month / Plus $20/month	Partial support	Web, API
Leonardo AI	4.3	Free plan (150 credits/day) / Apprentice $10/month (8,500 tokens) / Artisan $24/month (25,000 tokens)	Partial support	Web, iOS, Android, API
Recraft V4	4.3	Free plan (50 credits/day, images are public) / Basic $25/month / Advanced $65/month	Partial support	Web, API, Figma plugin
Microsoft Image Creator	4	Free (available with a Microsoft account) / Boost system (fast generation points granted daily; unlimited slow mode after consumption)	Supported (can generate images with Japanese prompts)	Web, Microsoft Designer (iOS/Android), Bing search integration

Ratings are out of 5, assigned by the AIpedia editorial team. Pricing and plans may change. Please check the official website of each tool for the latest information before signing up.

Features, Pricing, and Best For: 10 Tools

1. Midjourney

Midjourney is an AI tool that generates artistic and beautiful images from text prompts. It can create photorealistic images that are indistinguishable from photographs, with excellent expression of light and texture. It is primarily used by designers and creators for high-quality visual production.

• Strengths: According to the AIpedia rating, its image quality and beauty are at the highest level among AI image generation tools.
• Strengths: It can accurately reproduce diverse artistic styles, such as oil painting and watercolor.
• Strengths: You can learn from other users' prompts and generated results in the Discord community. You can make fine adjustments using parameters like --ar (aspect ratio), --stylize, and --chaos. You can also reverse-generate prompts from images using the Describe feature.
• Strengths: Commercial use is permitted for all paid plan users (companies with annual revenue over $1 million require the Pro plan or higher).
• Things to note: The free plan has been discontinued, requiring a minimum payment of $10/month.
• Things to note: The accuracy of Japanese prompts is significantly lower than that of English. English prompts are almost essential to obtain the intended images.
• Things to note: Rendering text within images is inferior to DALL-E 3, making it unsuitable for logos or banners with text.

Pricing: Basic $10/month (approx. 200 images/month) / Standard $30/month (15 hours/month of GPU) / Pro $60/month (30 hours/month + stealth mode) / Mega $120/month (60 hours/month)

Best for: Professional creators who prioritize the quality of final deliverables, and those seeking high-quality images in fields such as advertising, gaming, and publishing. It is also suitable for individual users who can create English prompts.

View details on Midjourney's features, pricing, and FAQ

2. DALL-E 3

DALL-E 3 is an AI image generation model developed by OpenAI, integrated into ChatGPT. Its key feature is the ability to generate high-quality images simply by entering natural Japanese prompts. You can create images by giving instructions conversationally, without any special technical knowledge.

• Strengths: It integrates with ChatGPT, allowing image generation through Japanese conversation only. It requires no prompt engineering knowledge and is designed to be easy for beginners to use.
• Strengths: It has high rendering accuracy for images containing text, such as logos and banners. In addition to English, it can relatively accurately represent short Japanese strings.
• Strengths: Post-generation modifications can be made in a conversational format. You can create adjusted versions based on the previous image by giving additional instructions like "make the background darker."
• Things to note: Precise style control and fine-tuning are inferior compared to Midjourney. Since fine adjustments via parameters are not possible, there are limits to expressive freedom.
• Things to note: It lacks advanced customization features like LoRA or ControlNet. Continuous generation of consistent characters or precise pose control can be difficult.

Pricing: Included in ChatGPT Plus $20/month / API $0.040–$0.120/image / Bing Image Creator free

Best for: Those trying AI image generation for the first time, or those who want to easily create images for everyday business use. It is also easy to use in scenarios requiring accurate text rendering, such as images for social media posts or visuals for presentation materials.

View details on DALL-E 3's features, pricing, and FAQ

3. Google ImageFX

Google ImageFX is a free AI image generation tool provided by Google. It features the Imagen 3 model and can generate high-resolution, realistic images from text prompts. Its intuitive UI and Expressive Chips feature make it easy for beginners to use.

• Strengths: A major appeal is the ability to generate high-quality AI images completely for free.
• Strengths: Thanks to Imagen 3, it is highly rated for its realistic image quality.
• Strengths: Expressive Chips suggest alternative wording for your prompt, so beginners who struggle with prompt tuning can still get good results.
• Things to note: There is a daily limit on the number of generations, which resets each day.
• Things to note: Due to safety considerations, there are restrictions on generating images of people. Commercial usage guidelines are strict, and editing and modification features are limited.

Pricing: Completely free (Google account required)

Best for: Individuals who want to generate high-quality images while keeping costs low, beginners with limited knowledge of prompt engineering, and those who prioritize safe usage supported by SynthID AI image identification. It can be used for a wide range of purposes, such as by bloggers and marketers.

4. Adobe Firefly

Adobe Firefly is an AI image generation tool that prioritizes safety for commercial use and integration into professional workflows. It is trained on rights-cleared data, such as licensed images from Adobe Stock, which helps reduce legal risks for commercial use. A key feature is its seamless integration with Adobe products like Photoshop and Illustrator.

• Strengths: It includes an IP Indemnity program. If you are sued for infringing a third party's copyright with a generated image, Adobe covers the legal costs. Please check the official website for eligible plans and conditions.
• Strengths: It offers features directly tied to existing creative work, such as Photoshop's "Generative Fill" and "Generative Expand," and Illustrator's "Text to Vector." You do not need to switch between multiple tools; you can complete the process from AI generation to finishing touches within a single application.
• Strengths: Generated images are automatically tagged with C2PA metadata, recording that they are AI-generated and including prompt information. This is valued in environments where digital content integrity is important, as it provides transparency about the image's origin.
• Things to note: For pure text-to-image generation, freedom and quality may be lower compared to Midjourney or Stable Diffusion. It also lacks the customizability of open-source tools or community model extensions.
• Things to note: While it supports Japanese prompts, accuracy is slightly lower than with English. For complex instructions, entering prompts in English may yield better results.

Pricing: You can use it for free up to 25 credits per month if you have an Adobe ID. For serious use, the Premium plan ($6.99/month, 100 credits) is required. Additionally, various Adobe Creative Cloud plans (Photography $9.99/month, All Apps $54.99/month, etc.) include Firefly credits, so existing users can often use it without additional costs.

Best for: Creators already using Adobe Creative Cloud products, or marketing professionals at companies who prioritize legal safety for commercial use. It is also suitable for individual users with limited design experience who want to create professional-quality visuals through Adobe Express. Please check the official website for the latest pricing and feature details.

View detailed features, pricing, and FAQ for Adobe Firefly

5. Stable Diffusion

Stable Diffusion is an AI image generation model released as open source. Since it can be run for free on your own PC, there is no need to pay a monthly fee. In addition to generating images from text, you can also edit existing images or control specific compositions.

• Strengths: High customizability allows detailed specification of characters and poses through features like LoRA and ControlNet.
• Strengths: All processing is completed in a local environment, so generated images and prompts are not sent to external servers.
• Strengths: You can use thousands of community models available for free on CivitAI or Hugging Face. Operations can be performed using free WebUIs such as AUTOMATIC1111 or ComfyUI.
• Things to note: To run it smoothly, a PC with an NVIDIA GPU equipped with 8GB or more of VRAM (ideally 12GB or more) is required. It also runs on Apple Silicon Macs, but generation speed is significantly slower than on NVIDIA GPUs. If you do not have a GPU, you can use Google Colab or cloud services.
• Things to note: Setting up the environment requires technical knowledge such as Python and Git, creating a high barrier to entry for beginners. The raw image quality is inferior to Midjourney and needs to be compensated for by model selection and settings.

Pricing: Free (open source, local execution) / DreamStudio $10+ (cloud version, credit-based) / Various WebUIs Free

Best for: Individuals with technical knowledge who prioritize freedom in image generation. It is also suitable for companies that want to keep costs low when generating large volumes of images, or those who prioritize privacy protection in confidential projects. However, this assumes you can tolerate the effort of initial setup and learning costs.

View detailed features, pricing, and FAQ for Stable Diffusion

6. Flux

Flux is an AI image generation model developed by Black Forest Labs, founded by co-creators of Stable Diffusion. It is characterized by being available both via API and as open source.

• Strengths: High-speed generation in 4.5 seconds achieves a speed six times faster than the previous generation.
• Strengths: The Klein model is open source under the Apache 2.0 license and available for free. API pricing is also kept low, starting at $0.014 per image.
• Strengths: Using Kontext, you can edit images by combining them with text.
• Things to note: The official UI is only Playground, which may be slightly difficult for beginners to get started with.
• Things to note: The Pro model is API-only and cannot be generated directly via a WebUI. The community and surrounding tools are still developing compared to Stable Diffusion.

Pricing: Klein (open source, free) / API pay-as-you-go: Klein $0.014/image / Flux 1.1 Pro $0.04/image / Flux.2 Pro $0.05/image

Best for: Developers seeking customization, or those prioritizing cost efficiency for bulk generation. Also suitable for individuals and businesses considering use in open-source environments.

View detailed features, pricing, and FAQ for Flux

7. Ideogram 3.0

Ideogram 3.0 is an AI image generation tool that excels at rendering text within images. It is well-suited for design purposes requiring accurate text drawing, such as logos and posters. It supports commercial use, making it viable for business scenarios.

• Strengths: Its ability to accurately render text within images is considered top-tier in the industry. It also supports rendering Japanese text.
• Strengths: It offers designer-oriented features such as color palette specification and style references. The free plan allows generating up to 5 images per day.
• Things to note: Realism of human figures is slightly inferior to Midjourney.
• Things to note: There is still room for improvement in the accuracy of Japanese text rendering.

Pricing: Free plan (5 images/day) / Basic $8/month / Plus $20/month / Pro $48/month

Best for: Those creating designs that include text within images, such as logos and banners. Also suitable for developers who want to use the API to integrate into applications.

8. Leonardo AI

Leonardo AI is a creative platform that supports the generation of high-quality AI images and videos. In addition to text-to-image generation, it features interactive editing tools and custom model training capabilities. By uploading your own images to train a unique style, you can achieve consistent visual production.

• Strengths: You can create a model trained on your unique style or characters by uploading just 10–20 of your own images.
• Strengths: The free plan grants 150 credits daily. Paid plans include "relaxed generation," which allows unlimited generation, albeit with wait times.
• Strengths: It supports AI video generation (including Veo 3) and interactive editing via AI Canvas.
• Things to note: Due to the token-based system, bulk generation incurs higher costs.
• Things to note: Images generated on the free plan include watermarks.

Pricing: Free plan (150 credits/day) / Apprentice $10/month (8,500 tokens) / Artisan $24/month (25,000 tokens) / Maestro $48/month (60,000 tokens)

Best for: Those who want to create content while maintaining a unique style, or those who want to try feature-rich AI image generation for free.

View detailed features, pricing, and FAQ for Leonardo AI

9. Recraft V4

Recraft V4 is an AI image generation tool designed for designers. In addition to raster images, it supports the generation of vector images (SVG). It is well-suited for professional design purposes such as icons, logos, and banners.

• Strengths: Supports export in SVG format, allowing editing in Figma or Illustrator.
• Strengths: Brand style settings that register color palettes, fonts, and design tones enable the creation of consistent images aligned with brand guidelines. Text rendering within images has also been significantly improved.
• Things to note: Generation of realistic, photo-like images is inferior to Midjourney. Japanese text rendering is still developing.
• Things to note: On the free plan, generated images are made public by design.

Pricing: Free plan (50 credits/day, images are public) / Basic $25/month / Advanced $65/month / API: Raster $0.04/image, Vector $0.08/image

Best for: Designers who need vector data or those who want to efficiently create assets that follow brand guidelines. Please check the official website for the latest pricing and features.

10. Microsoft Image Creator

Microsoft Image Creator is a free AI image generation tool provided by Microsoft. It uses DALL-E 3 and MAI-Image-1 to create images from text prompts. It can also be used for designing social media posts and assets when integrated with Microsoft Designer.

• Strengths: You can start using it completely for free with just a Microsoft account. One prompt generates four variations.
• Strengths: You can switch between GPT-4o and DALL-E 3 models.
• Things to note: It lacks advanced editing features like inpainting.
• Things to note: Once you run out of Boost points for fast generation, the generation speed drops significantly. The license for commercial use has unclear aspects.

Pricing: Free (available with a Microsoft account) / Boost system (fast generation points are granted daily; after consumption, unlimited usage in low-speed mode)

Best for: Those who want to try AI images easily while keeping costs low, or those who want to streamline design work in Microsoft Designer. However, you must review the terms of service when using it commercially.

See detailed features, pricing, and FAQ for Microsoft Image Creator

Recommendations by Goal

Goal	Recommended tool	Reason
Try it for free first	Google ImageFX, Microsoft Image Creator	Both are completely free to use with just account creation, allowing you to experience high-quality image generation without initial costs.
Use it with Japanese text prompts	DALL-E 3, Microsoft Image Creator	They support natural Japanese prompts, making it easy to give instructions in Japanese.
Use it for work or teams	Adobe Firefly	It is trained on licensed data and includes an intellectual property indemnification program, reducing legal risks for commercial use.
Use it via API as a developer	Flux, DALL-E 3	The Flux API starts at $0.014 per image, and the DALL-E 3 API starts at $0.040 per image.
Run it on my own PC	Stable Diffusion	It is open source, runs for free on a local PC, and does not send images or prompts to external servers.
Draw text in logos or posters	Ideogram 3.0, Recraft V4	They offer high-precision text rendering within images and features optimized for design use, including vector generation.
Pursue high image quality and artistic value	Midjourney	It has high accuracy in reproducing photorealistic images and diverse artistic styles, making it popular among creators.
Train a custom style	Leonardo AI, Stable Diffusion	They allow custom model training or additional learning via LoRA, enabling the reproduction of unique characters and styles.

The above are suggestions based on general use cases. Please check the official websites of each tool for detailed specifications and latest pricing according to your specific business requirements and budget.

How to Choose Without Regrets

Check your use case and commercial license

The scope of permitted use differs significantly between individual and business use. Adobe Firefly is trained on licensed data and includes an intellectual property indemnification program. On the other hand, Google ImageFX and Microsoft Image Creator are free, but they have strict guidelines for commercial use or unclear licensing terms.

If you deliver work products at a design company, choosing a tool with commercial safety in mind, such as Adobe Firefly, helps avoid legal risks. For personal blogs or social media posts, tools with free tiers are sufficient. Make the final decision by reviewing each tool's terms of service and consulting a specialist, such as a lawyer, if necessary.

Japanese prompt accuracy and platforms

The degree to which instructions in Japanese are accurately reflected varies by tool. DALL-E 3 and Microsoft Image Creator have clear support for Japanese prompts, allowing you to generate images through natural conversation. In contrast, Midjourney and Flux are primarily English-based, with limited accuracy for Japanese.

The available platforms are also important. Check whether the tool works in a web browser or requires Discord or a local PC. Stable Diffusion offers high customizability but requires a high-performance GPU and technical knowledge.

Pricing structure and free tier availability

Subscription-based and usage-based models differ in when costs are incurred. Midjourney starts at $10/month but has no free plan. In contrast, Leonardo AI and Ideogram 3.0 offer free tiers that allow a certain number of generations per day.

If you generate large volumes of images, usage-based pricing via API, such as Flux (from $0.014 per image), may be cheaper. If you use a fixed amount each month, monthly plans like Adobe Firefly Premium ($6.99/month) or ChatGPT Plus, which includes DALL-E 3 ($20/month), are easier to understand.

Desired image quality and special features

If you want "beautiful photo-like images," Midjourney is a good fit. If you need "accurate text within images," Ideogram 3.0 or Recraft V4 are suitable. Recraft V4 supports vector image (SVG) generation, which is useful for logo creation.

If you want to edit existing images, features like Adobe Firefly's Generative Fill or Midjourney's inpainting are helpful. Depending on your goals, compare not just generation capabilities but also editing features and style control options.

FAQ

Q. Are there any AI image generation tools that are completely free to use?

You can use Google ImageFX and Microsoft Image Creator for free just by registering an account. Additionally, Leonardo AI, Ideogram 3.0, and Recraft V4 offer free plans.

However, free plans often have limits on the number of generations or credits. Also, please note that some tools add watermarks to images generated with their free versions or make them public.

Q. Which tools allow you to generate images using Japanese prompts?

DALL-E 3 and Microsoft Image Creator support generation using natural Japanese prompts. Adobe Firefly also supports Japanese prompts (though accuracy is slightly lower than with English). Leonardo AI partially supports Japanese prompts.

Midjourney and Stable Diffusion have limited Japanese support, and English prompts tend to yield higher accuracy. Therefore, if you want to give precise instructions in Japanese, tools like DALL-E 3 are suitable.

Q. Which tools can be used for commercial purposes with peace of mind?

Adobe Firefly is trained on licensed data and includes an intellectual property indemnification program. As a result, it is considered to have high legal safety for commercial use by businesses.

The open-source models of Stable Diffusion and Flux can also be used commercially if you meet the license conditions. However, the Flux Dev model is non-commercial. Please check the specific terms on each official website’s terms of service, and consult a specialist such as a lawyer if you are unsure how to proceed.

Q. What should I do if I want to accurately render text within images (such as logos or posters)?

Ideogram 3.0 is rated as having the highest level of in-image text rendering accuracy in the industry. It also supports Japanese text rendering, making it ideal for design purposes.

DALL-E 3 and Recraft V4 also have high text rendering accuracy and are suitable for creating logos and posters. However, since Japanese accuracy varies by tool, we recommend checking actual outputs.

Q. Are there any AI image generation tools that can be run locally for free?

Stable Diffusion is an open-source model and can be run locally for free. It requires a high-performance GPU, but its main features are the lack of licensing fees and maximum customizability.

The Flux Klein model is also provided under the Apache 2.0 license and can be used for free. While it requires technical knowledge, it is suitable for those who want to perform advanced control while keeping costs low.

Q. Is there a mechanism to identify that an image was created by AI?

DALL-E 3 and Adobe Firefly attach C2PA metadata to generated images, allowing you to verify that they were made by AI. In Adobe Firefly, the prompts used and the generation date and time are also recorded. Google ImageFX automatically embeds a digital watermark called SynthID.

Summary

This article compared 10 AI image generation tools, including Midjourney and DALL-E 3. Each tool differs in features such as image quality, text rendering accuracy, commercial use safety, and customizability. Pricing models also vary, ranging from completely free tools to paid plans.

When adopting a tool, it is important to check the balance between features that fit your goals and costs. If you are considering commercial use, carefully review license terms and legal safety. Please check the official website for the latest pricing and features.

• For creating high-quality art images → Midjourney (highest level of image quality and beauty)
• For easy generation using Japanese → DALL-E 3 (supports natural Japanese prompts)
• For safe use in commercial design → Adobe Firefly (trained on licensed data)

View all AI image generation tools (18 items)