For years, AI image generators have been creating (brewing, generating?) quite a storm. If you’ve read a magazine, watched prime-time news, or used social media, you can’t have missed AI-generated images.
They’re widely used, which makes sense given that the high-quality materials required to build them are now accessible to most people. The applications on this list will provide you with everything you need if you want to join in on the fun or integrate some AI-powered features into your business procedures.
It’s worth spending a few hours experimenting with these text-to-image AI technologies, if only so you can understand them technically. In the next few months and years, you’ll probably see a lot more of their work, whether you like it or not.
Top AI Image Generators
1. DALL·E 3
With good cause, DALL·E 3 is undoubtedly the most well-known name in AI image generators. The first AI-powered picture generator to produce intriguing images and be broadly accessible to a sufficient number of people to become viral was DALL·E 2.
Additionally, DALL•E 2 can still be accessed via its web app and API, but DALL•E 3 is a significant improvement that can be accessed using ChatGPT or Microsoft Bing’s AI Copilot. It produces more interesting, dependable, and practical results for each given request. OpenAI seemed to be falling behind its competitors in the battle for AI image generators, but DALL•E 3 has quickly caught up to them.
The most important point is that DALL·E 3 is easy to use. When you tell ChatGPT or Bing what you want to see, you will be provided with two or four AI-generated possibilities in a couple of seconds. Each outcome will be unique since it makes use of GPT-4’s linguistic comprehension to extend your requests, and you can always request more.
OpenAI no longer offers a free trial of DALL•E 3, but Microsoft does. I found Copilot to be a bit trickier to use, and it didn’t adapt to my follow-up reminders, but the pricing is outstanding. However, using DALL·E 3 via ChatGPT is the best option. When using ChatGPT Plus, you may use it as often as you’d like, however, ChatGPT-4 has a 40-message restriction every three hours.
Features:
- Improved accuracy.
- Easy to use.
- Brainstorming assistance.
- Safety and legal protocols.
- Integration with Bing.
- Ability to opt-out.
Price:
- Free trial not available.
- Included in ChatGPT subscription for $20 per month.
2. ImageFX from Google
More than a year after the release of DALL-E 2, Google’s ImageFX emerged as a surprise contender in the AI picture generator market. With its ability to generate realistic, high-quality images, even of difficult things like hands, ImageFX has established itself as a serious competitor for the title of finest AI picture generator.
It is simpler to improve your prompts or come up with new ones with the expressive chips in this AI tool. It emphasizes the sections of your prompts and offers several word substitutions to alter your output. Furthermore, ImageFX offers recommendations for a variety of styles, including minimal, sketch, handcrafted, photorealistic, 35mm film, and more.
Features:
- Easy to use.
- High-quality results.
- Expressive chips.
- Powered by: Imagen 2.
- Images from textual descriptions.
- SynthID watermark.
Price: Free.
3. Midjourney
Out of all the best AI image generators on this list, Midjourney consistently yields the images that users like the most. It produces more cohesive visuals, has richer textures and colors, and is more fascinating and visually pleasing.
Specifically, real-world objects and people seem more realistic and natural than they do with other AI picture generators—that is, at least when they don’t need a lot of prompting—and the most recent versions can even approximate human hands. It is telling that it was the first AI picture generator to win an art contest.
A major issue that Midjourney is now experiencing is that the beta can only be accessed via Discord. You may type or imagine (anything you want to see) to enter a prompt after you join Midjourney’s Discord server or invite the Midjourney bot to one you manage. The bot will then generate four distinct copies of your prompt, each of which you may download, modify, resize, and do a lot more with.
Fortunately, this is about to change very shortly. A genuine web app is being alpha-tested by Midjourney. Although there may still be some kinks in Discord, the firm promises to sustain it for a very long time. Nevertheless, it’s fantastic that the greatest AI picture creator will soon be accessible to a wider audience.
Features:
- Text-to-image generation.
- Artistic style.
- Creative control.
- Outpainting.
- Background Removal.
- Object Recognition.
- High Image Resolution.
Price:
- Monthly subscription – $10/month.
- Annual subscription – $8/month.
4. DreamStudio by Stability AI
The most well-known open-source text-to-image generator was made by Stability AI and is called Stable Diffusion. The program is free to download and use, but technical expertise is needed. Consistency DreamStudio was created by AI to make sure that everyone, regardless of ability level, could readily use the technology. Stable Diffusion is integrated into DreamStudio’s user interface, which is meant to be intuitive and easy to use.
DreamStudio is among the greatest AI picture producers; it has several customization options, one of which is a “negative prompt.” Users may indicate what they want removed from the finished picture. The simplicity with which the picture ratio can be changed is another helpful feature. Given that the majority of the finest AI picture generators usually output images in a constant 1:1 ratio, this feature is crucial.
Features:
- AI Art Generators.
- Generative AI.
- AI Design.
- AI Tools.
- Powered by: SDXL 1.0 by Stability AI.
- Open source.
- Accepts specific instructions.
Price:
- 25 free credits to a new account.
- $1 per 100 credits.
5. Adobe Firefly
It should come as no surprise that Adobe has one of the most powerful AI picture generators accessible, at least in terms of tool integration, given that it has been integrating AI capabilities into its products for more than 15 years. Although its AI model, Firefly, is available for free online or via Adobe Express, it performs best when used with the most recent version of Photoshop.
The firefly is not without its tricks. It can produce text effects from a textual prompt (imagine the word “TOAST” written with letters that appear like they’re made of toast), recolor vector artwork, or enhance your photos with AI-generated elements in addition to producing fresh visuals from an extensive verbal description. The online software allows you to try each of them, but Firefly really excels with the last one.
When used just as a text-to-image generator, Firefly’s output may be somewhat inconsistent. For certain requests, it can rival or surpass DALL·E or Stable Diffusion, but for others, I’m not sure what its goal was. But its integration with Photoshop, the industry-standard picture editor, is amazing.
Features:
- Text-to-image.
- Generative fill.
- Text effects.
- Generative recolor.
- Text to template.
- Replace subjects.
- Video editing.
- 3D Modeling.
Price:
- Free plan available.
- Firefly premium: US$4.99/mo.
- Single Apps: US$9.99/mo.
- Creative Cloud All Apps: US$35.99/mo.
6. Dream by WOMBO
Using user-uploaded material, Dream by WOMBO is an AI picture generator that produces deepfake images and films. It enables users to infuse their regular photographs with fantasy, giving their material a creative flair. This app received 141K+ ratings on Apple’s App Store, five stars, and the best AI picture generator at the Google Play Awards.
Various design approaches, including realistic, expressionist, comic, abstract, zealous, ink, and more, are suggested by Dream by WOMBO. The tool comes with a free, easy-to-use desktop mobile version in addition to the app. You may choose to pay $10 a month or $90 a year if you’d like more features.
Features:
- 42 art-style options.
- 6 prompt text options.
- Customizable prompts.
- Change the background color.
- Mobile app.
- Remix your images.
- Multiple templates.
Price:
- Free version available.
- Premium Monthly: $4.99/ $6.99.
- Premium Yearly: $59.99/ $89.99.
7. Generative AI by Getty Images
AI picture generators are contentious. Beyond the ethical implications of their usage, the law is not quite clear. Your rivals may steal your photos and use them without permission since the U.S. Generally speaking, the Copyright Office has determined that AI photos are not covered by copyright.
To be honest, it makes sense to just steer clear of generative AIs if you own a company. However, if you’re serious about using them, the best choice is to employ a platform like Getty Images, which claims that its generative AI picture generator won’t cause you any difficulties.
Getty Images generative AI is quite excellent, particularly when it comes to producing stock-like images, and you can simply access it via iStock. I put it to the test with some classics, like “woman laughing alone with salad,” and the outcome was rather reliable. The finest choices couldn’t be distinguished from actual stock photographs at first sight.
Features:
- Commercially safe.
- End‑to‑end solution.
- Scalable stability.
- Compensates creators.
- Personalized stock photos.
- Powered by: NVIDIA Picasso.
Price: $14.99 for 100 prompts.
8. Craiyon
Previously dubbed DALL-E Mini, Craiyon is still among the best AI image generators. It transforms text inputs into visually stunning and distinctive artwork. This AI-generating tool creates graphics from simple text descriptions by using DALL-E Mini technology.
This AI-powered tool for creating images is perfect for hobbyists or professional artists looking for inspiration. It invites people to investigate the many possibilities presented by AI-driven art. Furthermore, every invention is guaranteed to be safe and unique because of Craiyon’s dedication to user privacy and quality.
Features:
- AI-Powered Image Generation.
- Prompt Ideas.
- High-Quality Outputs.
- Prompt Prediction.
- No Watermarks.
- Ad-Free Experience.
- Private Servers.
Price:
- Free plan available.
- Supporter Plan: Priced at $5/month.
- Professional Plan: For $20/month.
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing.
The Ethical And Legal Ramifications Of Images Created By AI
Even though AI-generated pictures are already commonplace, we still need to choose carefully whether and how to utilize them. Clear legal guidelines about AI-generated photographs are lacking. While that applies to both sides of the issue: artists whose work was stolen for AI training have no legal protection, according to the U.S. Copyright Office, while AI-generated artwork may not be copyrighted. (For this reason, Firefly was trained only using public domain information and licensed photos.)
Suits have already resulted from it. For instance, Stability AI is being sued for unauthorized use of artists’ photos by Getty Photos and the artists themselves. A class action lawsuit has also been filed against many AI picture producers.
Although using AI image generators to produce AI-generated graphics for a few blog photos or social media posts is probably not going to get you into trouble, building an entire strategy on AI-generated art might be problematic since there isn’t yet a clear-cut policy in place. And there’s the prejudice problem.
As of right now, artificial intelligence shares many biases with humans, which may result in anything from harmful information to the representation of stereotypes. While testing some of the applications, they encountered this with the photographs they produced; yet, some programs intentionally offer variation to the images they produce. It is our responsibility as humans to prevent it by checking AI-generated material for bias and improving our instructions to get rid of it as much as we can.
FAQ
Q: Why use picture generators powered by AI?
A: AI image generators have several advantages, including increased efficiency, creative work automation, and the ability to create novel applications in a variety of industries, including marketing, entertainment, and design. In comparison to manual approaches, they also save time and money by making it easier to create realistic pictures for research, training datasets, and prototyping.
Q: Can I have AI image generators for free?
A: A few of the mentioned options offer a free version. You can use them.
Q: Are AI image producers morally questionable?
A: AI image generators bring up moral questions about permission, privacy, and abuse. Without authorization, creating realistic portraits of people might result in fraud, identity theft, or manipulation. Furthermore, producing unsuitable or deceptive material may cause damage to people or spread false information, underscoring the need to develop and use such technologies responsibly.
