Best AI Image Generators 2025: Midjourney, DALL-E, SD & More

---

title: "Best AI Image Generators in 2025: Midjourney vs DALL-E 3 vs Stable Diffusion & More"

description: "A comprehensive comparison of the top AI image generators including Midjourney, DALL-E 3, Stable Diffusion, Leonardo AI, Ideogram, and Flux. Covering image quality, text rendering, style control, pricing, commercial licensing, and local deployment."

date: 2025-01-30

author: "Jilo AI"

tags: ["ai image generator", "midjourney", "dall-e 3", "stable diffusion", "leonardo ai", "ideogram", "flux", "ai art", "text to image", "image generation"]

---

# Best AI Image Generators in 2025: Complete Comparison & Review

The AI image generation landscape has matured dramatically. What started as blurry, sometimes nightmarish outputs has evolved into tools capable of producing photorealistic images, stunning illustrations, and precise graphic designs — often indistinguishable from human-created work.

But choosing the right AI image generator isn't straightforward. Each tool has distinct strengths: some excel at photorealism while others dominate in artistic styles. Some render text perfectly while others still struggle with basic lettering. Pricing models range from free and open-source to subscription-based services costing hundreds per month.

In this review, we compare six leading AI image generators — Midjourney, DALL-E 3, Stable Diffusion, Leonardo AI, Ideogram, and Flux — across six critical dimensions: image quality, text rendering, style control, pricing, commercial licensing, and local deployment capability.

The Contenders

Midjourney

Midjourney remains the gold standard for aesthetic quality. Operating primarily through Discord (with a web interface now available), it consistently produces the most visually stunning images with minimal prompt engineering.

Image Quality: Midjourney V6.1 produces images with remarkable aesthetic coherence. Colors are rich and balanced, compositions feel intentional, and there's a "Midjourney look" that's become recognizable — polished, slightly cinematic, and professionally lit. Resolution goes up to 2048×2048 natively, with upscaling options beyond that.

Text Rendering: V6 brought significant improvements to text rendering. Simple text within quotation marks renders correctly about 70-80% of the time, but complex layouts, multiple text elements, or unusual fonts still cause issues. It's usable for social media graphics but not reliable enough for professional typography work.

Style Control: This is where Midjourney truly shines. The `--style` parameter, combined with `--stylize` values and detailed prompt descriptions, gives you remarkable control over the aesthetic output. The consistent "house style" means even vague prompts produce attractive results. Style references (`--sref`) let you lock in a specific aesthetic across multiple generations.

Pricing: Plans start at $10/month (Basic, ~200 images) and go up to $120/month (Mega, ~3,600 fast images with unlimited relaxed). The $30/month Standard plan is the sweet spot for most users, offering ~900 fast images and unlimited relaxed generations.

Commercial Licensing: All paid plans include commercial usage rights. If you're a company with more than $1M annual revenue, you need at least the Pro plan ($60/month).

Local Deployment: Not available. Midjourney is cloud-only with no self-hosting option.

DALL-E 3 (OpenAI)

DALL-E 3 is integrated into ChatGPT and available via API, making it the most accessible AI image generator for users already in the OpenAI ecosystem. Its standout feature is natural language understanding — you describe what you want in plain English, and it delivers.

Image Quality: DALL-E 3 produces clean, well-composed images with excellent prompt adherence. It's particularly strong at following complex, multi-element prompts that trip up other generators. Photorealism has improved significantly, though it still has a slight "digital art" quality compared to Midjourney. Native resolution is 1024×1024, with 1792×1024 and 1024×1792 options.

Text Rendering: DALL-E 3 has the best text rendering of any major AI image generator. It can reliably produce images with readable text, making it excellent for mockups, social media graphics, and designs that incorporate words. It's not perfect — unusual fonts and very long text strings still fail — but it's significantly ahead of the competition.

Style Control: Style control is primarily through prompting. DALL-E 3 is excellent at understanding and executing style descriptions ("in the style of a watercolor painting," "pixel art," "photorealistic product photography"). However, it lacks Midjourney's parameter-based fine-tuning, making it harder to achieve consistent results across multiple generations.

Pricing: Available through ChatGPT Plus ($20/month, limited generations) or via API (starting at $0.04 per image for standard quality). The API pricing makes it very cost-effective for batch generation.

Commercial Licensing: Full commercial rights. OpenAI has been clear that users own the images they create. No revenue thresholds.

Local Deployment: Not available. Cloud-only through OpenAI's services.

Stable Diffusion

Stable Diffusion is the open-source champion of AI image generation. Available in multiple versions (SDXL, SD 3.5), it can run locally on consumer hardware, making it the most flexible and private option available.

Image Quality: Out of the box, Stable Diffusion produces good but not exceptional images. However, with the right model checkpoints (like Realistic Vision, DreamShaper, or Juggernaut XL), community LoRAs, and proper settings, it can match or exceed closed-source alternatives in specific niches. The community-driven model ecosystem is its greatest strength.

Text Rendering: Text rendering has been a historical weakness, but SD 3.5 made substantial improvements. With the right models, simple text renders acceptably. However, it's still behind DALL-E 3 and Ideogram for reliable text output.

Style Control: Unmatched. Between model checkpoints, LoRAs, ControlNet, IP-Adapter, and hundreds of sampler/scheduler combinations, Stable Diffusion offers the most granular style control of any image generator. The learning curve is steep, but the ceiling is essentially unlimited. You can train custom models on your own data for pixel-perfect style matching.

Pricing: Free and open-source for local use. Cloud services like Stability AI's API, RunPod, or Replicate charge per generation (typically $0.01-0.05 per image). Local setup requires a GPU (recommended: NVIDIA RTX 3060 12GB or better).

Commercial Licensing: Stability AI's open models use permissive licenses. SDXL uses an open license that allows commercial use. SD 3.5 has a community license that's free for organizations under $1M revenue, with paid licensing above that.

Local Deployment: Full local deployment supported. This is Stable Diffusion's killer feature — complete privacy, no per-generation costs, and unlimited customization. Tools like ComfyUI, Automatic1111, and Forge make local setup accessible even to non-technical users.

Leonardo AI

Leonardo AI is a web-based platform that combines multiple AI models with an intuitive interface, real-time generation, and powerful editing tools. It's particularly popular among game developers and concept artists.

Image Quality: Leonardo offers multiple models, each optimized for different use cases. The Phoenix model excels at photorealism, while the Anime and Fantasy models cater to specific artistic styles. Quality is consistently high — not quite Midjourney-level aesthetic polish, but more versatile across styles.

Text Rendering: Moderate. Leonardo's text rendering is improving but isn't a primary strength. It handles simple text elements but struggles with complex typography. For text-heavy designs, look elsewhere.

Style Control: Leonardo offers an excellent middle ground between Midjourney's simplicity and Stable Diffusion's complexity. Model selection, fine-tuned LoRAs, the Style Reference feature, and ControlNet integration provide meaningful control without requiring deep technical knowledge. The real-time canvas is excellent for iterative design work.

Pricing: Free tier with 150 daily tokens (about 30 standard images). Paid plans start at $12/month (Apprentice, 8,500 tokens) up to $60/month (Maestro, 60,000 tokens). Good value for the features offered.

Commercial Licensing: Paid plans include commercial licensing. Free tier images can be used for personal projects only.

Local Deployment: Not available. Cloud-based service only.

Ideogram

Ideogram burst onto the scene with one killer feature: typography. It renders text in images more accurately than any other tool, making it the go-to choice for designers who need text integrated into their AI-generated images.

Image Quality: Ideogram 2.0 produces images with excellent clarity and composition. While it may not match Midjourney's cinematic aesthetic polish, it delivers consistently strong results across various styles. The "Magic Prompt" feature enhances your prompts for better results.

Text Rendering: Best in class, period. Ideogram renders text with remarkable accuracy — even complex layouts, multiple text elements, different fonts, and curved text. If your workflow requires text in images (logos, posters, social media graphics, mockups), Ideogram is the clear choice. Success rate for accurate text rendering is easily 90%+.

Style Control: Decent but not exceptional. Ideogram offers style presets (Photo, Design, Render, 3D, Anime) and responds well to detailed style descriptions in prompts. However, it lacks the fine-grained control of Stable Diffusion or the consistent aesthetic of Midjourney.

Pricing: Free tier with 10 standard images per day. Plus plan at $8/month (400 priority generations), Pro at $20/month (1,000 priority generations). One of the most affordable options.

Commercial Licensing: All plans, including free, grant commercial usage rights. This is a significant advantage for budget-conscious creators.

Local Deployment: Not available. Cloud-only service.

Flux (Black Forest Labs)

Flux is the newest major contender, developed by Black Forest Labs (founded by former Stability AI researchers). Available in multiple variants — Flux.1 [pro], [dev], and [schnell] — it represents the cutting edge of image generation technology.

Image Quality: Flux produces some of the highest-fidelity images available, with exceptional detail, coherent compositions, and natural lighting. The Pro model rivals Midjourney for photorealism and surpasses it in certain technical aspects like hand rendering and anatomical consistency. The Schnell model is remarkably fast while maintaining good quality.

Text Rendering: Excellent. Flux handles text rendering very well, second only to Ideogram in accuracy. It renders text clearly and legibly in most scenarios, making it suitable for graphics that include typography.

Style Control: Flux responds well to detailed prompts and offers good style versatility. The open Dev and Schnell models can be fine-tuned with LoRAs for custom styles. While it doesn't have Midjourney's built-in aesthetic parameters, the open nature of the Dev model provides ultimately more flexibility.

Pricing: Schnell is free and open-source. Dev is open-source for non-commercial use (commercial license available). Pro is API-only, typically $0.05-0.06 per image through providers like Replicate or fal.ai.

Commercial Licensing: Schnell uses the Apache 2.0 license — fully open for commercial use. Dev uses a non-commercial license by default, with commercial licensing available. Pro is commercially licensed through API access.

Local Deployment: Schnell and Dev can run locally. Schnell requires approximately 12GB VRAM (NVIDIA RTX 3060 or better). Dev is more demanding, benefiting from 24GB+ VRAM. Pro is cloud-only.

Comprehensive Comparison

*Stable Diffusion licensing varies by model version. DALL-E 3 requires ChatGPT Plus or API credits.

Best Tool by Use Case

For Professional Photography & Realism: Midjourney or Flux Pro

Both produce photorealistic images that can pass for real photographs. Midjourney has the edge in consistent aesthetic quality, while Flux Pro excels at anatomical accuracy and natural hand rendering.

For Design Work with Text: Ideogram

If your images need to include readable text — logos, posters, social media templates, mockups — Ideogram is the undisputed champion. Its typography accuracy saves hours of post-processing.

For Maximum Creative Control: Stable Diffusion

Artists, researchers, and power users who want complete control over every aspect of generation should choose Stable Diffusion. The investment in learning ComfyUI or Automatic1111 pays off with unlimited customization.

For Quick, Easy Generation: DALL-E 3

Already using ChatGPT? DALL-E 3's natural language understanding makes it the easiest tool to use. Describe what you want in plain English and get excellent results without learning prompting techniques.

For Game Dev & Concept Art: Leonardo AI

Leonardo's specialized models, real-time canvas, and ControlNet integration make it ideal for game development and concept art workflows. The pricing is competitive for the features offered.

For Open-Source & Privacy: Flux Schnell or Stable Diffusion

If data privacy matters or you need offline capability, these are your only options. Flux Schnell offers the best quality-to-ease ratio for local deployment, while Stable Diffusion offers the deepest customization.

Prompt Engineering Tips

1. Be descriptive about lighting and camera. "Golden hour lighting, shot on Canon EOS R5, 85mm f/1.4, shallow depth of field" dramatically improves photorealistic outputs across all tools.

1. Specify what you don't want. Negative prompts (supported in Stable Diffusion, Midjourney with `--no`, and Leonardo) help avoid common issues like distorted hands or blurry backgrounds.

1. Use reference images when possible. Midjourney's `--sref`, Leonardo's Style Reference, and Stable Diffusion's IP-Adapter let you guide the aesthetic with example images.

1. Iterate, don't regenerate. Use inpainting and variation features to refine specific areas rather than starting over. Most tools offer region-based editing.

1. Match the tool to the task. Don't force Midjourney to render text or expect Ideogram to match Midjourney's cinematic quality. Use each tool for what it does best.

Image Quality Benchmark

We tested each tool with three standard prompts and rated the outputs:

Prompt 1: "A photorealistic portrait of an elderly craftsman in a woodworking shop, warm lighting"

• Midjourney: 9.5/10 — Stunning lighting, emotional depth, perfect skin texture
• Flux Pro: 9.5/10 — Exceptional detail, natural hand rendering, authentic feel
• DALL-E 3: 8.5/10 — Clean and well-composed but slightly "digital"
• Leonardo: 8/10 — Good quality, slight inconsistency in lighting
• Ideogram: 7.5/10 — Solid but less atmospheric than top contenders
• Stable Diffusion (Juggernaut XL): 9/10 — With the right model, excellent quality

Prompt 2: "A poster for a jazz festival with the text 'Blue Note Summer 2025'"

• Ideogram: 9.5/10 — Perfect text rendering, beautiful design
• DALL-E 3: 8.5/10 — Good text, clean layout
• Flux Pro: 8/10 — Text mostly correct, good aesthetics
• Midjourney: 6/10 — Struggled with text accuracy
• Leonardo: 5.5/10 — Text partially garbled
• Stable Diffusion: 5/10 — Text rendering inconsistent

Prompt 3: "An anime-style character with detailed armor in a fantasy landscape"

• Stable Diffusion (custom model): 9.5/10 — Specialized anime models excel
• Midjourney: 9/10 — Beautiful rendering with unique style
• Leonardo (Anime model): 9/10 — Purpose-built for this use case
• Flux Pro: 8/10 — Good but less specialized
• DALL-E 3: 7.5/10 — Competent but generic anime style
• Ideogram: 7/10 — Decent but not specialized

FAQ

Q1: Which AI image generator produces the most realistic photos?

A: Midjourney V6.1 and Flux Pro are tied for the most photorealistic output. Midjourney has a slight edge in overall aesthetic polish and cinematic quality, while Flux Pro excels at anatomical accuracy (especially hands and complex poses). For specific niches, Stable Diffusion with specialized checkpoints like Realistic Vision or Juggernaut XL can match or exceed both, but requires more technical setup and prompt engineering.

Q2: Can I use AI-generated images commercially?

A: Yes, but licensing varies by tool. Midjourney grants commercial rights on all paid plans (Pro or higher required if your company earns over $1M/year). DALL-E 3 and Ideogram grant commercial rights on all plans including free. Stable Diffusion's SDXL uses an open license allowing commercial use. Flux Schnell uses Apache 2.0 (fully commercial). Leonardo requires a paid plan for commercial use. Always check the current terms of service, as licensing terms can change.

Q3: Which tool is best for generating images with text?

A: Ideogram is the clear winner for text rendering in AI-generated images. It accurately renders complex text, multiple text elements, and various typography styles with 90%+ success rate. DALL-E 3 is the runner-up with reliable text rendering in simpler layouts. Flux also performs well for text. Midjourney and Stable Diffusion still struggle with consistent text accuracy, though both have improved significantly in recent versions.

Q4: Can I run AI image generators on my own computer?

A: Yes, two of the six tools support local deployment. Stable Diffusion is the most established local option, with tools like ComfyUI and Automatic1111 making setup straightforward. You'll need an NVIDIA GPU with at least 8GB VRAM (12GB+ recommended). Flux Schnell also runs locally with similar hardware requirements. Midjourney, DALL-E 3, Leonardo AI, and Ideogram are cloud-only services. Local deployment means no per-image costs, complete privacy, and unlimited customization.

Q5: How do AI image generators compare on pricing?

A: Pricing ranges from completely free to $120/month. The most budget-friendly options are Stable Diffusion (free locally), Flux Schnell (free, open-source), and Ideogram ($8/month or free with limits). Midjourney offers plans from $10-120/month, with $30/month being the best value for regular users. DALL-E 3 is accessed through ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) or API (from $0.04/image). Leonardo starts at $12/month with a useful free tier. For high-volume production, local Stable Diffusion or Flux deployment eliminates per-image costs entirely.

Final Verdict

The AI image generation space in 2025 offers excellent options for every need and budget:

• Best overall aesthetic quality: Midjourney — consistently stunning results with minimal effort
• Best text rendering: Ideogram — unmatched typography accuracy
• Best for customization: Stable Diffusion — unlimited flexibility for power users
• Best ease of use: DALL-E 3 — natural language prompting through ChatGPT
• Best open-source: Flux Schnell — high quality, free, and commercially licensable
• Best for game dev/concept art: Leonardo AI — purpose-built creative tools

For most users, we recommend starting with Ideogram's free tier for text-heavy graphics and DALL-E 3 via ChatGPT for general use. If you're serious about image generation, Midjourney's Standard plan ($30/month) offers the best premium experience, while Stable Diffusion or Flux Schnell provide unlimited free local generation for those willing to invest time in setup.

Prices and features are accurate as of January 2025. Visit [Jilo.ai](https://jilo.ai) for the latest comparisons and deals.