The 11 Best AI Image Generators in 2025 [Free & Paid]

Summary: Check out the post and learn the best 11 AI image generators to make high-quality stock photos and customized artwork!

With the dawn of a new era in creativity and digital art, the birth of AI image generators has been revolutionizing the way we conceptualize and create visual content. From advertising campaigns to textbook illustrations, and from scientific publications to art gallery installations, AI-generated images have proliferated widely. By simply entering a text prompt, these advanced neural networks are able to visualize your description and produce stunning works of art never before possible. Here in this post, we have highlighted the top 11 best image generators to easily create visually engaging content and push the boundaries of what was once imaginable.

The 11 Best AI Image Generators at a Glance

• 1. Midjourney: Best for generating realistic and coherent AI images.
• 2. DALL-E: Best user-friendly AI image generator to create AI images.
• 3. Deep Dream Generator: Best AI image generator for transforming existing images into surreal artworks.
• 4. NightCafe: AI image generator with a variety of AI models.
• 5. Runway ML: Best AI image generator with a suite of integrated AI-powered tools.
• 6. Wombo Dream: Best for artists and illustrators to generate surreal images using AI.
• 7. Stable Diffusion : open-source AI Image generator for skilled users and large-scale projects.
• 8. Fotor: One-Stop AI app platform with the capiability of AI image generation.
• 9. Adobe Firefly: Best AI text to image tool to integrate AI-generated images into photos.
• 10. Starry AI: Best free AI image generator app on mobile phone.
• 11. Generative AI by Getty Images: Best AI image generator to generate commercially safe pictures.

What Is the AI Image Generator

An AI image generator is a sophisticated software or system that uses AI algorithms to create images. The algorithms are trained on large datasets of existing images, learning to recognize visual patterns and features, and can then generate new images by replicating the styles, objects, people, and other elements identified during training. This allows the AI picture generator to produce realistic and intricate images based on the datasets they analyzed.

There are different types of AI image generators, such as generative adversarial networks (GANs), variable autoencoders (VAEs), and transformers. Each architecture has its own strengths and weaknesses that make it better suited for certain tasks. For example, GANs excel at generating highly realistic images but may lack coherence, while on the other hand, VAEs are better at learning the entire dataset distribution and generating diverse images, though the results tend to be more blurry.

There are different types of AI image generators, such as generative adversarial networks (GANs), variable autoencoders (VAEs), and transformers. Each architecture has its own strengths and weaknesses that make it better suited for certain tasks. For example, GANs excel at generating highly realistic images but may lack coherence, while on the other hand, VAEs are better at learning the entire dataset distribution and generating diverse images, though the results tend to be more blurry.

11 Best AI Image Generators in 2025

1. Midjourney

Best for generating realistic and coherent AI images.

Rating: 4.6/5 by Product Hunt

Midjourney is is widely considered one of the best AI image generators, praised for its ability to produce highly detailed, imaginative, and stylistically diverse images. It excels at transforming complex and abstract prompts into visually stunning results, making it ideal for artists and creators seeking creative inspiration or high-quality visuals. What sets MidJourney apart is its capacity to generate both hyper-realistic and surreal art, offering users a wide range of styles from photorealistic imagery to fantastical concepts. The AI’s understanding of various artistic genres allows for deep customization, enabling users to adjust elements like lighting, texture, and color tone to achieve more personalized and unique results.

With frequent updates that enhance its capabilities, MidJourney continues to lead the field in terms of creative flexibility and output quality. Whether for professional projects or personal exploration, it’s an invaluable tool for generating striking, high-quality visuals that push the boundaries of artistic expression.

Price: Four subscription plans start from $10/month.

Pros:

• One of the best AI picture generators that uses AI to generate realistic and coherent images.
• Highly customizable, allowing users to tailor the platform to their specific needs and requirements.

Cons:

• It can only be accessed through Discord, which can be inconvenient.
• Any images created with the AI image tool are set to be publicly visible by default.
• No free trials are available.

2. DALL-E

Best user-friendly AI image generator to create AI images.

Rating: 4.0/5 by CNET

Dall-E is a leading AI image generator renowned for its strong natural language understanding, translating prompts into diverse and imaginative visuals. DALL-E 3 excels at interpreting complex requests and offers an intuitive conversational approach through its ChatGPT integration, allowing for easy refinement. Its strength lies in generating images across a wide range of styles and creatively combining concepts. While it has improved in rendering fine details, users might find less granular control compared to some alternatives. Despite potential limitations in precise interpretation and parameter control, DALL-E's ease of use, strong language comprehension, and capacity for high-quality, creative image generation make it a top choice in the AI art landscape. Its accessibility through the ChatGPT Plus subscription further enhances its appeal.

Price: ChatGPT Plus includes DALL·E for $20/month, while API pricing starts at $0.016 per image.

Pros:

• Beginner-friendly AI image generator to generate AI images.
• Capable of generating more realistic images at higher resolutions that incorporate different artistic concepts, attributes, and styles.

Cons:

• Only accepts prompts written in the English Language.
• It cannot produce accurate images when presented with descriptive prompts containing more than three objects, negation, numbers, and connected sentences.

3. Deep Dream Generator

Best Best AI image generator for transforming existing images into surreal artworks.

Rating: 4.5/5 by Trustpilot

Deep Dream Generator distinguishes itself by transforming existing images into surreal artworks, enhancing patterns through algorithmic pareidolia, unlike text-to-image generators. Its user-friendly interface offers various AI models and customization options to create psychedelic and intricate results from uploaded photos. The platform also supports a community for sharing and inspiration, with tiered subscription plans offering varying levels of features and output quality.

While Deep Dream Generator excels at image transformation and offers unique artistic exploration, it's not designed for generating entirely new concepts from text alone. Its reliance on existing images means achieving highly specific edits can be unpredictable, and the interface might feel less modern to some. However, its distinctive ability to create mesmerizing, dreamlike visuals from your photos makes it a valuable tool for artists seeking to explore AI-driven image manipulation and push creative boundaries.

Price: Free; Subscription plans start at $19/month.

Pros:

• Excels at creating dreamlike, patterned artwork from your images.
• Easy to navigate for all skill levels.

Cons:

• Not ideal for generating entirely new concepts from text.
• Results can be unexpected, and mastering advanced controls takes time.

4. NightCafe

Best AI image generator with a variety of AI models.

Rating: 4/5 by Software Advice

NightCafe is a flexible AI image generator offering text-to-image, style transfer, and more, appealing to users wanting diverse creation methods. Its credit system allows free starting use with paid options for more generation.

A vibrant community fosters sharing and learning. Strengths include its accessible interface, variety of AI models (Stable Diffusion, DALL-E 2, etc.), and customization options. The community features and daily free credits are also beneficial. However, the credit system can become costly for heavy use, and output quality varies by model and prompt complexity. Navigating the large community feed can also be overwhelming. Overall, Nightcafe's versatility and community make it a strong choice for exploring various AI art generation styles.

Price: Free with limited features; 3 subscription plans start from $9.99/month for 100 credits.

Pros:

• Able to generate 3D scenarios.
• A variety of styles and art generation modes.
• Intuitive interface accessible for users of all levels of expertise.

Cons:

• The technical support is not as satisfactory as expected.
• More refined prompt terms are required during the AI image generation process.

5. Runway ML

Best AI image generator with a suite of integrated AI-powered tools

Rating: 4.0/5 by All Things AL

Runway ML is an advanced AI image generator that has earned a reputation for its versatility and professional-grade capabilities. Designed with creators and professionals in mind, Runway ML stands out by combining AI-driven image generation with powerful video editing and multimedia tools. This makes it an ideal choice not only for still images but also for anyone working in video, animation, or other dynamic visual mediums. The platform’s AI models can generate high-quality images based on text prompts or through customization, enabling users to create anything from realistic scenes to more abstract or stylized artwork.

One of Runway ML’s greatest strengths is its integration with other creative tools, allowing users to seamlessly incorporate AI-generated images into larger multimedia projects. This makes it particularly valuable for filmmakers, designers, and marketers who need to incorporate visuals into complex workflows. The platform’s easy-to-use interface, combined with its powerful capabilities, ensures that both beginners and professionals can quickly generate the images they need without a steep learning curve.

Price: Free version with limited features; Subscription plans start at around $15–$30 per month for the Creator Plan, and $35–$75 per month for the Pro Plan.

Pros:

• Easy to use; beginner-friendly.
• All-in-one AI image generators with an array of adjustable parameters and a range of styles to choose from.

Cons:

• Extra credits are required for resource-intensive image generation tasks.
• A robust computing device is required for optimal performance.

6. Wombo Dream

Best for artists and illustrators to generate surreal images using AI

Rating: 4.8/5 by Apple Store

Wombo Dream is another AI image generator known for its simplicity and creative output. This platform leverages powerful AI to turn text prompts into visually striking images, making it an excellent choice for users looking to quickly generate art without a steep learning curve. Wombo Dream’s intuitive interface allows users to easily create stunning visuals in a variety of styles, from surreal landscapes to abstract art. What sets Wombo Dream apart is its ability to produce unique, often dreamlike imagery with minimal input. Its AI excels at interpreting prompts and translating them into vivid, highly stylized images. The platform also offers a range of art styles to choose from, giving users the flexibility to experiment with different looks and creative directions.

Price: Free version; Dream Premium costs $9.99 per month or $89.99 per year with higher resolution outputs and faster generation speeds.

Pros:

• The AI image tool is easy to use and requires minimal technical skills to create a music video.
• A great way to unleash creativity and generate unique content.

Cons:

• Limited controls over the AI-generated images.
• Wombo Dream is primarily designed to create abstract and unconventional images, which may not be suitable for practical use.

7. Stable Diffusion

Best open-source AI Image generator for skilled users and large-scale projects.

Rating: 4.4/5 by PC Guide

Leveraging advanced AI algorithms trained on a vast collection of artworks, Stable Diffusion is a leading AI image generator renowned for its open-source nature, flexibility, and high-quality output. Its open ecosystem and vast community enable unparalleled customization through diverse models and tools. This allows users significant control over style and composition, producing detailed and coherent images across numerous artistic styles. The active community provides extensive support and resources. Running it locally offers privacy and cost benefits after setup.

However, its power comes with a steeper learning curve, especially for initial setup and optimization. The quality of community-developed resources can vary. Ethical considerations regarding content generation are also important. Despite these points, Stable Diffusion's potent capabilities, customization, and vibrant community make it a top choice for those seeking ultimate control and cutting-edge results in AI image generation.

Price: Free; monthly subscription plans tailored for skilled users start at $9/month.

Pros:

• Generate realistic-looking and accurate images using AI.
• An array of controls to adjust the images that the AI tool generates.
• An ideal option for large AI picture/photo/image generation projects.

Cons:

• More complex than other AI image generation models, and requires more computational resources.
• A deep learning curve is required for users.

8. Fotor

Best one-stop AI image generator with advanced photo editing tools.

Rating: 4.6/5 by Capterra

Fotor is a user-friendly AI image generator known for its powerful yet accessible features. It’s perfect for both beginners and professionals who need high-quality visuals quickly, offering a wide range of styles and templates for various projects, from social media content to marketing materials. The platform’s intuitive interface makes it easy to generate and tweak images, while its integration with advanced photo editing tools allows users to refine visuals seamlessly.

Though it may not offer as much customization as some other platforms, Fotor excels at providing fast, impressive results with minimal effort, making it a great choice for those seeking both ease of use and creative flexibility.

Price: Free to use; Subscription plan starts from $8.99 per month or $39.99 per year.

Pros:

• Easy-to-use interface, suitable for beginners.
• Generates high-quality images quickly.
• Offers a variety of styles and templates for diverse projects.
• Integrates AI image generation with advanced photo editing tools.

Cons:

• Limited customization options compared to more advanced platforms.
• Free version has watermarks and fewer features.

9. Adobe Firefly

Best AI image tool to integrate AI-generated images into photos.

Rating: 4.1/5 by Creative Bloq

The birth of Adobe Firefly is a powerful AI image generator that produces high-quality, photorealistic visuals and stylized artwork from text prompts. Integrated with Adobe’s creative suite, it’s an excellent choice for professionals, offering seamless compatibility with tools like Photoshop and Illustrator. Firefly excels in generating images with attention to composition, lighting, and color, ensuring polished and natural results.

One of its standout features is its ethical approach to AI, using responsibly sourced training data, which addresses concerns around AI-generated content. Overall, Firefly is ideal for users seeking high-quality, customizable images with the added benefit of integration into Adobe’s ecosystem, making it a top choice for professional creatives.

Price: Free beta online; the premium plans start from 19.99/month as part of the Creative Cloud Plan.

Pros:

• An AI-generative solution to streamline repetitive and complex tasks for creators: AI image generation, video generation, text generation, and layout generation.
• User-friendly interface and a variety of customization options for image generation.

Cons:

• The tool is still in beta mode, making it less compatible with other tools.
• Lacks advanced features and stability compared to other more established AI image generation tools.

10. Starry AI

Best free AI image generator app on mobile phone

Rating: 3.3/5 by Google Play

Starry AI is a versatile AI image generator that creates high-quality artwork from text prompts in various artistic styles like realism, abstraction, and fantasy. It’s user-friendly, making it ideal for both beginners and experienced artists. The AI generates detailed, visually compelling images, accurately reflecting the provided prompt. What sets Starry AI apart is its customization options, allowing users to adjust style, detail, and color balance for tailored results. It also offers high-resolution image downloads, making it suitable for professional use. Overall, Starry AI is a great choice for those looking to create unique, high-quality images with ease.

Price: Free but only allows up to 5 watermark-free artworks daily.

Pros:

• Clean and simple interface for both beginners and experts.
• A variety of styles to choose from to generate polished AI images.
• Offer desktop, cloud app, and mobile versions on both iOS and Android.

Cons:

• A limited number of artworks to create daily.
• Limited editing features compared with more dedicated AI image generation tools.

11. Generative AI by Getty Images

Best AI image generator to generate commercially safe pictures

Rating: 4.6/5 by MIT Technology Review

Getty Images is a high-quality AI image generator that creates realistic and artistically refined visuals from text prompts. Leveraging Getty’s vast library and expertise in visual content, it offers professional-grade images suitable for commercial use. The platform excels in producing detailed, nuanced images, making it ideal for marketing, advertising, and media professionals.

With integration into Getty’s ecosystem, users can access premium stock photos and resources, ensuring ease of use and copyright compliance. Overall, Generative AI by Getty Images is perfect for those needing top-tier, realistic, and ethically generated images for professional projects.

Price: The AI image tool is priced separately from a standard Getty Images subscription, with charges based on the volume of prompts used.

Pros:

• An ideal AI image generator to generate commercially safe pictures.
• Great at generating lifelike photos of human figures.

Cons:

• Limited controls over the image generation process.
• The overall quality is less than satisfactory compared with more specialized AI image generators.

FAQs

1. Are AI-Generated Images Copyrighted？

The copyright status of AI-generated images can be a bit complex and varies depending on the jurisdiction, but here's a general overview:

In the U.S. (as of current law):

• Copyright law traditionally protects works that are created by human authors. Since AI-generated images are created by a machine, they do not automatically qualify for copyright protection under U.S. law, because there is no human author involved in the creation.
• This means that if an AI system generates an image without human involvement (e.g., inputting a prompt but not making any creative decisions), the image may not be copyrighted.
• However, if a human contributes significantly to the creation process (e.g., refining prompts or choosing specific elements), there may be room for the human to claim copyright on the resulting image.

In other countries:

• Many other countries follow similar principles, but there are nuances in how copyright is interpreted. For example, some countries may allow AI-generated works to be copyrighted if a human creator provides the necessary creative input.

Commercial Use:

• Even if AI-generated images aren’t strictly protected by copyright, some platforms or services (like MidJourney or DALL·E) may claim ownership of the images you create using their tools, or they may provide specific licenses for their use, which can affect your ability to use the images commercially.

If you're considering using AI-generated images for commercial purposes, it's crucial to review the terms of service of the AI tool you're using to understand any licensing restrictions that may apply.

2. What is the Best AI Image Generator?

The best AI image generator currently is MidJourney, known for its high-quality, detailed images, especially in artistic and creative styles. It offers advanced customization and consistently produces impressive results for both personal and professional use.