Midjourney is an AI image generator that has taken the world by storm since its inception in 2021. With its ability to create incredibly realistic and diverse images from simple text prompts, Midjourney has attracted millions of users in a short period of time.
However, as Midjourney‘s popularity grew, so did questions around how much it costs to use this powerful AI tool. In particular, many wonder if Midjourney is free to use or if there are limits on what you can do without paying.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know about Midjourney‘s pricing, free options, paid plans, and alternatives.
Is Midjourney AI Free?
When Midjourney first launched in July 2021, it offered a free trial where new users could generate 25 images without paying anything. This gave people a chance to test out the AI‘s capabilities before deciding if they want to pay for a subscription.
However, in April 2023, Midjourney removed this free trial option entirely. Now, you must choose one of their paid subscription plans in order to use the AI image generator.
So in short, no – Midjourney is no longer free to use in any capacity. You must pay a monthly fee to generate images.
How Much Does Midjourney Cost?
Midjourney currently offers three paid subscription plans:
- Basic Plan – $10 per month, 25 images per month
- Standard Plan – $30 per month, 200 images per month
- Pro Plan – $100 per month, unlimited images per month
The key differences between the plans are the number of images you can generate each month using Midjourney‘s "Fast Mode" (which produces images rapidly) and some extra features like 4K image outputs and private rooms.
All plans give you unlimited image generation using Midjourney‘s slower "Relaxed Mode", where you join a queue and wait for the AI to process your request.
You can also pay $4 to add 1 extra Fast Mode image to your plan‘s monthly quota. So if you need more than 25 fast images on the Basic plan, you‘d pay an additional $4 per image.
Overall, Midjourney‘s pricing is competitive with other AI image generators. The Basic plan is one of the cheapest options to get started with 25 images per month. Meanwhile, the Pro plan is great for power users who need unlimited high-quality images.
Is Midjourney‘s Free Trial Gone?
As mentioned above, Midjourney no longer offers a free trial for new users to test out the platform.
Previously, the free trial allowed 25 images to be generated which gave people a good feel for Midjourney‘s capabilities. However, this was removed in April 2023 likely due to the vast number of new users signing up.
It‘s possible Midjourney could bring back the free trial temporarily when launching major updates to the AI model. For example, they offered a 7-day 25 image trial when version 5.1 launched.
But in general, the continuous free trial option is gone and seems unlikely to return as the platform grows. The free trial served its purpose in building initial interest, but now Midjourney requires payment.
Midjourney Fast vs Relaxed Modes: What‘s the Difference?
All Midjourney subscription plans give you access to two different modes for generating images:
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Fast Mode: Images are returned rapidly, usually within 1 minute. But you have a limited number of Fast Mode images per month depending on your plan.
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Relaxed Mode: You can generate unlimited images, but have to wait in a queue that may take 10-20 minutes or longer.
With Fast Mode, Midjourney devotes more computing power to generate your images as quickly as possible. But Relaxed Mode balances out resources for all users, so you wait longer but can create unlimited images.
On the Basic plan, you‘d use Fast Mode for your 25 monthly images, then switch to Relaxed Mode for anything additional. Upgrading to Standard or Pro gets you more Fast Mode images before needing to use Relaxed Mode.
Power users on the Pro plan may never need Relaxed Mode, since you get unlimited Fast Mode images. But Relaxed is great as a free overflow option if you ever hit your limit.
What are Some Free Alternatives to Midjourney?
While Midjourney itself no longer offers any free usage, there are some free AI image alternatives to consider:
DALL-E Mini
DALL-E Mini is a scaled-down demo version of OpenAI‘s DALL-E 2 system. It offers free image generation with decent quality, but limited control and options compared to Midjourney.
Nightcafe Creator
Nightcafe Creator is an AI art generator focused on image styles like paintings, drawings, and digital art. Basic image creation is free, but there are limits on image size and generation speeds.
Bing Image Creator
Microsoft‘s new Bing Image Creator utilizes DALL-E 2 technology to generate images directly in Bing search results. It offers limited free image generation powered by "credits."
Stable Diffusion Web UI
This free web interface allows you to play with the Stable Diffusion AI model to create images. Quality is inconsistent, but the price is right at free.
Anthropic Claude
Claude is an AI assistant chatbot that can generate simple clipart-style images for free as part of conversational responses. Very limited compared to Midjourney.
Artbreeder
Artbreeder allows blending and altering existing images via AI to create new hybrid images. The basic functions are free to use.
While these free alternatives can be useful, none offer the quality, flexibility, and community of Midjourney. But they allow experimenting with AI generation at no cost.
Midjourney Has Set the Bar for AI Image Generation
Since launching just over a year ago in July 2021, Midjourney has set a new standard for AI-generated art through its stunning image quality, easy-to-use interface, and active community support.
While DALL-E 2 and other models may offer similar technical capabilities, Midjourney‘s focus on continuous improvement through feedback and testing with real users in the wild sets it apart.
Some key milestones and innovations from Midjourney demonstrating their leading approach:
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April 2022 – Midjourney introduces major improvements to face generation, allowing highly realistic and customizable portraits.
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May 2022 – Midjourney images win awards at Colorado State University‘s digital art competition, sparking debate on AI art.
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July 2022 – Midjourney implements an AI technique called latent diffusion that enhances image details while retaining artistic style.
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November 2022 – Midjourney expands the range of available image styles, including landscape photography, anime art, graffiti, and branded products.
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January 2023 – The Midjourney team grows to 11 researchers focused on model architecture, training techniques, and evaluating user feedback.
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February 2023 – Midjourney introduces better support for generating series of multiple related images through sequential prompts.
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April 2023 – Version 5 of the Midjourney model brings huge leaps in image quality and coherence compared to previous versions.
This rapid pace of improvement through real-world testing is why many believe Midjourney has pulled ahead of its AI competition. While alternative models like DALL-E 2 remain closed and research-focused, Midjourney is evolving based on direct user feedback.
The team is aggressively developing Midjourney through techniques like transfer learning – taking an existing model and retraining it on new data to specialize its skills. This allows efficiently developing expertise in specific image styles like wildlife photography, album art, or storybook illustrations that users request.
So while Midjourney may not be free, it delivers an unmatched AI image generation experience that is continuously getting better through real user interactions. For creatives, professionals, and hobbyists, it provides incredible value.
Should You Use Midjourney Despite the Cost?
Given that Midjourney no longer offers any free usage, is it still worth paying for access to the AI image generator?
For many, the answer is a resounding yes. Here are some key reasons Midjourney remains a very attractive tool even with the pricing model:
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Image quality – Midjourney creates stunning, photorealistic images that few free alternatives can match. The image coherence, fine details, and variability are state-of-the-art.
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Ease of use – The Discord bot interface makes prompting Midjourney seamless and intuitive without complex AI knowledge.
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Active community – Midjourney has an engaged, creative community for sharing ideas and techniques for getting the most out of the AI.
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Rapid iteration – You can quickly generate lots of variations and refine images through consecutive prompts as the AI learns your desired style.
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Access to new features – Paid users get access to leading-edge updates like 4K images, video generation, and improved model architectures.
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Commercial rights – Midjourney grants you commercial rights to use generated images, allowing you to sell prints, merchandise, and more.
For serious hobbyists or professionals applying AI art in their business, Midjourney remains the premier choice that is well worth the monthly subscription fee.
Occasional users may be better served by free alternatives to get their feet wet with AI image generation at zero cost. But those seeking quality, features, and creative freedom through AI art will find Midjourney‘s capabilities justify the expense.
Final Thoughts on Midjourney Pricing and Plans
Midjourney has cemented itself as one of the top AI platforms for image generation thanks to the impressive quality and capabilities of its models. But this level of technology and service comes at a cost.
While the removals of its free trial means you must now pay to play, Midjourney does try to make the capabilities accessible through competitive pricing on its Basic entry-level plan. For $10 per month, people can still experience the AI‘s creative powers on a budget.
And if you need more images or features like 4K, Midjourney scales up reasonably through its Standard and Pro plans compared to the computing resources required behind the scenes. Unlimited high-quality generation directly through Midjourney would be extremely expensive to provide at no cost.
No free alternative matches Midjourney‘s blend of image quality, simple interfaces, and community support. So for many, paying a reasonable fee is worthwhile to access its leading AI image creation.
