The best AI image generators of 2023: DALL-E 2 and alternatives (2023)

Pros

• Powered by DALL-E
• Quick
• Convenient to access

Cons

• Need a Microsoft account
• In preview stage

Bing Image Creator features:Powered by: DALL-E |Access via: Bing Chat and browser |Output: 4 images per prompt | Price: Free

Bing's Image Creator is powered by a more advanced version of the DALL-E, and produces the same (if not higher) quality results just as quickly. Like DALL-E, it is free to use. All you need to do to access the image generator is visit the Image Creator website and sign in with a Microsoft account.

Also:7 ways you didn't know you can use Bing Chat and other AI chatbots

The biggest perk about this AI generator is that you can access it in the same place where you can access Bing's AI chatbot, Bing Chat.

Although Bing does have asiteyou can visit to access the Image Generator individually, if you have access to Bing Chat you can just ask it to produce an image there. To get your image, all you have to do is ask Bing Chat to draw you any prompt you'd like.

Also:How to use Bing Image Creator (and why it's better than DALL-E 2)

This feature is so convenient because you can get all of your image-generating and AI chatting needs met in the same place. This facilitates activities such as party planning since you can ask the chatbot to generate themes for your party, and then ask it to create images that follow the theme.

Pros

• Fast
• Not copyrighted
• Accurate depictions

Cons

• Confusing credits
• No app

DALL-E 2 features: Powered by: DALL-E by OpenAI (specifically GPT-3) | Access via: OpenAI website | Output: 4 images per credit | Price: Free if you registered before Apr. 6, $15 minimum if you register after | Credits: Free credit allowance replenishes every month for pre-April 6 users

OpenAI, the AI research company behind ChatGPT, launched DALL-E 2 last November, and it quickly became the most popular AI art generator on the market. Although it has been lapped by Bing Image Creator, it is still a very capable image generator and the blueprint for all the models that followed.

The site is very intuitive and can produce results in seconds. All you have to do is type in whatever prompt you'd like, specifying as much detail as necessary to bring your vision to life, and then DALL-E 2 will generate four images from your prompt.

Also:How to use DALL-E 2 to turn your wildest imaginations into AI-generated art

The credits situation can be a bit tricky because users who registered before April 6, 2023, get to keep the original terms, which included 15 free credits that replenish at the end of every month. Any new users have to buy a minimum of 115 credits for $15, which is a big con of using this AI image generator instead of Bing Image Generator.

Since there are other free alternatives on the list that work just as well, I would encourage users to only pay for DALLE-2 if they really want to experience the original.

Pros

• Accepts specific instruction
• Open-source
• More entries for customization

Cons

• Paid credits
• Need to create an account

DreamStudio features: Powered by:SDXL 1.0 by Stability AI| Access via:website |Output:1 images per 1.8 credits |Price: $1 per 100 credits|Credits:25 free credits when you open account, by purchase once you run out

Stability AI created the massively popular, open-sourced, text-to-image generator, Stable Diffusion. Because Stable Diffusion is open-sourced since its release, users have been able to download it and use it at no cost; however, this typically requires some technical skill.

Also:How to use Stable Diffusion AI to create amazing images

To make the technology readily accessible to everyone (regardless of skill level) Stability AI created DreamStudio which incorporates Stable Diffusion, its latest version, in a UI that is easy to understand and use.

One of the standouts of the platform is that it includes many different entries for customization including a "negative prompt" where you can delineate the specifics of what you'd like to avoid in the final image. You can also easily change the image ratio which is major since most AI image generators automatically deliver 1:1.

Pros

• Mobile app
• Remix your own images
• Multiple templates

Cons

• One image per prompt
• Subscription cost for full access

Dream by WOMBO features: Powered by: WOMBO AI's machine learning algorithm |Access via: Mobile and desktop versions | Output: one image with a free version, four with a paid plan| Price: Free limited access

This app's major success landed it a first-place spot for the best overall app in Google Play's 2022 awards. With the app, you can create art with the simple input of a quick prompt.

An added plus about this AI art generator is that it allows you to pick different design styles such as realistic, expressionism, comic, abstract, fanatical, ink, and more.

Also:How to use Dream by WOMBO to generate artwork in any style

In addition to the app, it has a free desktop mobile version that is simple to use. If you want to take your use of the app to the next level, you can pay $90 per year, $10 per month, or a lifetime subscription of $170.

Pros

• Free
• Unlimited access
• Simple to use

Cons

• Longer wait
• Distorted images

Craiyon features: Powered by: Open-source AI designed by developer Boris Dayma | Access via: Craiyon website| Output:Six images per prompt | Price: Free, unlimited prompts

Despite originally having the name DALL-E mini, this AI art generator is NOT affiliated with OpenAI or DALL-E 2, rather, it is an open-source alternative. However, the name DALL-E 2 mini is somewhat fitting, as it does everything that DALL-E 2 does, just with less precise renditions.

Also:How to use Craiyon AI (formerly known as DALL-E mini)

Unlike DALL-E 2, the outputs from Craiyon lack a bit of quality. The good thing? Because you have unlimited prompts, you can continue to tweak the prompt until you get exactly what you're envisioning. The site is also so simple to use and considering DALLE-2's new price tag, this AI generator is a strong contender.

Pros

• Very high-quality outputs
• No duds
• Discord community

Cons

• Monthly cost
• Confusing to set up

Midjourney features: Powered by: Midjourney; utilizes Discord| Access via: Discord | Output: four images per prompt | Price:Starts at $8/month

I often play around with AI art generators because of how fun and easy creating digital artwork is. Despite all my experiences with different AI generators, nothing could have prepared me for Midjourney. The output of this image was so crystal clear that I had a hard time believing it wasn't an actual image someone took of the prompt I put in. This software is so good that it has produced award-winning art.

To create your images, check out our step-by-step how-to here: How to use Midjourney to generate amazing images and art.

A fun perk of Midjourney's platform is that you get to see everyone else's inputs and outputs in the Discord chat.

To show you just how good these renditions are, I included a close-up below.

Pros

• Lots of options
• Great quality renditions
• Make great profile pictures

Cons

• Limited access
• Long wait

MyHeritage's AI Time Machine features: Powered by: Stable Diffusion |Access via: MyHeritage website |Output: Can produce up to 160 images with 20 different themes | Price:$12, but free during certain windows

Last fall, in a mega-viral TikTok trend, people were sharing AI-generated portraits of themselves on the app. The photos were powered by MyHeritage's "AI Time Machine," which uses 10 to 25 user-inputted photos to create realistic portraits of what you'd look like throughout the ages.

Also:You can use an AI Time Machine to see what you'd look like in different eras throughout history

Although you have to wait 30 to 90 minutes to get the results, the beautiful artwork makes it worth the wait. The trick to getting them for free is refreshing the site and waiting until the free trial window opens up, designated by a "Try it now for free" button. If you can't wait, there is only a $12 fee to have your photo.