5 Free Alternatives to Midjourney

If Midjourney’s price tag doesn’t appeal to you, check out our list of free alternatives. Whether you’re looking for a feature-rich image generator or want to prioritize privacy and run a local copy on your computer, there’s something for everyone.

1. Microsoft Designer

What better alternative to Midjourney than its most famous competitor: DALL-E? While it's no longer available for free on the developer's website, thanks to a partnership between OpenAI and Microsoft, you can use DALL-E completely free of charge through Microsoft Designer.

The main drawback is the number of times you can use each day to quickly create images. Once you run out, you have to wait longer for your images to be created. There is no ability to create higher resolution images in Microsoft Designer. There is also no ability to change the aspect ratio like you can in Midjourney. However, you can click the Customize button and explore some of the image editing options in the Microsoft Designer editor. Removing the background, blurring the background, adjusting the lighting, and adding text or icons are just some of the graphic design tools included in this toolkit.

2. DreamStudio

When it comes to advanced settings, DreamStudio is one of the few free AI generators that can compete with Midjourney. Scale, seed, model type, style, speed, and generation steps are all features you can change before generating an image. This is the set of features you need if you want to create an image instead of leaving it to chance.

The basic model is called Stable Diffusion and is one of the big 3 names in the AI ​​world. The Negative Prompt tool is one of the standout features of DreamStudio. Negative Prompt can help refine images by describing what you don't want in the image.

Editing tools and image enhancement options on download make this a comprehensive AI generator. You get 25 free credits to use, so make the most of them.

3. DiffusionBee

Of all the AI ​​generators on this list, DiffusionBee takes the top spot in terms of privacy and the fact that there is no limit to the number of images you can create. The reason for this is that the app is downloaded and runs locally on your computer. It is not connected to the internet and does not require you to register for an account.

The downside is that DiffusionBee is only available for Macs running OS 12.5.1 or later, and if you’re running an older Mac, it will take longer to generate the image than any of the online AI generators. If you’re lucky enough to own an M1 or M2 MacBook, your wait time will drop significantly from around 4 minutes to around 30 seconds.

The results aren't as immediately beautiful as the Midjourney image. But take some time to explore the user community and you'll find that you can create some great AI images.

4. ImageFX

Google is late to the AI ​​imaging game with its free-to-use product, ImageFX. If you want to avoid all the extra features that come with tools like Midjourney — for example, learning the parameters and commands takes some time, then opening ImageFX in your browser and starting typing.

The number of images you can create per day is not disclosed. But until you reach your limit, have fun by clicking on “Expressive Chips” , which Google calls highlighted keywords that can be swapped out to create new variations.

5. Dream by WOMBO

Aiming to be the fun and whimsical AI image generator among the heavyweights, WOMBO has created an Android and iOS app that does just that. One area it does is create custom AI wallpapers, a task that Midjourney is often tasked with as well.

In the free version of the app, you can create one image at a time with the option to recreate the results available. For more freedom, such as creating variations or creating multiple images at once, you will need to pay a subscription fee.

There is also a web version of Dream by Wombo which has long been on the list of best AI image generators .

Midjourney alternatives are well worth exploring and will leave you with a folder full of great AI art along the way. Keep in mind that Midjourney isn’t the only capable AI image generator out there.