9 Best AI Image Generators: Free and Paid Options in 2024

How I Picked These AI Image Generators

After testing various AI image generators and using them for my blog, I found that not all lived up to expectations. I focused on selecting tools that not only delivered high-quality results but also required no credit card or payment. Only those that met these criteria made the cut, while others either lacked the quality I needed or came with hidden costs.

My criteria for selecting the best AI-assisted art creation came down to three things:

1. Personal Experience: I’ve tested each of these tools and used their images for various projects.
2. User Feedback: Being part of AI and creative communities, I constantly see what works (and what doesn’t) for other users.
3. Ongoing Research: AI art is evolving fast, and I’ve kept up with the latest trends and advancements in the field.

With that said, let’s explore the list of tools that I’ve found to be the best for AI-generated images.

Best Free AI Image Generators (Plus 1 Paid Option You Should Know About)

In today’s world of AI-powered creativity, you don’t always have to pay to access high-quality image generators. Many tools offer free versions that let you experiment and create stunning visuals without requiring a credit card. I am discussing all these tools below However, it’s important to note that most of these tools also offer paid versions that unlock additional features and capabilities.

I’m also including DALL·E, which is part of the ChatGPT Plus subscription. It’s not free. It comes free with $20 a month for ChatGPT Plus. If you’re already using ChatGPT or considering it, then you’re essentially getting DALL·E’s incredible image creation capabilities as part of your subscription.

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1. Krea (Free)

Best for: Artistic and Abstract Visuals

Krea an easy-to-use tool for creating stunning visuals. It’s great for abstract and artistic designs. You just provide a text prompt, and Krea generates an image instantly. It’s perfect if you want quick results and like to experiment with creative ideas. While it’s highly customizable, it’s not ideal for very detailed projects.

Pros:

• Customizable for abstract and artistic visuals
• Real-time image generation
• Easy to use, great for quick projects

Cons:

• Not ideal for very complex, detailed designs

Key Features:

• Instantly generates images from prompts
• AI-powered tools for unique designs
• Customization options for personalizing visuals

What Makes It Stand Out: Krea’s strength is its ability to create abstract and artistic visuals instantly, making it ideal for rapid creative experimentation.

Tip: Use Krea’s customization options to fine-tune your abstract visuals and create truly one-of-a-kind artwork.

Example: Here I asked Krea to make something similar to Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”:

This is a prompt for creating an image with a solitary figure in a certain setting. The image looks quite real!

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2. Fotor (Free)

Best for: Image Editing using AI

Fotor is perfect for editing photos quickly and turning them into something special. With just a few clicks, you can enhance colors, remove backgrounds, and even create AI-generated art. It’s easy to use, so you don’t need to learn complicated software like Photoshop. While Fotor is great for quick edits, those looking for high-end design might find it a bit basic.

Pros:

• Converts photos into illustrations easily
• Simple editing tools that anyone can use
• Perfect for quick, professional results

Cons:

• Lacks the depth needed for detailed, creative projects
• Some features are locked behind a paid subscription

Key Features:

• Instantly enhances photos with AI
• One-click background removal
• Portrait retouching for smooth skin and bright smiles
• Unblur tool for fixing blurry images
• Wide range of filters and effects
• AI-powered photo restoration
• Batch processing for editing multiple photos at once
• Customizable templates for social media, flyers, and more
• Cloud storage for easy access across devices

What Makes It Stand Out: Fotor’s photo-to-illustration conversion seamlessly combines traditional editing tools with AI-powered generation.

Tip: Experiment with different art styles and prompts to see what kind of unique and fun images you can create.

Example: I uploaded a photo of a bird on a tree, and Fotor transformed it into a stunning illustration.

Original photo:

Photo generated from above by Fotor:

It’s actually an amazing way to turn pictures you love to illustrations.

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3. Dream by WOMBO (Free)

Best for: Fantasy and Surreal Art

Dream by WOMBO lets you turn your text descriptions into unique AI-generated art. It’s perfect if you want to create images in different styles, like realistic, mystical, or vibrant. You can also upload an existing image to tweak and customize it. With Dream by WOMBO, you can experiment with a wide variety of artistic styles, making it fun and easy to explore your creativity.

Pros:

• Wide variety of art styles (realistic, abstract, dark fantasy, etc.)
• Easy-to-use interface, even for beginners
• Fun and creative way to generate artwork from text

Cons:

• Free version has limited features and styles
• Some results may not always match your expectations

Key Features:

• Turns text into images with AI
• Choose from different art styles like realistic or fantasy
• Upload an image to edit or change it
• Share your artwork and see creations from other users

What Makes It Stand Out: Dream by WOMBO excels in creating fantasy and surreal visuals with a user-friendly interface, making it a favorite among NFT creators.

Tip: If you’re creating NFT art, Dream by WOMBO will give you the flexibility and style you’re after.

Example: I gave Dream this prompt and it created this image below “A mystical forest at dusk with glowing blue trees, floating islands in the sky, and a golden castle in the distance, surrounded by ethereal creatures and magical light orbs.” While the image wasn’t exactly what I envisioned, it definitely captured the overall feel, giving me a great foundation to build on.

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4. Artbreeder (Free)

Best for: Portraits, Landscapes, and Character Creation

Artbreeder is an innovative platform that allows users to mix, tweak, and create unique images through advanced AI tools. Whether you’re designing a character, portrait, or surreal landscape, Artbreeder uses “genetic” blending to help you combine and evolve visuals. You can start with a base image, adjust various traits using sliders, and see your artwork transform in real-time. This makes it easy to explore endless creative possibilities. Artbreeder also has a strong community focus, allowing users to share and collaborate on their creations.

Pros:

• eal-time previews to see changes instantly
• User-friendly sliders for easy customization
• Collaborative features that let users share and edit images together
• Large library of images for inspiration and starting points
• Download high-resolution images for personal projects

Cons:

• Learning curve for new users
• Limited control over precise artistic outcomes due to random blending
• Uploaded images become part of the shared community, raising privacy concerns
• Full features require a paid subscription

Key Features:

• Mix images to create unique artwork
• Adjust colors, shapes, and textures with sliders
• Collaborate with others by sharing and editing images
• Use AI to generate new visual elements
• Download high-resolution images
• Access a large library of base images to start with

What Makes It Stand Out: Artbreeder’s AI makes it easy to blend images and styles, making it perfect for creating realistic portraits, unique characters, and detailed landscapes.

Tip: Try mixing different styles to create entirely new characters or environments.

Example: Below of their interface, showcasing how you can choose from a variety of tools depending on your specific needs.

Here I created an image with a prompt “A forest with a small coffee shop.”

I created these characters as well with this prompt “A vibrant group of playful cartoon characters, each with their own unique features—big eyes, expressive faces, and fun, colorful outfits—gathered together in a lively, animated scene full of energy and charm.”

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5. Deep Dream Generator (Free)

Best for: Surreal and Abstract Art

Deep Dream Generator is great for creating surreal, dream-like images. You can upload your own pictures and transform them using different artistic styles. It’s perfect for experimenting with abstract visuals, but it may not be the best choice if you want realistic results.

Pros:

• Ideal for surreal, abstract visuals
• Wide range of unique art styles

Cons:

• Not suitable for realistic images without customization
• Full features require a paid subscription

Key Features:

• Turns text into surreal or abstract images
• Mixes your image with an art style for a new look
• Creates psychedelic, dream-like visuals from your pictures
• Adjusts size, style, and depth to customize your art
• Lets you share your creations and follow other artists

What Makes It Stand Out: Deep Dream Generator excels in surreal, and abstract art, allowing for unique image transformations using artistic filters.

Tip: Use the generative AI for images style transfer feature to blend your photos with famous art styles for a one-of-a-kind visual experience.

Example: Surreal image I created using a prompt.

Here I used the prompt above for the cartoon characters and I think I like the result more in Deep Dream Generator:

Here interestingly I first asked Deep Dream Generator to create the same prompt I used in DALL-E “A forest with a small coffees shop”, it gave me a real forest look like the below:

Then when I just put cartoonish, it gave me this result. I noticed it first gives real like images unless you specify otherwise:

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6. NightCafe (Free)

Best for: Artistic and Stylized Images

NightCafe is highly versatile, providing artistic styles from photorealistic to abstract. It’s a solid choice for detailed customization, but may be overwhelming for users new to AI image generation.

Pros:

• Wide variety of artistic styles (photorealistic, abstract, fantasy, etc.)
• Multiple AI models for diverse results
• Easy-to-use print-on-demand feature

Cons:

• Can be confusing for users new to AI art
• Some features require credits or a paid plan

Key Features:

• Turns text into unique images
• Offers five different art styles, from realistic to abstract
• Lets you print and order your artwork
• Uses advanced AI models like DALL·E 2
• Free daily credits to create more art

What Makes It Stand Out: NightCafe provides several AI models and styles, making it highly flexible for all kinds of artistic projects. Plus, its print-on-demand feature allows you to turn your creations into physical art.

Tip: Use NightCafe’s daily free credits and bulk creation feature to experiment with different prompts and styles without using up your credits quickly.

Example: An illustration I created for a majestic lion:

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7. Leonardo (Free)

Best for: Game Assets and Concept Art

Leonardo excels in creating game assets and concept art with high flexibility for 2D and 3D visuals. It’s ideal for game developers, but might be overkill for casual users looking for simple designs.

Pros:

• Excellent for 2D and 3D game assets
• Highly customizable art styles
• Easy-to-use AI canvas for editing and refining designs

Cons:

• Complex for casual users

Key Features:

• Generate high-quality 3D textures, characters, and environments
• Customize models with different art styles, from semi-realistic to stylized
• Use real-time canvas tools to draw and edit your creations
• Train custom models to fit your artistic needs
• Free tokens daily for creating without spending money

What Makes It Stand Out: Leonardo.ai is excellent for generating detailed game assets and concept art with both 2D and 3D options, offering flexible tools for professionals in the gaming industry.

Tip: Use Leonardo.ai’s custom data sets feature to upload your own images and train models that align perfectly with your style and needs.

Example: I asked Leonardo to “Create a high-fantasy concept art featuring a towering, mystical castle and a heroic Spanish warrior with dark hair and intricate armor. The scene blends realism with fantasy, showcasing vibrant colors, dramatic skies, and an epic, magical atmosphere.” I thought the result was fantastic.

I also asked Leonardo to create vibrant cartoon characters using the same prompt I used with other tools above, and I appreciated how it included diverse races and skin tones.

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8. DALL·E by OpenAI (Paid-part of ChatGPT Plus)

Best for: Photorealistic Images and General Use

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9. Canva (Free and Paid)

Best for: Easy-to-Use AI Design Tools

Canva is well-known for its user-friendly design platform, but it now also includes AI-powered image generation. With Canva’s text-to-image feature, you can turn any prompt into a stunning visual in seconds. Whether you’re creating social media graphics, blog images, or visual content for business, Canva’s AI tools help you generate high-quality designs without needing formal design skills. The platform’s drag-and-drop interface makes it easy for anyone to experiment with visuals, while its AI-driven tools streamline the creative process.

Pros:

• Easy-to-use interface for non-designers
• Instant AI image generation based on text prompts
• Integration with a wide variety of templates and design assets

Cons:

• Some advanced features locked behind a paid subscription
• Limited customization options for highly detailed projects

Key Features:

• Text-to-image AI that transforms prompts into visuals
• Built-in templates for quick design creation
• AI-powered tools for adjusting and enhancing generated images
• Supports team collaboration on projects

What Makes It Stand Out: Canva’s blend of AI image generation with its extensive design tools makes it a one-stop shop for creating professional visuals quickly and easily.

Tip: Use Canva’s built-in templates alongside the AI image generator to refine your designs, ensuring that your visuals fit perfectly with your project.

Example Prompt:
I asked Canva to create an image of a cute dog running around in a beautiful forest full of butterflies. Below is the result. The great thing is I can edit this image in canva easily.

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Quick Comparison of Tools

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Which AI Image Generator Should You Choose?

Each AI image generator offers something unique, whether you’re turning photos into illustrations or crafting abstract art. The best tool for you depends on your goals:

• Fotor: Ideal for quick photo-to-illustration conversions and basic editing.
• Krea: Perfect for abstract and artistic visuals.
• Dream by WOMBO: Great for fantasy and surreal art.
• Artbreeder: Best for realistic portraits, landscapes, and character creation.
• Leonardo.ai: Great for detailed 2D and 3D game assets and concept art with customizable styles. Leonardo provides you many tokens for free daily.
• DALL·E: Exceptional for photorealistic images, included with ChatGPT Plus.
• Canva: Excellent for quick, professional designs with its AI tools and templates, but offers more advanced features with the paid version.

Each tool offers powerful options, so pick based on your artistic needs. With AI-assisted art creation, you can bring your creative visions to life—many of these tools even offer free versions with no credit card required to get started! And if you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you also have access to Microsoft Copilot, another great tool to enhance your creative projects.