For many creators, designers, and marketers, the challenge of producing high-quality visuals on a tight budget and timeline has always been a significant pain point.
This is where AI Image Generators come in. With these tools, you can now generate stunning, professional-quality images with just a few prompts, saving time, effort, and resources.
From creating photorealistic images for advertisements to generating artistic visuals for branding, AI Image Generators have a wide range of use cases. These tools offer customizable options for lighting, style, color, and composition, allowing users to produce images to their unique vision.
In this blog, we will explore the best ai image generators of 2024, comparing their features, performance, and pricing to help you determine which tool suits your needs best.
Whether you’re looking for creative control, fast outputs, or budget-friendly options, we’ll break down the features of each tool to help you decide which one you should go with.
8 Comparison Factors Between The Top AI Image Generators of 2024
In this section, we will discover the key features that set the top AI image generators apart and find out which one best suits your creative needs.
| AI Tool | Speed | Price | Platform | Style | Color | Lighting | Composition | Ratio control |
| Pixlr AI Image Generator | Fast (<10 sec per image) | Free, Premium $7.99/month | Web, Mobile App | 10+ options (Anime, Cinematic) | 6+ options (Warm, Cool) | 10+ options (Sunlight, Studio) | 7+ (Close-up, Wide angle) | Yes |
| MidJourney | Fast (1 minute per set) | Basic: $10/month | Web, Discord | Advanced options | Limited customization | Limited customization | Limited | No |
| DALL·E 3 (OpenAI) | Moderate (slower for complex prompts) | $20/month (ChatGPT Plus) | Web (ChatGPT integrated) | Dynamic and artistic | Limited customization | Limited customization | Limited | Limited |
| Designs.ai | Fast | Basic: $19/month, $228/year | Web | Preset (Anime, Cinematic) | Basic options (Warm, Cool) | Basic options (Studio, Sunlight) | Basic (Close-up, Narrow depth) | Yes |
| Adobe Firefly | Moderate to fast | Starts at $4.99/month, included in Adobe CC | Web, Integrated with Adobe Suite | Structured styles (Photoshop integrated) | Advanced (Adobe tools) | Advanced (Adobe tools) | Advanced (Adobe tools) | Yes (Adobe tools) |
| Craiyon | Slow | Free, Premium: $5/month | Web | Basic, experimental styles | Limited customization | Limited customization | Limited | No |
| Canva AI | Fast (simple images) | Free, Pro: $15/month | Web, Mobile | Simple (Cartoonish, Fun) | Basic preset options | Limited preset options | Limited | Basic ratios |
| Runway ML | Moderate to fast (bulk generation available) | Free with 125 credits, additional from $5/month | Web | Artistic styles, video integration | Basic customization | Limited customization | Bulk options available | No |
1. Image Quality and Rendering
Pixlr AI Image Generator
Pixlr offers high-quality image generation with a focus on versatility and creative control. It excels in generating images with customizable options, including lighting, color, and composition. The results are sharp, visually compelling, and well-suited for both artistic and professional use cases. Pixlr’s AI ensures that images are professional-grade, with no strange anomalies, making it ideal for high-quality results whether you’re generating photorealistic or artistic visuals. Pixlr stands out for balancing high-quality rendering with ease of control, making it superior for users seeking both customization and detail. It’s especially great for eCommerce, digital marketing, and creative projects.
MidJourney
MidJourney is renowned for generating some of the highest-quality, crystal-clear images. Its ability to create lifelike images with rich textures, realistic lighting, and sharp details makes it ideal for professional-level artwork. It excels in rendering lifelike images of people and objects and produces consistent results with well-formed textures, making it suitable for artists and creators who require high detail. While it excels in pure photorealism, MidJourney lacks the broader creative options that Pixlr provides.
DALL·E 3
DALL·E 3 also produces high-quality images, but it tends to excel more in creating vivid, dynamic, and concept-driven images than photorealism. The tool allows users to modify prompts easily, but its output, while realistic, can sometimes appear slightly less refined than MidJourney’s, especially with photorealism. However, it is very competent with artistic interpretations of prompts and creates vibrant and colorful designs. DALL·E is excellent for unique, vibrant images but does not match Pixlr’s overall versatility in styles and customization.
Designs.ai
Designs.ai offers basic but aesthetically pleasing image generation, particularly useful for creating simple designs. It supports different styles, such as comic book, cinematic, and digital art, making it versatile for less complex visual projects. However, the image outputs tend to lack the detailed textures and realism found in tools like MidJourney or DALL·E 3. While it’s effective for generating graphics for social media and simple marketing materials, it’s not ideal for highly intricate or photorealistic designs.
Adobe Firefly
Adobe Firefly offers high-quality images, especially in structured compositions. It works well when a reference image is provided, creating aesthetically pleasing results. However, its photorealism can struggle compared to MidJourney or DALL·E 3. Where Firefly shines is its integration with Adobe’s tools, allowing precise control for image refinement, though some users report inconsistencies in generating pure text-to-image outputs. Strong integration with Adobe tools makes it useful, but Pixlr’s standalone capabilities surpass Firefly in creative flexibility.
Craiyon:
Craiyon lags in terms of image quality, producing images that often lack the sharpness and realism of the top-tier generators like MidJourney or DALL·E. It produces lower resolution and less refined images, often with incomplete or inaccurate rendering, but its output can be fun and experimental.
Canva AI
Canva’s image quality is best described as functional for social media or basic designs. While it’s good at producing simple, fun, and cartoonish images, it struggles with photorealism and more detailed designs. The AI outputs can appear exaggerated or surreal, lacking the detail and refinement necessary for professional use. As a free tool, its value is limited to casual users, while Pixlr offers superior quality for both free and paid users.
Runway ML
Runway ML delivers good quality, especially for artistic and creative projects, but it’s not as renowned for photorealism as MidJourney or DALL·E 3. The images tend to be more stylized, and it works well for multimedia and video applications rather than standalone image generation.
2. Ease of Use and Accessibility
Pixlr AI Image Generator
Pixlr’s intuitive interface makes it a standout for both beginners and professionals. Users can access it on both desktop and mobile application (with cross-platform compatibility), and there’s no steep learning curve, unlike MidJourney, which initially required navigating Discord channels. You can use the AI Image Generator on the go with its mobile app and access all the customization options like lighting, color, and composition, making it incredibly accessible. Additionally, Pixlr’s negative prompt option simplifies the removal of unwanted elements, enhancing ease of use. The user-friendly design makes Pixlr the superior choice for those who prioritize quick, seamless usage.
MidJourney
Initially, MidJourney was less user-friendly as it required Discord to generate images. However, it now offers a web-based interface, making it easier to use. However, some advanced features like blending multiple images and fine-tuning styles still require Discord access. It’s relatively simple for beginners but does have a slight learning curve for those unfamiliar with Discord.
DALL·E 3
Extremely easy to use, DALL·E 3 is integrated into ChatGPT, making it highly accessible even for users unfamiliar with AI tools. Its conversational interface allows users to modify prompts with ease, and the tool’s language understanding helps generate contextually accurate images. The learning curve is minimal, making it a favorite for beginners.
Designs.ai
Designs.ai stands out for its user-friendly interface and accessibility. It is easy to navigate, even for beginners, and provides templates and design assets to help users create visuals with minimal effort. The simplicity of the tool makes it ideal for non-designers and small businesses who need quick, ready-to-use images without advanced customization. However, it lacks some of the deeper control options offered by more robust platforms like Pixlr or Firefly. It excels in simplicity, making it a great tool for users who prioritize ease of use over intricate customization.
Adobe Firefly
Firefly is intuitive, especially for Adobe users, and integrates seamlessly with Adobe’s ecosystem, including Photoshop and Adobe Express. It’s straightforward for those already familiar with Adobe products, though beginners may find some features more complex to navigate without prior experience in graphic design.
Craiyon
Craiyon has a very simple and straightforward interface. The web-based tool requires no login, and users can input prompts and receive results in under a minute. This makes it ideal for casual users or those new to AI image generators. However, the simplicity can be limiting for users looking for advanced options.
Canva AI
Canva is designed with ease of use in mind, perfect for beginners and non-professionals. The drag-and-drop interface and preset styles make it easy to generate images and incorporate them into broader design projects. However, it lacks depth in customization compared to more robust tools like DALL·E 3 or MidJourney.
Runway ML
Runway ML is fairly easy to use, especially for those familiar with multimedia and design. It provides a web-based interface and options to generate images in bulk, making it ideal for marketers and creators who need to generate large volumes of content quickly. Training custom models adds a layer of complexity, making it slightly more advanced than some other generators.
3. Customizability and Control
Pixlr AI Image Generator
Pixlr offers the most versatile customization options among AI image generators. With 7 composition controls (closeups, wide angles, etc.), 10 lighting choices, and sliders for influence (to determine how much the AI-generated image resembles the input), users can fine-tune every detail. The negative prompt feature allows removal of unwanted elements, something unique to Pixlr. Users get ultimate control over their images, making it ideal for detailed, personalized creations.
MidJourney
MidJourney allows for substantial control over image creation through various prompt modifiers, style matching, and advanced features like blending images. However, certain advanced functionalities, such as zooming in or preserving details across generations, are only available in Discord, limiting flexibility in the web version.
DALL·E 3
DALL·E 3 offers flexible and intuitive customizations. Users can refine their image by simply conversing with ChatGPT, making adjustments based on detailed feedback. It supports different preset styles for localized changes. However, it currently lacks features like retouching images without third-party tools.
Designs.ai
Designs.ai offers multiple style options, allowing users to select from preset styles like 3D model, anime, or comic book. Users can tweak color tones, lighting effects, and compositions (e.g., narrow depth or wide angle), but it lacks the granular control that tools like Pixlr or Adobe Firefly provide. There’s no influence slider or advanced controls for fine-tuning specific image elements, limiting the depth of control available to users. Designs.ai is perfect for users looking for quick, visually appealing designs without the need for detailed customization.
Adobe Firefly
Firefly excels in customizability, particularly with its structure and style reference options. These features allow users to maintain a consistent visual style across designs. With its strong integration into Adobe tools, users can make fine-grained edits using Photoshop’s advanced editing features.
Craiyon
Craiyon offers minimal customization. Users can enter prompts and get multiple image outputs, but the level of control over the result is limited. Negative prompts help to some degree in refining the outcome, but there is little control over specific details.
Canva AI
Canva provides limited control, focusing on preset styles and simple adjustments. It’s good for generating images within specific themes (e.g., retro, watercolor, anime), but there’s no deeper control over intricate details, which makes it less ideal for professional use.
Runway ML
Runway ML provides solid control, especially for creative professionals who need to experiment with multiple iterations. It offers bulk generation, training custom models, and integrating multimedia elements. However, its fine-tuning options are somewhat less developed compared to Adobe Firefly or MidJourney.
4. Speed and Performance
Pixlr AI Image Generator
Pixlr’s AI Image Generator is optimized for speed without sacrificing quality. It generates images in less than 10 seconds, making it one of the fastest tools on the market. Users can input their preferences using preset options, allowing for quick and effortless image creation. Additionally, Pixlr generates four sample images per prompt, giving users the flexibility to choose their favorite version. If needed, users can remix and fine-tune the generated images using text prompts or customize them further in Pixlr Express. This efficiency makes it perfect for users who need to quickly generate professional-quality visuals without prior design experience.
MidJourney
MidJourney has a relatively fast output time, generating four images per prompt within a minute. Upscaling or making fine adjustments can take longer, but it’s generally one of the faster tools for generating high-quality images.
DALL·E 3
DALL·E 3 is known to be slower compared to some of the competition, especially when handling complex or highly detailed prompts. Users have noted that the generation process, while producing engaging images, can sometimes lag behind MidJourney or Adobe Firefly in terms of speed.
Designs.ai
Designs.ai performs efficiently, generating images quickly and making it a great tool for users who need fast results. While the performance is generally smooth, it may not match the speed of top competitors like Pixlr in producing high-resolution images. That said, its simplicity ensures that it remains reliable for users who need fast, straightforward designs, such as social media posts or basic marketing visuals. However, it may not be suitable for more complex projects requiring higher computational performance.
Adobe Firefly
Firefly’s performance is competitive, offering quick generation times, especially when used for creating designs based on structured references. However, when generating more complex artistic designs or working with large files in Photoshop, performance can slow slightly.
Craiyon
Craiyon is slower than its peers, often taking a minute or more to generate images. The performance is further impacted by high traffic, with frequent delays. This makes it less ideal for users who need quick results.
Canva AI
Canva’s AI generator is fairly quick, delivering four images within seconds. However, its performance is tied to its simplicity, as the generated images are less complex. It’s ideal for users who need quick results for basic design projects.
Runway ML
Runway ML’s performance is solid, particularly when generating artistic designs or experimenting with multimedia. Its bulk generation feature allows for rapid creation, though it’s not as fast for single high-quality image outputs compared to MidJourney or DALL·E 3.
5. Pricing Models
Pixlr AI Image Generator
Pixlr offers competitive pricing with flexible packages. The premium version, priced at $7.99/month, includes unlimited saves, 1000 monthly AI credits, and access to a large library of fonts, templates, and more. Pixlr’s free version provides substantial access for users looking to experiment without major costs. With both a generous free plan and a competitively priced premium option, Pixlr is the best value for money.
MidJourney
MidJourney operates on a subscription model, with a Basic Plan starting at $10/month for 3.3 GPU hours, equating to around 200 images. Higher tiers offer more GPU time and access to stealth mode (private image generation). Free trials are occasionally reinstated but generally unavailable due to high demand.
DALL·E 3
DALL·E 3 is available via the ChatGPT Plus subscription, which costs $20/month and includes unlimited image generation. Free users can generate up to two images per day. While this makes DALL·E 3 accessible, the ChatGPT Plus subscription adds a higher cost barrier compared to MidJourney.
Designs.ai
Designs.ai offers a Basic Plan priced at $19/month, making it accessible for individuals, students, and marketers who need quick and easy projects. The plan includes 1000 AI credits per month, unlimited projects, and access to a library of 150 million images and video clips. It allows for 1 team member with shared access, making it suitable for small teams or freelancers. But it may not provide the same level of advanced features found in other tools at a similar price point.
Adobe Firefly
Firefly offers 25 free image generation credits per month, after which users can subscribe starting at $4.99/month for 100 credits. For Photoshop users, Firefly is included in the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan at $19.99/month, offering 500 credits and deep integration with Photoshop tools.
Craiyon
Craiyon is completely free but ad-supported. There is an option to subscribe for $5/month to remove ads and gain faster generation times. However, given its relatively low-quality outputs, the free version suffices for casual users.
Canva AI
Canva offers a free plan that includes 50 image generation credits per month. Paid plans start at $15/month (Canva Pro), offering more image credits and additional design tools. Canva’s pricing is more expensive than other basic AI generators, but its appeal lies in the broader suite of design tools.
Runway ML
Runway ML offers 125 free credits upon signup. Users can purchase additional credits for high-volume use, with pricing starting around $5/month for 100 additional credits. It offers competitive pricing, particularly for creatives who need to generate large volumes of images or videos.
6. Target Audience and Use Cases
Pixlr AI Image Generator
Pixlr caters to a wide range of users, from eCommerce businesses needing product shots to creatives looking for professional designs like logos. Its ease of use, customization, and affordability make it a go-to for small businesses, social media marketers, and designers looking for bulk image editing. Pixlr is also highly suitable for real estate, with tools for virtually staging homes and creating multiple design variants. With broad use cases from professional to casual needs, Pixlr is the most versatile option.
MidJourney
Best suited for artists, designers, and creators who need high-quality, lifelike renderings and visually stunning artwork. It’s ideal for commercial projects, exhibitions, and professional portfolios. The tool appeals to users who prioritize image fidelity over quick, casual creation.
DALL·E 3
DALL·E 3 is ideal for content creators, marketers, and designers who need visually appealing, vibrant, and dynamic images quickly. Its ease of use makes it suitable for amateurs and professionals alike. It’s especially beneficial for those who need iterative prompt refinement.
Designs.ai
Designs.ai targets small businesses, marketers, and individuals looking for quick and simple image generation for social media, ads, and presentations. Its user-friendly interface and easy-to-use features make it accessible to those without design experience. It’s particularly useful for creating basic visuals like posters, flyers, and logos, but lacks the advanced capabilities required for highly detailed or professional-level designs. It is ideal for non-designers who need to create functional and appealing graphics without the complexity of more advanced tools.
Adobe Firefly
Firefly is targeted at professional creatives who use Adobe’s suite of design tools. It’s particularly valuable for graphic designers, marketers, and digital artists who need precise control over their images and seamless integration with Photoshop.
Craiyon
Craiyon is perfect for casual users, hobbyists, and students looking to experiment with AI image generation for fun or learning. It’s not suitable for professional-level work but offers unlimited prompts for users who want to play around without financial commitment.
Canva AI
Canva AI is best for social media managers, small business owners, and casual designers who need to quickly generate images for marketing materials, blog posts, or social media content. It’s ideal for beginners with no design experience.
Runway ML
Runway ML targets professional designers, marketers, and creative agencies who require a robust tool to generate images and videos in bulk. It’s well-suited for multimedia projects and those looking to train custom models.
7. Unique Features and Functionalities
Pixlr AI Image Generator
One of Pixlr AI Image Generator’s key features is the Negative Prompt, which allows users to exclude specific elements from their generated images – a functionality that is rarely offered by competitors. Additionally, Influence Sliders give users control over how closely the AI-generated image resembles the original input, offering a balance between creative freedom and precision. Furthermore, Pixlr supports three distinct image dimensions – square, wide, and tall – to ensure optimal visuals for various platforms.
MidJourney
Offers advanced image blending, fine texture control, and coherent style matching. The AI has a strong understanding of prompts, producing detailed and visually rich outputs. Advanced features like pan and zoom, style preservation, and private mode (for paid users) make it stand out.
DALL·E 3
DALL·E 3’s key feature is its conversational style, allowing for seamless prompt refinement within ChatGPT. It also supports specific image styles and ratios, as well as different generation models, enabling localized changes. However, it lacks some advanced functionalities like image expansion seen in competitors like Pixlr and Adobe Firefly.
Designs.ai
Designs.ai’s key features include preset styles for image generation, such as anime, cinematic, and fantasy art. It offers users the ability to adjust colors and lighting but lacks more advanced functions like negative prompts or influence sliders that are available in other tools. The tool’s simplicity is its strength, allowing even novice users to generate professional-looking designs quickly. However, it doesn’t provide the same level of creative freedom and control as tools like Pixlr or Adobe.
Adobe Firefly
Firefly offers unique structure and style reference features, which allow users to maintain consistency in their designs. Its Generative Fill and Expand tools in Photoshop make it a powerful option for users who need advanced editing within professional design workflows.
Craiyon
Craiyon provides basic AI image generation with no frills. Its key features include negative prompts and unlimited image generation, but it lacks more advanced customization or detailed image refinement tools.
Canva AI
Canva’s Magic Media integrates seamlessly with its broader suite of design tools, including pre-made templates and elements that users can easily incorporate into larger projects. However, the lack of photorealism and limited image customization tools make it less flexible for professional use.
Runway ML
Runway ML offers unique features like bulk image generation and the ability to train custom models. It’s highly valuable for creative agencies and teams that need to produce large volumes of content, and it also integrates multimedia, offering tools for video as well as images.
8. Privacy and Ownership
Pixlr AI Image Generator
Pixlr’s privacy policy ensures that users retain significant control over their personal data. When using Pixlr AI Image Generator, your generated content is handled securely. By default, any images created may be publicly viewable unless you choose to keep them private by toggling the ‘make private’ option before generation. This feature helps users maintain full privacy over their creative outputs, which is essential for professionals working on confidential projects. Pixlr also guarantees that personal data, such as facial geometry used for face-related features, will not be shared with third parties. Additionally, Pixlr’s compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and security standards like encryption ensures that your data is securely stored and processed, minimizing concerns about unauthorized access.
MidJourney
By default, all generated images are public and visible in the community gallery, unless users opt for a private mode (available in higher-tier plans). Images can be used commercially under the MidJourney license, but users must be aware of the public nature of their work.
DALL·E 3
DALL·E 3 images are generally copyright-free and can be used commercially. OpenAI doesn’t use user-generated content for training purposes unless opted in, making it a more private option compared to MidJourney.
Designs.ai
Designs.ai ensures that users retain ownership of the images they create, and privacy is respected. The platform does not use user-generated content for training its models, making it a safe choice for users concerned with privacy. Designs are kept private by default, and the tool is designed with security in mind, providing confidence for users working on proprietary projects or confidential designs.
Adobe Firefly
Firefly-generated images are safe for commercial use, as the AI is trained on Adobe Stock, public domain content, and openly licensed material. Firefly doesn’t use user-generated content for training, ensuring that privacy and intellectual property concerns are minimal.
Craiyon
Craiyon-generated images are public, and there’s no explicit commercial usage license. As it’s an open-source platform, privacy controls are minimal, making it less ideal for users concerned with image ownership and privacy.
Canva AI
Canva images are private by default, and Canva doesn’t use user-generated content to train its models. Users maintain ownership over the designs they create, and this makes it a good choice for those concerned with privacy and content control.
Runway ML
Runway ML allows users to own their content, and privacy is respected in the platform. It’s ideal for businesses and creative agencies concerned with maintaining control over their image output and custom models.
Revolutionize Image Creation with Generative AI
AI Image Generators have revolutionized the way we create visuals, offering powerful tools that save time and simplify the design process.
After comparing the top AI image generators of 2024, it’s clear that each tool has its strengths, whether in image quality, ease of use, or customization options.
However, Pixlr AI Image Generator stands out as the best choice for its balance of high-quality rendering, versatility, and affordability.
It offers extensive customization with styles, colors, lighting, and composition options, making it ideal for both beginners and experienced creators.
Also, Pixlr offers you greater accessibility with its AI Image Generator Mobile Application, which isn’t available with other AI Image Generators.
If you want professional results without breaking the bank or compromising on creative control, Pixlr is the top pick.
