The best AI image generators compared in 2026
Last reviewed on
We compared ten AI image generators and ran eight of them with the same prompt. You see the images side by side. We also show prices, usage rights and whether the providers train on your images. All details come from the providers and date from October 2026.
The decision
Which AI image generator fits depends on what you need the image for.
A blog header calls for a different AI image generator than a trade-fair poster with lettering, and a logo in vector form for yet another. Most generators can do a bit of everything. Each one is really good at one thing. Ideogram writes legible text into the image, Recraft outputs SVG directly, Midjourney is known for its own visual style, Nano Banana edits existing photos in a dialogue.
In companies a second question comes up, often as the first one. Are you allowed to sell the result, and what does the provider do with your uploads? Providers differ more on this than on image quality.
Short answer
Which AI image generator for which job
Midjourneywhen the image needs a look of its own and must not come out as stock.
Ideogramwhen text in the image has to be readable, on posters or social graphics.
Canvawhen you want to start without a learning curve and keep working on the image right away.
Based on what the providers state on their pricing and legal pages, checked on 29/10/2026.
Comparison
Ten AI image generators side by side
| Tool | Best for | Price from | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midjourney | artistic image styles and aesthetics | from 10 USD/month | No |
 ChatGPT | making images in chat and changing them step by step | from 8 EUR/month | Yes, account needed |
 Nano Banana (Gemini) | editing and combining photos by prompt | from 4.99 EUR/month | Yes, account needed |
 FLUX (Black Forest Labs) | photorealistic images from a German provider | from 0.014 USD (usage-based) | n/a |
| Ideogram | text and typography in the image | from 20 USD/month | Yes |
 Adobe Firefly | commercial use without text in the image | from 10.98 EUR/month | Yes, no sign-up |
 Leonardo.Ai | getting started without picking a model | from 12 USD/month | Yes |
 Recraft | vector graphics and on-brand illustrations | from 12 USD/month | Yes, account needed |
| Canva | using the image straight inside a design | from 12 EUR/month | Yes |
 Stable Diffusion | running it locally and as open source | from 0.025 USD (usage-based) | Yes |
- Midjourney
- Best for
- artistic image styles and aesthetics
- Price from
- from 10 USD/month
- Free plan
- No
- ChatGPT
- Best for
- making images in chat and changing them step by step
- Price from
- from 8 EUR/month
- Free plan
- Yes, account needed
- Nano Banana (Gemini)
- Best for
- editing and combining photos by prompt
- Price from
- from 4.99 EUR/month
- Free plan
- Yes, account needed
- FLUX (Black Forest Labs)
- Best for
- photorealistic images from a German provider
- Price from
- from 0.014 USD (usage-based)
- Free plan
- n/a
- Ideogram
- Best for
- text and typography in the image
- Price from
- from 20 USD/month
- Free plan
- Yes
- Adobe Firefly
- Best for
- commercial use without text in the image
- Price from
- from 10.98 EUR/month
- Free plan
- Yes, no sign-up
- Leonardo.Ai
- Best for
- getting started without picking a model
- Price from
- from 12 USD/month
- Free plan
- Yes
- Recraft
- Best for
- vector graphics and on-brand illustrations
- Price from
- from 12 USD/month
- Free plan
- Yes, account needed
- Canva
- Best for
- using the image straight inside a design
- Price from
- from 12 EUR/month
- Free plan
- Yes
- Stable Diffusion
- Best for
- running it locally and as open source
- Price from
- from 0.025 USD (usage-based)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Details from provider sources, checked on 29/10/2026.
Hands-on
One prompt, ten AI image generators
Every tool gets the same brief, once, on default settings. We wrote the prompt in German, so the lettering the tools had to render is German too. What came out of it is shown below.
The prompt, verbatim
„Ein Café-Schaufenster bei Regen, Nachmittagslicht, Spiegelungen auf der Scheibe. Auf dem Glas steht in weißer Schrift: Heute Zimtschnecken. Fotografisch, Seitenverhältnis 3:2.“
- The prompt asks for two things at once, a photographic image and readable lettering on top of it. That is where the generators come apart.
- What you see is the first attempt. We did not polish the prompt and we did not pick a favorite out of several runs.
- Where we had no access to a tool, it says so.
Seven of the eight put “Heute Zimtschnecken” on the glass without a mistake. A year ago that would still have been the exception. What separates them today is how much a tool invents on its own and how closely it reads the brief.
Nano Banana (Gemini)AppThe liveliest image of the set. Guests at the tables, the counter lit up, passers-by with umbrellas reflected in the glass. The lettering sits cleanly. Gemini returns one suggestion.
ChatGPTAppCarries the scene further and adds a heart under the lettering plus a board listing coffee, tea and cake. The result looks like a photo of a café that actually exists.
IdeogramAppThe finest lettering in the set, plus a bicycle at the curb and a barista behind the glass. Ideogram returns four suggestions, so you get to choose. The first one is shown.
CanvaAppWorks a price tag into the scene, a cinnamon roll with cardamom for 3.20 euros, and is the only one to set the lettering in a serif. The image comes back at 4:3.
Leonardo.AiAppThe most depth in the frame, with an awning and a wet street running into the background. Leonardo picks the model itself, here GPT Image 2 from OpenAI, and outputs a square. For a first try that is one decision less.
RecraftAppThe nicest light of the set, with a wet street, a car at the lights and a cinnamon roll in the foreground. Recraft sets the lettering vertically against the glass. Two suggestions were on offer, and the first one is shown.
Adobe FireflyAppThe lowest barrier of the lot: typing the prompt is enough and no account is needed. Rain, light and depth all work. The lettering does not. The glass reads “Hurile ts tgon” and “Shooe Stavkin”, letters that look handwritten and mean nothing.
FLUX (Black Forest Labs)APIComes closest to the glass. Warm light from inside, drops on the pane, and the lettering sits in an even script.
All images were created on 29/10/2026, first attempt, no post-processing. We changed nothing, neither the model nor the aspect ratio, we only entered the prompt. Seven tools we used through their own interface, one through the API.
These two are missing, and why
- MidjourneyNo official API, and the terms of use explicitly prohibit automated access. There is no free access on the web or in Discord, plans start at 10 USD a month.
- Stable DiffusionStability’s API rejected our prompt three times, each time citing the content check. A toned-down German version without the lettering did not get through either. The same scene in English was generated right away. For German input the service is hard to use.
Profiles
The best AI image generators in detail
Midjourneyartistic image styles and aesthetics
Price from: from 10 USD/month · Free plan: No · German: n/a
Midjourney produces images with a pronounced artistic style, according to the provider, and has rendered 2K without upscaling since version 8.1; the current version is 8.2. You use it as a web app or in Discord. Free access no longer exists. Companies above one million dollars in annual revenue need the Pro or Mega plan (from 60 USD a month) for commercial use.
- Commercial use
- Yes, from Basic (above 1 million USD revenue: Pro or Mega)
- Editing by prompt
- Yes (Vary Region, editor)
For
- A visual style of its own with native 2K resolution
- Style References and Personalization keep the imagery consistent.
- Images belong to their creators according to the provider, commercial use allowed.
Against
- No free plan, no testing without paying on the main platform.
- Content public by default, Stealth only from 60 USD a month (Pro).
- No API, automated use prohibited by the terms.
Privacy: non-EU hosting, trains on data (according to the vendor, as of 05/10/2026)
Visit tool →Midjourney: pricing, features, alternatives
ChatGPTmaking images in chat and changing them step by step
Price from: from 8 EUR/month · Free plan: Yes, account needed · German: Yes
ChatGPT generates and edits images right inside the chat (its image generator page is named “ChatGPT Bilder 2.5”). The free plan limits how many images you get, while text chats stay unlimited. From the Go plan (8 EUR a month) you get more images and uploads. For anyone already working with the assistant it is the easiest way in. Without an opt-out, your data can flow into model training.
In the hands-on comparison: Carries the scene further and adds a heart under the lettering plus a board listing coffee, tea and cake. The result looks like a photo of a café that actually exists.
- Commercial use
- n/a (check the terms of use)
- Editing by prompt
- Yes
For
- Image generation and editing in the same chat, with web search and uploads
- German interface, free to use with an account
- Images can be changed step by step with follow-up instructions
Against
- Images and uploads limited on the free plan
- Consumer data can flow into training without an opt-out, processed in the USA
- Paid plans have usage caps too
Privacy: non-EU hosting, DPA, trains on data (according to the vendor, as of 05/10/2026)
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Nano Banana (Gemini)editing and combining photos by prompt
Price from: from 4.99 EUR/month · Free plan: Yes, account needed · German: Yes
Nano Banana 2 is the image model in the Gemini app and both generates and edits photos inside the chat. A Google account gets you in for free; the limits are compute-based with no fixed number of images. The Pro model needs a Google AI subscription from 4.99 EUR a month. Text in the image and format adjustment are built in.
In the hands-on comparison: The liveliest image of the set. Guests at the tables, the counter lit up, passers-by with umbrellas reflected in the glass. The lettering sits cleanly. Gemini returns one suggestion.
- Commercial use
- Google claims no ownership, an explicit clearance is not documented
- Editing by prompt
- Yes
For
- Free with a Google account, including text in the image
- Edit and combine photos by prompt, right in the chat
- German interface and app (iOS, Android)
Against
- No fixed number of images on the free plan (compute-based limits)
- Nano Banana Pro only with a subscription from 4.99 EUR a month
- Chats flow into training unless you change the setting
Privacy: training opt-out (according to the vendor, as of 05/10/2026)
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FLUX (Black Forest Labs)photorealistic images from a German provider
Price from: from 0.014 USD (usage-based) · Free plan: n/a · German: n/a
FLUX comes from Black Forest Labs in Freiburg, the only German provider in this comparison. Billing runs per image (from 0.014 USD with FLUX.2, from 0.048 USD with FLUX 3 Image) and there is no subscription. Two open models, FLUX.1 schnell and FLUX.2 klein 4B, sit under Apache 2.0 and are free to self-host. The provider lists ISO 27001 and SOC 2 as certifications.
In the hands-on comparison: Comes closest to the glass. Warm light from inside, drops on the pane, and the lettering sits in an even script.
- Commercial use
- Yes (API and Playground), Apache 2.0 models free to use
- Editing by prompt
- Yes (FLUX.2 Image Editing, image to image)
For
- Provider from Germany (Freiburg), ISO 27001 and SOC 2
- Open models under Apache 2.0 for self-hosting
- Billing per image, no subscription needed
Against
- No free quota in the hosted service (only self-hosting is free)
- Interface and docs in English only
- Training on your data, opt-out only by email
Privacy: training opt-out (according to the vendor, as of 05/10/2026)
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Ideogramtext and typography in the image
Price from: from 20 USD/month · Free plan: Yes · German: n/a
Ideogram builds on readable text and typography in the image, according to the provider. The free plan gives you Slow Credits every week, and the images are then publicly visible. Commercial use is allowed on the free plan too, per Ideogram's FAQ. From the Plus plan (20 USD a month) you generate privately and with priority. The open weights of Ideogram 4.0 come only under a non-commercial license.
In the hands-on comparison: The finest lettering in the set, plus a bicycle at the curb and a barista behind the glass. Ideogram returns four suggestions, so you get to choose. The first one is shown.
- Commercial use
- Yes, also on the free plan according to the provider
- Editing by prompt
- Yes (Remix, Edit, Reframe)
For
- Text in the image readable and typographically clean, according to the provider
- Commercial use allowed on the free plan too, per the FAQ
- Apps, MCP integration and open weights for your own projects
Against
- Free images are publicly visible
- Priority credits and private generation only from Plus (20 USD a month)
- Interface in English only
Privacy: trains on data (according to the vendor, as of 29/10/2026)
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Adobe Fireflycommercial use without text in the image
Price from: from 10.98 EUR/month · Free plan: Yes, no sign-up · German: Yes
Adobe Firefly is aimed at teams that use images straight inside an Adobe workflow. The provider advertises training data from licensed sources and labels output with Content Credentials. The free plan has daily limits that reset every day. From 10.98 EUR a month (Firefly Standard) you get 2,000 Generative Credits. Partner models, among them Kling, FLUX and Runway, are built into Firefly.
In the hands-on comparison: The lowest barrier of the lot: typing the prompt is enough and no account is needed. Rain, light and depth all work. The lettering does not. The glass reads “Hurile ts tgon” and “Shooe Stavkin”, letters that look handwritten and mean nothing.
- Commercial use
- Yes, with Content Credentials
- Editing by prompt
- Yes (image editor, remove objects, extend backgrounds)
For
- Free plan available without a credit card, with daily generations.
- Several AI models from different providers usable in one interface.
- According to Adobe no training on user content; Content Credentials label AI results.
Against
- Credits expire monthly and cannot be carried over; premium features burn credits quickly.
- Whether data is stored in the EU is not verified (Adobe names USA, Ireland, India).
- Full video access only from Premium (219.98 EUR a month)
Privacy: DPA, no training (according to the vendor, as of 02/11/2026)
Visit tool →Adobe Firefly: pricing, features, alternatives
Leonardo.Aigetting started without picking a model
Price from: from 12 USD/month · Free plan: Yes · German: n/a
Leonardo.Ai offers its own image models (Lucid Origin, Lucid Realism, Phoenix) alongside third-party models such as FLUX and suits concept art, variations and fast ideation, according to the provider. The free plan gives you 150 Fast Tokens a day, the results are public, and the rights to them sit with Leonardo under its terms. From the Essential plan (12 USD a month) you generate privately and keep the rights. Leonardo.Ai belongs to Canva.
In the hands-on comparison: The most depth in the frame, with an awning and a wet street running into the background. Leonardo picks the model itself, here GPT Image 2 from OpenAI, and outputs a square. For a first try that is one decision less.
- Commercial use
- Yes, from Essential (free plan: rights stay with Leonardo)
- Editing by prompt
- Yes (Realtime Canvas, inpainting)
For
- 150 Fast Tokens a day for free, plus third-party models such as FLUX
- Train your own AI models (up to 50 depending on the plan)
- Apps for iOS and Android, plus an API
Against
- On the free plan the rights to the images sit with Leonardo under its terms
- Data stored in the USA, processed in Australia
- Interface in English only
Privacy: non-EU hosting, trains on data (according to the vendor, as of 29/10/2026)
Visit tool →
Recraftvector graphics and on-brand illustrations
Price from: from 12 USD/month · Free plan: Yes, account needed · German: n/a
Recraft generates vector graphics directly as SVG and offers a style library for consistent brand imagery. Most generators only put out raster images, which sets Recraft apart. On the free plan the results are public and cleared for private use only. Commercial use and private generation start with the Basic plan at 10 USD a month on annual billing.
In the hands-on comparison: The nicest light of the set, with a wet street, a car at the lights and a cinnamon roll in the foreground. Recraft sets the lettering vertically against the glass. Two suggestions were on offer, and the first one is shown.
- Commercial use
- No on the free plan, yes from Basic (from 10 USD a month)
- Editing by prompt
- Yes (eraser, remove background, mockups)
For
- Generate vector graphics (SVG) directly
- Own styles and a brand library
- API from 0.007 USD per image
Against
- Free plan for private use only, no commercial clearance
- Hosting in the USA (AWS)
- Video generation still in beta
Privacy: non-EU hosting, DPA, training opt-out (according to the vendor, as of 05/10/2026)
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Canvausing the image straight inside a design
Price from: from 12 EUR/month · Free plan: Yes · German: Yes
Canva suits beginners who generate an image and then use it straight away in a design: a presentation, a social post, a flyer. Templates and the editor come as one package. The free plan gives you up to 20 AI uses. On the Pro plan (12 EUR a month) you get ten times as many AI uses and access to premium assets, according to the provider.
In the hands-on comparison: Works a price tag into the scene, a cinnamon roll with cardamom for 3.20 euros, and is the only one to set the lettering in a serif. The image comes back at 4:3.
- Commercial use
- Yes (Pro and Business)
- Editing by prompt
- n/a
For
- German interface, templates and design editor in one package
- Generous free plan with editor, templates and basic AI features.
- DPA (Data Processing Addendum) with EU standard contractual clauses available.
Against
- AI quota on the free plan capped at 20 uses; more AI costs extra.
- Data stored in the USA according to the provider, no EU hosting on the standard plan.
- Content may be used for AI training per the privacy policy (opt-out in settings).
Privacy: non-EU hosting, training opt-out (according to the vendor, as of 29/10/2026)
Visit tool →Canva: pricing, features, alternatives
Stable Diffusionrunning it locally and as open source
Price from: from 0.025 USD (usage-based) · Free plan: Yes · German: n/a
Stable Diffusion 3.5 from Stability AI is the best-known model family for self-hosting on your own hardware. The Community License allows that free of charge up to one million US dollars in annual revenue. An end-user app from the provider itself is no longer verifiable; local interfaces such as DiffusionBee fill that gap. Through the API an image costs from 0.03 USD (Stable Image Core, three credits).
- Commercial use
- Yes (Community License up to 1 million USD revenue, Enterprise above)
- Editing by prompt
- Yes (API: inpaint, outpaint, remove object)
For
- Self-host for free (Community License up to 1 million USD revenue)
- Open weights with fine-tuning and your own training data
- No dependence on a cloud provider
Against
- No end-user app from the provider itself is verifiable any more
- Self-hosting needs a graphics card and technical know-how
- Community License no longer usable above 1 million USD revenue
Privacy: non-EU hosting, training opt-out (according to the vendor, as of 05/10/2026)
Visit tool →
Free
8 AI image generators cost nothing
Free means something different with every provider. This is where the limit sits. You can start without an account only with Adobe Firefly.
| Tool | Account needed | Where the free tier ends |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | yes | Images limited, text chats unlimited |
| Nano Banana (Gemini) | yes | Compute-based limits, no fixed number of images |
| Ideogram | n/a | Weekly slow credits, images are public |
| Adobe Firefly | no | Daily limit, download only with an account |
| Leonardo.Ai | n/a | 150 fast tokens per day, images are public |
| Recraft | yes | Limited credits, private use only |
| Canva | n/a | Up to 20 AI uses |
| Stable Diffusion | n/a | 25 free credits, self-hosting free up to 1 million USD revenue |
Rights
What happens to your uploads
In companies the choice rarely fails on quality. It fails on whether legal agrees. Three facts decide that. Is the processing done in the EU, is there a data processing agreement, and does the provider train on your input?
For 8 of the 10 tools at least one of these is missing. We say so. An unchecked claim is not an all-clear.
- Midjourney
- no EU hosting
- DPA not checked
- trains on your input
- ChatGPT
- no EU hosting
- DPA available
- trains on your input
- Nano Banana (Gemini)
- EU hosting not checked
- DPA not checked
- trains, opt-out possible
- FLUX (Black Forest Labs)
- EU hosting not checked
- DPA not checked
- trains, opt-out possible
- Ideogram
- EU hosting not checked
- DPA not checked
- trains on your input
- Adobe Firefly
- EU hosting not checked
- DPA available
- does not train on your input
- Leonardo.Ai
- no EU hosting
- DPA not checked
- trains on your input
- Recraft
- no EU hosting
- DPA available
- trains, opt-out possible
- Canva
- no EU hosting
- DPA not checked
- trains, opt-out possible
- Stable Diffusion
- no EU hosting
- DPA not checked
- trains, opt-out possible
Methodology
How we compared
We compared 10 AI image generators on October 5, 2026 against what the providers publish (pricing pages, terms of use, privacy policies). On October 29, 2026 we put eight of the ten through the same prompt, under the rules set out in the hands-on comparison further up this page. We do not hand out scores. Anyone who does has to have measured every criterion. We sort the tools by the job they are good for. Ads have no influence on the selection or the order.
The shortlist comes from brand demand in Germany (Ahrefs search volume), presence in Google's search results and availability in Germany. Sponsored tools are excluded.
For each tool we built a fact sheet with the source and the date we checked it: plans and prices, what the free tier covers, usage rights, data protection (where the provider is based, hosting, training on user data), languages and platforms.
Features as stated by the provider
Text to image, image to image, editing by prompt, style and image references, upscaling, formats
Value for money
Price of the cheapest paid plan and the image allowance on the pricing page
Free tier
Free allowance, watermark, sign-up required
Usage rights
Commercial use per plan according to the terms of use
Data protection
Provider location, hosting, training on user data, public gallery (per the privacy policy)
German language support
German interface and German prompts as stated by the provider
Ads influence neither the selection nor the order of our recommendations.
Published on 05/10/2026 · Last reviewed on 29/10/2026 · 96 tools in this category
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about AI image generators
Which AI is best for realistic images?
Midjourney and FLUX both produce photorealistic images, according to their providers. Midjourney renders at native 2K from version 8.2. FLUX offers that from 0.048 USD per image through the API, plus open models you can self-host. Which result fits better depends on your subject and your prompt.
Which AI image generator works for logos and graphics?
Recraft generates vector graphics directly as SVG and offers a style library for consistent brand imagery. Ideogram builds on readable text in the image, according to the provider. Both work for logos, posters and lettering. More logo tools are listed under logo generators.
Which AI can spell text in images correctly?
Ideogram positions itself on readable text and typography, according to the provider. Nano Banana (Gemini) translates text straight into other languages and sets it into the image, according to Google. Whether accented characters come out cleanly depends on the model and the prompt.
How do you write good prompts for AI images?
Describe the subject, the style (watercolor, photography) and the format (landscape, 16:9). The more concrete your description, the closer the result lands to what you had in mind. There are detailed tips in writing better prompts.
Am I allowed to sell images made with AI?
Usage rights depend on the provider and the plan. Ideogram allows commercial use on the free plan too, per its FAQ. At Midjourney, a company above one million USD in revenue needs the Pro plan. Leonardo.Ai keeps the rights on its free plan. Check the terms of use of your tool before you use an image commercially.
Can AI image generators be used in a GDPR-compliant way?
FLUX (Black Forest Labs) is based in Freiburg and lists ISO 27001 and SOC 2. Adobe Firefly has an EU contracting party in Ireland and provides a data processing agreement. Most other providers run their servers in the US, and a data processing agreement is often documented only for enterprise customers. We cannot give a legal assessment here.
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