Stable Diffusion: pricing, features and alternatives
Last reviewed on by Chanel Chokdee
What is Stable Diffusion?
Stable Diffusion is a family of open image models from Stability AI. The Community License allows free self-hosting up to one million US dollars in annual revenue. Through the API an image costs from 0.009 USD (SDXL 1.0); Stable Diffusion 3.5 starts at 0.025 USD (Flash). Self-hosting requires a graphics card and technical know-how; when you self-host, your data stays in your own environment according to the provider.
Stable Diffusion overview
What Stable Diffusion does
Stable Diffusion 3.5 from Stability AI is one of the best-known model families for self-hosting image generation on your own hardware. The Community License is free up to one million US dollars in annual revenue and covers Stable Diffusion 3.5 and SDXL Turbo among others. Above that threshold an Enterprise licence with individual pricing is required.
Pricing and free plan
Through the API an image costs from 0.009 USD (SDXL 1.0). Within the SD 3.5 family the entry point is 0.025 USD (Flash, 2.5 credits). Larger models run from 0.035 USD (SD 3.5 Medium) to 0.08 USD (Stable Image Ultra). Stability AI offers 25 free credits to start. Stability AI advertises "Stable Assistant" on its website as a web-based platform, but at the time of our check the link redirected to the enterprise page. Third-party local interfaces remain the usual choice for end users.
Commercial use and privacy
According to the privacy policy, Stability AI processes data on servers outside the EEA, including in the USA. Inputs and outputs may be used to train its own models; you can object in the account settings. Stability AI lists SOC 2 Type 2 and SOC 3 in its trust centre. A DPA was not found on the pages we checked. When self-hosting, data stays in your own environment according to the provider.
Who Stable Diffusion is for
Stable Diffusion suits technical teams and developers who want to run image generation independently of a cloud provider.
Stable Diffusion at a glance
Stable Diffusion is an AI image generator by Stability AI Ltd (GB).
| Vendor | Stability AI Ltd (GB) |
|---|---|
| Category | AI Image Generators, Video |
| Pricing model | Freemium |
| Price from | from 0.009 USD (usage-based) (as of 15/11/2026) |
| Free plan | Yes (25 free credits, self-hosting free up to 1 million USD revenue) |
| Available in German | not available |
| Languages | English |
| Platforms | API |
| API | Yes |
| Open source | Yes |
| Data storage | outside the EU (according to the vendor) |
| Website | stability.ai |
| Last reviewed | 12/11/2026 by Chanel Chokdee |
How much does Stable Diffusion cost?
Stable Diffusion costs from 0.009 USD usage-based (API SDXL 1.0 plan, as of 15/11/2026, according to the vendor). A free version is available (25 free credits, self-hosting free up to 1 million USD revenue).
| Plan | Price | Billing | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| API SDXL 1.0 | 0.01 USD | usage-based |
|
| Community License (self-hosting) | free | yearly |
|
| API Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large | 0.07 USD | usage-based |
|
| API Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large Turbo | 0.04 USD | usage-based |
|
| API Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium | 0.04 USD | usage-based |
|
| API Stable Diffusion 3.5 Flash | 0.03 USD | usage-based |
|
| API Stable Image Ultra | 0.08 USD | usage-based |
|
| Enterprise License | not available | yearly |
|
Free tier: 25 free credits, self-hosting free up to 1 million USD revenue
Is Stable Diffusion GDPR compliant?
According to the vendor, Stable Diffusion stores data outside the EU and uses inputs for training, which can be switched off (as of 05/10/2026, source: stability.ai).
| Data stored in the EU | No |
|---|---|
| Data processing agreement (DPA) | no vendor statement found |
| Training on user data | Yes, can be switched off |
| Vendor headquarters | GB |
According to the privacy policy, Stability AI processes personal data on servers outside the EEA, including in the USA, relying on adequacy decisions or standard contractual clauses. Inputs and outputs may be used to train its own models; you can object in the account settings. Trust centre with SOC 2 Type 2 and SOC 3 reports. A DPA was not found on the pages we checked. When self-hosting, data stays in your own environment according to the provider.
As of 05/10/2026, source: stability.ai. Not legal advice.
What can Stable Diffusion do?
- Community License: self-host for free up to 1 million USD annual revenue.
- Open weights with fine-tuning and your own training data.
- API with multiple models, from 0.009 USD per image (SDXL 1.0).
- SOC 2 Type 2 and SOC 3 listed in the trust centre.
- When self-hosting, data stays in your own environment according to the provider.
Pros and cons of Stable Diffusion
Pros
- + 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
Cons
- − Own web app "Stable Assistant" not reachable at the time of our check
- − Self-hosting needs a graphics card and technical know-how
- − Community License no longer usable above 1 million USD revenue
Our verdict
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. Stability advertises "Stable Assistant" as its own web app, but at the time of our check the link led to the enterprise page; local interfaces such as DiffusionBee fill that gap. Through the API an image costs from 0.009 USD (SDXL 1.0), Stable Diffusion 3.5 starts at 0.025 USD (Flash).
Stable Diffusion in practice
What are the alternatives to Stable Diffusion?
The most important alternatives to Stable Diffusion are Midjourney, Nano Banana (Gemini) and FLUX (Black Forest Labs).
| Tool | Price from | Free plan | Available in German |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midjourney | from 10 USD/month | No | n/a |
| Nano Banana (Gemini) | from 4.99 EUR/month | Yes | Yes |
| FLUX (Black Forest Labs) | from 0.008 USD (usage-based) | n/a | n/a |
| Ideogram | from 20 USD/month | Yes | n/a |
| Adobe Firefly | from 10.98 EUR/month | Yes | Yes |